FryDog62

4 inch Pit Boss, Molting Craw color. Pretty basic but works well up North anyway...

It's searchable or if you can't find it let me know and I can re-post.

Given the reputation of St. Croix, I would suspect even the C rods are probably okay. At that price, I'd take a chance... (Let me know if they have any 7'-3" Frog rods at that price)

Big fan of Yozuri Hybrid. It is the only main line I will use outside of braid/leader. Stronger and less stretch than fluorocarbon, more manageable like mono but doesn't soak up water, great knots, abrasion resistance. Only knock on the line is diameter, a bit thicker than most but go down in pound test a notch or two if you need to. I use it for cranks, spinnerbaits, skipping under docks, etc...

I plan to fish more docks, but using a baitcaster this year to horse more big fish out. Still plan to skip lighter wacky worms but heavier skip jigs too. Also bought a better Frog rod to spend more time on mats and pads. Have had 5 wrist surgeries now but hope the new rod and some recovery time will allow me to get into some heavier stuff. Also bought a new boat that has Panoptix and I want to get better at finding some deeper structure where the fish hang out and doing some drop-shotting. ... so many lakes, so little time !!! I need to retire but can't quite yet --

Tats are good, also I sold my Revo S a couple years ago in favor of a Lews... all personal preference but I found the palming of the Lews superior to the Revo. Has been a solid reel for me too. Tats are good, also I sold my Revo S a couple years ago in favor of a Lews... all personal preference but I found the palming of the Lews superior to the Revo. Has been a solid reel for me too.

Going to a little shorter baitcasting rod for jerk baits this year (6'-6" MF). Don't want to give up distance in some clear waters. So what's everyone's go-to line to maximize casting distance? Braid, co-poly, fluoro, mono? I don't think they make Nanofil for baitcasters yet...

Sugar is just a didn't flavor to try vs. salt. I did try a bag once though and notice they are much lighter and don't sink very quickly unless using some weight. Seemed more durable than salted though...

For muddy/stained waters like the Mississippi or Waubay area - both for smallmouth - Yamasenko Blue Pearl (basically white) with Silver fleck. For all waters and for either large or smallmouth - Kalin Wac-O-Worm in Baby Bass.

I'm getting ready to place an online order - wondering what size Owner Twistlock LIGHT weighted hook 3/32oz for 5 inch Senkos? Can't remember what I ordered last time but It think 4/0? Thx, -Fry

X2 above -- Also books by Tim Holschlaug, although more from a river/spinning reel/fly rod perspective.

No, but we do have one 'screamer' in the group. If he weren't a relative of one of the guys he'd probably get voted off the island

I still think a 15 inch limit wouldn't be so bad and again maybe a happy medium. Maybe instead of catching 100 fish total they catch 60. That's still filming of a fish caught every minute on an hour long show. Would hold my attention better anyway. Personally, when I'm fishing with a bunch of guys and someone catches a 12 inch 14 ounce fish we're kind of embarrassed and slip it back into the water hopefully before anyone else notices ... and we're strictly amateurs at best...

Yes but figuring it out to win a dink fest is different than figuring out a lake's patterns to catch both quantity and quality are two different things --

"To me the big difference is the live score tracker & how a lot of the episodes go down to the wire. I think it makes it more exciting and intense. The format I think reflects how most people fish. Don't we all like to catch more fish but still manage to catch a few good ones in the mix?" I agree, but wonder if you could capture the same excitement but with a minimum 15 inch or 2 lbs...

I enjoy watching the competition and various personalities, but after watching a couple seasons now I am growing a little tired of the "catch everything" format. I know they want something different than the typical BASS/FLW tournament of 5 best fish, but when the average size is 14 ounces to a pound and a half, I get a little bored with it. I especially noticed this watching the Summit Cup Championship in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. These are home waters for me and to watch the finals and probably over 100 fish caught - and the largest was 3 1/2 pounds. These are waters where 4, 5 and and even a few 6 pound fish are not common, but are in relative good supply. To catch that many fish between 6 great anglers and not even a 4 pounder, I think its more of an issue of the format not the quality of fish in the lake. I don't know how many times I heard "Oh, its a GIANT" and they weigh it at 2 1/2 pounds... really? I think the fisherman are getting conditioned... Maybe reality is somewhere in between - it doesn't have to be the 5 biggest, but maybe only count fish over an acceptable size (12 inches is way too small IMO). I've always been a fan of quality over quantity and I would rather see the Pros figure out how to catch premium fish in waters where the average/amateur fisherman like me goes. Just my 2 cents worth ~

Road, what colors on the Menace do you find best for smallmouth?

"I want y'all to show me a report not done in a laboratory or someone's kitchen table & not with only 10' of line!" ... well, how about 12 feet of line hung from my vaulted ceiling?

Agree, frustrating - especially when there's an early Spring. Was it 2 years ago then was opener was moved earlier to the walleye opener..? That helped I thought. Wonder what the rationale was to do that - but then to move it again last year back to the end of May? It's a long wait for many of us that aren't walleye/meat hunters.

Thx Slone, your helping the bait monkey on my shoulder to stretch my $300 purchase to $500. Let me think about it, I'll let you know but if you need to use it in the meantime no worries. Appreciate the offer! -Fry

Looking to purchase a $300 item, wondering if anyone knows of a discount code of 20% or more to order online? Thank you --

I too am a victim of the bait monkey and have too many things that I won't use. Part of my problem is the emergence of the online retailers. I'll order plastics that look great on the web and then receive them from the UPS guy (who I've become best friends with now) and the color is not what I thought. I end up ordering another color I like better and think I'll eventually use the first order but never do...

I think you're in business. Yes, you can use line conditioner once the line is already on. Sometimes, I'll apply again after the first cast and the line is out to coat the line towards the inner spool.

Had it repaired at a local shop for about $10, seemed fine after that

I think a lot of times, he'll see a submerged rock pile at a relatively close distance and skip over there more often than he casts to it.... Says he sees the fish look up as the lure skips across the surface, and many times follow it and strike...