FryDog62

I definitely think they fight harder than largemouth. Initially as hard as a smallmouth, but smallmouth never tire/give up where the Peacocks eventually do… they are somewhere in between, but I have never caught a 5-7 pounder either..

I just put my hand in the gill plate like you would a walleye or northern pike. If you lip those critters you’ll come back missing a digit or two. Plus holding bass by the lip can tear the ligaments in their jaw. A guide showed me the gill plate grip years ago and said it was the “conservation technique” lol.

Always 4/0 on 5 inch Caffeine Shad’s, 3/0 on the 4 inchers.

Ok, you guys convinced me… bait monkey for the win!

That being said, why is this reel labeled as Gillion instead of Zillion?

I get it and have bought items before from Asian Portal and Digitaka… but when it’s Amazon and some of the parts are reportedly different, you worry about knock-offs.

I typically don't even think about most fishing tackle/gear from Amazon for fear you get a knockoff or defective product. A friend of mine (generally a credible guy) purchased a Zillion SV TW off of Amazon and has fished with it 40+ times now. Says it's the same thing as the US reel, just that it has some aluminum parts (he reports smoother, but how about durability?) where the US version is brass.... and that it's $150 less. Anyone bought this reel off Amazon and have first hand experience? https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Gileon-1000HL-Handle-Model/dp/B08NP3DZQJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BKZ1DB8DPHA3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aSyX-OrnxvbZPmQ7mxdiD2A56Tup8JwQIG-XqdLcBmISqd3HZ83Rbi1Q7cOLB7b8fajlnpDtN7kkAYkXNbqfHsmlAkbnU68w_MEhgceIfFG-q3KTbjfCoZbqXphpjtnqsyv5jxxdvspX_9WEoljFUtixkcJDzjIO-De2c8Rnxr95-dFT0XuWbQh1tJNN2d0f1_Q1JgxKqvrQRr6pQnpDeOq6l4u0zKSwzgFrJOcSoL4.mbs3SJGUYCgG0G1boIcN-csSP2yru5uyqt0B9P4wEkE&dib_tag=se&keywords=zillion%2B2021&qid=1711305510&sprefix=zillion%2B2021%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1&th=1#customerReviews

The gold standard: NRX 852c and Steez SV TW Less expensive but still skips the weightless wacky worm: Phenix Feather 7’1” ML and Alphas SV Anyway you want to do this will require an SV spool IMO. However, I think the regular Tatula SV TW struggles with a weightless worm. Not quite as refined as the two above…

Water is heating up here in S. FLA now and the Peacocks are warming up!

Nice job Clayton, planning any more Bassmaster events this season?

Even in 2 fow with the floating tail… it’s like Flippin’ the bird at the alpha bass sitting on the dock post or way back in the dark corner…. Can’t resist… boom!

I Neko a fair amount. It’s the ideal dock skipping lure for me… it’s weighted but buried in the plastic - no klanging off docks, pontoons, etc. I like fatter or longer offerings that get the attention of bigger fish. My favorite worms have floating tails - You can either work them or let them soak, and they get noticed!

Fingers crossed Blue!!🤞

In general, how tough is the post spawn phase there… I know it can be quite the challenging body of water…

Would mid-late May be peak of the spawn on G’ville or would it be mostly over by then?

My guess is that you had a somewhat unique day in terms of a swirling wind. Most days it’s for the most part one direction and spot-lock holds pretty true. That’s why I really like the Fishing Specialties set up so that on days when the wind switches direction, I don’t have the transducer affixed to my trolling motor like on my bass boat… it’s hard to hold position and pan the area for fish when it’s on the TM. If/when I go back to a traditional boat, I will definitely get some kind of a pole set up like my kayak. It’s been a good learning. I agree with casts_by_fly… try to pick a calm day to go out and play with your settings. Time on the water heals many issues. Also btw, in general I see less fish overall on ‘scope in the Spring until it warms up enough and they really move around, but pods of baitfish can be just as fruitful as schools of game fish. Follow the bait 👍

Yes, my wife took the antiviral med Valacyclovir and it knocked it out fairly quickly…

Have heard Ivermectin can help, but may depend on your doc and what state you live in.

I bought an Alphas Air TW 5 years ago from Asian Portal. I moved and can’t find the box/specs from that vintage. Any idea if I likely have the correct model for salt? How would I check to confirm… Thx

I thought I had read somewhere that the Curado BFS reel is saltwater ready, but I contacted Shimano and they said it’s not. What other BFS reel options are there for saltwater, if any?

North or South, East or West - hands down works year round: 5 inch Caffeine Shad Owner Twistlock LIGHT 4/0

I’ve lived in extreme climates - Minnesota and Florida. Extreme temps on either end sucks. But I will say this - when the high temp is 95, you can still get out early am and at sunset in the 70’s… just avoid mid day. But when the temp is 10 degrees, you can go out early, late or even the middle of the day it always sucks.

I use fluorocarbon for anything bottom contact, or when I need a uniform sink rate. Braid plus leader makes a “hockey stick” shaped presentation where you either have to reel up line quickly to take the slack out, or sometimes… miss bites altogether. Applications that are always fluoro for me include: crankbaits, Neds, dock skipping wacky worms/flukes, Free Rig, Scat baits, paddletails/underspins…

That’s a beaut Clark!

Any of you MN guys have a current discount code for Omnia Fishing? I’ve already used Pennaz15, but I think it may still work for those of you that haven’t…