Ohioguy25

How do you suppose I ran out?

You got smallies in the PNW?

I bought a Stradic 2500 from digitaka not realizing it was shallow due to the Japanese model numbers. At first I figured no problem I can use for my finesse setup, but today when I ran out of braid I quickly changed my mind. What exactly is the advantage of these?

Yeah it’s pretty worn out, esp since the explosion in popularity of fishing since Covid. I would love to have fished it when it first hit the market.

Really? That’s interesting, you would think the southernmost portion of their range would be tougher in the dead of summer.

As it is everywhere

What is the likelihood of catching a 19-20” fish in there?

In my river it is not nearly as effective as it was even a year or two ago, but still produces consistently enough to keep it tied on in the summer. I’m wondering if it’s worth leaving my comfort zone and learning to walk the dog or mixing Ricos into my rotation or if the plopper still gets bit way more?

What fisheries would you say fit this description?

I think the metric generally used is greatest concentration of trophy fish (5 lb +)

Are gobies and zebras pretty much single-handedly responsible for this explosion or is there more going on? Yeah I knew about Dale Hollow but always wondered if Norris had some monsters.

If not what would you say deserves that designation? I have heard consistently that Erie holds the crown, but I also know there are a plethora of incredible smallmouth fisheries all throughout the Great Lakes region like Saint Clair & Mille Lacs.

Yeah I just thought the pumpkin jackhammer looked off

Dang, was really hoping this would generate more discussion

I didn’t mean actual texas rig just that the hook was buried in the plastic.

I really like the vibrant brown and green combos seen in what many bait makers label “bluegill” or “ghost baby gill.” I still use green pumpkin for neds/tubes and other soft plastics but with more elaborate moving presentations like chatters and cranks I find the gill patterns more natural craw imitations as craws typically have a similar combination of colors.

4-6’ deep, 50-75 yards across. Floating in a kayak.

What about stupid tube/texas rig?

I have found quite a few small mouth mid river in the deep channel behind boulders on the current seam picking off bait as it floats by. It would seem that some sort of moving bait with fast sinking capabilities would be the most effective way but I can’t really figure out which one possibly a deep crank or a heavy spinnerbait? Or if you’re in the camp that firmly believes in extreme water temps (outside of 55-70 degrees) mature fish (18”+) will not chase and must be finessed, a Ned or a tube? Seems like a slow means of covering water but if they won’t hit a crank or a flashy moving bait or even a glide than perhaps a necessary evil. The river I fish averages 4-6’ deep, 50-75 yards across. I typically float in a kayak.

What setup/weight do you use? What setup do you recommend?

Just drag/hop? Yeah I like my Ned on the bottom where the fish are. Never understood the obsession with the “slow fall” everyone seems so fixated on, but who knows maybe they’re right and I’m missing all sorts of bites with my 3/16 block heads.

Why’d you stop throwing Ned?

It seems that tubes are one of those staple big fish baits that I need to better acquaint myself with. My buddy says it’s very difficult to work them properly from a kayak, and that Ned would be a better option. Is this accurate?

Yeah it’s pretty wild it was especially bad last summer with the drought we had.

Yeah, it’s crazy how much timing is involved in this sport.