Susky River Rat

Smallies 98% of the time. If I am chasing LMB it’s because I’m on a lake which is fairly rare.

I am a river rat 95% of the time. When it gets pretty windy I well tend to go to lakes where I can tuck away from the wind. Especially in colder weather. I’m not sure what location you are at but, cold water makes everything more dangerous. if you feel like it’s safe to do in your rig do it. If you have any doubts when you get there don’t hesitate to pack it up. The fish will be there tomorrow too.

They are 150s. I just recently got them and love them. I have two 500s for musky as well.

I have premiers not the high end rods but I do love my 7’ medium F.

I am shocked so many of you leave the plug in. I always took mine out before I left the lot. Now that I have a jet there will always be water in the splash well. That’s just the nature of jets and their spray.

I just use a Dremel tool.

Ned it or forget it.

I think I would go with the smallmouth. That’s what I mainly chase. I also thing the spunk of a smallie that size would be insane on standard equipment.

I don’t think as a whole nitros or trackers for that matter are bad boats. I think they are just simply more on the budget fisherman end of things. I think it’s more keeping up with the Jones’s.

People get skunked in boats all the time. You just have more water to let yourself down with.

I like matching stuff. I guess it comes from my motocross days. All the factory team bikes looked identical. Depending what team they had to run the same gear. So I like all my rods and reels to be certain things.

I am 4th overall and have no clue how or why. I might as well be throwing darts at the wall to pick these guys

Stunting doesn’t always mean “sick” They just are growing at a slower rate because there is not enough forage for them to eat to get to maximum size. So they all get stuck around the same size.

every time I let someone who I have fished with often take the bow they quickly give it back. They usually say something to the effect “ I don’t know how you do this all and still fish. It’s easy on a lake with no wind. Add wind or go to the river where there is current and rocks is a game changer. Do any of you who become the co angler but, own a boat get bored so to speak being the co angler? I haven’t done it in a tournament setting. Anytime I hope I’m a buddy’s boat which is rare. It’s nice at first but, then I end up feeling like I have to much free time.

Maybe the bass are stunted and those bigger bass are more toward their end of life then they should be since it’s a pond. They could have died off. Is there any predators to these bass there? You also say it’s 100% C&R I’m willing to bet someone at sometime had kept something if it is open to the public.

I use braid to fluorocarbon on everything as well. Spinning and casting. I started doing this because I had lots of issues with the braid fraying on rocks in the river.

If you never owned a boat it’s hard to say what you’d like layout wise. The area I fish and what I thought I wanted have completely changed from 2019 to now. Hence why I want to get in a new boat the end of this year. If the fisher has the lay out you want and the trolling motor I think it’s a no brainer as long as it’s in good condition. A 45 edge is terrible. You’ll be looking at $200 in bats or more and $1800 plus to get an 80 thrust with spot lock. I am sure you can find deals on things but just something to think about.

I’m trying to figure out where the bad news is.

The line up as of now! I am going to replace some of the spinning reels with ultegras eventually. I love the look of having all the same rod/reel.

I figured if I am catching everyone else is catching too lol.

I personally do not like if the first few sentences out of someone’s mouth is asking if I am catching. If we get into a conversation I have no problem spilling the beans most times. When the conversation goes “nice day out catch anything?” I just say win some lose some and go about what i was doing. I will never flat out ask anyone about their fishing success. The other week I did help someone navigate the susky that was unfamiliar with it. We got back to the ramp he thanked me. He also told me that way was a lot better then how he was going to do it. He was going to go through the rock ledge. Which you can do but, was a risk he didn’t need to take. I showed him the safer but, shallower way.

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this. You are using feel in the most literal way possible. I am using feel as in what you like.

You can feel something and like it or not like it. That doesn’t mean that is exactly the same for everyone. If my finger tip is more callused then yours that feeling will be different. That’s like saying if you like soda you should like coke and Pepsi equally.

Those who can’t do teach! Thank you for the kind words.

It all comes down to feel for most people. Some people do try something once for ten minutes and decide they don’t like it. I know I do not like using anything other than braid for main line. I feel to disconnected from the bait. Others hate braid. Feel is an opinion.