WIGuide

The Michigan smallie record may have just been broke in the last few days. It's been all over fb and other fishing sites as well. If I caught a state record I'd turn it in as long as the fish doesn't have to be killed. I'd also probably either say I caught it out of a different lake, or when I went to release it, it wouldn't be in the same lake that it was haha.

Las year I got a steal on a BPS 100 mph parka and I absolutely love it. During the summer, it doesn't get too hot but it does an alright job of insulating in the cooler weather all by itself. However, BPS offers a liner for them which mine didn't come with, but I found the liner for my winter jacket zips in just fine. When it get's cold out, I'll zip that in and it feels just as warm as my winter jacket. For the moment, I've still got some cheap Frog Togg bibs which aren't the greatest, but they do a good job at blocking the wind and if it gets really cold, I can swap them out for sweatpants.

Xcalibur is no longer producing them. The XR50 has been moved to Booyah production, but they decided to discontinue the XCS's. A sad day for sure as they were my favorite as well. I've absolutely pounded the fish with them. Hopefully I can find a hoard of them somewhere and buy them all up haha.

I tried some a while ago and found out at least in the lower lb test's was absolute garbage. I thought maybe I got a bad spool, but I heard other with the same complaints. It was very inconsistent as far as strength went. You'd try to tie a knot and snap 1/3 as you test your knot with virtually no pressure. You'd get a knot to hold and feel good and solid and snap off 2 cast later pulling in a twig and it wouldn't break at the knot. I'm pretty careful when I tie my knots, but I thought maybe it just didn't work well with the palomar so I tried some other ones and still had the same result. I didn't hear as many bad comments about the heavier lb test so maybe that's ok, but as for me I know I won't be trying it again.

Those sour ones could make a good drop shot bait!

They do definitely still work in the darker waters up here. Try a boot tail swimbait as a trailer. Something like a swimin senko or cane thumper. There's days a spinnerbait or bladed jig is a better option, but there's days they will just eat a swim jig regardless of water clarity.

everything you can find on lurenet is produced by a Pradco owned company. Xcalibur more or less originally started out as Pradco's premium line of baits. The offered exclusive colors and Excalibur rotating treble hooks on other Pradco companies baits. For example, the Bomber Fat Free Shad with flash foil behind the paint. Over time, these baits were absorbed back into the original brands over time, and Pradco reintroduced the brand to refresh it under the Xcalibur name. This time they featured baits unique to the the brand itself.

Also explains why their stock hooks are ALWAYS Gamies too haha. Big Bite does sell their stuff for a good price. They also make the Gander Mountain line of soft plastics which can usually be found even cheaper, or in more of a bulk package.

I fish a lot of the same depth water as you, and I use mostly 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz. The trailer varies, but the majority of the time I'll throw a Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper, but other times I'll use a grub for a trailer. Color depends on conditions and water color, but since I live up north I throw a lot of pb&j and black & blue with some purple in it.

Big Bite is it's owned by Spro. Spro is actually owned by Gamakatsu. Either way though Big Bite makes some good soft plastics!

That's when you step up to the full size fish grip!

It should be simple enough to do if you're mechanically inclined. I'd say every few years and you should be ok.

That rod should work well for what you're looking for. It's pretty much the same as a H power bass rod. As far as reels go, I've had good luck with all the bps reels I've bought and have heard great things about them. Pfluger makes some quality stuff too, but I've never used one of their bait casters to say for sure. Either way you go, get the fastest retrieve you can get for the flippin/pitchin efficiency. he's asking about a baitcaster not a spinning reel

Gosh I love some of the stuff that comes out in these posts!

I always changed mine every year regardless of whether it needed to be or not, but this last year I ended up only changing line on the reels that were low. I wondered if the fluoro would be able to make it through the year, and sure enough it did without any problems. For what it's worth, I use Berkley 100% and haven't noticed any issues with memory. Can't comment for use on spinning though as I switched to braid this year for them.

It depends on if you can afford to spend $250 or not. Don't think you need to spend that to get into fishing. It can be done on any budget, but as you get into it you'll realize that the sky is the limit. If you are just starting out, $250 would be a pretty good starting point I think.

As have already been stated, they are drum. The natural lakes around me don't have them, but the Mississippi and Lake Michigan do too. People catch them all the time on artificials. I don't know how many the guys from my club caught over on Sturgeon Bay when we were practicing for state, but it seemed like just about everyone caught one.

Hey Mike, I'm also Mike! Welcome to BR!

Although I'm sure you can catch fish pitchin/flippin from the bank I really think it's a technique more suited for fishing from a boat. Catt's advice is some you should listen to. You're getting cover confused with structure. Cover is something that will hold a fish such as vegetation, a dock, a stump a log. Structure is the makeup of the lake bottom and it generally comprised of drop offs ditches humps as well as bottom composition. What catt was referring to, is structure under the pads. See if you can find a spot that has a little ditch running through it, or find a hard spot somewhere in there. Any little irregularity has a much better chance of holding fish than just a straight flat bottom with pads

Welcome to BR!

The only point in buying one second hand is the fact that it's considerably cheaper. My dad bought a smallie replica because it was less than 1/4" either bigger or smaller than his pb and I think he only paid something like $50 or $75 for it. Yes, it's not exactly his fish, but neither is a replica. I'm sure if he catches one bigger than that he'll get his own made, but for now it serves it's purpose.

Texas actually has a winter? Haha I guess i forget that to some what you guys have down there is considered a cold season. The last few winters up here in northern WI we've had weeks straight where the high temps didn't get above 0*. I always fish as late into the year as possible, and if I lived down there I have no doubt I'd fish straight through. I believe I have a tee shirt that answers your question the best though. It states, "To fish...or not to fish... what a stupid question"

Not sure what kind of scent you're using so it's hard to say for sure. All I know is that I use Kick'n Bass and it works. I can say I've ever had a time where I didn't get bit because of it. When it gets tough, all it can do is help.

You could also try fast idling it when you try to start it and see if that helps at all if you haven't already.

I caught one in about 2 feet of water on a weightless Yum Dinger. Thought I had a huge smallie on for a few seconds until it started rolling haha.