Steveo-1969

Will do. I don't get over to fish the Shenandoah often because the Potomac is so close to me, but I always seem to catch bigger smallmouth in the 'Doah.

Ah, gotcha. My cheap tennis shoes are left out in the sun to completely dry between uses and don't get mildew. But they do eventually fall apart from the wet/dry, wet/dry, wet/dry, etc. cycle. The material just isn't designed to handle that. But it sounds like Mucks waterproof shoes are your answer.

Thanks Tom, that's the first time I've seen this explanation which is surprising considering this exact thread is started about 17 times per year... BTW: Put me in the "baitcast reel - right hand" and "spinning reel - left hand" club. And I AIN'T CHANGING!!!!!!!!!!

Another that hasn't been mentioned is a Berkley Powerbait Ripple Shad in Firetiger color. 5 different sizes available on TW. I've always had great luck with Ripple Shads on a jig head.

I wade fish and wear cheap Walmart tennis shoes. They last me a year or two (dozens of fishing trips and hundreds of submerged hours) and eventually get replaced with another pair of cheap Walmart tennis shoes. Why do you want to buy a more expensive pair of waterproof shoes?

Welcome to Bass Resource Charlie from a fellow Eastern Panhandler...... I have waded below the Millville Dam a handful of times for smallies.

@ErikmonBillsfon - Thank you for the rigging explanation! I primarily fish Keitech Swing Impact baits on a jig head. I tried supergluing the bait to the head this past weekend with mixed results. I'll give the twistlock hook a try.

I'll send you a message about how to find a rep sample or a used rod. I have an NRX 893c and an NRX MBR 842c and bought both as rep samples for under $400 each. They came brand new with plastic and tags. The 893 is rated 3/16-5/8 and IMO 3/4 ounce would be too heavy. Sounds like an 894 would be better for you.

^^^^^this^^^^^

Have you considered a used or rep sample NRX rod? You can easily find either one for under $400. The 893c is 7'5" MHXF.

My short answer is "I don't know where your fluoro leader should break." My long answer is my limited experience with braid and fluoro leaders. I use 10# braid on my spinning rod and always tie on a fluoro leader with a uni-to-uni knot. My leader used to be 8# fluoro and when I had to break off, the fluoro would "almost always" break at the connection knot. For the past year I've been using 10# fluoro and now when I have to break off, the fluoro "almost always" breaks at the lure.

I caught my first spinnerbait bass this year.

No clue, sorry. But welcome to Bass Resource!!

Congratulations guys! Let's Go! Mountaineers!!!!

Ooooh, another celebrity has joined Bass Resource!!! ha-ha All jokes aside, I really enjoyed your Lunkerville episodes. You hammered on them! Now please release your fish below the gunnel or you will get a 2-minute fish releasing penalty.

Nice. That's a BIG smallie where I fish!! ha-ha

I haven't seen any Burney Haney episodes but I'll watch for them.

This was one of my favorite episodes. Even better that it was in 2 parts!! Your friend put on a clinic, I almost felt sorry for Mike D........

Yup. And he didn't ask "If you could only fish with one lure what would it be?" or "I want to get a new pole, what should I buy?"...

Dude, that is seriously impressive!!!!!!

If the water in my local river is low enough to safely wade, then I'm wading with only one combo. 98.527% of the time this is a baitcaster. All tackle is in a small over-the-shoulder tackle bag and I'm good to go. If I'm on the bank then I only take two combos, one spinning and one baitcasting. Any presentations I want to fish are covered by these two rods. I hate keeping track of one unused rod while fishing and I can't imagine having 2 or more rods laying around.

I throw away the shoe box and put the spool in a shoe. Seriously...

In-Fisherman is a great multi-species magazine with very informative articles. I have also subscribed to Bassmaster magazine for the past couple years and really enjoy it. Especially the Day on the Lake article in every issue.

That's what I look like when a big fish gets away too!!!!!!!

@ErikmonBillsfon I am one of the "Keitech durability complainers". How do you rig it so you can catch 12 fish on the same swimbait?