FryDog62

I exclusively use a baitcaster now, but would use spinning for Senkos if I could. Wrist injury/surgery permanently cured me of spinning rods a few years ago. I have maybe the most expensive baitcasting set up available just to try to duplicate what I could with Senkos on spinning. It’s close but when it comes to true finesse, especially wacky style, go spinning.

As I remember you bought the X-190. How are you liking it? I agree the Caracal looks good, but I wonder if it would handle the waves as well as your Deep-V?

Throw a 5 inch Caffeine Shad rigged on 4/0, 3/32 oz Owner Twistlock Light. Cast out to a high percentage spot... let it sink (and do it’s thing for 4 seconds) then twitch, twitch (and do its thing 4 seconds)... twitch, twitch... Rinse and repeat... https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_KVD_Perfect_Plastic_Caffeine_Shad_5_8pk/descpage-SKPCS.html https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Weighted_Twistlock_Light_3pk/descpage-OWTL.html It flat out works for Smallmouth... I like Pearl, Glacier and Siren for Smallmouth. Buddy of mine swears by Bubble Gum... Can’t argue...

Just saw the screen saver on my phone and realized I actually do have a pink X-Rap from 5 years ago, so I can tell my buddy I was on the bandwagon a long time ago

Anyone have Pelagic shirts? Wondering how they run size wise? Are they like Huk where you go with a size smaller than you usually wear - or is Pelagic more of a standard fit?

Outfished a friend of mine for a couple years - using Caffeine Shads... white, pearl, baby bass, etc. Feeling pretty smug and rubbing it in until he showed up last year with the same bait in Pink Bubble Gum. I gave him a real hard time about - until he outfished me 4:1. Guess I have to make the decision this year to swallow my pride and show up with Pink Pride. Ok I’ll admit it - I think pink can work really well at times..

Ajay and Roadwarrior mentioned above... This Owner Phantom Hook keeps you snag free like Texas rigging, but is better because it’s center weighted and has the right lazy, circling fall like a tube should - not nose weighted, like a standard Texas Rig, that falls straight down. A tube can be better than other plastic presentations - if it falls right.

If interested in Smallmouth - lakes and rivers, check out the books from Tim Holschlaug.

The years I had surgery on my right wrist, I used a right retrieve baitcaster for pitching. The years I had surgery on my left wrist, I used a left retrieve baitcaster. I’m naturally right handed so maybe the left retrieve reel was a little easier/quicker, but not a lot. I’ve had some quick strikes using my right retrieve and I don’t think I missed any/many. Also switching hands there is a slight reduction in fatigue factor than holding the rod in one hand all day making repeated casts. My dad always told me learning how to use a different side of the body is good training for my first stroke. Call me prepared

Same as 100% FC or extremely close. Sink rate is “neutrally buoyant.” I’ve used it for bottom contact, suspended jerkbaits and for topwater and it’s worked at all 3 levels in the water column for me. Versatile line.

I pulled a buddies 19 foot Deep V to shore when I hooked a tree near shore with 12 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid. 6 or 8 lb for spinning, 12 lb for a baitcaster.. Less stretch than any fluorocarbon, manageable like mono.

Thanks Mick, I do think this gives me some ideas how to approach this. Appreciate your input, and for sure the advice to try a prototype first... Let me see what I can come up with and maybe I’ll have something to post/picture down the line..

Not arguing with you on the hook up ratio, everyone’s results will vary... but I haven’t found that to be the case. I frequently switch off between a Dark Sleeper and a Keitech on a wide gap swimbait hook, and if anything it seems like the DS has slightly better hook ups (both are pretty good for lures designed to go thru cover). Due to its small size a lot of times they really inhale and choke it. I haven’t caught many short fish with it either, but have only used it one season...

I found holding the line in my mouth too awkward... especially if you need bi-focals! Instead use your belt loop. Either tie a double knot to your belt loop with a little extra to get the nose of your scissors in there to cut it off when you’re done - or, there’s a YouTube out there with a guy afixing to his belt loop with a Hook-Eze.

I have Loomis, ALX and Dobyns Rods. GLX/NRX would be your most sensitive, second ALX, third Dobyns. All good rods in their own right... I might rank ALX highest value of the three. I have the Dragger and Toadface on its way.

That grip would probably work for what I need it for.. might have to experiment with one or two fingers in front of the front trigger - for balance and to take pressure off my ailing pinky, but I’d like to try it. Problem is is I don’t see any way to add the double trigger grip to my Loomis, Daiwa and Lews rods

I also take any Elaztech trailers off my jigs before storing... used to throw them in with other jigs and ended up melting some other non-Elaztech trailers/skirts in the process...

Here in the North, one of our biggest problems are 2 foot Pike... they stunt the growth of other game fish (bigger Pike too) and can take over a lake. There’s a fairly big movement in Minnesota to harvest these smaller pike. If you can learn how to take the Y bones out, they are one of the best tasting fish... much better than bass and very easy to catch (unfortunately). I also heard someone from the DNR say that smaller pike tend to have lower mercury levels than similar weight bass. Anyway, that’s my goal going forward if keeping fish for a meal... and hopefully this helps the bass to grow bigger too..

Re: #2... A friend of mine had what he called an “Eagle Scout Bag.” Something he did for a boaters survival kit merit badge in high school or something... it’s a biodegradable zip lock style plastic bag filled with about a dozen rocks. Said you do your deal and send it to the deeps... ...glad he didn’t test it out that day - I took his word it worked and changed the subject to something less disturbing like politics and religion ?

I think I’m following the two options you’re talking about. Either could possibly work... A good technique example of what I’m ultimately trying to accomplish would be a jerk bait rod. Think of palming the reel, but extending your index finger forward to the rod blank (which I do). Now you snap the rod downward - and that’s where I’m thinking a stem or trigger at the tip (or near it) of the index finger to get more strength and control of the downward action. The notch diagram above might work, but if it’s a soft foam/cork foregrip I don't know how much grip/dexterity you’d have versus a hard plastic trigger... but you got me thinking anyway..

30 lb Sufix 832 braid + 10 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader..

These lures are excellent, especially in and around cover... for a variety of species. But they fish SMALL and rise in the water column on retrieve. I started out with 3/8 and 1/2 oz, but now almost exclusively use 3/4, and occasionally 1 oz. But yeah, they work..

Thank you - wondering if you have a picture of this, and can it be added aftermarket? I already have a number of newer baitcasting rods I like and want to add the extra trigger to them vs. buying/building another rod..

If I sound like I’m complaining I’m not... but I’ve caught easily 150+ Smallmouth over 5 lbs... yet I’ve never cracked 6 lbs... (my annual goal for about 10 years running now). To say 6 is not a trophy is a bit absurd to people like me. Many of the 21 inchers I’ve caught have been river fish (like the one in my photo) and I can say without hesitation that they’d outfight a much larger lake LMB. A different animal... and in a class by themselves. 2019 goal (again) 6 lb Bronzeback

Usually 1/2-3/4 but I frequently go up to 1 oz. They are small and compact and less than 3/4 tend to “float up” in the water column. Braillist handles any of these weights very well..