Master Bait'r

Cool well just so you know... PA REGULATIONS It is unlawful for a person to sell, purchase, offer for sale or barter live snakehead species in Pennsylvania. It is unlawful to possess live snakehead species in Pennsylvania. It is unlawful to introduce or import live snakehead species into Pennsylvania waters. Transportation of live snakehead species in or through Pennsylvania is prohibited. So I'm not sure how the fish was introduced into said private pond, how long he plans on possessing it or how many times you boys catch something before you kill it and actually I don't really care but have a nice day in any case. Just trying to be helpful. Lots of people don't know or care and I like to imagine us all as not being part of that. When you said he caught it before I took you two for people who had no idea how bad snakeheads are- Sorry if that isn't the case!

I am seriously glad this doesn't exist near me. If it was BYOB and had a tackle section I might move right in!

*sigh* I don't actually know or care where you are at this very moment, but per your "location", the PA FBC's website had this to say: IF YOU CATCH ONE Anglers catching snakeheads should dispose of them properly. Anglers suspecting they have caught a snakehead are encouraged to NOT release it, and report it to the Commission at 610-847-2442 or via email. So while yes, you may be technically correct in it not being ILLEGAL to re-release one in PA the bigger picture is that it's that way because they aren't prevalent enough to call for a law on it yet- and the FBC is literally asking for your help in figuring out where they even are at this point. Perhaps YOU should read up on proper disposal of them! In any case if you don't care about responsible enjoyment of the waterways, I can't make you. Have a nice day sir, and enjoy your lunkershare snakehead management efforts. Lol.

Taking the boy out again tomorrow morning- this will be his first time out fishing solo in a kayak. He's been paddling before, but this will be his first time getting his line wet from one. He is really excited and so am I! I'll be bringing two combos for him- one 6' MF spinning setup and one 6'6" MH spinning setup. Both with braid. Right now I'm thinking a t-rigged worm or craw on the little guy and some kind of a spinnerbait on the bigger one to start out. Any input from you guys on what bait you've had the best luck with for kids? Fwiw, pictured below is the pond we will be going to- just a little jewel-like ring of emergent cover near where we live, deep in the middle (20+) and clean bottom in the center portion. It is also stocked with trout every year just for the kid derby, but that's really the only day it's actually fished to any degree by anyone but me. In this pond, even at his farthest away (he is really excited to "do his own fishing") I can still keep a close eye on him and be there to help if he needs anything- he can get a little adventure space and I can still feel like a responsible parent. Thanks in advance for any kid tips though!

You know it's illegal to put those back in the water, right? Good eating too!!

Yes. Get a pair of these babies and it's a breeze. Tie a knot in the middle, push these through the leg holes and grab a "foot" and push/pull it through both holes at once. Also a dab of spit seems to really help too.

I get a 1/4oz pocket frog and the baby jawbone frogs together. Rip off the LHunt legs, swap in skirt legs and put in the hooks from the jawbroni. That's seems to be the money shot so far. The frog is the smallest there is, and skirt legs make it even smaller and easier to inhale. It is kind of a pain to have to do but it's pretty consistently the highest producer. I've lost a few, used the above recipe again and although the jawbone hooks kind of suck it still works and you can bend them around to where you want them and it will slay. I'm using casting gear I would normally throw jig and worm type baits with but spinning would be fine too. MH may work but it's all about the rod loading so results will vary. I like my MXF setup because it lets me bomb them super far and the lightness doesn't make a big splash. It definitely will never replace the big dog frog setup because it can't reach into the heavy stuff but it's killer on the fringe.

Thats incredible! I'm more of a jerkbait guy though. X-80s and 110s/110 jrs are my JAM. I love fishing them, heck I love just looking at them!

There's no such thing as having enough trick darters. Edit: prop darters

I picked up some of the leeches, but have yet to try them. To the guy above who wants to Ned them, those heads are too bi/long IMO. Maybe try a cocho cocho guard head or similar shorter shank option. The solid bead of plastic at the head is TINY.

To me confidence isn't necessarily confidence in catching but more of confidence in what the bait is doing and the look I'm giving. It's also knowing how the rod loads, the hooks sets stick nice and the drag behaves with X size fish on Y combo. When I am familiar with all the variables in my control, I'm fishing confident. When I'm learning, experimenting or just trying new things/equipment I fish more tentatively because I am still maybe unsure of what the bait is doing and how the fish tend to react, or maybe dialing in a new combo and getting the feel of the cast control, brakes, spool and rod loading etc.

Ate a few really big fish I wish I had the education to let go. Oh well. Could be worse I guess but it still bothers me.

Those Ned tubes are going to take every last penny of smallies' lunch money.

It really depends day to day. When I'm covering water I usually like to do a fast wiggly walk so they don't get a great look at it. If I've seen something to make me think there's a higher likelihood of a fish being there, I may try to do 1-2 quick twitches and kill it on the spot, let it sit for 10 or more seconds sometimes and then do another twitch or two, especially if it's a really realistic or smaller frog.

Search "finesse frogging". Start hooking up with smaller baits and go up in size from there once you've assembled a large enough picture of where/when/how etc.. That's what I would do anyways. It's hard to figure out any plausible answers without any hard data though y'know? Once you have *something* to go on I find things get easier and you relax a little more too.

Hahaha this!! Don't forget that (insert his next desired boat here) has gotten awesome reviews and looks really cool too.

Well now he's getting paid to fish sooooo... Commendations are overrated anyways.

For $600 I'd buy it in a heartbeat Full retail probably not again. It is comfy as heck, lots of sexy bits and a wheel, but I must say the hull pirouettes like a flippin ballerina. When they released the paddle/motor console thing I was like "of course!" because why else design a hull that pivots on center? If you get it buy a hand paddle for sure, otherwise you're going to set the boat on fire lol

Frustrating for sure. Everybody's alive and well though, and there's a lot to be said for that. When it rains it pours though, that's for sure.

As a lover of garlic I can't take the fake garlic smell. It makes me sad inside when I smell Lego garlic.

Certainly! If I'm going someplace that's TRULY a bushwack or it has a boat launch it's totally fair game for the share game. If it's close to home and under the radar though, it's flat out Fight Club Rules haha

Yeah not on my waters. Most places I fish are smaller ponds and secluded lakes. Tell one guy, he tells one guy and so on... Two weeks later there isn't even a shad fry left in it. Believe me when I say I know what I'm doing and I know my area. I am this way for a reason.

Not me!! Lol... I like to talk about technique, not locations. I'm not on any lakes like TB either though FWIW.

This thread is delivering big

YZH is great line for sure but a bit too stretchy for me. I'm more of a CXX guy. Hybrid line rocks. Gotta love being able to dial your attributes and still not break the bank.