"hamma"

My Favorites? SHIMANO! I have a crucial worm rod with a calcutta 201 on it. I use for bigger worms, and for frogs? I have 2 rods for froggin, a compre 7' med heavy rod, with a old school green curado 201 and a cheapo convergance heavy action, with another 201 curado. Ironically these are all shimano,

Has nothing to do with bearings, bigger blades give a bigger vibe, hence more resistance. Willowleafs are famous for kickin ya butt if you throw a large bladed bait all day. As for chatterbaits? I dont know, never even bought one. I use a shimano curado reel on a similar rod and I have no issues, but then yet I been throwing spinnerbaits for a very long time now

you have a jig/frog/texas rig rod,...did you ever consider, keeping this rod for frogs, and getting a "jig" rod, and a "texas rig" rod? or getting a topwater rod,? re-tying all the time stinks

oh im not done,...just done with the basshunter this year. The tracker is still ready to go

Kudos to ya Massyak, I remember days when I was much younger, and would head out there on my basshunter, undetered by weather. its a rewarding feeling when you take those cold wet day chances and they pay off. There sure was some hogs out there back then,..probably some still considering the terrain. As they continue to feed up those "skinny" fish will fatten up quickly, if novemeber is favorable fishing the fish are gunna be hogs

Yes, the regular nickle plated blades did have that logo, but they did offer some hammered blades that didnt have any inscription at all. I probably have a few still kickin around in my "extra's" totes out in the shed. One of the reasons I liked those baits (other than their fish appeal) is they had a snap on the blades swivel so you could switch out the main blade. Which I would swap a few with a large painted blade for cloudy/dark days,.... and they sure didn't disappoint. They did really attract some big bass.

I will insert the eye of a trailer hook into a short piece of tubing before I put the trailer hook on a spinnerbait or buzzbait, this will keep the trailer hook from sliding up on the spinnerbaits hook and fouling your cast. Also, I tie a couple feathers, some strands of flashabou, and crystal flash on select treble hooks. Just like some you see on the back of a popper. and will use them when I need to replace a rear treble hook on any treble hooked lure. beit a crankbait, jerkbait, topwater. That little "extra" seems to help.

Awesome! It's a heartwarming thing to hear of a son and dad fishing a successful trip together. With some nice fish to boot! Be sure to fish together, whenever you can, Congrats to both of you

The "Issue" may not be the lure. It could be delivery, direction, scent, stealth, or just timing. Delivery,...meaning the gear used. If your using 30 lb test mono line with a giant snapswivel, a 1/16 roostertail isnt going to cast far enough to offer a viable cast. And the pic shows some obvious line holding up that rock bass. with the rod/reel combo you have, and fishing where you are, after "smaller" smallies.,...I'd reccommend a decent casting 6 or 8 lb test mono line. Yes a snapswivel "should" be used for a inline spinner, but get yourself some of the smallest sampo's you can find. and maybe step up to a 1/8 oz spinner,.. and no split shots either. Direction: cast upstream and retrieve the lure back downstream to you in a manner, or, speed that keeps the blade spinning. Just think about it for a minute. The fish are facing upstream, looking for food to be brought to them via the current. So, you may have to reel kinda fast depending on the currents speed. Scent:,.. smother whatever lure you are using with a scent,.. It will mask any odors, oils etc. that may deter fish from hitting it. Stealth: stay quiet, work your way upstream, slowly and QUIETLY, any noises made, transmit better and faster underwater. If fish hear you coming along, they will avoid anything offered. Timing: somedays fish just aren't agreeable to begin with, They may have fed all night last night, or may be shut down due to barometric pressure. Now, keep in mind Im offering these to you, as Im not sure as to what degree of fishing knowledge you have. So, Im kind of guessing,.... There could be one or several reasons as to why you aren't finding more agreeable river smallies. Typically, river smallies are more agressive and agreeable than their lakebound bretheren. I hope this helps you,...good luck

could be a old strike king, or a hogsticker, old roland martin big bass spinnerbaits had that same head design as well,.I think they were actually a blue fox lure. Could be anything as some of the tacklemaking sites have a generic spinnerbait offered thats the same look, as that one. Good luck with your search

to "help" strikes? Id say either a pork rind, like uncle joshes #11, for not only its salty properties, but it also holds a scent pretty well,.. or a powerbait trailer as they stink good to bass as well, and offer many more looks than a straight on 'trailer". Consider that I view this question as a generic question as a jig's trailer can be just about anything, and used for different reasons anywhere.

the pork trailers work well during a slow retrieve, but the zoom 3" swimming chunk gets my nod for a feisty plastic version of a slower movement trailer. I believe its one of the best swim jig trailers out there.

Maybe my post wasn't typed out clear enough. "I do this for a reason" and have been doing so since the 80's for that reason. Lemmie try this way, Stanley wedge bladed spinnerbaits (if I recollect) do not have a twisted wire loop to tie onto, So therefore I tie directly with a polomar knot. My favorite spinnerbait is a original Manns classic spinnerbait and it does have a twisted wire loop to tie to and I use a snap because: That loop creates a pinch point, right where the twisted wire begins within said loop, when casted the lure flies thru the air in any manner and sometimes the line will wrap around that loop (front to back) and will pinch itself in the "crook of the twist", or the "pinch point" when you retrieve it back to you. Now, Maybe you fish a spinnerbait with braid and this doesnt hinder you at all. And I'm not hating on you at all,..I fish with mono, as Im a diehard "use what works for you" angler and mono doesn't stand up well, to being pinched by any means. So, to save the loss of all my looped line tie spinnerbaits I use a snap to deter my line being pinched. Do I loose any feel?,..No,.. that dead stopped lure during retrieval feeling, is still there, and I do I feel weeds and such, maybe not as well as a direct tie, but,.. remember, a spinnerbait is usually a search bait and is moving, feel isnt as important as say ,... as if your fishing a jig. Im not saying,.You must use a snap, to each his own. Just offering a option to loosing some looped line tie spinnerbaits while casting along some form of cover. Maybe this is just because im a stubborn angler that refuses to use braid. and a fyi,, 1 reason I dont use braid is,... I have those huge bulk spools of mono I bought years ago,.. Ive yet to use up, so I'm not only stubborn, but frugal as well. old habits die hard. lol

Simply incredible! Those are some smallie hogs if ever I saw any. Congrats on some great outings, Im sure every smallie angler that see's this is thinking the same as I am right now. You guys should be doing the superbowl td dance in those pics. Especially the 10/12 pic,..OMG!,.... smallie heaven says I !

