Steveo-1969

Unless the Broncos defense plays like the '85 Bears I don't see how the Panthers can lose...

Unlike most of you, I don't own a boat and I don't fish lakes. I'm fortunate to live just a few minutes from the Upper Potomac and 99% of my fishing is there, wading or from the bank. With that said I take an annual vacation to Kentucky Lake, rent a small 14' boat from the resort we stay at, drift around on the ledges for a week, and even manage to catch a fish once in a while. So by default my favorite lake is Kentucky Lake! Ha-ha. It's my chance to fish from a boat and catch largemouth instead of smallmouth. The end of June can't get here fast enough!!

That's it, this thread can now be locked!!!! In "When the Music's Over" on the word NOW!!!!, or his scream at the end of their live version of "Gloria" absolutely gives me goose bumps and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He was the best!!!!

Hi Matt, welcome to BR! I totally thought your post was going to say "Hi my name is... Slim Shady"

I'm curious... Why not either of those guys?

Mine was 3 years ago. I had already rediscovered fishing after a 13-year hiatus and finally talked my son into fishing with me. We waded out to a spot that I had caught some fish at in the past and he hooks up with a 14" smallie on his first cast. For the next hour we caught over 30 smallmouth between us. Nothing big, but he was literally hooked after that and is now my favorite fishing partner. Best fishing day ever...

Denny Brauer and Mark Zona were the first two I thought of when I opened this thread. Brauer Bass Battles with Denny and his son Chad was my favorite fishing show, I really miss it. I'd also like to fish with Mike D from Lunkerville. I'm betting he knows WAY more about fishing than he lets on during the show.

I fish these baits on a M power Fast action baitcasting rod with the same rigging you do - open hook swimbait jig head, weighted swimbait hook, and t-rigged with a pegged bullet weight. I'm not fishing around any heavy cover and for me the M power is plenty to get a good hook set and fight the fish.

I haven't fished swim jigs (yet!) but a t-rigged Menace Grub is one of my top producers for river smallmouth.

Dang. I saw the title of this thread and name of user and thought I was going to get tips from a pro. Lots of good threads in here about different baits for smallies. Welcome to BR!!

Thanks T9!

Another "budget" fluorocarbon you might consider is Gander Mountain fluoro. 400 yards for $20. I've been using 10# on a baitcaster for about a month and have no complaints yet. Strong knots, good abrasion resistance, very manageable. I use KVD Line & Lure conditioner. I don't fish crankbaits though so have no opinion on this line with that technique.

Thanks for the update. Also from their newsletter: 100% of the orders at SFTtackle.com have been filled with zero delay and we expect that to continue. Other than our brick and mortar retail operation being suspended until construction is complete, it is business as usual here at SFT. This week's specials are sponsored by Winter Storm Jonas.

I'm echoing A-Jay. Thank you for your service and welcome to BR!

Thanks T9, that explains a lot. I could never understand why the original 24 anglers were automatically in the Cup but the Select anglers had to qualify for it. So what's the buy-in for the Select anglers? Do they share the revenue if they win in the Selects and qualify for the Cup?

I like where your head is at RW, this is the exact rod I use as well!! The rod is new to me and I have only caught one bass with it (using a Keitech FAT Impact), but I caught a dozen walleyes in December with this rod and bait. Performed flawlessly.

I used a spool of 10# Nanofil a couple years ago on a spinning rod and experienced the excessive fraying others are describing. I won't use it again.

Disclaimer: I only fish smallmouth in a river, depth usually 4 feet or less. And I'm allergic to treble hooks... (I intended to try the Ned rig last year and never did, but if I fish it this year with success it will probably go on the list...) In no particular order (though I usually try a jig first...) 1) 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 ounce finesse jigs, 2) Ragetail Menace Grub, 3) 4" Senko-style bait, 4) 3"-4" curly-tail grub, 5) Baby Rage Craw

I don't have a problem with how the officials interact with the anglers on MLF, just seems very professional to me. On the other hand, the official on Ultimate Match Fishing (UMF) goes out of his way to act like a complete jerk.

First lures I remember using were a beetle spin and a red/white Daredevle spoon. Before that it was hook/worm/bobber/split shot fishing for panfish and creek chubs.

I have a CI4+ 3000 size reel on a 6'10" ML spinning rod and the balance is great. Sorry, I have no info on a M or MH rod. I have found that light spinning reels can make a rod feel tip heavy, especially on longer rods. Can you take your reel to the store and put it on different rods to find one that balances well?

I just read that Susquehanna Fishing Tackle (one of our sponsors here) had the roof collapse Saturday on their retail store in PA thanks to Winter Storm Jonas. Hoping everyone is OK and wishing you speedy repairs!

I'm using 24# Gliss on a ML spinning rod. Initially I loved it. The 24# is thinner than the 10# Sufix 832 I had been using and the Gliss casted a mile!! No stretch and very sensitive. Now after several months of use the line is flattening out and starting to fray and the casting distance is no longer any better than I was getting with the Sufix 832 braid. I always tie on a FC leader, so the fraying is coming from the line running through the rod guides and not from rubbing it against rocks. I make a cast and the line at the reel is even slightly frayed. So with the line flattening out, bad fraying and decreased casting distance I've decided to go back to 10# 832 (neon lime) when I re-spool.

Sufix 832 comes in white, they call it "Ghost".

Not sure yet, but I can guarantee ice cream will be in there somewhere!