FryDog62

This one was pretty orange... I think on a sunny day would have shown the color more. Could be tannick stain, eating rusty crayfish... or just getting ready for Halloween...

I find MH and Heavy St. Croix rods in that price range to be quite heavy and tip-weighted which I think would be cumbersome in a kayak. I have not fished the new Victory lineup and have heard they are intended to be a much needed improvement in that regard. I'd personally go Dobyns Champ or ALX Zolo for balance. I picked up an Enox in ALF's Labor Day sale for $256... wish I would have bought more, heckuva rod ?

I’ve owned from Ugly sticks to NRX and the Smallmouth Elite Tech MXF is the single best spinning rod I have ever owned. The rod itself is great but the handle sets it apart from all others. The Medium-Fast they replaced it with couldn’t hold its jock strap.

I’ve gone to an “Over-Spin” to get deeper with Spinners instead of the big, high-torque spinnerbait. 1/2 oz and seems to get down and stay down better without the tedious ultra-slow roll...

Buzzbaits in the morning - I will add to this based on experience around reeds. I know a few high percentage spots up North where reeds are growing off a point, or on isolated structure... Then you throw the usual swim jig, chatter bait, plastic ... and nothing. Scratch your head... I learned to come back a half hour later and throw a buzzbait across the outer edge of the reeds, and work inward as you keep casting. Or cast over the reeds to the other side and pull back and steer through the stems best you can. More times than not, I have had explosive blow ups and picked off a few bigger/smarter fish in the process. Something different, that ticks them off, gets a more violent reaction, etc. seems to work where other traditional lures don't. Worth a try anyway ~

As of today, you can now get on a waiting list to order them on TW... not aware of any other sites that are taking orders yet... would be nice to get them here before ice up ~

Even a little more amazing that he caught it in July - when it wasn't full of spawn, or loading up on food in the Fall - and also caught in a river system where fish tend to be a bit skinnier. I've caught several 21 inch smallmouth but none over 6 lbs. He caught a tank!

Here’s the 1/2 ounce, skirted “Over-Spin” I came up with until FlashX is available. Unlike an Underspin that loses its blade underneath when it deflects off of rocks/cover - but also designed to get deeper than a traditional spinnerbait with a smaller blade and flexible wire on top. Hopefully just what the doctor ordered for deeper, Fall bass ?

The number 1 difference between FC and mono for me is that FC is denser and sinks. Certain uses a sinking line makes a huge difference IMO like: 1) Light Ned rigs that you need to keep down on or towards the bottom. I find straight FC gets a 1/16 oz Ned down to where it should be. If I'm using mono or even braid with FC leader, I have to go to a 1/8 oz head and I get less bites. 2) A weightless wacky worm or T-Rigged Senko have a better sink rate with FC - where with mono keeps it from getting down into the strike zone as well, or even at all.

If you plan to skip lures, any Daiwa SV is hard to beat... If you need casting distance with higher profile, lighter lures like a jerk bait, buzz bait, etc go with the Tatula Elite. Easily 20%+ farther than a Tatula 100 with those tougher lures to cast. Elite p/f is really nice when pitching lures out a little farther at a lower trajectory for softer/quieter lure entry into the water so you don't spook fish with the big "plop" at the end of your flip.

They are a big hazard/nuisance here in Minnesota. They are our state bird and unfortunately, people try to feed them and so they approach boats, lures, etc. Many close calls on my end from tubes to chatterbaits. Known many people that have caught them and it is nasty/dangerous to unhook them.

Appreciate the answers from all ~ For those of you scoring at home the final count (including 1/2 votes) is: Braid: 4 Fluorocarbon: 3 Mono: 7 I think I'll go with Co-poly lol...

