NorcalBassin

Hard no for me. Nearly every lake here closed for at least a few weeks and we also had to cancel our annual spring father/son trip to Clear Lake. The only option during that time was the Delta, but with only a couple ramps being open resulting in 1-2 hour waits to launch and again to get out it wasn't worth the 3-4 hour round trip drive. It's been great having the lakes open back up, just a little bummed we didn't get to fish the best month of the year here when they could have easily and safely left the local lakes open to county residents.

Hate to see anyone go out of business these days, but not being competitive with 4-strokes put the writing on the wall.

Cabela's has most of their Plano Edge boxes for 20% off plus free 2-day shipping for >$50 orders. https://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=734095080&CQ_search=plano+edge&CQ_zstype=REG

Thanks for the education... never considered there were other "bluegill profile" fish in there. I need to start paying a little closer attention. ?

That stinks... not like those things are cheap! I use them for neko rigging senkos and never had an issue, but I prefer crossed o-rings for wacky rigging and haven't used them for that. I will also say I use a pretty gentle casting motion for both of those though techniques... prematurely flung off way too many senkos over the years.

Sure is nice getting out on the water every week again. Nice solid bite for dinks on up to 3 pounders plus a couple trout and bluegill. Threw big swimbaits for a bit as well but no takers. Small Keitechs (2.8-3.3) were the ticket. Topwater with a Plopper Apparently even bluegill hammer Keitechs. Funny thing, I never really paid much attention to the bluegill here and hadn't noticed the orange highlights on their fins. Fished one of the arms and went all of the way up to the small log jam, navigated through it, and threw a few low expectation casts after noticing the 12* temp change. Didn't see any bass but caught a couple trout on a 2.8.

It looks like they're included in the buy 6 get 2 free DSG sale mentioned by @Chonch12 You won't come across a better deal than that very often, so now is a good time assuming you'd like to pick up that many or split an order with someone. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/search/SearchDisplay?categoryId=&storeId=15108&catalogId=12301&langId=-1&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&fromPage=Search&searchSource=Q&pageView=&beginIndex=0&DSGsearchType=Keyword&pageSize=48&searchTerm=megabass&advsearch=true&SearchType=Keyword&selectedStore=1232

Pure speculation on my part but I get the impression there's some inner turmoil with TW's staff or leadership that caused their massive delays with filling orders and decision to apparently not have a Memorial Day sale. Fisherman's Warehouse in Norcal is a smaller version of TW and also has 3 retail locations, and they've been consistently getting their orders out right away through this whole thing even while the stores were open, then closed, then partially open, and then about to reopen again now with normal hours and social distancing. I've been a very loyal TW customer for well over 10 years, but more and more of my money has been going to competitors the past few years since TW seems to be getting worse at what made them special while a few others are getting progressively better.

Thehookuptackle's sale is up now. USA20 https://www.thehookuptackle.com/

That 6'8" MXF is a great blank for what you're looking for. I had a gen 1 when they first came out and loved that rod for throwing wacky senkos.

That's a great story and something she's always going to remember. I have a couple teenage daughters I started taking out when they were 4-5 and they still love going out fishing with me when they get the chance... can't beat that quality time together. Well done.

First trip back to the home lake since it shut down a few weeks ago. Felt great getting back out there despite what seemed like half the bass and kokanee fishermen in CA being out there with us. Picked up around 60 with 2/3rds of the fish coming between 10-12 until a mid-day lull sent us home for the day. One of the better ones... Pops with a nice spot... Good news was it was a new species PB on this lake. Bad news was it wasn't the right species. Thought I had a DD LM for the first 15 seconds or so, then it just turned into the catfish v. carp v. trout quandary for the next few minutes.

All of our local lakes are back open, and after more than 2 months I was finally able to get my dad back out on the water. We were crossing our fingers for some big girls, but a 40 fish day with many of them being dinks was still quite spectacular all things considered. My first of many g-g-g-iants (on a 2.8). Not good when a crappie is top 3 of the day. Biggest of the day went a hair over 3.

I briefly lived in Missoula while attending U of M but sadly never got to fish Flathead. There are giant SM in there up to and over 7lbs, and the Flathead River also has a really good reputation for numbers and size of SM. Right about now you should be able to get into them with a jerkbait, tube, or Ned rig. I have had some great trips to the west of you in the Couer d'Alene area, and it's near the top of my list for favorite places to fish. Best of luck and be sure to post some pics and reports on the Latest Catch Pics Thread in the Fishing Reports forum when you get into them.

In the two lakes I get to fish with a population of smallmouth, the best producers have been the 3" Gitzit Chub Tube in brown craw S&P and the 2.75" Dry Creek Drop Shot tube in baby bass. However, my biggest smallmouth have pretty much all been on a deep driving crankbait when I wasn't targeting them.

210 pound Yeti cannot be trusted to supervise the baby chicks...

Absolutely terrible. Just wow.

Wow, awesome fish! Pretty cool to get 2 fish on the same day in May that would be the fish of the year for 99% of fishermen. That SM is an absolute toad and I can't believe it didn't go over 6.

One of the local lakes finally reopened and I was able to get in a quick trip with my daughter. Temp 66* and a full moon knocking on the door, but it was quiet with very little activity up shallow or in the spawning flats. Hopefully I can get out again soon and get one of the big girls. Instinctively longarming like a well-seasoned veteran.

Wow, so sorry for your losses and on top of that having it happen during such a terrible time.

I picked up that same rod and put an e7 on it when they first came out for nostalgia's sake, and I have to say I've been pleased with its performance (especially @$100). I primarily throw deep cranks on it but have also used it for larger Whopper Ploppers and wakebaits. If you don't need it right away odds are you'll be able to pick it up for $85 during TW's Memorial Day sale in 3 weeks. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SHIMNOREEL.html?from=basres

Apparently even horses get lazy during this lockdown. Caught the old fella laying down to eat the grass the other day.

Really liked the 5.7 hemi in the 1500 I drove for 10+ years, but now that I've had a 6.7 Cummins for a few years I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to gas again. Couldn't be happier.

I could say a thing or two about CA but will instead just choose to say congratulations and that I'm not jealous at all...

You're good with fishing in pretty much any lake that's open... just be sure not to play doubles badminton in the yard with the people you live with or you're toast. Singles only. Smh with some of these nonsensical rules.