WI_Angler1989

It's honestly not that tricky. The toughest part is the nerves of reaching for the sharp gills next to the sharp teeth for me. It's super hard to describe how to tho....maybe YouTube could help. My attempt: as you reach into the gills it 2 parts, multiple layers of gills that are sharp and the gill plate which is basically the "cheek" when you reach in you go in between the "cheek" and the actual gill. This makes them flare out wide and easier to navigate. Slide along the gill plate towards the tip of its mouth. There is a spot that almost cups your finger by the jawbone close to the teeth but NOT all the way. When you're in the right spot...you know it. It just fits snuggly. Like is said, hard to describe and actually imagine but when you do it you can tell what's right. I've never had issues with teeth, but the gills are sharp in one direction, like a saw, so as you go in its no biggie until you try to pull your hand out and get sliced finely. It's not really a normal pain, but it gets itchy and bleeds a lot for how small they cut.

Depends, if it was small....nothing. the little ones are knuckle shredders. If it was big maybe you missed and got in the actual gills instead of the gill plate?

I don't have a kayak but I do have a canoe. Same theory applies. I like longer rods in general but that's a product of the ease of use here. I typically don't have overhead issues but I have a 6'6" Avid that has always been short enough if space dictates. Also I don't have handle length issues because of the more vertical seating as opposed to a yak, but I get how that can be an issue.

Agreed. I personally like XF action for fishing finesse, jigs, tubes, worms and all bottom contact lures. It let's me set the hook a bit better since it's all about feeling the bite then setting, it cuts my delay a bit. As for the length just think of it in terms where/how you fish. If you do wading, kayak or bank fishing, the 69mlxf could be better for casting in tight places with overhangs. If you're in a boat and have no overhangs to contend with, the 7mlxf will cast further over all. I have a 610mlxf LTB and a 66mf avid and the LTB is much stiffer compared to the avid. Its still very castable woth light lures but just feel sturdier. I like that for bottom cobtact, but you may not. My 2 cents. Good luck! Either way......it's a St Croix haha

Very true, the oft forgotten Scum frog was my first frog, way back when I was new to fishing. I had no clue about frog lures and discovered them while looking for a way to fish the lily pads on my family cabins lake. They have always worked great for me. I even pike fished with them and they lasted their fair share of toothy critters before sinking. The company will always be a favor of mine. When I was new and lost I emailed them with my lily pad situation and inexperience. They were more than helpful and nice and answered all my questions, sent me articles, links to other companies I could look at and just genuine with me the whole way. Then when I ordered a dozen frogs from them, they sent me 5 extra frogs and a bunch of stickers and a shirt along with a handwritten thank you and good luck letter.

Psh fake! That's clearly just a log you painted. Haha jokes aside, beautiful fish Dwight. That would be amazing to contend with!

I have some Scum Frogs that I've had for years. Got them in 2011 probably. Somewhere around there. I saw some in person at Gander Mountain the other day and they look a lot higher quality! I've always liked them for what they are: solid producer, bang for the buck, not long lasting. But these looked like they had changes to increase longevity. All the holes (nose hole for line tie, where the hooks protrude) are much tighter and have more material, the body is a tad thicker too.

We all experiment in the tub sometimes after all. Although I prefer a big glass mixing bowl haha

I liked it a lot before I lost it. Had it for 2 years and caught a lot on it: largemouth, smallies, pike, a northern snakehead and a painter turtle (I wasn't hoomed, just determined to eat the rubber body). Imma need to get more.....

I'm not saying anyone here is like it, but I cant stand when people get mad for catching the "wrong" fish. I've seen people kill a pike because it "deserved to die" for killing good fish. I don't understand. I like fishing and that means any fish.

Very true. They hit the same things too. Although to be fair, a pike will hit anything that mover most of the time here.

I don't think there's a way "past" them. Idk. I guess it's not so much of a problem here so we just catch them and don't mind. Sorry to hear it's such a pain! I get what you mean tho with little ones being the destroyers of lures....

