Mbirdsley

I take any where from 4-8 rods with me. Usually the night before I start tying on what I think is going to produce ( dosent mean I’m always right). At the moment I only have 2 of the same type of set ups. 1 rod has somthing t-rigged the other has a jig tied on or vice versa. Maybe after this summer I’ll start having identical set ups where the only difference will be different weights IE 2 Texas rigs or jigs tied on with different weights. I only use snaps on cranks and jerk baits. Swivels only on Carolina rig

Heck yes they are good places to find smallies

I was impressed with Abu Garcia veritas Heavy rod when I was looking for a punching rig last year. I believe it is rated up to 1 1/2 oz. Hind sight I should have bought that instead of the st.croix bassx rod. The veritas was $99 bucks and the bass x was $119

Tackle at all of my local big box stores has been replaced. Lower end Rods and reels at the big box places like Walmart, miejers and other is stocked. Cabelas in Saginaw after having zero spinning reels or bait casters over Christmas is still bare.

I would imagine it comes down to what technique they are using at any given time, and what they feel comfortable with. There might be 1 or 2 individual rods in a same stack of $100 rods that feels better than $250 rod ( not saying every rod in $100 stack feels better than the expensive rods” Sometimes you find the one rod and your like “ yeah this is it” The pros know how to find that “ one” good rod. Pros have a bottom line too. If company X is giving the pro free $100 rods why waist personal money on a more expensive rod

Same... I used to buy 1-2 pairs of cheap glasses a year. Last year I broke down and bought a $175 pair bronze/copper Oakley’s. Never going back to cheap ones again. I’d like a pair of blue ones as there are a lot of gin clear lakes in norther Michigan.

The flukes and boom sticks look good. Those boom sticks are kinda cool

Jerk baits. I can’t get the rythem right atleast on a bait caster. I’m going to try on a spinning set up this year. I had decent success with them on a spinning rig accidentally before. That was before I knew what I was doing fishing wise

My New Abu Garcia revo premier showed up for in store pick up at cabelas on Tuesday. I picked it up to day. Cabelas had the discounted $100 dollars + $50 bucks in gift cards I couldn’t pass it up. It’s a very very nice spinning reel and the best one I have now. Can’t wait for spring

Picked these 3 up at the local sporting goods store. They have sold lunkerhunt hard baits for a while, so I bought 2. Both lunkerhunt flat side jolt 2.5f one in silver side (right) and red hot (left) . Those might be good for the spring paid $4.99. Seems like decent reviews on line except the hooks also a strike king (bottom) 1.5 square bill. Store sticker covered up what the color is called.

Every scenario is different. In the described scenario of the original post I would have broken it off and come back for it later. If I was fishing for money I’d make one attempt of getting it back before I would break it off. Normal fishing, I would make a valid attempt just so I’m not leaving junk/litter in the water shed. I get most lures back though, with having to do anything crazy.

Your in the same boat I am. Everything in mid-Michigan is all walleye oriented. Go west or north and it is kings, trout, and walleye. Most places have a decent selection of cranks and spinner baits. Other than that a lot of stuff I either have to make IE jigs or order online.

I don’t fish big baits with my carbon light combo but, use it for jigs and Texas rigs up to 1/2oz. Mines a 6ft9 mH with 8:1 reel. I absolutely love the carbon light rod and reel. It was probably my most used combo this last summer. I would buy another one in a second.

I would be interested in some of those. I don’t need eyes. Pm when you go into production mode

It won’t work with powder. I bought the harbor freight deluxe kit which, it looks like that is what that is just sold at a different retailer. I upgraded my brush but, still use the compressor. However, if I was in a pinch I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase another harbor freight deluxe air brush I paint model planes with mine so it would work for lures.

