ChiCityBasser

I have a couple in my box and have used them and had some moderate success with them. My success with them would come as I would crank them down and then just stop and let them slowly float back up and fish would take it that way.

Sorry to hear about your Honey Hole as I'm from IL also and I hope they can bring it back. Had the same thing happen to a park district lake I use to fish that had a sudden winter thaw followed by a deep freez at the lake and there were hundreds of fish floating as the water started to thaw out again. Haven't been back there since it happened but its a shame to lose a good fishing spot.

Nice catch and yeah the heatwave is hitting plenty of areas

Drop DVT a pm or email and sure he can offer insight on this subject that will help you.

Thanks Mccliff and one of the better days I've had in awhile.

5/0 EWG hooks for me on my 10" worms

Check out the flea market for a deal

Sounds like a good time and great memories created

I wouldn't say it was an issue as pretty much all braids release some color over time. My Power Pro has lost its color and yes the Cajun does lose its color after time on the water its more like a dull faded red now on the spool.

Nice fish and I keep a spreadsheet log of each fish and the conditions and lure. I bank fish and hit most of the lakes I fish multiple time through the season and the log helps.

Its a Shimano product so that should be expected lol, Seriously I would check with DVT before cracking the seal or send it back.

I would say No you aren't wasting your time if you are catching on it and as someone said let the fish tell you whats working.

Thanks guys and yeah figuring out the pattern really turn it into a decent day out. Seems the heat broke as we got storms again this morning also which turned todays trip into a one hour outing with no success. Good luck to all you guys when u get out as well.

Right now I'm using Power Pro and Cajun Braid which has been on clearance at Cabelas for $6.99 and it has worked great. My Power Pro is about 2 years old on one of my rods and cajun about a year old on one reel. I had a reel spooled with 832 but only used it once or twice before selling the reel it was spooled on so can't really speak to its performance.

Congrats on the new PB

Thanks Larry and yeah you do know what we've been going through and just too hot to be bank beating it in those temps. Congrats on your success as well.

X2

Today was the first day I have been able to get out after a week of record temps in the Chicago area. We have been averaging temps in the upper 90's with a temp of 100 one day and heat indexes pushing over 105. Since I fish from the bank me and my brother decided to go to one of the suburban retention ponds where the fishing is normally really good for him and ok at times for me. Our plan was to get there at 5:30am right at sunrise and be off the lake by the time the heat hit at 9am. Well mother nature changed our plans by giving us some much needed rain til 5am and then flooding some of the expressways. Well we ended up getting to the lake at around 7am but the temps stayed in the mid 70's with overcast skys while we were out the entire day. My first 3 fish were dinks and when unhooking them I noticed how warm they felt and got them on a crankbait. After no hits on the crank for awhile I switch to a 10" worm with no luck moving down the bank and even tried a topwater since fish were popping up all over with no luck. The retention pond has 5-6 overflow outlets and decided the moving water would be cooler since the pond level was higher. That did the trick as I caught my next 15 fish with the biggest being just under 2 lbs all near the rushing water of the outlets and all on the same sexy shad crankbait. We left the retention pond to hit a small man made park lake and after a couple of cast near shore along shaded and weeded areas I again moved to the overflow pipes thinking again the moving water would be cooler. I caught 4 all in the same overflow area running the crank across the opening. The biggest is 3.5 lbs with the other fish being a little smaller. Soon as I would catch one another fish would fill the spot and they would swallow the crank. It felt good to get some fish on the line again.

Congrats and the first one is always fun no matter what size.

The XPS brand of shallow and super shallow crankbaits have worked great for me this year. The Egg has been my go to crank this year and never had any problems with breakage or anything.

I like the Rage Craw or the Rage Chunk as a trailer and I also try to match the color of the jig.

I just purchased a couple packs to try them out in the next couple of weeks and see how I do with them.

I had some success on a 1.5 before it feel victom to a schrub along the shoreline out of reach.

It's been record heat here in Chicago as well and haven't been out in a couple of day but I will make it out tomorrow. I plan to hit the lake just at sunrise and be off the lake by 8:30 as it will be getting warm around that time. I'm fishing from the bank and at a retention pound but I will be trying a 10" worm and a shallow to mid diving crank since the pound is maybe 7-8 feet deep. If I get no hits on either of those then I will go to a jig and see hot that works out.

I agree you should check out the Field & Stream Tec Spec line at Dick's. I have the Tec Spec 7' MH/F spinning model Tube/Rigging rod and it is a great rod at the price point. It's one of my go to rods and I've used it for T-rigs, frogs, poppers, lipless cranks and jigs. It has performed great and is light and sensitive. I have a couple of flukes tied on now and it cast them great. Sure one of the casting models will fit you just fine.