FryDog62

I don’t have an IMX (I did a long time ago) but do have an NRX 852. If an NRX is a 10 on a sensitivity scale 1-10, then I would Place the MajorCraft/Phenix at a 7 or 8. IMX might be in between somewhere but it’s been a long time since I fished one and it’s probably a bit different today. It’s also more expensive than those other 2 brands.

Can anyone believe she’s Brock Lesnar’s cousin? 1/3 his size, but I can assure you on the right day she could kick his arse...!

I didn’t get my wife fishing for 25 years - and now she’s asking to go! Got out again tonight and she catches a 5+ pounder... and is like: “That’s pretty good isn’t it??”

That is awesome! Hard to beat the river... the first half of the season has been 2 hard years in a row. Had to settle into a pattern sooner or later. Glad you got them dialed in... which topwaters worked best?

I haven’t, the Phenix Feather rods are pretty fast... but that could work to the OP’s advantage when Nedding/finessing...

My personal recommended dealer for the MajorCraft and Phenix Feather is TW https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-MJRRODS.html?from=basres https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Phenix_Feather_Casting_Rods/descpage-PFBC.html

I use a MajorCraft Don Iovino 6’-10” Medium XF casting rod for Drop-shot, Ned-rigging, Neko, etc. Extremely sensitive - similar to my NRX in many respects, very light. Only part of your equation it does not fit is the lower end 1/16 oz requirement - although I throw TRD Ned’s with 1/16 oz nailweights with this rod just fine. You could also also look at the Phenix Feather rods. Oddly they don’t have a Medium. However the 7’-1” ML is rated up to your upper weight of 5/8 oz. I would have bought it as a second finesse-style baitcaster, but thought it was too similar to my MajorCraft above and went with the MH 7’-1” Feather, that has become my dedicated Neko rod now. Both are great rods and I’ve used a Curado 70 on them at different times. Balances well... Good luck!

I use the casting version of the Don Iovino for Nedding... outstanding rod

I wore Simms half finger gloves but switched last year. I liked the Simms but found they wore out fairly quickly and that hook points stuck to them like Velcro. I switched to full finger Fish Monkey gloves. I was hesitant to go full finger at first but like them now. I can do most anything with them - cast, thumb the spool, work a finesse lure, etc. pretty much everything except tie a knot. For that I remove them, but they go on/off easier than my Simms did. I have to say the sun protection is good, but the biggest upside so far has been protecting my hands/fingers from getting scarred up while removing hooks, lipping fish, etc. I got a nasty rash and infection a few years back so this has really helped. Could I go back to half fingers - yes maybe... but right now I’m liking the full finger and man are they durable! Many bass (and pike in our waters here) ... and here’s how my hands look when I forget my Fish Monkeys in the Jeep!

My favorite lakes might be those with both green and brown bass - never know what you’re going to land..

I have SV reels: Tatula, SV105, Zillion and Steez. If you’re skipping 1/4 oz and heavier, a Tat works well and is a great value. If you’re looking to go less than 1/4 oz and/or weightless than the others would serve you best. I had a harder time getting any distance skipping a weightless wacky worm last year with Tat/Zillion. Switched to the Steez this year and yes, it’s as good as it gets for weightless.

That’s the hope... I give her a lot of credit - she very willingly took care of our 3 kids many times when I went off with my dad or buddies on numerous fishing trips. Now the nest is empty, so hopefully more of she and I getting out. Always a good sign when she actually asked to go and talked a little trash on the boat as she out-fished me First time I got her out on the “PVB.” She had mixed feelings at the time when I bought it while paying for 3 kids in college... but she raved about it last night... Progress..! She caught a couple great fish... I cracked up when I told her she could use any lure she wanted... And she picked a pink Caffeine Shad because it matched her lipstick... but I can’t argue with the results!

After 25 years I finally got her out - and she caught her first 2 bass ever!! Hopefully more to come... She either had a good time, or is a good faker.. wait, women never fake anything - right?!?

