Brycecover

I will have to look into this. I need some 17 pound line for a couple of my reels and was going to get some flouro. For a lot of my setups I use sunline super natural mono due to the thin diameter. For some reason I have never felt like spending the extra on fluorocarbon lines. The cheap stuff isn’t very good normally and the better stuff is kind of expensive. What pound test/techniques have you been using it for?

For me I haven’t had many days where I catch numbers on chatterbaits. But I have caught plenty of big ones. Multiple 4 pounders, a 5 and a 6 pounder in the last two years on a bladed jig. Something about that thump gets the big ones to bite Edit: I like the evo ones they started making but I’ve also caught some good ones on the Thunder cricket. That actually caught me my first 3 pounder pb around 3 years ago.

After reading messages on here I have definitely become much more mindful, but I still strive to be more stealthy like you describe. The time crunch is definitely hindering me finding fish, but if it allows me to spend more time on the water it’s worth it to me. It amazes me how day by day the fish in my home pond/lake seem to always utilize a new bank. What are your go to lures to cover water?

Yeah, I feel like I do need to cover more water. I went out Monday and caught 3 on a popper but felt like I could have got more if I continued covering water instead of slowing down with a worm at historically good spots for me, with no luck. I tried covering water more on Wednesday with a frog, popper, and bladed jig but only left with 1 bluegill. These were 1 hour kayak trips before work, so maybe I just need to spend more time on the water. I was actually planning on buying the paddle holder I see on your setup. It looks like it would help reduce the noise when setting down your paddle.

That’s impressive. Any tips for approaching lakes on kayak/ canoe?

I have been catching more other species since coming back home and getting back on my kayak. In my neighborhood lake I caught 2 pickerel this week, and I’ve only fished for around two and a half hours. Previously I’ve only ever caught 1 or 2 fishing there for over a year. I am in Spotsylvania VA btw. Would you guys remove them from your home lake, given this is 28 acres and not managed for fishing would it help the bass to remove the pickerel?

I hope that mine is yet to come. My prime as of my life so far was high school. Much more free time, and many more spots around my hometown. I would say specifically my prime was when I first started kayak fishing. Hopefully I can keep my kayak with me next year and have more spots available, but this year(school year) I have not got to do much bass fishing. I feel that in Blacksburg there are a very limited number of spots, especially fishing from the bank. River fishing is also a whole different game than reservoirs I am used to. I have three more years here so hopefully I can find some success.

I also believe I catch more fish downsizing. Sometimes small, sometimes big ones. I caught this fish, 5.86 on a 1/16 little jig with a skirt and a 2” craw. Another nice one on the same setup:

I used to have the Mansfield and it was good for 1/4 chatterbaits and small cranks like a kvd 1.0. I have the lowrider finesse jig currently which is good for more accurate casting of flukes, finesse jig, 6 inch senko Texas rig, and 3/8 bladed jig

I didn’t notice that about the lure ratings. Tactical bassin recommends them and I think the eagle and hmg that I felt in store felt nice.

I have an older chrinarch sf 100 and bass pro shops that are both 5 gear ratios. I don’t use them too often but they both still work well despite being older than me.

I want to try them and like one of their products. But I got a spinning reel(megajaws non elite) at 50% off on Amazon for $40. Reel was smooth and felt good except for a click at the bottom of the spool movement and a squeal from the drag when at lower pressures.

Nice fish. Where do you like to fish on the Rappahanock? I live in Spotsylvania county.

You can always find deals on Facebook/ebay. I bought a brand new metanium and a lightly used silver wolf(both jdm models) for way less than you can even get them on digitaka just because the guy bought so many reels and never used them all. There are good deals out there.

Gear has gone up. Tariffs from Japan, and U.S. prices. For example, you used to get a metal framed slx for 99. Now for 95 you get the plastic frame caius. Lews changed the speed spool from 99 to 140 but it may be discontinued now for different models. The stuff other people mentioned as well.

Is that with it tightened down all the way? I don’t have my slx xt anymore, but I remember when I had it I used it a lot. Mine did get Geary and I think it just needed a bearing replaced. I never had any issues with the drag and it was plenty tight at its full setting for hooksets. What knots did you use to tie to the spool? And what kind of line?

I owned a gen 2 lfs and a gen 3. I thought the gen 2 was better than the gen 3 actually. It just palmed much smaller and they actually kept the price at 100. The thing that I didn’t like about either one of them is the graphite grey finish and the mag trax brakes. They are fine for heavier lures but for lighter lures I feel like my Daiwas did better and my shimanos definitely could outcast the lews. Saying all this I still enjoyed the lews reels I’ve owned and don’t want to discourage you from buying any brand.

I would also like to add that when I snapped my wrist to hard on a cast I did backlash the reel twice. But at the same time it was very forgiving when skipping weightless plastics. So it is probably something to do with casting form.

I also enjoy the silver wolf with the sv boost pe spool. I have mine spooled with varivas 1.2 to a 12 lb leader and have used it for weightless plastics so far.

I would personally go shallow. Better question is where you found a lake that you have that much bank access.

How much are those livre handles?

I have never owned a sierra. Based on owning the Dobyns kaden for a while and feeling the tatula xt in store, it is a step up. The tatula xt is a lower price point for sure. By the way, the tatula xt is still a good rod for the price for sure

I agree. For some reason I don’t like fishing around other boats. I guess it’s because the main lake fish is small (28 acres) so there isn’t too much water to cover. My favorite thing is fishing in the morning with no other boats.

Mine scratched very easily, but it may have just been how it was set down.