softwateronly

I'd like to figure out August and September on my home lake a lot better. My structure/cover fishing during the day really falls apart with the pressure and boat traffic. I'm a couple years into chasing the open water fish without electronics and have been able to narrow down some water, but need to refine my approach. scott

Probably, haven't done it. A top heavy bait rolls easiest on a jighead, if any of your paddletails have flatter sides and a wide back making a triangular shape when viewing from head on, you'll probably have success getting the roll right away. I'm thinking of a xzone swammer, but I really can't see how any of them would be bad. I'm sure you have a fluke somewhere right? They work too. Basically, anything that behaves on a scrounger head seems to stroll well. For most 3.5-5" baits, I find 3/16oz and 5/32oz to be easiest to cast and retrieve properly. scott

As someone that hasn't given up on braid, 34 and windy is worse than 30 and calm. scott

Inbetween weight, 200g, compared to met 20 and bantam if that factors in. scott

Jigs; 5/32 horizon head w/ rapala freeloader 1/2oz zorro booza bug w/ a d-bomb 3/4oz dj cali swim jig w/ 5" gambler ez I'm a junk fisherman for sure so t-rigs, free rigs, flukes, spinnerbaits, scroungers, glides, and spoons all had their days/weeks. But in the end, my year in "big" fish would almost be unchanged if I only fished the above 3 jigs. scott

I dont know the 873, but from what I heard it sounds closest to the PA 7'2H. I agree with @PBBrandon assessment that they compliment each other more than they compete. At the same time, before I broke my PA 7'3MH, I struggled to find a frequent spot for it. I'm 80/20 single hook to treble ratio. scott

For what you said, I'm in the braid to leader Met 20 camp. When dialed in, that reel sends like few others. I am also a fan of both current Zillions and the bantam, so you can't go wrong. scott

There's so much personal preference and type of fishing involved that there's nothing definitive about my comments except for this....that set up will fish a chatterbait and you'll have no problem catching fish with it. Just my opinions below.. For me, your rod is best for a chuck and wind approach to chatterbaits. It's got enough give for them to get a hold of it while you're reeling without pulling it away from them. It's about perfect for this technique. I have gotten used to and now prefer most 7:1 reels which is 28-30 ipt. I feel like I can slow down enough to get bites with open water swimming techniques while still be fast enough to catch up with them if they bite it swimming directly at me. So I only use 8:1 reels for bottom contact, where I move the bait with the rod and reel up the slack. Being a faster reel gets me back into position sooner for a hookset. Now on a 8:1 if you fish your chatterbaits with constant reeling, you might need to slow yourself down so that you're able to get bit. And if you fish your chatterbait more like a jig, dragging and hopping, you might need to be excellent at driving that hook home with a slightly softer rod. A sweeping reel set or move to braid can help this issue if you encounter it. All in all, if it were me, I'd prefer a 7:1 reel. Others a 6:1 and still others are probably fine with an 8:1. We're all different. You bought nice stuff, you'll find a way to make it work. scott

Obviously one childhood in the Midwest with the dancing eel. Next question please. scott

Yes and No. For me, this whole experience/hobby became more enjoyable with better and better tailored gear. That's most important I think. scott edit: this site is "now" very welcoming of a vast array of price points. Now being the last 7+ years.

@VTFan That eel sat in the top tray of my tackle box for years as a kid. All I ever caught was weeds. There are more current "gimmicky" lures that have at least delivered a few fish. The combo of the eel and my experience level means it's the most notorious in my mind. I should go digging and see if I still have it somewhere, could be my 2025 goal and Bill's redemption! scott

The dancing eel. Still haven't forgiven Bill. scott

I've never really tried to find the bottom end of my met 20's. I do have diawa alpha 800s with pe 1.5 mounted on various medium powered rods to throw those weights and find it perfect. I find it a giant leap ahead of a curado 70 as well. scott

I have Met 20's as well and understand why you want another and I was just looking at them on digitaka the other day. Here's a link from shimano and I found the impression testimonials from japanese pros to be insightful. One says down to 7g and another pro says down to 5g. Line choice on your end could be a critical factor in you liking it. https://fish.shimano.com/ja-JP/product/reel/baitlurecasting/a075f00003k1ldfqa2.html scott

The Berkley's are real nice. I've been happy with Northland Tackle Underspin, lot's of hook/weight sizes and a good thin wire gammy. Doesn't have a dropper arm though. Currently on sale at TW for another day or two. scott

I throw a 1/2oz jackhammer on a 904. You absolutely will "catch" with the mbr action. It's special imo. scott

IL has to be one of the most polar opposites in terms of LM and SM records. The LM at 13.1lbs just seems insurmountable and has stood for 50 years and I think even has a legitimacy question that goes all the way back. While on the other hand, the SM record was recently caught by a shore angler just steps from downtown chicago at 7.3lbs. If one really wanted to get in the books, this has to be one of the most attainable in the country. Related and interesting to me... scott

Wasn't this a temporary issue about 4-5 years ago? They disappeared from the market for a month or three and then all those issues weren't talked about online anymore. Something similar happened with the clear coat on the poison adrena rod line. Neither was acknowledged by the companies as far as I can remember. I don't own an Orochi, but I hear mostly very happy customers and at $200 seems like a good deal to me. scott

No doubt you'll get them! You might need to temper your expectations to 20 bass mornings scott

I'm with most of the people responding that it's probably a mixed bag, but my amateur statistical knowledge says the odds are not in your favor. It takes a lot going right for you to have such a productive bog for old big bass in the north, and to me the odds are that a dip is to be expected. Is the dip this year or in 5 years seems to be the harder question to guess. I hope I'm wrong. scott

I know they made poor decisions and am not defending them, but sometimes I wonder if people realize how erratic, sudden, and specific tornados can be. If you live with them in your area, it's not truly possible to plan for them and there's a giant grey area of should I and imminent danger. Being cognizant of that is something I always try to keep in mind. We also have tornado sirens here that are incredibly useful for determining your timeframe. Being in a big box store or a car or a forest or a slab foundation home or even at the boat ramp can all be more dangerous than in a boat on the water. scott

I'm not familiar with Kistler, and am not impressed with Dobyns sensitivity in the fury and champ series. I like the Xtasy's sensitivity but at that price point it's not remarkable in comparison to other manufacturers. scott ps - Don't want to be all negative, I do love Dobyns actions and balance, just lacks a little in sensitivity.

I mean, who wants to tie anything when it's freezing cold....or really hot....or perfectly average out. I think it is very similar. I inherited it from my in-laws, has to be at least 35 years old. Now if only they'd give me the latest japanese rods and reels.... scott

I'm hoping to keep my open water streak going though January but it is looking dicey and would need some serious luck. Here's one of my last bass of 24 and hope I can post here before Feb. scott

@Blue Raider Bob I'm out of reactions today, but I definitely chuckled. ^^^ Took the canoe out on the 30th and ended the year with a slow morning and a good afternoon bite. The water was discolored from the rain the 2 days prior, but it warmed up to 40 in some spots. I found the dozen or so bass on the remaining green milfoil in 15 ish fow and caught them on the bottom with a jighead minnow and weirdly blanked on a jig and blade bait. Only a few that got pics... scott