Bazoo

I don't travel specifically for smallies. I do want to check out Dale Hollow though. Maps says I'm about 2 hours from it.

1/8oz Trap and X-Rap, and a big X-Rap thrown in. Proud of this because of the cold water. Cold weather has always been a struggle for me, and I'm starting to figure it out. Small ones are better than no ones.

Those Dobyns rods on Amazon have free shipping. I checked out the Maverick Series in the store today. Course, they are $100 in store.

@HawkeyeSmallie the Trilene knot works for all 3 types of line, and it's a clinch knot with an extra pass through the eye. @WRB-2.0 I have no doubt that what you say is true. The purpose of me learning the Pitzen is that when tied this way it's easy to tie under adverse conditions.

Awesome, congratulations. I am still new, though I own 2 boats. I've put my plastic pond hopper in a couple of times. I'm still learning so I'm paying attention.

Dang, thanks @Columbia Craw!

What is everyone's favorite rod for around $50? Diawa Aird-X is highly regarded, I'm about to find out what all the fuss is about. I have a Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick that's a decent rod, and a BPS Graphite Series that is growing on me. What else is there that's at this price point? I can't think of any others right off hand.

Could you elaborate as to what about them is not worth the cost? When I look at them in the store, I don't see any obvious thing that say "cheap" or "not worth it". I do have high expectations for the Aird-X rod that I have coming. I am already thinking of another.

I haven't picked up a Laguna yet. I have fondled them in the store a few times though. They are $45 in my local store, and the Aird-X is $60 in store. I did however purchase a 2 piece Aird-X to keep in the car to satisfy that need.

I have been using the Pitzen knot, tied with this swinging method for a while now and I love it. I don't use it for it's speed, rather it's ease of tying. It's particularly useful when your hands are cold, or it's windy. I can even tie it in the dark. The only complaint is that it leaves a lot of tag end, which must be clipped. That's easy enough.

There is an Academy in town, and a BPS and a Cabelas about 60 Miles north. It doesn't matter, but I enjoy solving the mystery.

It doesn't appear to be a diamond shad. The pictures I see of it show a full diamond texture on the sides. This one only has a half texture from the lateral line up, and the diamonds are small.

It is not a Cotton Cordell Super Spot. A SS has a contour to the body, and the lip is rounded at the terminus. This lure is flat sided and the lip is nearly square at the terminus, very similar to a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap.

I found this on the ground, it was solid white when I found it. It has a unique texture, and is very close in size and shape of a 1/2oz Rat-L-Trap. I replaced the hooks. Anyone recognize it?

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the current line of Fish Eagle rods? https://www.basspro.com/p/bass-pro-shops-fish-eagle-casting-rod-101295249

Since power is pretty subjective to the rod builders, there is a lot of crossover between Medium and Medium Heavy it seems. Is the best way to judge rods in the store by comparing the physical size of the blanks? So if I am looking at a M and a MH that are the same diameter just above the reel seat, would they be pretty close then normally? I suppose you'd probably also need to compare rods that are in the same price ranges? Not compare a $50 rod to a $500 rod in other words? An example of rods I'm looking at, the Diawa Aird-X in MH/F looks and feels very similar to the Lews Hank Parker M/F rod I have. Should I then expect them to be very similar? Of course, I have fished the Lews, but I have only handled the Aird-X in the store.

Awesome, thanks for sharing. Like the look of those jigheads too.

I didn't know this. Thanks.

I rig them up and put them in the bag with the flukes. An empty bag would be better. I'm using mono though.

My reels aren't made by DOYO, as they are made in china, not Korea.

Well, I went back to Academy and fondled the Aird-X rods a while. They didn't have, nor could they order the 2-piece rod. But their solid 6'6" casting was very nice. So nice, that when I got home, I ordered one of the 6'6" 2 piece M/F off Amazon. I liked the feel of the MH/F but the 2 piece is only available in 7', and I don't know that I can handle the length while bank fishing as I fish a lot of flukes and now hard jerkbaits. I do mostly downward twitches with them.

What are the better choices? Is there anything wrong with the Bomber crankbaits? What about the old Bill Dance ones? Were they better?

I've been using the Fat Free Guppy quite a bit, and having some success with it. They are only $4 when purchased in town from Walmart. Kinda makes me a bit leery because they are "value" priced. They look more like an $8 crankbait to me. I do have to tune them about half of the time though. I haven't tried the FF fry. Have a limitied amount of experience with the FF Fingerling. What is everyone elses opinion of the Fat Free Series?

I found this little guy, got a picture then lost it. Anyon know what it is? No markings whatsoever on it, and the hooks were extremely sharp.

Original Spit'n Image off ebay is worth it to me.