Rockhopper

Spinning or casting?

Happens to the best of us

Just had a quick look. I like your grip work. That distressed hidden tang blade in the most recent photo is very cool.

I just stick the spool on a big nail I have hammered into one of the poles in my shop. I use a cloth glove to apply just the slightest amount of tension to not burn my little fingers and start reeling (reel on rod). I am sure it is wrong, but I also think the tiny bit of friction heat generated helps tame the line memory. That is a common practice in the world of fly fishing using a leather patch. Haven't lost a bass yet due to legit line breakage though.

Legit. I hate the bulkiness of foregrips. You truly don't even feel the threads. Not at all uncomfortable. The way I palm the reel/rod, my index finger feels everything coming down the blank. Highly increases sensitivity for me instead of a big chunk of cork/eva sitting there.

I am completely opposite. I really enjoy fishing with the exposed threads on the real seat, and I hate the skinny grips on the victory and LTB lines.

Good news is you can still get the old ones! https://stcroixrodfactorystore.com/products/mojo-bass-casting

Just in general or the grips?

😉 Been at it for 32 years

They ruined an otherwise perfect line of rods

101 is today...supposed to be in the 80's next week. Still too hot.

Your milkshake brings all the girls to the yard

8 more hours!

The truck? I am probably going to do an iron block LS build. Had one in a jeep and it was cheap horsepower. Just need any old iron block out of a late model truck, LS top end, and computer. Cheap way to get 450 horsepower. I also need to do a trans swap. It has a 350, but its just a 3 spd. 60 to 65 mph tops otherwise the motor is singing. Definitely needs overdrive.

This is such great news!

100 here today, 101 tomorrow...

Welcome to the forum Frank. Starter shopping list: 3/0 wide gap hook (Gamakatsu and Owner are good) 1/4oz bullet weights black peg stops yum dinger black/blue fleck and green pumpkin zoom finesse worm black and green pumpkin 4" beaver of choice (I use riot baits and reaction innovations) black/blue and green pumpkin zoom fluke in white pearl 1/2oz spinnerbait white skirt/head with silver blades Popper with a white belly and one all black 2.5" frog with a white belly 7' medium heavy fast baitcasting rod 7' medium light fast spinning rod appropriate reel for each rod (as long as they're Shimano) 15lb flourocarbon baitcast 12lb flourocarbon spinning Small tackle sling bag Camo hat (preferably with a fishing manufacturer's logo, hunting will suffice) Bass Pro Shops hoodie shorts white crocks with socks Grizzly Green if thats your thing Yellow Gatorade - always yellow Monkey repellant (DON'T FORGET THIS!!!) YouTube and go have fun.

It has to be released is the caveat? Washington State record is 5" longer than the so called "world" record. Utah record is 53 1/4" from 1998 just to name two. Both longer than the world record.

That is exactly correct. Hatchery studies for Merwin have actually proved this. Stomach content showing plenty of pike minnow and very very little kokanee. That is a beautiful fish.

My dad has a 48" mount on the wall at his house caught in Utah at Pineview reservoir in the late 90's. I don't get up there often, but I will snap a photo next time I am there. It is skinnier though. Not a big fat belly like you typically see. Lake Merwin by my house has a TON of tiger musky in it. Easy to spot them as the water is crystal clear, but very hard to catch them. My biggest out of that lake so far is 40". You cannot keep them if they are under 50". That is our state minimum. (I wouldn't keep regardless) They were stocked there to eat the pike minnows and help the Kokanee population. The Washington state tiger muskie record is 50.38" / 37.88 lbs according to WDFW website. There are much bigger fish in Merwin than that. The next state record will come from that lake. My father, without getting into details about his work, controlled the fish hatcheries in the area among many other things. I always get the fish reports for all species. Get a lot of daily river reports/counts for the fish traps too. A few years ago they shocked the lake and during the study they got one just under 70". And that is not a fish tale. True story.

I just picked up three from Warbaits. I am actually quite impressed with the build quality. (I would not buy their spinnerbaits again, but thats another conversation) White and Black are the only two colors you need.

As of August 2024, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record for the all-tackle length of a tiger muskie is 45 inches (115 centimeters), caught by Daniel Caricaburu-Lundin on May 20, 2024 in Ackley Lake, Montana. The IGFA all-tackle world record for the weight of a tiger muskie is 51 pounds 3 ounces (23.21 kilograms), caught by John Knobla on July 16, 1919 in Lac Vieux-Desert, Michigan. Why do they break up the records between length and weight? Hell, we have caught tigers longer than 45 inches. Doesn't seem like an accurate "world record".

$82K for 5 acre lake lot? I live in the wrong part of the country. That would be a million here for a non developed lot if it even still existed.

I guess I should be a bit more specific. I am a sunglass guy with multiple pairs. I already know what brands/colors I like for different uses. I use green mirror with bronze lenses fishing as most of my fishing takes place in the shallows or on a river or stream. Bronze is the best you can get for that scenario. I use smoke grey for daily driving, watching my kids sports, etc. I use Oakley prizm sapphire on the baseball field for contrast enhancement. I guess after reading responses what I mean by looking to try something new is, I am looking for more of an open water lens. Blue mirror seems like it would check that box, but most blue mirror glasses seem to have smoke colored lenses. Does the smoked lenses block your vision into the water in an open water scenario?

What is your go to? Anything special that you require such as glass or plastic, etc? I am a big fan of green mirrored bronze colored lenses for fishing, but want to try something different.