5-20

Thanks for the comments, appreciate it! Will wait until I can look at the Expride 7' glass cranking rod in person.

I have the 76H Expride. I actually got it the other day and have about an hour or hour and half of jig fishing with it. Fished mainly with a 1/2 oz jig with a trailer and it's hard to describe the rod exactly, but I think the tip is a little stiffer than most people give the rod credit for. I've only looked at the 76MH, haven't fished with it, but I think it might be the better rod for 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs.

I would like to pick up a crankbait rod. I throw mostly shallow to medium cranks. Thinking about the Expride 72MH just because it’s a really versatile rod and I could use it for a bunch of other tactics. If this rod would work well enough, I might go ahead and get it. Haven’t seen this rod in person and will need to order it sight unseen. Curious about if any of you have thrown cranks on this rod and if it works well enough? Open to suggestions for other rods. But please note I am not interested in a glass rod. Don’t want a custom rod either. Would prefer a 6’10 to 7’2 rod at most. Thanks.

Hmm yeah, thanks. Not really sure why I'm sort of caught on trying to figure out the regular spook. I think it's just that I really want to try to catch at least one good fish on it! One of those little personal challenges I've set for myself! No biggie. Yeah, there's so many great baits to choose from these days. But sometimes some of those $6-7 baits still are the real deal even compared to those $20+ baits.

Thanks, appreciate the comments. I've got a whole bunch of different walk the dog style topwater lures. Just wanted to ask about the original Zara spook. Not the super spook. Not the jr. spook. The original Zara spook. Thanks.

Love fishing topwaters. One bait I’ve never really done well with is the regular Zara Spook with the pair of metal hook hangers screwed into the bait. I always cut off the hooks and add split rings to the metal hangers but that doesn’t allow the hooks to swing around or rotate very freely and I think that’s why I’ve never really done well with this bait. So my question is how do you upgrade and attach replacement hooks? Was thinking about possibly trying some of those new hooks that come with a braided loop of line. That looks like it could work. Appreciate any suggestions other than “just leave the stock hooks on and fish it as it came out of the package.” Thanks.

Funny. That is my exact favorite rod for smallmouth fishing. The Premier 6'6 MF. If I had to pick only one rod to bring with me for river smallie fishing, that would be it. I've caught so many on my old rod. I think it's about 17 years old now and it was not until only about 2 years ago that an eye guide finally broke off. Fantastic rod. Love my Premier rods. I really don't fish St. Croix much unless its spinning gear or light casting gear with moving baits for smallies. Such a fun and effortless rod to fish. I think I bought mine for like $100 or $110 back then but I think they're now up to like $160 or something like that? Still well worth it in my opinion.

I don't know why but I've always had great customer service. I have one of their saltwater rods and it's absolutely amazing. Nothing else is like it in the entire saltwater industry. I hope they get all of those kinks worked out with how they build their rods. Because the blanks are completely incredible.

Definitely. It can really matter. I don't use spinning gear very much but IPT is important regardless.

#10 does cast a lot farther and a lot more effortlessly than #15 does on a 2500 size spinning reel.

I've always wished I like night fishing more. As it is, I fish for a while until 12 or 1am and then I get tired or feel spooked by how quiet it is. Haha. Never had an incredible bag fishing at night either. Some good fish between 5 and about 7 lbs but that's it. Nothing like the success I've had fishing during the daytime. My club used to have all night tournaments. I hated them. I'd have a hard time staying awake around 3-4 am and then it would totally throw off my sleep schedule for like 2 days. But for you guys that enjoy or love night fishing, more power to you! Enjoy it!!! Definitely a good way to have the lake or some good spots all to yourself.

Thanks, appreciate the comments. Kingfisher, that was what I was afraid of... Would like to get some more input from others so feel free to comment if you would like to share any other thoughts.

I would like to get into a 16' tin boat. I am near the Rt. 30 Bridge and Columbia area on the Susquehanna. Obviously jet boats are huge around here. But I love fishing for largemouth around grass and would really like to be able to fish the Susquehanna Flats a good bit. Just can't have two boats! Curious if any of you fish the Susquehanna Flats regularly with a jet boat? How does that work out for you? Do you just stay on the edges of the flats or do you actually go deep into the flats? I'm just thinking that it could be a nightmare trying to get out of the flats with the jet motor constantly clogging with all of that loose grass especially if you drift or work your way a mile or two into the flats. Is this generally what would happen? How do you do it? Appreciate any comments you can share about your experiences. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming. And yes, I'm pretty familiar with the Susky. Was born in Lancaster and still have family in the area. Hopefully we get a smart guide that wouldn't put our lives in danger! Lol. Probably looking to fish around Harrisburg down to the Marietta/Rt. 30 area, whatever the guide thinks is best. Last week of March. Would love nothing more than to get on a mile long drift and rip jerkbaits all day. We'll see if that happens.

