T-Billy

I think the Tharp is worth the extra $30, but the Lancers and Cobbs are great values. That's one heck of a blank at that price point. I prefer the fuji guides, and the Tharp reel seat for most reels, but the Tharp seat was kinda cramped with the small SLP framed Lew's pro SP, so I bought the lancer to pair with it. Tharps are very comfortable for me with an LFS frame or larger though. I bought a Cobb "One More" because they don't offer that blank in the Lancer, Tharp, or Invoker lines. I'm very happy with it too, same seat and guides as a Lancer.

The visibility difference is way overblown. Flouro gives you better feel. Mono is superior every other way IMO.

I don't know about a hierarchy, but I like areas where a couple different kinds of vegetation mix. Milfoil is dominant in our lakes, and places where hydrilla, coontail, or broadleaf pondweed mix with it are high percentage spots. Especially if it's just small isolated patches of a different weed mixed in sporadically.

10-4. That was a steal. The rod I mentioned is the same blank as the Tharp Money Maker. I have both. Seat on the Lancer is similar to the Fuji that Dobyns uses. Guides are generic but seem decent quality.

If you can come up with another $20 ARK's Lancer Pro is a whole lotta rod for the $$$. 7'3" Mag MH is an awesome jig blank. It'll pitch 1/4+ trailer pretty well with the sweet spot being 3/8 - 3/4. Sensitivity is better than a Champ IMO.

It's been my experience that the ability to move shallow to deep quickly trumps a few degrees warmer in the backs of bays/coves, but I'm fishing lakes not ponds.

Exactly, Catt. Topography plays a big role. Banks facing directions other than N that don't have high steep hills close behind get lots of sun exposure too. Wind exposure is also a factor. Temp is often overrated. Bass ain't swimming a long distance to find two degree warmer surface temperature.

Split ring chatterbaits are a no go for me. Blade is too slow to start up and they sometimes bind up and don't wanna work at all. Getcha some Z-Man elites. Best factory bait I've tried. The upgraded hook and line tie are well worth the extra couple bucks over the original, and they aren't ridiculously overpriced like the jackhammers.

Only way to find out is go. Sometimes they surprise you. I smashed the LM on a red-eye shad in 2-5 feet of 43 degree water a couple years ago. Leading edge of a November cold front, wind blowing around 10-15. I struggled all that morning pitching to sheltered wood, where I thought they'd be. They were ganged up on shallow windblown rip rap. Getting tips from knowledgeable folks is good, but there's no substitute for experience. Get out there.

Probably have a half dozen brands, but I went all in with ARK last year after buying my first Tharp series. Mostly gonna be ARK on the deck, plus two Phenix Feathers and a 735 Fury in 22.

10-4!!! Ain't no adventure at home. Well..... Depending on the wife's mood that is.

I agree. I love pitch'n on slick days. Stealth matters. Electronics off, trolling motor on low, and your bait needs to enter QUIETLY into the thickest stuff you can find. You'll see lots of cruisers on those days. They're very spooky. The fish that are burrowed into the slop are much more cooperative.

Anywhere from 1-15' visibility.

I would think letting a bobcat out of a live trap could be an exciting experience.

I like watching them get skunked on the score tracker while fishing lakes that are FAR better than anything I get to fish. Sometimes you're the windshied, sometimes you're the bug, even when you're an elite level pro. It's amazing sometimes that even at that level, you'll have a few guys absolutely crushing it, while some others blank.

I never mentally tire of it. After 4or5 days straight my hands, wrists, elbows and back are screaming for a break though.

I use the time off to service the boat and reels, and make baits for the upcoming year. This year I'll be busy trying to get everything ready to go by hopefully March. We'll see how long ol man winter decides to hang around.

Dang it. Get well soon brother. I'll keep you in my prayers.

I'll have a new project to keep me occupied next week. I bought a new Polar Kraft 1648 mod v. I wanted to get a lowe 1852 aura, but I can't even order one until March and it wouldn't arrive until September or October .... Maybe.? It's crazy. There's about two weeks a year you can order a new boat, and you might wait a year for it. I found the 1648 in stock a couple hours from me. Leftover 2021. Gonna pick it up Tuesday weather permitting. That should keep me busy for awhile wiring it and building it out.

You saw your success rate drop by moving away from the T rig and Ned, and throwing more moving baits. Go back to those old confidence baits and add that splitshot or mojo rig you were thinking about. Those are all techniques that'll get bit a high percentage of the time. So is a Senko.

Mag II, Ol Monster, Senko from Do-It molds, 6 & 7.5 Mag Finesse from Basstackle molds, and a 6" trick style worm from Ultra Molds. Ribbontails are a pain to shoot and cure, and fairly inexpensive to buy, so I only make straight tails these days.

That's all we have in my neck of the woods. There's only two options, let it frustrate you, or embrace the challenge, and put in the time to learn how to catch those fish.

I skip a TRD Bug under docks and pontoons all summer. All the docks on our lakes are floating with just a few steel posts. I can normally get the fish out from under them on 6# XT without issue. I'm mediocre at skipping with casting gear, but that's gonna change in 22. I really dialed in a shoreline brush bite last summer that lasted clear up into Nov. when they draw the lakes down. There's lots of low overhanging trees along with the brush. Upping my skipping game will allow me to fish this stuff more efficiently/productively.

Ultra Molds 3.5" Sweet Craw, 6th Sense 3/0 Flippin Hook, snelled, Dr Scotts tungsten flippin weight, 40# 832. It's also great with a spider skirt welded to it and fished on an Arky or Football jig. Also my Chatterbait trailer of choice when I'm fishing it along the bottom.