Drew03cmc

Figure out which guide and get it replaced. If the rod has been dropped, you may have cracked an insert. I've done that on a St. Croix. If it's the tip guide, it's about a 5 minute job.

When they're busting, I can find them, but it's the days where they aren't active in the shallows, but they have to be biting somewhere.

I came here to say this. I'm also a kayak guy, but I carry 6 rods most of the time, 3 spinning, 3 casting or 2 and 4. It depends what I'm doing and where I'm at. I am likely to use my 6'10" M Ark Cobb spinning rod over my 6'11" M Ark Cobb casting rod for jerkbaits this year. I really like the action of the casting rod for flat sides and smaller wakes/paddletails/etc more than jerkbaits.

When I can't fish this winter, I hope to learn more about open water fishing. I can normally find fish on cover, shallow, weeds, rocks, timber, docks, etc. I don't have a single, solitary clue how to find fish in open water.

True. I wouldn't use the jighead around these docks with high end boats. I'd use them around vertical structure, trees, bluffs, etc.

So, you prefer the weighted wacky with the jighead? I've never used it with a Senko, but Flick Shake is deadly, so I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Let's discuss these three "finesse" techniques. Specifically, where and when do you determine which to throw? I'm looking at lakes with rock bottoms, water between 70 and 79 this month, docks, lay downs, long gravel points, etc. These lakes hold either largemouth and smallmouth, or those two plus spots. I'm equipped for all 3, but wanted to hear your choices and why. I, personally like a wacky rig around isolated targets and specifically those targets. In open water, I don't get the love on it like I do on cover. The Neko, I find to be a happy medium in that I can use a 4" Senko and a 1/16 or 7/64 nail weight to creep or hop it through open water imitating a crayfish or whatever have you. The Ned, I view as a day-saver. Am I wrong? Do you do it differently? Should I rig these up to go along with my buzzbaits and cranks this time of year?

Around Wichita, within a reasonable drive, are several lakes worth your time. The further north and east or south and east, there's a lot more.

This part had me questioning because you said fluke.

It depends what you're casting, line diameter, cover, etc. Honestly, I don't mind a slightly shorter rod.

I came here to say exactly this!

Hey all, I don't spend a ton of time on the Ozark lakes, but I know they stay warmer considerably longer than the Kansas flatland reservoirs I fish most. Does anyone have any insight into seasonal movements from early fall through into winter? I will be fishing from a kayak and looking to target the largest fish possible with a combination of jigs, big swimbaits and other presentations. I know that last year, water temps on the main lakes were around 70 at nearly Halloween, but I'm not sure if they'd be schooling bait in the creeks or out on main lake stuff preparing for the winter transition.

I'm using a Plano 3600 sling pack. It holds 2 3600s, but I seldom fill it. I normally use a 3500 size box and a few bags of soft baits.

Frogs, I've been using either the Scum Frog Launch or the Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect. Caught my new PB 5-7 on it last month in about 18" of water.

Best has to be finesse fishing, worst is probably my frog fishing, but definitely working on that one.

I've got some Launch frogs and Launch XS I could be talked out of, lol. They make a great product, but I've come to prefer the Bobby's Perfect Frog more.

Here goes, a 70 size reel is perfect for lighter lures, flipping and pitching or even lower line capacity and standard lines. The SLX 70 is a smaller frame, Alphas CT SV 70 is an amazing power BFS reel, while being capable of running enough 8lb line for anything you'd use it for. I've got a Revo Ultracast BF8 on my BFS rod with 8lb 832. I've used Shimano 50, 70, 100, 200, Daiwa 70, 100, 150, 200, Abu BF8, Revo, Beast 40. They all have their purpose, but they won't all fit everyone's needs. I prefer lighter reels and smaller capacities while having the ability to still fish whatever I need to. For example, I have a Revo MGX on a Fitzgerald 6'8 MH with 10lb copoly for creek and river smallies. I will be slinging topwaters, shallow cranks, etc. This reel, if I change line to, 6lb, it'll run down to 1/8 without issue, but can also be used for big topwaters and 30lb braid. It's really up to you what you want to use. If you don't like smaller frames, cool, more for those of us that do.

1/16 Ned rig, 2.5" Yamatanuki weightless on a 1/0 Owner Twistlock, 2.8" Rhythm Wave on a 1/16 Fish Arrow J Head or a wacky 3" Stik-O. I fish these on my 6'6" L Handing Magic and Revo BF8 with 8lb braid to 6 or 7lb fluoro.

My 3 combos with braid right now have either Sufix 832 30#, Sunline 8 carrier 60# or Power Pro 30#. My ML casting rod is getting some 10# 832 or 12# Sunline on it when the Revo BF8 arrives. It'll be on my finesse plastics rod. I don't see a high visibility line as a requirement, but I do like the neon green 832 a lot.

In the Ozarks, they seldom winter in smaller water, they will migrate to the first suitable wintering pool. This can be yards or miles, depending on the situation. Smallies aren't like a shoal bass, but they're capable of traveling great distances.

So, if you only got to use one method of catching fish the rest of your life, what would you choose? Why? Could your mind be changed? For me, it's a buzzbait, without a doubt. While I love the big baits and throwing a finesse soft bait on my pseudo-BFS setup, the buzzbait is my jam. Specifically, give me a 1/2oz CrockoGator Headknocker without trailer or X-Bite with either a Horny Toad or Toadz on it. I can fish these in grass, wood, docks, rivers, creeks, open water over points and right against a bank. The strikes you get on a buzzbait are some of my most fun hits of the year. So far this year, I've not had any of the big explosions, rather it's been the more calculated "suck the bait down" hits. Anyway, I'm curious what your opinion and preference is.

Honestly, the worst part is the gross amount of drinks. I'd gladly sacrifice all of the 12" fish for one or two more big fish each season.

100%. Around the docks, a wacky rig, a finesse jig is deadly on Truman, etc.

@Mike L You are the man. Thank you!

Definitely. Anything that can be done to prevent issue is a must. I just think it'd be a blast to get out on the water in these events.