NYWayfarer

I don’t have the Smash but I have changed the knobs on my Lew’s Tournament MB, Mach 1 and LFS. I watched a YouTube video on how it’s done. It was quite easy. The Smash can’t be different.

The current record is 11 pounds. Bass that size up here are as rare as Sasquatch sitings.

The unofficial Largemouth Bass record in NY state was caught on an ultra light action rod and a Ozark Trail crankbait this month. Estimated to be 12.5 pounds. Catch and release only as the season hasn’t started yet. Guy didn’t have a certified scale. I always have a finesse setup with me. You can catch anything with smaller bait and lighter line. Big baits and heavy gear will limit what you can catch. I fish for anything that bites and on slow days I take what the water will give me.

April is a notoriously chaotic weather month. It’s the month I thank God for Trout, Yellow Perch, Chain Pickerel, Sunfish and Bullheads. They all keep me occupied until the Bass come out to play.

I have the first gen Mach Crush combo. It’s spooled with 30# braid and I use it for topwater fishing with Whopper Ploppers. I can cast a whopper Plopper 90 with no issues for long distances on this setup. 1 internal brake on and usually have the mag brakes on less than halfway. Before braid it was spooled with 10# Berkley Big Game for other types of fishing. Don’t use much Fluoro.

I was at DSG once when they were having a clearance sale. They mark the clearance stuff with colored dots to show the percentage off. I picked up one of their Tec Spec Elite $80 rods. When I got to the register it rang up as $19 I didn’t realize it was a percentage off the lowest ticketed price of the item. I went back and got the rest of the rods. I bought 4 rods for what 1 used to cost. The $80 Adidas sneakers I had rang up for $4 that same trip

Got my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday afternoon. So far so good. My arm hurts at the injection site is about all that is bothering me right now.

We have Bullhead, Channel and White Catfish.

Smallmouth Bass love them!

I have a lot of Lew’s baitcasters and spinning reels. In my opinion if you stick with their aluminum framed Baitcasters in the $100 plus range you are getting a good value for your buck. Especially the newer models that have the P2 pinion bearing. Here is my honest opinions based on experience with these reels: Baitcasters LFS: Solid workhorse reel, casts great and is reliable. Tournament MB: Same as the LFS but dual brakes Mach 1, Mach 2 and Mach Crush: Graphite framed reels with nice paint jobs and Winn Grip knobs that drive the price up, stick with the LFS and save some coin. My Mach 2 and Crush do the same thing as @galyonj American Hero reel. Not a sound you want to ever hear. None of my aluminum framed Lew’s reels make this noise. Pro TI: Lew’s flagship reel. Light, casts like a dream, titanium coating is bulletproof. The reel looks like a work of art. The brakes are the best I have ever used. Very quiet reel. Spinning Mach 2 and Mach Crush: Aluminum framed mean they are a bit heavy but solid. I have been using mine for about 4 years now with no issues and little maintenance Carbon Fire Dick’s exclusive: Same as the Mach 2, less bearings and cheaper on your wallet, just as solid a performer. Speed Spin: Graphite frame but still on the heavy side. It reminds me of the old Pflueger President reels. A great reel at a great price. Silver, gray and black colors match almost any rod. I like the 20 size reel so much I bought the size 30 combo and a 10 size as well. Custom Pro: Lew’s flagship spinning reel. Aluminum frame and heavy. It is smooth and solid dependable reel. Good looking reel. New for me this year are the LFS Inshore baitcaster and the Blair Wiggins Inshore spinning reel.

I wish we had Flathead Catfish here.

Lately the only knife I carry everyday is my Kershaw Cinder attached to my keychain.

Kastking cutthroat split ring pliers. Work for most of my lures. I have a scissor/split ring plier hybrid tool I got off of eBay for really small split rings.

Add St Croix Triumph and Bass X to the $80-$120 list Great rods at a great price.

Lew’s. I feel you get a lot of bang for your buck with this brand. My favorites in the line are, Baitcasters: Pro TI Tournament MB LFS Inshore LFS Spinning: Custom Pro Speed Spin

St Croix Avid, Premier and Triumph lines. I am new to the Bass X rods but so far I really like them.

While Trout fishing today I had a rod setup with a Carolina rigged Nightcrawler for Brown Bullheads. They did not disappoint me. The Trout were biting as well

My trout setups are medium light action rods with size 100 or 200 reels. 6# Vicious ultimate mono on the 100 size reel 8# on the 200. Vicious line diameter is smaller than average, the 6# is the size of most brands 4# mono and the 8# is the size of 6# Of course this year I threw the rule book out the window. I was testing out a new baitcaster combo I bought this year at my trout spot. 10# Berkley Big Game line with a Kastmaster spoon tied on. Cast like a bullet to spots I can’t reach with the lighter gear. I have caught multiple Brook Trout on this setup. My mind has been blown.

I know some folks on here will start fitting me for a straight jacket with my answer. Spinnerbaits & Flukes

Big contrast in temps this week. I went fishing Wednesday evening and the high temp was 70 the last few days have been chilly and rainy. I was able to fish this morning as well. Here are some of the best fish from those 2 sessions. 22 Brook Trout all together. Kept 10 rest were released. And a snot rocket each day.

It was cold here last night (mid 30’s) but thankfully no snow. Same for tonight.

Sharp hooks, good hookset, steady pressure. Fight the urge to horse the fish in unless he is running for cover that can break you off. I have had Bass jump that I was sure I was going to lose. When I landed them I realized they were going nowhere with the hook impaled past the barb in their mouth. Only pliers are getting those out.

My weakness is I don’t go chasing waterfalls. I stick to the rivers and the lakes that I’m used to. Seriously though I like to stick close to home. I usually hit 1 of three spots that are less than a 10 minute drive from my house.

Brands, no. Even my favorite brands have turned out products that have given me trouble. Reels, yes. I have a few reels in my rotation that are rock solid dependable.

Since the season started I have caught Brook Trout on all of the following: Kastmaster type spoon. They love it on the fall. worm and bobber worm and split shot rig Blue fox Vibrax in-line spinner Trout magnet jighead with wax worm on the hook under a bobber.