Fat Ika

Hi Fellow Fishermen, Just thought we could have some fun sharing our excitement for Black Friday gear. 1. What new bait, technique, and/or terminal tackle are you excited about using? 2. If it's not a new techniques, but a new bait within a technique you're experienced with, what's your past experience with this techniques? 3. Feel free to be as specific as you'd like why you're excited about it. Time of year, conditions, etc.....any and all variables you can think of. I'm excited about a lot of stuff, but a new terminal piece for me is a weedless neko hook. Going to test out these 2. Gamakatsu G-Finesse Cover Neko Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Cover_Neko_Hook_3pk/descpage-GGFCN.html Decoy Worm 128 Neko Rig Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=neko+decoy I enjoy nekos for tough or calm blue bird conditions from post ice-out/early pre-spawn to almost late fall. I use them almost entirely versus a traditional perpendicular wacky rig. I also enjoy them for different look if needed during finicky sight fishing. Excited to see how these work in grass.

@Cody28 - 2 cents, since no one has mentioned https://www.thornebros.com/ - They might be useful to chat with.

Thanks Tom. I appreciate the advice!

@ABrugs - Thank You. Sounds like 2 super comfortable setups. I am also considering Tatsu for my spinning option for optimal line management. How's your experience been with the 8# Tatsu?

Thanks roadwarrior. No experience with any GLXs, but a have tinkered back and forth with the my Aldebaran vs. Steez SV TW for finesse swimbaiting on my casting setup. I'm gonna keep giving Daiwa Samurai a shot and if I'm not happy, I'll try out Tatsu. I'm sure you've tinkered to settle with 12# Tatsu. What are your thoughts and experiences with 10# Tatsu T-Billy - That's a fun rod. I actually own that rod and I mostly use it for winter jerkbaiting on a pike infested river. I'll have to audition it it for finesse swimbaits next year. Thanks! QUAKEnSHAKE - Super interested in that rod! Thanks so much for the info. I just looked it up. I'll have to call Croix and see when they have it back in stock. Do you think that rod can handle up to 1/4 oz heads with 2.8 - 3.3's? Right on with Trokar.

Hi Fellow Fishing Friends, After 30 years of fishing, I finally have the privilege of fishing a decent smallie lake from an actual boat. For LMBs I've always finessed swimbaited successfully with Dobyns Champ Extreme 742. This year I tried a casting and a spinning setup for 2.8 - 3.3 keitech fats and 3" spark shads. Mostly used Stephan's 1/0 guppy heads from 1/8-1/4 and Coolbaits 1/0 underspins in 3/16 oz. Casting Dobyns Champ Extreme 742 (Med/Fast) & Spinning was a St. Croix Victory 7'3" Med/Xfast. Most often straight 8 # flouro on either setup. I had a little better success with the Dobyns 742 casting versus the St. Croix this year for smallies, but both landing percentages were pretty terrible. I understand there's an infinite amount for variables hear. What ignorantly stands out to me is my lack of experience of a smallie swimbait bite plus there tough mouths. I'd feel the little ticks, not react as I perceived they didn't have the bait mouthed yet, patiently maintain my cadence, lean into them with a vertical or oblique angled hookset when I thought they really had the bait. 1/2 the time they'd spit the hook on the first jump. I'm looking to use as long of a rod as possible. I asked a rod company if a longer moderate action graphite would work better, as I'm looking to get a longer/moderate graphite rod for shap rap style baits, and interested if it could double as a finesse swimbait rod. A very experienced smallie fishermen from a very reputable rod company told me that a 7 - 7'2" moderate rod was probably my best bet. He did not recommend a very long moderate/parabolic rod as he said you'll have trouble there will be too much slack when setting the hook due with the longer moderate bend? What are your confidence finesse swimbait setups?

I second that Baitcasting/BFS Nut. Those last couple 75 days had them partying in Chicago. Same here during this cold front. Light twitch > stare at whatever for 5-15 seconds > twitch twitch > pause and reflect a little more on life > hmmmmm.....should a jerk it, barely twitch it, slow pull it, rip it?!!! Caught a few jerks and missed a few line jumps LOL. April in Chicago. Always a teaser.

Ito Wakasagi - Mildy stained water and/or Cloudy, barely blue skies or mild overcast Clear Laker - Clear water sunny days Stain Reaction - Significant stained to moderately muddy waters. Dark overcast Ice Out or cold front - Silent Versions Perch - In clear to mildly stained water in perch territory