Junk Fisherman

The green Curados still get it done as do my Daiwa TDXs. I have newer Zillions, Tatulas, and a Curado 150MGL. There is not a huge difference in performance in the reels especially with heavier, standard bass lures.

I was going to recommend what MNFisher suggested but I don't think I'd do that if I intended to take my 3-year old with me. I had a boat built like in MN's picture but the deck did make the boat less stable and there was no walking on the deck. Granted, mine was a 14'er so yours might be a little better. But for my solo fishing I would definitely build a deck. I caught a ton of bass in little lakes in my 14'er.

There's no such thing as luck. There are no fish gods and a bass doesn't stay away from your lure since you have a banana in the boat. All that stuff is in your mind.

Blue fleck Baby Brush Hog with a 3/16th tungsten sinker and a 2/0 EWG Trokar hook. Other considerations: 4" Max Scent Black/Blue Chigger Craw, watermellon/red Zoom Super Hog, Black and Blue or Green Pumpkin Fat Ika, 5" black/blue Senko

Are these OG reels? I have another green Curado in the boat on my A-rig rod. I do have several Zillions, Tatulas, and a newer Curado that are at the top of my arsenal but I still use all of these reels.

Which of those are the 830 and the 1030? Thanks for the post.

I thought all of Motorguide was being phased out and that they're being replaced by Lowrance.

I go on a long hike every weekend in our forest preserves (9.5 miles yesterday). On Saturday, I was with my club at a fishing show all day. I usually hit Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's once over the winter just to look at stuff. Living around Chicago, we usually have a weekend or so every month in the winter where it is in the 40s. I always spend time in the garage. If it is mid 40s I'll wash the truck and run the motors (I don't winterize my motors). If it gets close to 50, I'll go on a long bike ride on our paved trails. It's rough overall but I usually fish until Thanksgiving and we have a cooling lake that opens on March 1 so it's about 3 months of no bass fishing. If it very mild and the winds are light, I'll sneak onto Lake Michigan and try for Lakers but I'm not very good at it. I also watch a lot of sports. Seems to have gotten easier over the years. Hiking really helps.

lol- maybe I should just send it in to someone. I can't find the bearings I need on the Boca site or even the schmatic diagram on Daiwa's website. I have a Tatula SVTW TASV103XS. This one: https://www.tackletour.com/reviewdaiwatatulasvtw.html newapti5- those sizes you posted- those are what I need for this reel? Going to talk to some Daiwa reps at a fishing show today so I'll see what they say. Thanks for the suggestions.

North The only time I head south is early and late in the season.

Good info- thanks. I had a Zillion's bearings upgraded to ceramic so I am comfortable with the extra noise. The performance definitely improved with the upgrade. Yes- just the spool bearings.

Agreed. I've been looking at that Cougar way too much. Before I bought that Tracker I'd get a ProV Bass 1875.

I have a Tatula SVTW that has a bearing that has gone south on me so I am using this opportunity to upgrade the stock bearings. Are ceramic bearings still the best way to go? How do I go about finding the size I need and where is the best place to order from? I've had a reel bearings upgraded before so I want to try this one myself. Any advice is appreciated.

Hang in there brother. We're all pulling for you.

What are some other highly bouyant brands of plastics for Ned and Neko rigs? I'm looking for something that is easier to put a nail weight in and pop a T-rigged hook through on a hookset. Don't get me wrong, I love my TRDs, Hula Sticks, ect. ect. but I don't like t-rigging them or gluing in a Neko weight so I am looking for some alternatives. Thanks for any suggestions.

I've bought stuff based off Tactical Bass suggestions. But generally I get more tackle based on suggestions from forums such as this one. I also look at reviews on Tackle Warehouse and Tackle Tour.

I throw Sleepers (1/2 oz) on an 843GLX and it's the perfect. match. Assuming the 844 NRX is lighter and a little more sensitive than the GLX, the 844 would be a great choice IMO.

If you already have the UHD 93sv, getting the LVS32 would be the most inexpensive way to get Livescope. A lot of people are selling their LVS32 cheap in order to upgrade. If money is an issue, get the LV32. It's what I'm using and Livescope is pretty awesome.

A lot of variables play into this question. What is my confidence in the spot? What does Livescope show me? How many other places do I have confidence in? What is the fishing pressure? If I leave will someone immediately move in? (This happens A LOT locally.) I tend to stay too long in an area but I feel I'm getting better at moving more often.

I don't have goals as much as habits I want to develop or get back to. 1) Be prepared 2) Be organized 3) Fish with a purpose 4) Continue to learn by watching videos, reading articles, taking notes and putting what I learn into practice 5) When I fish tournaments, give 100% effort and focus for the entire 8 hours 6) Quit worrying and/or complaining about fishing pressure 7) Make a huge push to get my 11-year old into fishing

Dropshot Small swimbait Ned Rig Neko Rig

Not a story about red hooks but a red jig. Last June I was fishing a nearby powerplant lake. There's a very popular, heavily-fished area there that is about the size 2 football fields. Every June I do very well in this area pitching shorelines and throwing Neds and dropshots. So on this day I had been fishing since daylight and had been having a typical good day. Lots of fishermen and the fish were getting hammered. It's about 2 PM and I break off a Ned and replace it with one that had been sitting in my boat for a couple years. I had painted the head a shade of red and the bait was a The Deal TRD but it was stained a little yellow from mixing with another bait. It was ugly but I didn't have any other ones glued up and I was leaving soon so I gave it a shot. Within the next 10 minutes I catch 2, 4 lbers in an area I had fished several times already that day. Those fish are studs for that lake. Was it the red head? Was it the odd color? IDK I caught a few more smaller fish on the bait and soon thereafter I had to leave. I didn't fish there any more that summer (water temps get very warm in the summer) but you better believe I'll be using that bait and others similar to it this year.

Medium light is the most versatile spinning rod action for a bass fisherman. A medium power is too heavy for a 1/16 and 1/10 oz Ned. I’d rather use a light action rod than a medium action rod for a Ned. I’m using a medium or a medium heavy baitcaster rig for the Keitech Fat Impact on a 3/16th oz jig. For the shallow cranks I’m using a medium crankbait rod. Hope it helps.

The Loomis 783 was their worming rod back in the day. Nowadays most people want a longer rod with 7' being the minimum. Also, the GL3 was the lowest quality blank but still a very solid rod. I agree with Reel that it would make for a good spinnerbait/chatterbait close quarters rod. Overall, the 783 is a very versatile rod if you don't mind it being 6'6".

Until I started making mine, Owner were my favorite lead, ball head jigs.