PhishLI

Watch the vid. Wacky Saddle/O-Rings (frenzybaits.com)

You don't know it, but you've just planted the seed that will germinate into the next run-on thread starter title 3 weeks from now. Ready? Here it is: Last question! I swear it on my two-panty aunty, tree frogs, chipmucks, and everything else I find precious! I'm not sure if I dreamt this, or if I heard "somebody" say it, but do you guys or any of your distant kinfolk find the iRod Jr SB to be awkward? It seems a little awkward to me, I think. TIA!

Interesting talk.

For those interested, Jonny Shultz from Fish the Moment is on BTL Live discussing where his predictions before this event were either correct or incorrect. Do a search for "BTL - BASS TALK LIVE TOLEDO BEND OPEN ANALYSIS WITH JONNY SCHULTZ"

Upgrade the spring keeper to an Owner TwistLock CPS Large. They extend the life of Fat IKAs way beyond what the standard size is capable of.

Maybe he'll listen to you, but don't count on it.

Depends on your waters. Heavy weeds, or generally clear of them? If you want to get a very good standard MH rod for little $, take a look at the Daiwa Aird-X 7'3" MH for $54.99. You'll really like it. Daiwa Aird X Casting Rods - Tackle Warehouse

Like I said in the Open's thread, it's used by regular fishing schmucks to diminish anyone who would dare. I really don't get it, and the answers why are easy to see, but I won't bother. Check Milliken's insta and you'll see congrats by the heaviest hitters across leagues. Pros he'll be competing against. They have respect, but randoms on forums have an issue. Silliness. Nothing but accolades on the biggest bass podcasts too over the past two days.

I don't hate to admit it. It's a good bait. So are the Trench Hog and the Krackin' Craw. Two of my brother's top 3 fish came on it rigged on an Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Swim Jig, and he 'aint embarrassed. So do a bunch of baits from other manufactures. Anise in glycerin is old school. Been done forever.

The state is building fish ladders along our south shore lakes and mill ponds to allow the Alewife back into their currently dammed old spawning grounds. One of my favorite spots is on the list and one was recently completed at another. Can't wait to see what a now 8lb gill eater looks like after chomping down American shad for a season or two.

Yup. My brother has a long, rectangular, above ground with a deck. My niece hasn't used it for years, but he keeps it open to test baits. I'm amazed the liner hasn't been perf'd yet.

If what you're saying is that it doesn't load up on the backswing with even a 1 ounce lure, perhaps you misunderstand what loading up means. I'm often chucking a Beast Coast Miyagi Swimmer 4.75"/ 6/0 1/4oz Owner Beast hook which comes in at an ounce on the Jr SB and the rod loads just fine. I can launch that thing. Same thing with a 1 oz Dark Sleeper. Same thing with a 3/4oz Spro 4" BBZ1 Shad.

Maybe you should just wait until you catch a fish on it and not make hasty judgements based on loading a bait on the backswing. I have no problem throwing a 3/8oz chatterbait with a bulky trailer on the Jr SB. Leverage due to its length is part of the equation here. Personally, I wouldn't want it to be any more moderate than it is, especially when combined with stretchy lines. When I first got mine, I almost did a backflip off my yak trying to set the hook on a 5lb fish using 17 Sufix Siege. It's a swimbait rod, not a bottom contact stick.

Hit a local spot with one of the bros for a rare daylight session. The bite is still oddly tentative, so we both missed some, but we got some too. I even caught one on a spinnerbait which proves, I suppose, that @LrgmouthShad isn't totally batty after all.?

Oy vey. I just pray you didn't strain anything moving those goal posts, pops.?

Still have the Tat Elite 7'1" H? It'll work. BTW, the 6" Bullshad isn't a resistance bait.

I go 8-9 per side with the same diameter line. No problemo.

I'm going there to scuba dive that tree for 2-4 Hinkle Shads!

Still too close to call with 36 mins left. Mckinney might be sandbagging. Are there marshalls in the top 10 boats today?

Yup. I don't see the point in comparing locals and local guides to out-of towners. There were a number of Elite and MLF pros who didn't make the cut. Recent Classic winner Jason Christie and recent Redcrest winner Booby Lane Jr both missed.

I dunno? This Utoober thing is almost dismissive. Nearly a slur on someone. Jake Paul is a youtuber who's trying to box by fighting washed up MMA retirees. Milliken is a fisherman who started a YT channel. It's not the same thing. He was on a college team and has been doing local derbs for years before YT. Scott Martin has the biggest YT channel of any pro. Does YT diminish him? Milliken isn't that far behind Martin's channel because he has hardcore fishing content where if you pay attention, you'll actually learn something. Unlike the beloved Shimano salesmen, he actually goes deep on tactics, and remarkably little on gear. Looks like YTer Rob Terkla from G Squad washed out at the NPFL, and YTer Oliver Ngy from Big Bass Dreams struggled mightily on tour, and he can catch them. I hope Milliken does well.

I have. Waits can be stupid long, like several months, for servicing/warranty except for executive services where they're offered.

As far as you know. None of us know for sure what goes on inter-industry. Toyotas and GMs built on parallel assembly lines, etc. Businesses do what they need to do or what makes sense financially. From the outside it's all just a guess regardless of what's claimed by "somebody".

I was frozen like a popsicle early Monday morning, and yesterday it was 90*. Go figure. When I got to the lake last night it was so slick-calm and breeze-less that it was hard to believe wind existed anywhere else on earth. I'd forgotten my neck gaiter, so I was in dread over the idea of being engulfed by huge plumes of gnats and huffing them in, but they were nowhere to be found. Consequently, not a single fish broke the surface once in 3 hours. Not even a swirl. Things seemed quite hopeless. The really odd thing was that I was getting lots of short strikes in the same locations, which felt precisely like bedding bass bumping me off their nests. Doesn't seem possible being this early, but perhaps the water temps in the shallows got supercharged just enough to fake them out? Who knows? Got the stuffed crappie on a Rapala Shallow Runner in Perch, and the basslings came on a Berkely The Champ Swimmer in crappie. Beat the skunk somehow and maintained my dignity, sort of.