SPEEDBEAD.

I used to be one of those guys that "never got it".....UNTIL I GOT IT. Now I can't even be around the stuff without it showing up somewhere on me. Truly sucks more than many can ever imagine. The worst I ever had it, I was cutting wood with a chainsaw and burning underbrush. It was raining and everything was dead (brown), or so I thought. Apparently from the combination of ivy oil and water seeping through my clothing, the fire smoke containing contaminants I was breathing in and the number of times I stopped working to pee (yup, you guessed it), I ended up with poison ivy and oak together on a majority of my body. I had a shot and went through 2 10 day treatments of prednisone before it actually cleared up. All told, I had a severe rash for a little over a month and noticeable marks for at least 2 months. My second worst time, the reaction was centered solely on my hands. I shot two rabbits that had apparently bathed in poison ivy oil. While skinning them, I of course got the oil on my without my knowledge. A few days later, my hands had tripled in size and you could not see any daylight between my fingers due to the amount of fluid present in them. Luckily, no peeing that time. In short, avoid it. It sucks.

Speaking from experience, this causes inflamation and doesn't allow it to heal as quickly. While it may feel good (it truly does), you are doing more harm than good. Also, if it is recent and there is still oil present somewhere on his skin, this will cause pores to open up and allow the oil to spread the reaction. If you see blisters, let them alone. Popping them will not cause the reaction to spread (contrary to popular belief) but it will possibly allow for infection.

Calamine and another one, I forget the name. It's clear, has a green label.

Stay the hell away from it. I have to as I get severe reactions to the oil.

There are a few guys on the swimbait forums and others that remain relatively quiet that have caught fish around 8 or so. I've heard of a couple guys with 9's. I know the fish are there too, I just don't believe there are many guys actually fishing for them.

Think I saw that pic and if it's the one I'm thinking of....

That guy doesn't know squat.

Good deal. Just checking.

I'm in Southcentral PA

So, what did you learn? Nice fish.

Heard a lot about PWC. Seems like a cool place over there. Saw where someone said fishing has been slow there this year. It's been off in my area of PA this year as well. Had a great spring but it got REALLY tough after May. Hoping it picks back up. Keep posting reports. I like to see what's happening in other parts of the state.

Bud, you can tell me there are piles of gold on your Navionics chip and I won't go searching for them. Dwight could tell me there are purple 15lb smallmouth on the moon and I'd be trying to book a flight. When it comes to smallmouth around here, if you want to BE the man you gotta BEAT the man. Wooooooooo!

Since now I'm 100% sure you're calling him out.... Step 1 : Look at Dwight's smallie PB compared to yours (hell, look at his top 50 smallies compared to yours) Step 2 : There is no step 2 when you lose at step 1

Toothpicks on some, modified hitch hiker on some others. Both seem to work fine.

Which swimbaits?

Because the way I typically fish a rat, that particular brand doesn't fit my style. Throw in the fact that they are made by Rago and well, yeah....

I prefer a wood rat over resin. I also prefer anything over a Rago rat. Just my .02

Here's what worked for me.... I asked if she wanted to go for a ride on my Harley then I licked my eyebrows. Next month is 10 years with the Mrs. #win

I've seen it and he's not kidding. LOL

Don't forget, 10 feet tall and bulletproof as well.

LOL, I'm not sure I'm following you and it may just be the antagonist in me, but are you calling out Dwight Hottle?

I know one thing. I'd still show up on my day that I booked. A conversation would take place on that day. How that conversation ended would be entirely related to whether or not the guide took me fishing as agreed and PAID for.

Exactly.

Slow sink. It's the most versatile of the rates offered.

When you say "semi clear grass lake," I envision throwing a waking bait along weed edges and over submerged beds. Obviously, if it's a mat you're not going to fish a treble hook bait over it but if there is water over the weeds, you can bet a wake bait will call them up. There are some BIG fish caught on Guntersville and other TN river lakes in the spring over emerging weeds using swimbaits. Brandon P (not even gonna try to spell his last name LOL) is pretty good with the swimbait stick. Watch what he does eventually. Hope you do well in your tourney.