GORDO

im not trying to hijack your thread... with that being said I was out on my favorite lake yesterday. I was using a "slither rig" im not sure if thats what it really is called but its a pegged 3/4oz skirted tungsten bullet weight with a t-rigged rage craw and I was fishing it in the thickest grass I would find. Im using a brand new spool of 65lb braided line. Not even 20 pitches in, I feel it hit bottom, then weight. I think to myself fish! I set hook and line goes slack. It broke off. I couldnt help but think the usual suspect, a northern pike. That was until I rig up a 1oz tungsten weight, flippin hook and the same rage craw and continue on my way. I was still flipping heavy heavy grass between really old docks. Same exact scenario unfolded. I feel bottom, weight, set hook, and the entire rig is gone. Im religious about retying knots and I know its not my knot. Could it have been 2 northerns in a matter of 50 yards? What could I possibly have been doing wrong to make my line break like that? Is there a secret Im missing here? oh, and I had a bead between the hook and the weight on the first rig.

Its weird that the tail takes that long to heal, I never would have guessed. I highly doubt it was from your braid, it would be obvious if that were the case. Ive seen pass with chunks missing from their tails from pike attacks but im sure thats not the case. Sounds like it just hasnt recovered form the spawn still.

an easy way to think about this... if it moves and fits in their mouth, they will eat it.

I almost fell out of my boat last month when a beaver did this to me LOL couldnt have been more than 10 yards away and I never even saw it!

Its a darn Sasquatch!

I was fishing my dads dock when I was a kid and got broke off. I cast back to the same spot after retying the same exact worm and catch the bass with my other hook and worm in the roof of its mouth. @dwh4784 I was at long and caught a rainbow, on a deep diver, that had a 5" senko sticking out of its throat. There was no removing that one though.

Im not an expert but deep is a relative term. Also, I live in washington state where the water temp hardly reaches mid 70s, in the southern states its not uncommon to see 85+ degree water. A lot of times the bass after spawning will head out just to find more comfortable water. A lot of the lakes I fish are less than 30 feet deep but I will still catch LMB 15 feet of water. Also the presence of pelagic bait like shad will make the bass go deep and chase them. There are a lot of great articles and books out there if you want to study their movement and why! They are truly fascinating fish!

LMAO!! I would have felt bad about it afterwards too, crushed his self esteem. But I bet that is the last time he snakes people like that!

OMG

@stk44 Im assuming youre t-rigging the senko right?

Its all personal preference, I use braid every time i can get away with it. Even then Ill just tie leaders if the water is super clear. Ive not noticed a difference in the action with using straight braid or floro. If anything, I prefer it over floro just because of the line memory. Its frustrating have 15lb line that looks like a slinky because the bait weighs basically nothing lol

Im a huge fan of the St. Croix, they are legendary for a reason...

If you can get away with braid, throw braid. The question is why wouldnt you throw braid? You get a stronger line with a smaller diameter. The line has NO stretch and is more visible (IMO) making watching the line a little easier. If youre worried about the fish being line shy, tie a 12lb leader with your knot of choice. Fishing in lilly pads I like a stronger line in case you hook into that 5 pounder that you cant turn their head and wraps you around a base. It will buy you some time to chase into the pads and grab the fish before it breaks your off.

I can honestly say Im not quite sure lol Im stoked to see what people are gonna sy about this little problem youre having. At least youre still catching fish!

Save up for a little better reel and problem solved

My fav hardbait for smallies... XD3 of the DT10. Either one plain out catches fish! @scaleface youre probably thinking Rebel, their hook are literally the worst!

There has only been 2 times that I have ever started shaking from seeing catching a fish. When I saw the 43" Northern Pike (my first one ever) with my jerk bait hanging out of its mouth and when the 6lb smallie jumped 3 feet out of the water! Both times, I started shaking like a wet dog. Many other times I have been so full of joy I have started running around the bank or yelling like Ike lol if you dont get fired up from catching a nice fish, why are you even out there?

For the day it just depends on if its overcast or not. Cloudy, I like white or chartreuse. Sunny/no clouds I like to try black/dark first. I have caught fish on chartreuse bellied poppers in every type of weather though. You pretty much have to let the fish dictate what color they want to eat. I just like to start with the mentioned above and see what happens. As for night, any color will work. its just the commotion on the surface they are feeling/hearing.

I love the red eye shad in "deep" water. Especially over weeds. Cant go wrong with any technique as long as you get the rattles going!

For weeds I dont like square bills... I spend more time cleaning off weeds than fishing. I personally use the Strike King Red Eye Shad. I like the 1/2oz models in several colors. Sexy Shad, Chrome with black back, Gizzard Shad, and the Red with a gold stripe and White belly. I like to tie directly to the bait as well. Anyways, I like to let it sink to the tops of the weeds and start reeling. When you feel the weeds, rip it loose, let it flutter for a second and start reeling again. Also, the yo-yo is deadly! just cast out, let it sink to the depth you want. rip your rod tip up and let it fall on slack line. Repeat to the boat. Use a M-MH casting rod. If you can get away with braid, do it. If not I like a strong co-polymer. What ever you use, try to get the "least stretchy" line you can.

I have the 168 in baby bass and hitch. I have never caught a bass on either but the Pike love them. If you have a lot of northerns in your water, I would use a leader.

I have a pack of "salt'n'pepper" flukes that have been sitting in my boat, unopened, for almost 2 years now...

For catching bass in general, drop shot. For catching big bass, jig and what ever trailer your prefer.

Ive been cat fishing and reeled up a clam about the size of a jaw breaker. Darn thing clamped onto my hook! Ive caught beer/soda cans, a fork, and a small tire. Welcome to the Tennessee River!

Im not sure to be honest. Im willing to bet it wouldnt effect the catfish at all. I have bass fished a pond with t-rigged worms while I had lines out and still caught fish. I would say throw the PopR anyways and see what happens! I have heard of a remedy almost exactly like this! I bet this would work really well where I catfish on the snake river. I fish beside a port where they load grain onto barges, 9/10 fish i catch are full off oats. Im going out there next weekend, ill let you know how this works for me.