I would like to do a guide trip on the susky for smallies during the last week of March. Thinking about going with Joe Raymond. Obviously there's many great guides for the Susquehanna and it's hard to pick just one. It looks like Raymond has a pretty awesome boat and has a lot of experience on the river and I thought maybe I'd give him a shot. I am not really looking to learn anything new specifically. I've fished for many, many years. This trip is just because I am flying in from out of town to visit family in town and this will be a great chance for me and my dad to get out on the river and fish and hopefully get on some giant smallies!!! It would be really nice if this guide had a comfortable boat and has really good loaner gear. I will probably bring a bunch of my smallie baits and some reels, but I'm not so sure about also flying down with my bass rods. That may be a little too much trouble for me at this time. Any recommendations appreciated. If you would prefer to keep them private, messages welcomed too. Thanks.

There's always some shallow fish year round even in the dead of winter.

Umm..... not exactly, actually the water was drawn down to promote shoreline growth that would hopefully make up for the absence of grass.

You can catch nice fish from town lake from the bank year round. Just got to put the time in. SoCo to the Bike path bridge is a good area to focus on.

To everyone that participated in this conversation, thanks. I appreciate it. I obviously have really strong feelings about this matter and I’ve probably vented enough. Part of my frustration comes from the memory of what it was like dealing with the biologists responsible for the grass carp stockings in Lake Austin. They actually told us stuff like, “The carp will only eat the hydrilla and not the milfoil.” The best way to describe the experience of fishing Lake Austin.... I guess I can only compare it to the way some people would spend thousands of dollars to fly to Mexico for a once in life time fishing trip at Baccarac or one of those other lakes and then they’d come back and post reports of catching a handful of 6 to 9 pound fish. And I would just think those people should’ve come to Lake Austin. Because the fishing was absolutely incomparable to anything else during its prime. For both big fish and numbers. And the lake was only fifteen minutes away from me! Well, I’d like to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!!! One last thing, swbass15, oh boy, giant salvinia is an entirely different mess, one that may require the introduction of yet another invasive species to counter the spread of that plant. But that’s an entirely different topic.

Swbass15, and the others that are in favor of getting rid of the hydrilla and focusing on the growth of native grasses — I understand and respect your conservationist viewpoint. However, let me clarify one thing. Once hydrilla gets into a body of water, it’s more likely than not going to be there for a long, long time. It’s very difficult, maybe even impossible to entirely get rid of hydrilla. Now the problem is, grass carp are not finicky eaters. They eat pretty much every type of vegetation that’s available to them. Stocking massive amounts of grass carp does nothing positive for the fishery at all. They will eat everything including all of the native grasses and once the lake is barren and the grass carp die off, the hydrilla will grow back again. And during that long period of time — the fishery and body of water will suffer tremendously. There are biologists that understand this and work towards figuring out how to maintain a healthy balance of grasses, including hydrilla, with a minimal amount of grass carp. 2,800 grass carp in Briery Creek has left the lake without very much vegetation at all. Hoping this has been an important lesson for VDGIF about stocking rates and maintaining a healthy balance of vegetation in lakes that are used mainly by the fishing community without very much pleasure boating traffic.

I am not failing to recognize anything. Invasive species are introduced into the United States all of the time, both by accident and on purpose. So, that said, my response to your question is going to appear in the form of another article. https://www.google.com/amp/s/relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/news/2014/07/140724-invasive-species-conservation-biology-extinction-climate-science I’m not sure any of us can be a pure conservationist in this day and age of climate change. But yes, actually, come think of it... yeah! I am a bass fisherman through and through many times over again!

