Steveo-1969

I agree. I didn't even know who he was until I watched Project Z. Seems like a really good guy.

I rarely use a plastic bait that doesn't have any impregnated scent. And if I do, I'm probably dipping it in garlic scent. For me it's a confidence thing.

As others have said, you can get a quality reel for less, but if you have your mind set on a Shimano Stradic CI4+ you won't be disappointed. And it is NOT just for finesse fishing. I've been using the 3000 size for a year and I love it. For $100 you can get an *** Black spinning rod. My son has one that I've used and it fishes well, very light and sensitive. BTW: Welcome to the forums Jack!!

On my spinning rod I use 10# braid with an 8# fluoro leader. Works for me. I have one baitcaster spooled with braid and use 30# braid with a 12# fluoro leader. I don't fish heavy cover/vegetation though. I fish a rocky river and 12# fluoro leader works for me.

That's ok Hootie. We still "like" you!

I go to KY Lake every year on vacation and drift fishing is all we do. We use a small boat with a 15hp outboard, no trolling motor and no anchor. We find a ledge, figure out which way the wind will drift us and fish. If we are lucky the wind blows us along the ledge. If it's blowing us across the ledge we drift across it, fire up the motor and reposition, drift across, repeat. When we catch a fish we throw out a marker buoy and repeat that same drift several times. I find it very relaxing and we even catch a fish once in a while... ha-ha.

Welcome to BR! I'm a transplanted Wisconsinite myself, born and raised near Fond du Lac.

Welcome to BR! I'm a transplanted Wisconsinite myself, born and raised near Fond du Lac.

I use the uni-to-uni knot, and use fluoro as a leader. After using it the past couple years I can now tie a leader on in about 30 seconds. You didn't mention the knots you have tried, but if they are coming apart as soon as you tie them it sounds like you are doing something wrong.

Hi Brian, sorry I missed your question before. I've fished Sleepy Creek twice this spring in my buddy's boat. We have one 12" LM to show for it. Just couldn't find them or make them bite. We fished it several times last year as well and caught some little LM, biggest maybe 2#. I did catch a 30" northern pike up there last year though, that was fun!

Great fish! I fish a river not a creek, but I love catching the brown fish. I'm shorebound much of the year myself but when the water is low enough to safely wade I'm standing in the middle of the river instead of on the bank. That's my escape, I'd rather wade than fish from a boat. And I'm jealous, I only catch 1-2 3# smallies a year. Most of mine average about 12 inches.

I'm like you too, I would consider myself a soft plastic fisherman (and jigs). I have an aversion to anything with treble hooks. I'm sure I am missing the opportunity to catch fish but I'm ok with that.

I've read some complicated (for me) ways to figure out how much backing to put on, but for me I just fill about half of it with a cheap mono and then fill the rest with the fluoro or braid I'm actually going to fish with. I don't worry about matching the line size of the backing to the main line. If you are worried about not having enough main line stop filling with backing before you get halfway.

Welcome to BR Phu Man! I'm in Falling Waters, WV which is just north of Martinsburg.

I grew up in WI and have caught lots and lots and lots of pike that size in my life. I've never caught a chain pickerel before though. I bet they are slimy little suckers, eh?

Very cool! Were those pickerel or pike?

I was braid on both spinning and casting until this year. I put fluoro on my jig/worm rod to see if what I've read is true - better sensitivity for bottom contact baits on slack line in deep water. I won't find that out until June while on vacation. Line manageability has been fine so far, but the stretch is going to take some getting used after using braid exclusively for the last couple years.

I would love to say I look at weather patterns and then conditions when I get to the water and decide what to try first. But I'd by lying. I usually try a new bait at the beginning of the season and will throw that first. Then if I don't get bit I start using other baits. 2 years ago was t-rigged craws. Last year was finesse jigs. This year will probably be the Ned rig with all the good things I've been reading about them.

These are my favorites. They make a light-wire version too.

Ah, Juniata. I've got a buddy in PA that has been after me to fish the Susky with him. I gotta take him up on the offer! Congrats again!!! BTW: I googled "Backroom Baits" and didn't see a website. However, the results it did give me were NSFW. ;-)

I use 10# braid (so even thinner) and I've never had the braid catch the large rod guide while casting. The problem I occasionally have is when I miss on a hookset and my bait comes flying back at me the line will get wrapped around the rod tip guide and get knotted up.

Oh my goodness, that's a pig! Congrats on your PB, I think she could eat my PB smallmouth!!!! I noticed your location is PA, but your favorite river is the Potomac. Did you catch this on the Susquehanna? Or the Potomac? Or neither? Not looking for secret spot, just curious...

I just watched an episode of Timmy Horton Outdoors and he was fishing in upstate NY (I think) and throwing a BPS Speed Shad. It looks EXACTLY the same, even the same clamshell packaging and weird sizes (3.8", 4.8"). He looked pretty dry, so I bet the natives hadn't caught on yet to what he was throwing...

I've used spinning reels my whole life but never paid attention to brand or quality until a few years ago. It was always "buy the cheapest combo". I bought an Abu Orra S about 3 years ago that has been a workhorse for me. It's grindy and looks like h3ll, but the drag is still smooth and it works great for me. 2 years ago I bought a Pflueger President after reading great reviews about this $60 reel and the bail stopped working after 3 months. Never again. Last year I bought a Shimano Stradic CI4+ and couldn't be happier. It's had 500+ hours of fishing and still feels brand new. For casting my first reel 3 years ago was an Abu Revo S and still works fine today. 2 years ago I bought a BPS Carbonlite (black) and while I don't have any real complaints it's not my favorite. 2 months ago I started using a Shimano Curado I and so far this is my favorite BC reel. Smooth casts, smooth retrieve, smooth drag and with 2 brakes on I'm having a hard time backlashing it. YAY!! You didn't ask about rods so I'm not discussing them.

Green pumpkin or watermelon red are the only two colors I use for Senko (type) baits.