If where you tie on has a twist in the wire to form a loop, I will use a snap. Because if you tie directly to that type line tie and the bait flip flops on a cast the line will sometimes wrap completely around the loop and nick itself weakening the line. A snap deters that nick in the line. If a spinnerbait doesnt have a loop I will tie directly

Too much?,...lol non-sense! I have baits I bought back in the 80's still.,, and to be honest its usually those "old" baits that kicks butt these days. I remember having a plastic that I really liked, Manns 7" purple kangaroo worms,.. They worked well and I would re-place them when I got low of stock,...say 5 or 6 of them left. Then one day I went to buy a new bag and there were none to find, the company "discontinued" them for a new line. It was there and then, I started hoarding. When I find a lure that I like nowadays,...I buy as much as I can, at that moment, which usually is 6, as thats the typical marketing amount found on a shelf or hook. I have a large tote that is strictly dedicated to my "extras" or "usuals", when I run out of something? this is where I look first for more. Im sure that some of you have your "usuals" as well. You know,... the lures you first tie on to head out for a fishing day. The lures that are your favorites because they work for you. Thats what that large tote I have is full of. And this is done to avoid the "dreaded" discontinued successful lure.

Ive been using stren green line since the eighties, and have no issues with it, from 4 to 12 pd test I know the strenghts of this line and it serves me well.

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I'd say over 2 lbs,.they sure are scrappy!

Sounds to me like you are fishing the shores hitting the docks, as the water you are fishing isn't as huge lake. And to be honest with you, fishing the shoreline and its docks sounds like a viable option. I may have tossed a spinnerbait or squarebill crank the second "windy" day, looking for the active fish on those docks, then pitched or flipped the jig for the more dormant bass. A shad patterned jerkbait might be a good option for you to use there as well. Its Fall time, and fishing "can" be hot and heavy at times, but there will be those "tough bite" days as well. Brush piles are just that,..piles of brush or trees, sunken in the lake to add as a attractant,... and turnover is when the surface waters start to cool, and somewhat equal the cooler bottoms temps, the lake will actually turn its waters upside down, and mix it all for a bit. Usually it will either dirty up.,..or clear a bit. And fishing can be tough for a while, as fish are scattered everywhere, or even worse hunker down and lockjaw.

Although I have no experience down south in the winter. I sure would like to try, no matter how warm or cold you all may feel it is outside. Air temps in the low 40's are welcome in my eyes during winter. I have some friends down in southern Fla. and maybe someday we will head down to visit, and I will be able to fish some. Only trip down there was to Ft Myers for a wedding in September, and I was itching to head over to the Big O for a guided day to take a shot at those giants. But, alas my efforts were sidetracked, I had a blast down there, just with no fishing going on. Cold front? warm front? wont bother me at all. I fish as long as there's open water to cast into. Im one of those yankee bass anglers that gets turned away at the doorway of the New England Aquarium in the dead of winter cuz I'm carrying a fishing rod,...lol,..only to be found (10 minutes later) on the docks fifty feet away dropping a small swedish pimple into Boston's Harbor looking for a smelt or two. Long winters can drive one nuts, and often does. Next trip down to South Fla., I wont let such a haneous, brutal, evil, and slow form of torture take place again,...lol Yeah,..okachobee (sp?) is on my bucket list

My first "boat" was actually a canoe, then progressed to a 8' basshunter. Next I bought a brand new tracker, 16' deep-v tiller model, but with the carpets, livewell, comfy seats, etc. not the traditional 3 aluminium bench seats across it. It will be 20 yrs old next year and although the carpet is starting to go, its been through alot, and worth every penny I put into it. It did get motor/lcr upgrades this year, not that they were failing, it was more of a health issue that forced my hand. So,.All things considered? to answer your question? Yes, they do make a good starter boat. But,.. I plan on this boat being with me til I kick the bucket as well, and see no reason why it wont last that long. Ive taken good care of it, eventhough its seen its share of use, (and then some), it doesnt leak, nor is it dented. Other than needing carpets, It still get compliments. If the rig your looking at has a decent running motor and no other issues, at a good price?,...Id say do it.

Those are some nice fish you have there. Your winter season may come faster than ours over here, but as long as the weather holds out get some more fishing in, as you very well know, the ice is coming. You can bet I'm holding out til the bitter end,....lol "bitter"

we were catching smallies last week with a double tailed hula grub

Id say a 10 pound test mono is a good start., I use stren, but you dont need to, you could use berkley xl as well its a good line too. Now this next paragraph is very important When it comes to spooling the line you may want to search "spooling spinning reels" or "re-spooling spinning reels" on this site,....as its a bit more involved than one would think,... and im pretty sure Glenn would have that here.,.. The idea is not to twist the line all up when spooling., its easy to do, and will ruin your 1st outing quickly..,..If the search doesnt work out,...you can personal message me here,.. and I'll type it out for you.