I hear that, good luck!

VERY good choice. So much for an Avid, eh? Yes that will work GREAT for tubes. It's the "plastics" rod, after all, so anything you want really: worms, tubes, craw, shakey head, grubs. Plus it's a MF so it'll work great for topwater too. I use my M action rods for spinnerbaits and small crankbaits as well as plastics types. You got yourself an awesome all around rod, my friend. Ps....I've been thinking of getting that one....LUCKY!

A lot. -St Croix Legend Tournament Bass 610mlxf (upgraded old LTB at Scheels for 20$) -Shimano Stradic FK 2500 (soon) - A bunch of tackle. New and restocking.Tubes (restock+new brands), tube jigs, gopher tackle mushroom jigs, war eagle spinnerbaits, kalins grubs, shadow raps, husky jerks, power worms, Mepps Aglias, roboworms and dropshot tackle, Northstar swim jigs, Siebert Sniper jigs, a few BizzBaits craw trailers, Confidence Baits Draggin heads (a must!), yum dingers, aaaand a new Berkeley forcep pliers. And one filing for bankruptcy ha. Honestly most of my stuff is either replacing stuff I use, a few new brands to try and small amount of dropshot stuff to learn with. Not to mention I used xmas $ for a lot of it haha. Frugality!

Haha very good pint, anti skunk bait! I've been seeing them at Gander so I may just do that

Hmm good tip on the Dreamshots, I don't do tourneys so any bait that doesn't last long isn't high on my list. They are nice looking though haha.

I haven't been able to do much winter fishing lately, frozen rivers and all, but I've heard good things about the Northstar Custom Baits hairy craw jig. I know, funny name. But it's a hair, rubber hybrid skirt on a football jig that works great. Haven't gotten to try mine out in winter, but it was awesome last fall!

I'm glad to hear you like them since we're in the same area! It sure doesn't hurt they're price friendly. Awesome fish btw

Guess it's try em all or never know

I had a good guess of what you would vote for from your name haha. Glad to hear it though, they're definitely price friendly. I'm planning to grab one when I see one around here. Softness=hookups right?

I agree with the previous post, why not both? The only thing that's specific to either one is the shakey head's jig, dropshot hooks and the dropshot weight. You can use the same baits, fish in the same places and they both are subtle finesse style presentations. If it's time this the issue, then pick one to try (or both) and run with the one you prefer. In the end though, every technique has a time and place in fishing so it's never a bad thing to learn everything you can.

Booyah vs Livetarget. Which do you pick? I've used livetarget and never had durability issues like some but the booyah is always well reccomended.

Haha no problem, that's the fun of this site! I've gotten my fair share of help too, it's nice giving it back. As for jigs and tubes, PROvider is very highly reccomended here. They make great tubes and jig heads as well. The tubes are reaaaally scented and smallies love them. They reek haha. I'll be trying them for the first time in spring too. I've used Cabin Creek Baits tubes for years with awesome results. These arr my favs. They're super soft and have great action. They aren't the most durable because of that, but it's a win lose since the fish here love it. I've used the salty critter jr size the most. For some reason a 2.5"-3" tube works best for me (central wi) Dry creek makes another good tube I used a bit before winter that's worth checking out. Howie's tubes are super popular up in door county for smallmouth too. There's a company called tourney jigs I use when i want an insert style weight, but mostly I use a Confidence Baits Draggin Head. I fish rocky snaggy rivers and the Draggin Head is weedless and doesn't hang up much at all. They're not the cheapest sadly but I tried them and got hooked haha. Hope this helps ya!

You won't be disappointed! I prefer 1 piece rods. The 2 pc ones lose a little sensitivity and the joint can have issues over time with fitting well. Ive never had issues transporting my long rods so the main selling point of a 2pc doesn't affect me. I'd say the 7 MF will work great for your application. I usended my 66mf sometimes for tubes if I don't have my Legend Tournament and it performs flawlessly.