So sad. I really don’t mean to offend you but it almost seems as if you’re just as unaware as a lot of other people about the tremendous benefits of hydrilla. Take a look at this thread about what hydrilla did for the potomac river. This is coming from a scientist who studied non-native species in the Potomac river for over 30 years. Do me a favor and read replies #6 and #9, too. http://scducks.com/forum/showthread.php?8832-Hydrilla-the-Savior You guys... this is supposed to be a bass fishing site... hydrilla has done so many fantastic, absolutely amazing things for so many waterways. Lake Austin with hydrilla was a pristine and clear lake with 12-14 feet of visibility. Now, with zero grass in it, it barely has a foot or two of visibility. It’s a muddy mess. People are saying there’s a really funny odor to the water. And, again, the fishing is terrible. Hydrilla can be managed correctly. I’ll post some other threads about how some fisheries biologists are starting to understand and accept the presence of hydrilla and trying to manage it correctly so it has a sustainable presence in whatever body of water it appears in. You know your last statement is sort of bizarre. You’re not willing to accept that hydrilla is a fantastic resource even if its a non-native plant but you’re willing to stand by idly while biologists introduce a different non-native species that have proven to be an incredibly destructive force, grass carp. So sad. I really don’t mean to offend you but it almost seems as if you’re just as unaware as a lot of other people about the tremendous benefits of hydrilla. Take a look at this thread about what hydrilla did for the potomac river. This is coming from a scientist who studied non-native species in the Potomac river for over 30 years. Do me a favor and read replies #6 and #9, too. http://scducks.com/forum/showthread.php?8832-Hydrilla-the-Savior You guys... this is supposed to be a bass fishing site... hydrilla has done so many fantastic, absolutely amazing things for so many waterways. Lake Austin with hydrilla was a pristine and clear lake with 12-14 feet of visibility. Now, with zero grass in it, it barely has a foot or two of visibility. It’s a muddy mess. People are saying there’s a really funny odor to the water. And, again, the fishing is terrible. Hydrilla can be managed correctly. I’ll post some other threads about how some fisheries biologists are starting to understand and accept the presence of hydrilla and trying to manage it correctly so it has a sustainable presence in whatever body of water it appears in. You know your last statement is sort of bizarre. You’re not willing to accept that hydrilla is a fantastic resource even if its a non-native plant but you’re willing to stand by idly while biologists introduce a different non-native species that have proven to be an incredibly destructive force, grass carp.

Any of you guys ever fish Santee Cooper? Ever hear about the incredible fishing and the devastating decline. The decline only came after several hundred thousand grass carp were stocked in the lake. The impact of the carp was felt by the majority of the fish in the lake and not just the bass. Fishing for bass, Stripers, and cats all fell off the charts. Its been making a bit a bit of a comeback the last couple of years. Why? Maybe it’s just a coincidence but the grass has started to come back too. Biologists are just like anyone else. They aren’t infallible. They aren’t perfect. The field is just like every other career sector with people in it that make perplexing, unfounded and sometimes just downright terrible decisions. The bass fishing community in every state should at least try to stay involved and make a difference if possible. Being able to fish a beautiful lake or reservoir full of hydrilla with the chance to catch a 30-45 pound bag anytime you go out is once in a lifetime experience and I feel so lucky I had that chance for several years when I had lake Austin in my backyard. I may not live in Virginia right now but that doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t come back some day and I still care very much about the fishing in Virginia. Not many states can produce a 16+ lb fish. If I ever move back, I would hope the potential’s still there for that to happen.

What anecdotal information? I am the one producing links and other sources of information that show a direct correlation between heavy grass carp stocking and hydrilla eradication and the resulting damage to the bass fishery and body of water. I can produce other reports produced by biologists that say having a presence of hydrilla, around 10-30% is very healthy for the lake. You’re the one who is saying “lakes that I fish have been harmed by hydrilla...” What lakes are they? I am pretty sure I said somewhere in this thread that when grass carp are stocked, it may be a necessary evil in some lakes but should be done at the absolute minimum recommended rates. Many biologists still do not seem to understand how much those carp will eat and how to stock lakes incrementally with small numbers of carp to ensure the continued presence of hydrilla. I’ll produce some other links tomorrow. Not for you, flyfisher because I think you might be someone that doesn’t really have a dog in this fight — it sort of seems like you’ve put forth very little actual effort to try to understand this situation better, other than by arguing with me using rather empty statements — but for the greater bass fishing community of Virginia so we can all continue to understand this issue better and help our biologists understand how to manage hydrilla in the lakes predominantly used by the bass fishing community.

Kinda seems like you skipped over much of what I've written in this entire thread. The vegetation in chickamauga is definitely hydrilla. A simple internet search turned up this article from 2011. State and Tennessee Valley Authority officials say non-native aquatic plants, particularly hydrilla, have spread dramatically on Nickajack and Chickamauga lakes. A delay on a new federal permit that would allow the use of herbicides to kill the plants is complicating matters. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/may/31/waging-war-water-weeds/50893/ And haha, no, fisheries biologists don't know more about me when it comes to hydrilla and bass. It's so simple. Where there's hydrilla, there's many bass of all sizes, from small, happy and fat ones to those absolutely giant sized fish and the entire lake absolutely thrives. Like I said, this has played out exactly in this way on so many lakes, it's beyond being a simple coincidence now. Hydrilla has never made a lake worse for bass fishing. Hydrilla is great. Long live hydrilla. But you know, I'll look forward to seeing some of your trout pictures on this site sometime later on, flyfisher. Here's a link to an austinbassfishing.com thread that shows "before and after" pictures of the damage the grass carp have done in Lake Austin. These pictures show how much of the reeds the grass carp ate after they ate all of the hydrilla and other grasses in the lake. This is the damage grass carp can do to any lake. This is why Briery Creek has poor vegetation now, because those grass carp can and will eat anything they can get into their mouths. http://www.austinbassfishing.com/forum/conservation-ethics/56522-lake-austin-grass-carp-before-after-photos.html