Smokinal

This^^^ I don't think the brand of braid is holding your distance back. It's more likely the rod or reel you're using or the reel adjustment. I use 20 lb power pro super slick and am happy with my distance. I throw my frogs on a 7' MH with a Revo and it works great.

Who doesn't!?!

I'm so happy for you A-Jay!! What a beautiful pair of brownies right there!! Please revive this thread:

I love it. For a cheap yak, it's great. I paid $250 for it on sale at Tractor Supply no less. I love the features you mentioned. Only drawback is its length as it makes it a little harder on long treks but certainly doable.

I got a 7-9 on Falcon a few years ago but my PB in Maine (home state) was 6-1; till today. Not much better but weighed in at 6-3. Good morning all around. My buddy and I tried a new hole I got wind of and it paid off. We left my boat behind today for the kayaks. Had to portage in through a small stream and over 3 beaver huts then it opens to a small, secluded pond where big girls swim. I ended up with the 6-3, a 5, 3 4's and some dinks. Definitely going back there again. The 6-3 and one of the 4's

I almost always throw a soft toad, like a Zoom Horny Toad, due to the fact I have good success killing it in openings and you can't do that with a buzzbait. I've also found when the sun comes up and that really good morning frog bite shuts down, pulling a toad under the surface like you're fishing a fluke tends to keep the bite going.

Glad to have you Shipyard!

The issue I have is that I used the exact same hook, exact same line, exact same everything. The Keitech swims, the Swimmer stays completely still unless burned.

Well then lets give this a shot! Here's (if I do this right) some pics of a couple I got last Sunday. 1 pie plate crappie and an average sized smallie:

I didn't know you could upload right from my system; thought you had to save to a site then share from there. Could you give this old dog some directions on how to put pics into threads right from my tower?

^^^Wow, you had a banner day for sure. I went out Sunday and, like you, had some rippin winds straight out of the south up the lake. I had 52 degree water. I'm still fishing this early pattern in a shallow cove with a jerkbait and the bite was still on for sure. I caught 44 bass and about 10-15 huge pie-plate crappie; all in about 5 hrs. It was absolutely stupid how good the bite was. Nothing for size but I like having a numbers day like that. All were 1.5-2.5 lbs. Tried to load some pics but Photobucket has been having problems for a while now. Anyone use anybody else for photo storing and sharing?

Went out again yesterday. The jerkbait was the ticket but I had to try the swimmer again. Water was at 52 this time and I rigged it texas style this time with same results. Rechecked my rigging twice as it just doesn't swim at slow rpm. I'm done with those. Anyone wanna trade me some Keitechs for them?

.... a 2oz glide bait and a BBZ40 rat? Maybe an A-Rig? My hesitation is that it's a Mod action, which I like for the treble hook baits but is that OK for heaving a 2oz bait? http://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/rods|/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105742080/abu-garcia-veracity-rods/2004744.uts

^^^Very nice B8Caster. Ya, it's pretty cool catching good trout by accident while bass fishing. I usually catch 1-2 in the spring and 1-2 in the fall; when we start fishing shallow with jerkbaits. In fact, this year, on my first day out, I had a really nice brookie right beside the boat. It freaked out, did a ton of alligator rolls and got off; looked to be in the 20-22" range. Glad to hear you had a good first day!

There was a post just like OP's about a year ago. Some kid claiming a friend was doing the exact same thing.

Never thought of that! Sweet tip! Thank you

I thought I'd link this here too

Finally got some soft water to launch in. Went out on 4-23. Ice had been out for a week but weather had been cold and rainy. Wasn't expecting much for temp; water was 42. Air started at 36 and went up to around 55 by 1-2pm. We fished from 6 to 11 but the bite shut right off as soon as the morning cloud cover burned off. I ended up getting 41 and my buddy with me caught 36. All on the jerkbait. This is a very typical pattern for this water just after ice-out. Not sure if it's bad luck or not but I caught one on my first cast of the year! Here's an edited vid of some of the catches early in the day when the bite was best and before the gopro battery ran out.

Maine had a season up until a few years ago. Actually, there still is an off-season I believe for trout and salmon but now bass can be targeted in open water, any time of year, catch and release.

Put a dap of super glue on it where it meets the hook if it does pull down.

I know a couple guys fishing it too. Give us a report!

Not me; I work Saturday and my son's last college double header is Sunday so I want to catch that. Ive got my name all over next Sunday though!

I got my first glide bait this year so I've been watching vids, reading etc. but I haven't heard much about water temps to throw them in. Are there any suggestions for temps that they work best in? Temps they really don't work in?

I appreciate the tips but have to reiterate that I was using the same exact setup, rigged the same exact way as I always have, and the swim was different for me. I'll definitely try them again but my first impression isn't good. I will report back with how my 2nd attempt goes.