BassinBrett

I would take a square bill crankbait, top water, and a jerkbait. It those three were not working I would start dragging tube and Ned rigs. With smallmouth bass it is best to get them on a top water cause it is fun!!

I am not sure you can keep the line off the rod with BFS / ultra light casting rods with a conventional guide train unless you use a lot of guide. 14+ guises for 6’8” is a lot or am I using to few. May spiral warping the guide is a better way ?

I have built 3 BFS rods with more conventional guide layout. The first two I used I guide pattern from Mud Hole. The last one used a Fuji Guide layout. I looked at a 6’8” Phoenix BFS rod yesterday and noted it had 14 guides placed close together. Now I am thinking I should use more guides than I have before. how many guide are you using to make BFS rods or how many guide are on your BFS setups?

I have used Mudhole and Get bit outdoors without issue. I have also order from Acid rods.

I just built a North Fork Composite DS 760 BFS set up. I took it to the Mississippi on Friday for smallmouth and it is awesome. The extra length made casting longer distances a breeze with 1/10 to 3/16 lures. I would say a 7 foot 4 would be nice too.

I just started building a BFS set up. I am using a NFC DS 760-1 (HM) for the blank and Fuji 9 inch rear grip with a Fuji ECSM real seat. I think the blank is a little stiff for a true BFS rod but I think I am going to like the rod when done.

I am going to the White River in AR, Wisconsin, and Mille Lac. I probably still fish some of the lakes near home.

I fished on the Mississippi today and I started with a Keitech Fat swing impact and caught nothing. I then tried a jerk bait with no hits. I then dragged a 3.5 inch ride and got 3. One was a good one too. I would start with a tube or Ned rig.

The Mississippi is up a bit today the bite was slow. The guy throwing minnows were not catching much either. I still managed to get 3 little smallmouths. 2023 is not over yet!

I tried a new one for me from Megabass today. The Megabass I X I Shad I more like s jerk bait the a crankbait. I worked today on a couple smallmouth.

Lucky craft 78 DD and XD will get down 6-8. I will be using both next year on lakes in MN and WI.

I am 2rod builds ahead of you, so I am still learning. I built my first rod on a MHX blank. The rod came out okay. My next rod was built with a NFC Xray 662. The ridges on the XRay blank take some extra care to get good wraps with. Slow a steady with backing up once in a while will get a good wrap. I have used the X-ray 2 time now and I like it. I would say get an X-ray in their mirror finish. I think it would be easier the build with. I ordered 3 bass blanks. I think they have a smooth finish. good luck

I am head to Mille Lax on Monday. I hope there is no ice yet!

The new website has saved my some money. It is so bad I have not even tried to order.

One more good one.

Hitting Mille Lacs today. Smallish are about 13 to 20 feet down in rocks. Water temperature is 42.5. Caught four so far.

Funny thing is it was cloudy in about 8 to feet of water and I was using a jerk bait. I would catch a walleye and move on.

First was on a Duo Realis Ned bait in a tan / brown color. Second one was on a LC Stacy 90 in Essex Dawn. The east side water clarity was about 4 or so.

I have been out fishing for smallmouth this year and trying to target them exclusively. Trying to fish good Smallmouth lakes and location but I end up catching walleye as well. So do you consider walleye a good indicator that smallmouth are around or do you move on? It seems like when a spot produces walleye I don’t catch any smallmouth. Thanks Brett

I then up to Mille Lac today. The water temperature at sun rise was 57. I tried around the Garrison area to star out. The weeds on Garrison reef were dying do end up moving to the eastern north of Isle, mn. I fished rock reef in the afternoon and end up with to Smallies and 2 walleyes. First smallmouth of the day as 19 inches and the second was 17. The lake temperature was 59 degrees when I left. Brett

I when with a 4000 series Vanford on my victory 7.10 hair jig rod. It was suggested to me the heavier 4000 reel would balance out the extra long rod. It seems okay to me. All my other spinning reels are 2500s

I just started building rod and my first build was a cheaper BFS set up. I am going to build another BFS/ Light action casting rod this fall or winter. If will really be a heavy BFS rod. I need help choosing a rob black for it. I am looking at rodgeeks Carbon 5 light and Cashion Light or a NFC X-ray blank. Am I missing a better brand? I like fast action rods too. Thanks Brett

I have been using the Mustad KVD Grip-Pin 2X Fine Wire Hook and Texas rigging the Ned baits. The Zmsn plastic stay on the hook correctly with the Mustad hooks. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_KVD_Grip-Pin_2X_Fine_Wire_Hook/descpage-GPT.html

I have used both PH Custom and Black Label Baits square bill Crankbaits and they both make out standing lures.

I have been using Mustad KVD Grip-Pin 2X Fine Wire Hook in size 1 for weedless Ned rig with a tungsten weight. The plastic keeper on the hook holds Z man TRDs really well.