T-Billy

Neanderthal. Do you even walk upright? ?

Night. Weeds. 5/0 30 degree EWG with a screw lock. 50# braid, 8 speed reel, H MF rod. Works for me. The slower taper rod greatly increased my hook & land %. As Choporoz mentioned, they're also great on a buzzbait.

Only a Redneck would do that. We civilized Hillbillies use a piece of 3/8" dowel rod. ? When using this method to spool braid, it's ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to remember, DO NOT hold the spool down against your wife's new light colored carpet and leave a green spot. Especially if your wife cooks with cast iron. Don't ask me how I know this, the incident in question is still blurry in my mind, and my ears are still ringing.

I carry a tow strap in my truck. That knucklehead would have got moved.

#FUTUREMUTANTSOFAMERICA!!!

It's the only color I make worms in. Sunny, cloudy, clear water, dirty water, doesn't matter. Black gets it done.

If it's an android phone, just turn the selfie camera on, hit the settings icon up top of the screen, turn on selfie illumination, and set the timer.

Yep. Customer service is top notch. I don't feel the same way about the products. There are lighter, more sensitive, more durable blanks, with quality hardware, available elswhere for considerably less money. You pay for that great warranty up front.

I've broken a couple Sierra's. Both my fault, but it wasn't exactly hard to do. I won't be buying any more rods from that company. Customer service is fantastic, and it seems to me, it needs to be. Several of my Ark rods have been put through the ringer with nary a whimper, I couldn't be happier with them. I thought sure I was gonna snap the tip off an Invoker flippin stick the other day while trying to poke a snag loose. I got the rod tip stuck down there too, LOL, and had to pull pretty hard to free it. Still good to go. It took FAR less to break those Sierra's.

Paging @Catt

I've been very happy with my Curado and Scorpion 70's for the techniques you describe @DEPS_250.

HEY!!! You got a new cutting board!!! The BR sheriff will be happy to see that. ? That absolutely CRUSHES my best year, and you're just getting warmed up!!! You're not just a hammer, you're a jackhammer!!! I fished 10hrs for 7 dink LM and a brown bullhead. First bullhead I've ever caught on an artificial. The sweet craw gets 'em all. LOL. You know it's a rough day when a bullhead is the highlight of the trip.

My muskie guide buddy calls LM "ditch pickles" regardless of size. Lol.

This thing cut a swath a few miles from my place a couple evenings ago. No injuries that I've heard of.

X3 Either braid or 15# YZH.

I'll be hitting the water tonight around 11. The chatterbait carries the majority of the load all summer in the dark. I'll switch to a pitchin rig and find some thick stuff as soon as the lights come on. The jig gets honorable mention, and sees action both day and night. All proven big fish catchers year after year.

I agree 100%. The bigger/heavier gauge the hook, the bigger a factor this becomes. When using straight shanks, with the point buried in the plastic, the thickness and hardness of the plastic is also a factor.

LFS for $40? I'd be all over that. I had two Carbonlite 2.0's. Both went geary pretty fast. My oldest LFS is 5 or 6 yo now. Still smooth. Best reel at their price point IMO.

I don't. Too much hassle. That's why there's about 5 dozen of them in my garage.

I have a couple of those Lancers myself. Bought them on BOGO sale. That's what I use for froggin and I like it for that. The 7'4" Invoker Mag H has more tip and is better suited for pitching.

Ah... Now I understand. ?

I take the wife catfishing once or twice a year. We fish from the boat, but as @Bluebasser86 mentioned if there's fish in a spot, there's not much waiting involved. We hit the local river and run spot to spot, not waiting more than 5-10 minutes for a bite. If they're there, it doesn't take em long to find your bait. I just anchor on the upstream side of a log jam or hole, and drop baits back into it.

I don't remember. ?

For what you're wanting to do with it, I'd go 7'6" for sure.

I'm a believer in big rods, big braid, big hooks, and a strong drag when fishing cover. Best tools for the job IMO. I laugh every flippin tournament I see, watching pro's break fish off flipping/pitching with fluoro. Gotta use what your sponsors tell ya I suppose.