PhishLI

First thing I tried. Didn't work nearly as well. That's the problem. The keeper cools off too quickly unless it's extra hot. I prefer this no burnt fingers method.

Zman has a solution for this already with their ChinlockZ and SnakelockZ hooks, but they're limited in choices. If like me you have a preferred hook, here's a tip that works. Without it, screw-locks like the Owner CPS keepers or others with a centering pin feel almost impossible to install into ElaZtech material. By doing this, it'll make the installation doable and less annoying. This hack doesn't work with spring keepers without a discreet centering pin, so I automatically switch any hook brand with a spring keeper to Owner CPS. Bend out a thicker paper clip as shown and heat it up nicely. Insert it into the bait a little deeper than the length of the keeper. A 1/4" deeper works best. Pinch the head of the bait while screwing in the keeper. It'll fight you a little, but by pinching it, it'll stay in place until the next half-turn rotation. Once installed they rarely get torn out, and in the rare case that they do, they'll screw right back in as Elaztech doesn't core-out like plastisol. I haven't needed to toss a bait because the keeper got blown out during a fight. Just screw it back in and go to work. ProCrawZ and Hella CrawZ shown in the bottom pic. Large CPS used in the Pro, and Medium CPS used in the Hella. These riggings, especially the ProCrawZ, get through the heaviest and slimiest junk cleanly, cast like a bullet, and have taken the place of a jig for me in a number of situations where jigs simply don't feel worth the effort. Filamentous algae is a problem around here, but not for these riggings.

Easy Choice. 4.2" Megabass Hazedong Shad rigged on an Owner TwistLock Light Weighted(5167W-706) Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbaits | Tackle Warehouse Tight action, not the exaggerated wag like a Keitech which simply doesn't get bit around here. Extremely weedless. Perfect swim on this hook, and super durable. Pickeral or Pike will kill any bait, but these hold up to Bass very, very well. My brother is an stubborn big bait fisherman but admits that this bait is his #1 fish catcher by a long shot. He had to give in watching me out fish him using these over and over again. I know when to put down the big baits. Second choice is the 3.8" Googan Saucy Swimmer. Googan Baits Saucy Swimmer Swimbaits | Tackle Warehouse It, like many others, is a Keitech knock-off, but it doesn't have such an exaggerated a tail wag. Rigged on the above-mentioned hook or a Gamakatsu 296414-1/8, it swims great, is durable, and catches them. I add eyes to mine, but the Hazedong comes with them. Keep Mendit on hand. You can see how the rigged baits are beat up, but they've all caught a bunch of fish with occasional touch ups. They've taken it but keep on truckin'.

As soon as the full sale to Rapala was made they phased out several models. The Envys were one. Casting models have been pared down to the Defy, Meta, Muse, and Muse HD.

Great prices on 13 Envy Black IIIs 13 Fishing Envy Black III 7'3 Casting Rod Med Hvy (midwayusa.com)

Baits like his TSG are worthy of a eulogy. "He was a wonderful bait. Everybody loved him".😁

A few years ago, my brother got a standard, bone, 6" Bullshad, then sent it out to a hot-at-the-moment bait painter. He waited a very long time in the queue, and was thrilled showing it to me on the tailgate of his truck as we suited up in our waders. This lake is snaggy, so he'd spooled up with straight 65lb braid just to be "safe". I was standing right next to him when he said "Watch this. This bait really flies", and he swung for the fences. It certainly did fly. My brother's a long 6'4" and his rod was 9', so the knot didn't stand a chance against the strain of the backlash, so off it went into the troposphere on the very first cast. The funny part is that it was dark, cold, and windy, so with my wool hat pulled down over my ears and my hood up I really couldn't hear much. In support, I enthusiastically cried out "WoW, that thing really went out there!" My brother said nothing and made no sound, which I thought was odd. I looked over at him for a reply only to find his head hung low, arms to his sides, the rod tip in the water, and his chin on his chest. It happens eventually, one way or another. The lake giveth, and the lake taketh away. Sorry for your lost bait. I lit a candle for it.😢 Great vid though. Congrats on yet another awesome day, bro!👊

Last week a ginormous Pickerel swiped my prized and perfectly tuned SPRO Shad 40 Floater in Wicked Perch, so I self-soothed with a little shopping.

