you

I wish zoom made these in a 'baby' size like flukes and brush hogs. Love the standard UV speedworm, but I usually get better results with the gambler 5" paddle tail worm after cutting the tail manually. I use 4-5", texas-rigged curly-tail grubs for similar applications, too. Fantastic for topwater.

As a born Michigander, this made me chuckle. Might offend a few Yoopers to learn they're not on the 'mainland'

Regarding question #1, this made me think of those adhesive-backed foam pads for furniture/speakers/etc. You could try sticking one or two small ones to the top of a bait. Might not last long but they are cheap.

Spring here has been weird. We didn't really have a 'winter' (even by Florida standards), and I haven't been successful with the same shallow-water patterns as past springs. Still catching fish, but not as many and not as large on average. Shad activity has been odd, too. Kinda frustrating but there's always something to learn. Pickerel fishing has been fabulous, though. Same for inshore gulf species.

Bowfin in the summer and pickerel in the winter. Both are a lot of fun. Other centrarchids I love besides LMB are redbreasts and stumpknockers--both have beautiful colors and aggressive fights on light gear. Suwannee bass are always a treat to see, but I'm not in their territory often. And then saltwater: obviously reds and specks, but by-catch like lizardfish and ladyfish are fun, too.

Second that. There's a lake I fish where a shooting broke out over parking (https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2017/09/29/argument_over_parkin). Love fishing there, but I feel a little sad whenever I launch. Don't be those people, don't be an a**hole, realize that everyone on the lake to have a good time. That's my dogma.

@ol'crickety what do you see as the biggest functional difference between those old reels and current models? Start-up inertia? Braking? Just curious about your perspective on long-term trends in technology. I fish ~95% spinning gear. The other 5% is split between baitcasters and fly rods, with the baitcasters primarily used for anything with multiple trebles to avoid catching the line during a cast. Don't see many more advantages for kayak fishing where you are close to the water.

I don't see too many beds from a kayak before I'm right on top of them. If I don't spook a bedding bass, I won't try too hard to catch them. Feels bad catching more than a couple of bed bass in a year, personally. Can't judge others for it though--sight fishing is always exhilarating. Sight fishing bowfin is a lot more exciting, IMO. Better fights and more 10lbers!

I love 1/16 because it will sit on top of thick, submerged weeds without falling through and hanging up. Shape doesn't seem to matter, no matter what I've tried.

My mind immediately went to the Buck 110, so this:

Y'all ever stop using a brand of lure/tackle for reasons other than its ability to catch fish? I recently replaced my Kalins grubs--couldn't stand the sharp chemical smell anymore. Lot's of baits smell like some industrial slurry, but these were too much, even though I loved the action and caught plenty of bass with them.

As someone who doesn't fish professionally, I've no opinion on it's use in the big leagues. A few folks have already noted a salient truth: the pros' job is to advertise. The point about accessibility in high school leagues (or, say, opens) resonates with me, though. If FFS is beneficial enough that it stratifies the field between users and non-users, that's an issue that will ultimately dampen interest and participation in the sport. Not great. In lakes around here, I've noticed quite a few more boats spending their time offshore. It takes pressure off the bank where I usually patrol, not only for the fish, but the added experience of seeing more birds, otters, turtles, flowers, trees, etc. More power to the offshore folks if they are catching 'em, but I go fishing to get away from screens. Regardless of what happens with electronics in competitions, I would love to see the conversation shift to conservation. Do we need to revise bag limits in response to more effective harvest by folks with FFS? Are other factors like pollution or invasive species having more of an impact? Protecting the sport means protecting the ecosystems where it's played.

These gimmicks are always funny. The promo page certainly shows a benefit if you store your hooks in saltwater for three months between use. Sharpen the hook (or bump it on a few rocks) and you expose it to oxidation again. I also agree with Mike L that hook coatings don't significantly affect hook penetration. Sharpness, wire diameter, line stretch, rod action, and hookset force do that. I love Gamakatsu hooks, and the regular coating is fine. I use them regularly in saltwater without issue. Would not be surprised if the price on these gets bumped a bit higher than the regular hooks during their next inflation adjustment. Standard promo cycle.

I have a Lew's speed stick (UL 6'8"). Its construction and action are both excellent, but it handles like a medium-light. Also have a couple Lew's medium spinning rods (both 7', carbon fire and custom series) that are on the stiffer/faster end, so my only concern with a 6'6" would be the tip action. Might not be the best choice for casting light baits. Probably a great choice for heavier lures or jigging, though. What application do you have in mind? I have no experience with Shimano rods.

Lol, yep. I'll add green pumpkin magic and bluegill. Sight flash if it's for saltwater.