I have found bigger smallmouth in some deep holes, or more often right next to them in slack water. They are pretty smart and spook easy. There is a new Maxscent tube coming out this Fall. I plan to toss them into and near the deeper holes and almost dead stick them, small twitches and movements for long periods. Smallmouth are smart, but they are also curious and territorial. If there is a big one nearby and sees a tube long enough, it will hit it out of irritation as much as anything. Maxscent Flat Worm obviously catches smallmouth like few other drop-shot lures ever have, really looking forward to the tube version.

What size?

Am condensing my rod/reel combos for an upcoming trip in someone else's boat. I have a good all-round 7 foot MH-Fast rod that ideally I would want to use for both Texas-rigs and buzzbaits. I have one reel for that combo that I need to string up before I go. Do I use: Braid: great for T-rigs, great hook-sets for both applications, but can occasionally foul up on buzzbait casts and is less forgiving as you try to land fish near the boat. Fluorocarbon: I see Swindle, KVD, Hackney using for buzzbaits - what do they know? Fluoro can be good for T-rigs provided not in heavy slop, which I'm usually not but sometimes. Mono: Jack of all trades, master of none. But some might argue a good compromise.

Maybe more of a mental thing for me but I do notice a difference between those two weights. I rarely go higher than 3/16, and if I do it is usually to a jig of some kind...

Even in a state where we have over 10,000 lakes (and even some counties have more than 2,000!) we are seeing unprecedented pressure. I think when Covid hit, our state pretty much shut down except our Governor said you could go out and fish. And people did in record numbers. Add in the extra tournament pressure in recent years, the emergence of high school fishing teams, pleasure boats, etc. and yes we are feeling the pressure even here. Has it affected our fishing in a negative way - yes, but I’d rather see people outside enjoying an activity rather than sitting inside watching cable news or on electronics (as I sit inside typing this of course). As much as I’ve seen a slight overall decline in fishing success (me and others included) we just had two prominent annual tournaments (one largemouth, one smallmouth) where several very large fish were caught and a couple bags were highest in years. Both fishermen and the fish will continue to adapt. I do sense an overall decline in numbers/size but barring any major change (drought, invasive species, DNR mis-management) that we will continue to be able to participate in our favorite past time with continued enjoyment.

3.8 inch Geecrack Bellows on an 1/8 oz pegged Texas rig. Throw it into the weeds almost like a jig worm and barely move/almost dead stick it. The scent is so strong the fish come and find it. If the bite is tough and the fish are stuck to the inside of the deeper weeds, it works like nothing else.

I have a BFS set up I find I actually get longer/smoother casts than spinning (less line slap when casting): 7'1" Light/Fast Phenix Feather baitcasting rod Daiwa Alphas Air TW 7 lb Sniper 3//32 0z Shur-Set Ned head Xzone Ned worm or TRD I used to dread the Ned, with this set up I have a hard time putting it down now...

I had both my Orochi Braillist and Orochi Perfect Pitch break at the top 4-5 inches on casts. Levantes have been re-done and I have better confidence in them. I went through the warranty process (MB was very good) but decided to go with the Levante. So far, so good and I don’t see a big difference in sensitivity/weight, etc.

Fluke #1 by far #2 Shallow crankbait #3 Occasionally the SpyBait

ALX Deputy ?

I’m actually getting good distance with BFS. Throwing a light Ned or 1/16 oz hair jig on spinning was ok, but the line slap coming off the arbor seemed to limit some distance. I was using braid. Switched to the BFS Air TW reel and 7 lb Sniper fluoro and the hair jig just floats through the air effortlessly. Advantage of spinning has been casting into the wind, but other than that I’d easily stay BFS. Cool looking rod, where did you find it... link? Thx?

I’m having a hard time putting my Phenix Feather Lite and Air TW reel down these days. Neds and 1/16 oz hair jigs...

Could be, or maybe more likely the flimsier arm of the FlashX just flows back and gets messed up in the skirt. It doesn't do that with the MB Uoze but gravity works to your advantage there since its on the bottom. Hmmm, will just have to try the "Overspin" ? out to know, too bad its not avail til November when we're possibly hard water or close to it by then.