Testors is probably the best paint to use if you are not powder coating and just brushing it on. When I first started making jigs and in-line spinners that was what I was using instead of powder paint. It was fairly durable as I don’t think I had my little oven At the time. Plus it was cheap and available as the hobby store was only like a half mile away as far as how I powder paint to day. I just heat the jigs up with propane torch and dunk them in the powder paint. Not good for multiple colors but, I usually keep the jigs them selves simple with one color. Then I cure them in my convection oven at 320. If the paint has glitter in it I power to about 275 for 25 minutes. once my boat project is done I’d like to get the harbor frieght palm sized sand blaster. Instead of sand I’d put powder paint in it. Cheap powder air gun

My rule of thumb has always been whether the water was muddy or not. That I’ve always done best with throwing silver colored stuff on sunny days. Gold flashy colored stuff on cloudy days. Some days none of it matters

Most productive lure for 2020 with out a doubt was a black/blue chigger craw either t -rigged or on a jig. The smallies can’t get enough of those on Saginaw or Tittabawassee river. most productive lake lure was either a bendito bug or rage Menance in summer craw color. Benito bug was t-rigged and the menance either on watermelon or green pumpkin jig. PB large mouth came on size #5 delta craw Shad rap in the last week of March other than that I struggled all year to get on a consistent crank bite. I would have success here and there but, lost a bunch. Same can be said for spinner baits. in the spring I’m concentrating on jerk baits and cranks. I also purchased a new crank rod to help with them staying buttoned on I had other tackle that I would have good days with or be good for specific lake but, couldn’t get it to go the next time out or on different lake

I think it’s going to a good 100% flouro carbon line for spinning rods. Tried Segar red label for a while and I didn’t like it. Thinking maybe Tatsu, sniper, INVX or something about like that.

5 gallons is what I would get. I had 9.8 merc 2 stroke on a 14 ft mirror craft deep-V. If I was just fishing smaller to medium sized lakes a tank would last 4 trips or more . If I was on a river or Saginaw bay doing a lot of running around every 2 trips

I like using mostly senkos, Berkley max scent, and yum dingers. However, a zoom pumpkin magnum swamp crawler has caught a of lot wacky rigged bass. Especially in clear water

Thanks. I have a 7ft4 H st croix bassx for punching also. I’m not all that crazy about that rod. Originally I was looking for the same punching rod in a bass mojo but, BPS in auburn hills didn’t have any. your not the first person I’ve talked to that says the Penns were heavy. I should have time off for the automotive shut down at Christmas. Which, means I should have time to look at reels soon. I’ve also been thinking about the diawa BG. We will see what I come up with and what’s available. imho I think the premiers are better than the mojos for only $10-$15 more. I like the mojo rods too I’m thinking if one of those for either another t-rig/jig rod or a glass deep cranking rod This premier will be a strictly a finesse rod. I have a dobyns colt ml I’ll use for Shad raps, jerk baits and other stuff

My new St.Croix 7 ft m/l premier showed up today and on time. This thing feels awesome. This is my 2nd premier the other being a 7ft UL. This new one I plan on ned rigs, shakey head , tubes and other finesse stuff. Just need to find a reel. I was kinda thinking of a penn but, the Diawa BG has been looking better and better. Just have to wait and see how many cabelas cards I get.

Guides are not going you to take to their way off the beaten places or honey hole spots ( unless your willing to pay big $$$$). Chances are they are going to take you to the very spots that all the locals know and Honestly, if they are good they shouldn’t have to take you to a ultra top secret location. the way this works is if a guide is taking you to a spot it becomes public knowledge and they know this . Any guide who expects a paying client to keep some secret spot a secret is a fool at best. If I want a spot to stay hidden I don’t people to that spot. in the end YOU are paying him to find the spots and put you on fish. This happens all the time in Michigan. The fastest way to get a crash course In how to fish a species, spots or learn a technique is just to pay a charter/guide Iike others have said if you want to learn a lake or technique just tell the guide What you want to do. With all that said and done talk to several guides as some guides are better than others when it comes to teaching. we learned this the hard way on Lake Michigan. There are some spots you take paying clients to, there are some spots you take friends to, and some spots you take family to. However, you always keep spots back for your self. Never tell everybody everything. Somethings are best left a secret unless like I said they open up the wallet.

Just got fondeling the rods at the Saginaw cabelas store. Definitely Getting the medium light. Which to me seems like a medium. The medium seemed like a MH. I may order it tonight. edit: just pulled the trigger on it. Only thing I’m looking for now is deep crank rod but, I’ll hold of a while need to replace the deck on the boat next