I use a Daiwa Tatula 7-1 Heavy and works great for what you describe. I’m 5-9 and don’t find it too long of a rod to walk the dog. As far as throwing lighter frogs (but with a strong backbone) also check out the ALX Toadface. Longer than what you want at 7-2 but the tip is MH for throwing lighter stuff and the mid section/butt is rated Heavy to get the fish out of thicker slop. Talk to Alex at ALX, he might be able to modify the Toadface more to your liking... great guy. Both longer rods than your max, but have some great features.

I lose eyes occasionally on mine too, but never made a difference (that I know of anyway). I find the lighter DS in 3/8 tend to “float up” a bit too much for me on retrieve. I throw the 3/4 and 1 oz almost exclusively now. They are not too heavy and are very compact. The 1 ouncer is a bit beefier.... but come to think of it, the hook might be a bit bigger too and I’ve never lost an eye on those... ??

That was the big story for years on Mille Lacs (the “Original Walleye Factory”). When the cyclical walleye population went down and the Smallmouth went up, the brownies got blamed. There were rumors of walleye fishermen catching smallies, slitting their throats and releasing them to die. Launch boats put a bounty on Smallmouth and would clean them for guests that wanted meat to take home. But it backfired when they opened up all the Smallmouth bellies while cleaning and didn’t find any walleye fry, it was 90% crayfish, 10% perch and other non walleye minnows. It was also also discovered later while cleaning other fish - the top 2 species that were eating walleye were crappie and you guessed it - other walleyes.

The water underneath the grass line was actually a little deeper than it appears (2-3 feet, altho it looks like 2-3 inches). I did the high trajectory underhand flip similar to a punch rig, and threw a 3/8 oz All-Terrain “Grassmaster” Jig (based here in good ol’ Savage, MN so it could get down in the water without getting too snagged in the roots... if there were fish there they’d hit it on the reaction. If not, sit back and sip some coffee and wait for the next “jiggle.”

Had fun today fishing around some clumps of partially submerged grass. Watched for a couple blades to jiggle when the bigger fish went in there to ambush some food. Track their location and cast to them with lighter jigs and weedless Plastics... sight fishing above water!

Thanks, good side by side comparison... just ordered SV105HS ?

That fluorocarbon stretches less...

I guess I had always heard how palmable/comfortable the SV103 was... tell me how/why you didn’t like it. Anyone else have an opinion on this aspect? I'm looking for something as compact and palmable as a Curado 70 or Steez SV TW. Want to spend $150-250 and preferably with an SV spool. Was thinking of looking on the used market for an SV103 but would like to hear more about the size/comfort as I will be using this for finesse fishing. Thx

After getting his 4 year degree, my son went on to get a 1 year certificate in 3D Printing at a trade school. He now works for Stratasys, a top manufacturer of 3D printers. I’ve often told him we should figure out some great fishing products and he could design the printer to make everything. Just haven’t thought of the right product/opportunity yet... ...Wait, I know - maybe he could make a Pocket Fisherman or new fangled Banjo Minnow..!

Fast forward 3 years... And I’m still fishing anyway... Have completely converted to all baitcasting in the process. 90% of the time that’s fine, I’m just not as good at “working the bait” (jerkbaits, certain finesse techniques, etc) while using my left hand, but overall I still enjoy fishing as much as ever. Was a bit expensive to switch out a number of rod/reels but the Bait Monkey loves me. I’m sure I contributed to the turnaround in the economy I still face long-term arthritis and/or fusing the wrist permanently, but I can’t complain. If/when that happens I’ll look for further modifications...

Nice fish, sounds like you earned it. Every once in awhile I think of getting a kayak - then I realize I need to be coordinated. Might be entertaining at least!

Went fishing with Ned tonight. 8-12 fow outside weed edge. On a lake about an hour West of the metro with both greenies and brownies...