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I use an 8:1 for ploppers and wake baits, I like it. I also mostly fish on a river so it helps if I'm pulling a lure downstream.

I'm with @NittyGrittyBoy If topwater isn't working, I'll switch to crank or jerk baits starting with shallow runners and getting deeper until a consistent bite. Then tube / worm / ned rigs if they're looking for something slow moving.

I rarely use my GoPro while fishing, but when I do I prefer the head mount. I find the chest mount just gets dominated by a view of the reel and it's tough to see what's actually going on.

About a year and a half ago I grabbed a Berkley Wakebull off the shelf because it looked neat, had never even heard of a wake bait at the time. Love it, it's been my go to not only because it works well, but for some reason no stores around here stock much for wake baits and I keep forgetting to order more online ? Black top / chartreuse belly color works great around here. Although not a wake bait, the Strike King Hybrid Hunter and Hybrid Hunter Jr have also produced great fish. Can run them slow and shallow, and I've had luck even trolling with them. Common thread between those two lures is they have a pair of big ball bearings that make a great knocking sound in the water. Really seemed to tick the smallies off around here.

I picked up a St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass in medium / moderate a few months ago, really like the action. Downside is it's a bit heavy and large diameter down at the reel. Can get a bit tiring slinging lures for an hour or two.

Every time I fish I'm pretty sure I lose at least 1 PB bass ? This past weekend I was out and having great luck trolling a little flicker shad, pedaling along in my kayak at about 2mph. Using my MF spinning setup with lighter line because the fish seemed a little finicky. I felt a *thump* and the lure just stopped, drag pulling out at about the same rate as I was moving forward. Figured I had stuck it straight into a tree, felt exactly like that. Stopped pedaling and all of the sudden the drag started screaming, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Whatever freight train that had my lure had decided to leave the station. Felt one head shake, then another.. then nothing. Really wish I had at least caught sight of that fish. Still had the lure on at least. There's some big pike and musky around there, I'm sure it was one of those. My theory is the trebles on the flicker shad were too small to really stick in a big fish. Went back to the area after an hour or two and threw a big glide bait around, but couldn't convince whatever it was to hit again.

I've got a few friends who fish occasionally but aren't as nuts about it as I am, and they never want to do any floats down the river. Luckily one guy I work with is willing to shuttle and float the river all day.

It'll spoil you up here. 17" is a pretty average fish for me, and the river smallies fight like they're twice the size.

Anything over 1.5 hours is saved for an overnight stay. My normal spots on the Mississippi are anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the landing.

I use the VMC duolock snaps or VMC crankbait snaps for bigger lures. I find if I get a really feisty smallmouth it can pop the duolock open if it thrashes around in the net. Haven't had it happen with the crankbait snaps. Gotta make sure to check the duolock after landing a fish.

Berkely Choppos are a few bucks cheaper than Whopper Ploppers and they've held up great for me. The Flicker Shads, not so much. Have had a few break the bills off and they don't come with great hooks. I like to stay under $10 for a hard lure. Getting tougher to do that..

Opposite. Use flouro leader material, not flouro line. I used to believe 40lb braid was enough to stop pike bite-offs, until I watched one take a t-rigged worm from me and I barely felt a tug when he sliced clean through that braid. The 30lb flouro has held up to multiple pikes, and will usually just get some nicks in the line. I just retie. Yeah, it's pretty stiff tying but I've been using a trilene knot with 3 wraps and it hasn't let go. This is almost exclusively river fishing for smallmouth in rocky areas. Doesn't make a difference, I'm usually throwing big choppos. 120 size.

Same here, I sent in a request a few weeks ago and haven't heard anything.

I run 20lb Sufix 832 to a 20 or 30lb Seaguar blue label flouro leader on a similar setup for topwater / crankbaits. Too many pike / musky around to use straight braid.

Kayak, almost always on a river of some sort.

Last two weekends. Smallies are on fire up there.

Not moving quite as fast now

Had this guy take a wacky worm this weekend. Thought I had a PB smallie on the hook..

I've had two Bass X rods, one old one new. Old one was great until I managed to break it (my fault). About 5 minutes later on the same trip, I noticed my reel coming loose on the new rod. The front threaded portion of the reel seat had come undone, looked like it was barely epoxied on there. Salvaged it for the day by sticking some flouro line under it and jamming it back down, provided enough friction to hold the reel in place. Thought about sending it in for warranty but it was easy enough to epoxy back in place. Haven't had an issue with it since.

I've narrowed it down to 3: MM 7'2" Mojo Glass for topwater / shallow running lures (most used) MHM 7'2" Bass-X for deeper running / heavier lures MF 7' spinning setup for plastics. Most of my fishing is on a river and have been happy with these.

Went to check out a new smallmouth spot over the weekend. Hit the water about 8am on Saturday, took about an hour to find them but it was go time from there. Ended up being a 50-something fish day between the two of us, with most of the smallmouth between 17-18". At one point I picked up 3 ~17" fish in 3 casts. Lure of the day was a shallow diving 1/2 oz crankbait, with a texas or wacky rigged worm follow up if they missed it. Topwater over weed beds got a few of them also. Did more exploring than fishing Sunday, but got big fish of the weekend at something over 19". Was the best weekend fishing I've had for a while, but am paying for it today with some achy muscles.

Both my baitcasting setups are 20lb Sufix 832, one hi-vis the other dark green. Mainly because I grabbed a box of hi-vis by accident ? I'll probably switch the other to hi-vis, it's nice seeing where the line is. Both go to a flouro leader, either 20 or 30lb Seaguar blue label. My spinning setup has Sufix Promix braid, 10 or 15lb can't remember. Wanted to try it out, liking it so far. That goes to a 15lb flouro leader. This is for plastics. Smallmouth fishing is quite the addiction. I discovered it around 4-5 years ago and they're about the only species I target now.

I target all the usual spots - current seams / breaks, any visible structure. If I don't pick up a fish I'll fan some casts out in the general area. I've picked up some big fish just hanging out in the middle of nowhere.

I've switched all my setups to a braid / flouro leader setup. Mostly Suffix 832 and Seaguar blue label. I carry 30, 20, and 15lb spools with me. Rarely re-tie, if I mess up the leader knot it usually lets go sooner rather than later. This is primarily river fishing. 30lb gets used when I don't want to lose a lure to the hammer handle pikes out there. 15lb on my spinning rod for plastics, a lot cheaper if it gets bit off ?

C'mon guys. It has nothing to do with an actual trailer, just proof of concept engineering stuff. They're having a second vehicle autonomously follow a driven vehicle.