T-Billy

Get a cheap cell phone tripod and use the timer on your phone camera. Works great for me, and doesn't cost much at all.

Good is relative brother. That middle paragraph says a lot. You're learning. You're taking the necessary steps to improve your game, and learning new techniques. It's a lifelong process, enjoy the journey, and don't get down on yourself.

Happy New Year!!! God bless y'all in2023!!!

It's good to have you here brother.

Man, @A-Jay, I keep coming back to that pic of your 7.29. It reminds me of my 5-15, just absolutely obese. I caught that fish late fall in the Tuscarawas River, below a lowhead dam. The current breaks were absolutely LOADED with minnows. It's the only time I've ever seen that in my life, and the smallmouth fishing was absolutely epic for the couple weeks it lasted. Seemed every eddy was full of those minnows and brown bass gorging themselves on 'em. You'd think that would be something that would happen every year, and a person would be able to time it up, and get on 'em, but I've never seen it happen again, and I checked several times a week around that time, for several years after. Must have been a really special set of conditions that caused it. It's something I'll never forget, that's for sure.

Once again Wheeler shows us why 70% of the MLF anglers voted to go to the five fish format.

And my best year for saugeye, including my new PB 6-14. I've always caught some in the spring and fall while bass fishing, but the Bama rig has been a game changer for me. First time I've ever got on numbers like that, but it's a cold water pattern on main lake structure that will be repeatable year after year. I'm STOKED for iceout.

22 was also my best year ever for big LM.

24 muskie in 7 trips Nov 9 to Dec 9. Muskiepalooza!!! Here's a few of the better ones.

It used to be eyes and brown bass, but then last fall happened. Y'all know what I'll be up to when the lid comes off.

Sweet!!! Congratulations!!!

I started my wife, niece, and grandson out with braid on casting gear and they all did great. All picked up the basics quickly. Modern baitcasters with their great braking systems have shortened the learning curve dramatically. Braid is very manageable, not easily damaged by backlashing, has no memory, and backlashes are seldom deep and are easily picked out. Big Game handles well, is cheap to replace, has good knot and shock strength and is versatile. Definitely a solid choice for both beginners and advanced anglers. Fluoro is a terrible line for beginners and advanced anglers alike. I don't recommend it for anyone. ? I'm out of likes so we'll go with an ATTA BOY!!! This is outstanding advice. Have you been copying off of @Catt's paper again? ?

I have a silver 7' MH Hank Parker series. It has no orange accents, I'd guess it's older than yours. It's just as you described. Great rod for the $$$ for sure. For 3/8oz baits and up, I think the $99 LFS speed spool is tough to beat. For throwing lighter stuff, I like my Fuego's with shallow braid spools and 20# braid. You can get a Fuego + a shallow spool for under $150 and have two reels in one. I wish someone would make those spools for the LFS, as they're well built reels that start smooth and stay that way.

I'm a straight braid fan for a lot of things, but I wouldn't go 50# braid on that combo. I vote, start the kid out on 12# BG or maybe 30# 8 strand braid. 832 would be my first pick with braid.

And the monkey wins again. The beating was rather severe this morning, and there are two Zillion HD's and two Ark Invoker 7'9" HF on the way.

Fishing goals? Same as always I reckon, just to enjoy my time on the water, continue improving, and catch more BIG fish. BIG is a relative term, based on geographical location.

The MLF management team.

They seem to be out of stock or low in inventory everywhere. I just ordered two LH 7 speeds from Asian Portal. They only had four in inventory. First time ordering from them. Easy, pleasant shopping experience, just like Digitaka. Price has gone up $19 from $280 to $299 since I bought my first two. I'll soon have these on all four of my 7'4" H MF Ark Invokers. What an outstanding combo for single hook moving baits, or baits with stout trebles like a plopper.

Larger crappie are often deeper than their smaller counterparts. Sometimes ya gotta wade through a buch of aggressive dinks before your bait will make it down to the bigger fish.

Just Northern strain LM and SM for me.

As do the smallmouth!!!

I only have pics of my PB 6-4, as the pics of four of my best five died with an old phone in a tank farm containment. Best five go 6-4, 5-15, 5-4, 5-2, 4-14 for 27-7. I've caught a dozen or so four somethings. Five pounders are tough to come by around here, and a six is a fish of a lifetime. I MIGHT get to join the 30+ club with Dwight and A-Jay if I live to be 140 or so. ?

LOL. You don't think my 16' Mod-V would fare well in 32 footers?