FryDog62

There are two views on Livescope - straight down and one that shoots out in front of the boat (or whatever direction the trolling motor faces). Straight down is a cone so not as wide a circle as 360 Imaging, but wider than the typical transducer. It is real time, no waiting for the screen to refresh, very accurate in identifying structure and fish, which way they are moving, etc. Absolutely great for drop-shotting, Ned/Neko, etc. Switching the view forward can go out as far as you want (I'm typically 70 feet or whatever casting distance is). Here Livescope helps you see/follow the weed edge, structure, etc. and see "some" fish movement. I say some fish because the big ones or baitfish clouds are more obvious, but less so smaller fish that are farther out or those really tight to the bottom. I think both Livescope and 360 are great to get a better idea of what's going on down below, maybe to identify structure to cast too more so than actual fish, but both to a degree. No idea which is better, just probably a little different in perspective. If we ever get out on the water together we should jump in each other's boats and compare the same area sometime. ?

Interesting - my questions are: Do you do this exercise to reduce pain, or only after the elbow is healed in order to strengthen it/prevent from recurring? Will doing this exercise cause carpal tunnel? (Which I already have) Thank you, -Fry

Will be looking forward to your review on the new 360. I contemplated that before I bought LiveScope. Both are good, fun to compare...

Hope & prayers sent Tom, -Fry

I tried Tuf-Line Hevi-Core a few years back, although it sank I wasn't impressed with tensile strength. Snapped a little too easily. I plan to try some YGK SS112 next Spring when our water is in liquid format again. Anyone used it on a bait caster, if so what size?

Tough to find rods that are good at 2 different things. For frogging the closest hybrid I have found is an ALX Zolo Toadface. Its a MH little softer tip with a Heavy backbone, labeled as MH+. Not going to give you the flex of glass, but the tip and butt section work fairly well together for me anyway. I have two of them, one for Frogging' and one for Chatterbaits which gives an idea of how they load.

Almost forgot a nearly 22 incher that my son caught on the Mississippi near the headwaters that weighed 5 1/2 lbs.

After a right wrist injury and 3 surgeries, I can no longer use spinning reels - and I’ve switched 100% to baitcasting. I do some power fishing but I’m 75% finesse. So switching to all baitcasting has been a 3 year journey. Throwing a light jig, 1/8 Ned, or skipping a weightless Senko ain’t easy on a baitcaster, but it can be done. After using several brands - Shimano, Lew’s, Abu, etc. the only one that I can consistently use for the really light stuff are the Daiwa SV spool reels. (And specifically, not the Tatula or even Zillion for 3/16 oz or less) The reels that work best for the ultra light stuff are the Steez SV TW or the Alpha SV. And even these if you are casting into the wind or skipping a weightless lure, will take practice and adjustments. But it can be done and once dialed in is effective and enjoyable. I also find it helpful to go down as low as 20 lb braid to cast the light stuff on the Steez and Alpha. Have found it helps in casting distance and have not found it to bury into the spool at that diameter very often.

I prefer the Whopper Plopper 75 over the 90... it’s shorter but deeper than the 90 and sounds crazy but has a deeper sounding plop for its size that fish (especially smb) really like. Also, if you can’t decide between a popper and a walking bait - try a Storm Arashi Cover Pop. It does both really well. It walks, and every 3rd or so turn it pops... pretty cool. Summary for me is when I need to cover a lot of water I use the WP... when I am targeting a high percentage spot I throw a Cover Pop as it stays in/near the strike zone so well..

Nice, did you determine how much the 23 incher weighed?

I agree, that’s what makes that 9 lb Virginia river smallmouth such a rare beast!

I think they’re the best, but unfortunately pike up north think so too. Therefore I use more $8 jerkbaits and probably catch just about as many bass... and don’t have to reach for the Maalox when a snot-rocket takes off with one

Was on Miss/CR dam Saturday. Water temps 32 degrees. Not much going except live bait.

Kistler 7-3 HXF is a good suggestion. The other slightly lighter option might be a Daiwa Tatula MHXF.

Smallmouth have quite an attitude and at times will hit almost anything, often bigger lures than a largemouth would hit. I was once chucking a foot long muskie lure a few years ago and caught a 10 inch smallmouth.

I think I need to invest in an arm band... .. and I might need to also stop the repetitive motion of continually patting myself on the back (middle child, no one else did

Ha! I wish. I usually fish 10-12 lb line for Chatterbaits, but Advance is thicker so I drop down in size and I think it evens out pretty close...

They are a breed amongst themselves... very smart and agile. They are so strong from working out in the current all day and know just how to turn with or against it in a split second to get a little slack and spit a hook. That being said they seem to go airborne much more than lake smallmouth and are very entertaining fish to catch. ...but they can break your heart too!

“It’s not the year, it’s the miles...”

I used 8 lb Advance all season long on my Chatterbait Rod - and used it a lot all year. Was overall really impressed with it and had no fraying to speak of. Didn’t drag it through a lot of rocks but a few. Constantly pulling it through and around weed cover. Knots were great and I was really happy with casting distance (which was a concern with other lines I used for Chatterbaits in the past). It was really was of the pleasant surprises equipment-wise of the year for me.

Awesome, that’ll keep her coming back!!

I got lucky - the 21 on a white wacky worm in late Fall... and the 21.25 in early June on a Caffeine Shad..

Michigan and Minnesota have similar waters... check out Angling Edge. Online content but also long version DVD’s. I think their online store is selling package deals on bundles of DVD’s. They push product but also teach a lot.

I think I’d like fishing in Tennessee..!

I was marveling at the huge VA smallmouth post... not only is that just a big fish, but extra exceptional as it was caught in a river where the fish stay lean from swimming in current all day. What a rare beast! As a comparison point, I fish river smallies a lot all over Minnesota which is thought to have some of the best river smb fishing in the country. Have caught more than I can count over 20 inches and yet none have been close to that Virginia fish. Here are my two biggest at 21 and 21.25 inches, but didn’t even crack 5 lbs... Whats your biggest river catch?