JackstrawIII

We're looking for a mason to do some work on our church... wish you were closer! Looks great.

Very nice! Big cats are fun to catch and taste good. Enjoy!

Big grass carp will swim around with dorsal fin above the water. They'll also do it in packs some times, which definitely makes them look like sharks. Very cool.

Geez, sorry man. It's amazing how tough life can be, but it's also amazing how resilient people are. Hang in there.

Nolan and Spielberg.

AJ, my friends always look at me like I'm crazy for bringing 7-8 rods on the boat. I should show them this. This is ridiculous...ly awesome haha

I like longer rods (around 7'3) for moving baits, as has been mentioned previously. That includes most of the techniques you mentioned, such as your spinnerbaits, frogs, and jigs, to some extent. The only techniques that I really like shorter rods for are: skipping, walking topwaters (including frogs), finesse baits like ned rigs and shaky heads. Also dropshots.

Most small bodies of water around here are full of weeds this time of year. So MH baitcaster with braid for frogs, toads, paddletails, t-rigs. I also like to bring a ML spinning rod to throw a dropshot or Ned rig if I can find suitable areas.

Good comparison of the free, Tokyo, and Jika rigs. Thanks Glenn.

Some awesome recommendations here, including the GOAT. I’d add a Keitech Swing Impact Fat fished on a weighted swimbait hook. Very weedless and can be fished just kissing off the top of the weeds. Killer.

My fav at the moment too. I like the softer tips.

I’ve been very happy with my older Premier and BassX rods that I bought used off FB maketplace. Recently been trying out some Dobyns and am very happy there too. I won’t be ditching my older SC’s anytime soon, but I’m very skeptical about buying any new ones after reading all this.

I was having the same problem fishing Keitechs on a 6’6 medium. Went to a 7’ MH with a fairly soft tip and I’m doing way better. I think the softer tip allows the fish to get a better hold on the bait, then the more powerful action drives the hook home better. Worked for me.

Curado DC. By a long shot (pun intended).

Yeah, there's a local fishing hole around here that's just like this too. I drive by some mornings and see how the wind has moved the algae. This dictates whether or not I'll fish it later that day.

Wow, lots of hate for the spinshot hooks. I happen to LOVE them. I started using them about a month ago and have caught largemouth, smallmouth, perch, bluegill, catfish and walleye. Very, very satisfied. Just bought a few more packs, actually.

That was gonna be the essence of my comment. I started fishing with a kayak but bought a boat recently. Fishing from the boat is WAY better... and I'm selling the kayak. Being able to stand and move comfortably while fishing is just SO preferable to being stuck on a kayak. To me, at least.

I use the FG knot exclusively. I found a great video on how to tie it and have loved it ever since:

I'm also use this on all my spinning rods. Have experimented using it on baitcasters. I tried it on an XF rod and didn't like it... but I think that was due to the XF action. Going to try it again on a slower rod and see what I think.

For me, clean eating for about 2 weeks helped. If I continue eating clean, I’m good to go. That, along with some antibiotics. Can’t remember what they were, but I remember the doc saying that they usually give that type to women with vaginal yeast infections.

Yes I’ve heard of it and was even treated for it once with antibiotics. Best long term solution for me has been eating carefully. I basically eat foods that are approved on the AIP diet, with a couple modifications. AIP is Auto Immune Protocol. This diet is generally healthy for everyone.

I would absolutely choose the Yankees winning the World Series over the Bills winning the Super Bowl.

My thought was maybe birds? Perhaps there are pheasant hunting competitions somewhere in the state? I haven’t heard of them, but they could be out there.

My favorite sub $100 reels are: - Spinning - Pflueger President - Casting - Lews Speed Spool Only decent sub $60 rods I’ve used are the Bass Pro Fish Eagle rods.

Ouch, that one hurts. I feel like that’s me 100%. How do you break out of that? Regarding dock talk, sounds like I’m kinda the opposite of most of you guys. I love saying hi, asking people how they did, etc. and will often share what I fished and where if it’s successful. Maybe that’s weird and maybe I appear rude to others, but in my head I’m just being friendly and am naturally inquisitive. I dunno.