ESS71MXSExtra Fast6-12lb1/8-5/8oz7+Tip13-1/4"Essence Spin B Ark Essence Series Spinning Rods | Tackle Warehouse

The Cloud 9 Mag is a whopper. Like a lightbulb with hooks. KVD 2.5 shown for comparison. Anywhere it'll run, but after temps are steady above 45*. Below that temp I want baits to run very slowly. Not a strength of a floating crank.

Big 6th Sense Cloud 9 Silent MiniMag SB Crankbait | Tackle Warehouse Bigger 6th Sense Cloud 9 Magnum Silent Squarebill Crankbait | Tackle Warehouse

Last night, and with only minutes left in the MLF tournament, my wife called me up for dinner. She cooked, so I couldn't stall. I'd been streaming it all day on my laptop, so I wasn't going to miss the end even though Connell had already locked things up. I brought my laptop upstairs, explained myself, then plunked it onto the kitchen table so we both could watch. I quickly lubed her up with some info to try to get her interest. I never talk about pro fishing with my wife at all, and she's never watched a minute of it. Immediately she asked about the TV screen he was looking at. "Is he watching himself?" I went on to explain what FFS is and how it works. Told her it was like radar where on the screen you could see the fish hidden underwater, including its distance away and depth, and my hand to God she channeled Randy B right into my kitchen. With a furrowed brow she proclaimed, "That's not fair to the fish". "That's not sporting at all", and the kicker, "Where's the mystery in that?" "You don't have that, right?" "Of course not, poopsie oopsie", said I. I was never so relieved to not have a fishing toy. Out of the mouths of babes. How could I argue?

How are your pitching skills? Is it a part of your normal fishing? If so, can you pitch for decent distance, like 50-70 feet with control and very few fumbles? Think of pitching as a gateway skill to effective skipping. If you've developed this skill well, then skipping should come easier to you, especially backhand skipping which you can start with right away. Don't exclude any of your reels until you've thoroughly tried skipping with them. The one that allows for the greatest contact by your thumb from its tip to its heel will probably be what you ultimately choose. Hand shapes and widths, and finger lengths and sizes are different for everyone, so some reels just fit better for different things. Thumb contact with the spool while skipping or pitching is different from straight casting, IMO, so choosing the best one for you can make all the difference. A less than ideal-for-you choice can add a layer of difficultly you might end up mistakenly blaming on something else like the rod, line, or your reel's braking system. The good news is that once you finally "get it", you've "got it". Might need to shake off a few cobwebs at the beginning of each season though. Totally normal. It's not like ripping an overhead bombcast which is a skill that isn't quite as perishable.

Luke Dunkin just said Newell's role has been cut back, but he's not gone.

If your son bought it off Amazon, there's usually a return window of 30 days. If that hasn't elapsed yet, send it back for a replacement. Won't cost him or you anything to do so, and you might have better luck with the second one.

All it takes is a minute or so to soak. Cast it out or drop it down to depth then reel it up and read it quickly,

Cast one of these out and you'll know your water temps. Stream Thermometer - Green - Ramsey Outdoor

Please do! Yup. Rained alot last week which knocked it off. The next 4 overnights will be in the 20s, so I expect things to be slow for a minute. Soon.

Yes, the '25. What happens if he double qualifies with this year's points?

Well, maybe. A mongo pickerel bit off one those SPROs the other night which made me very sad. NOoooo! I'm weirdly sentimental about certain long-lived baits, especially when they've caught 'em good for me. I was made happy again to find them nicely discounted so close to such a trauma. I comforted myself by buying 3 more to replace the lost one and a bunch of other junk I decided I needed. It's way healthier than stuffing my piehole with Krispy Kremes and crying myself to sleep.😁

Sweet deal on these little killers. SPRO Shad Swimbait 4" | Tackle Warehouse

Marty got the hook for sure. Don't know about Rob.

The commentators just said all he has to do is make it back to the weigh-in for the win and he's in the Classic. They must've changed the rules at some point.

Just crazy. 6-0 09:38 AM 9-0 11:19 AM 9-8 12:13 PM 3-0 12:57 PM 7-0 01:46 PM 34lb - 8oz KEEPERS 5/5

Looks like a lock. Blasting them.