Jmurphy87

Yeah I will be posting a picture of my curado MGL later lol. I got the 6.2 ratio though. I went in my local shop yesterday and they had them for $30 off I looked down and saw the tatula 80 that I bought the previous day was $30 also. I talked to the salesman who knows that I am a regular and he told me that he would make it right. I walked out the door with one for $148 something. I thought that it was a good deal at that price. There decent reels, the mgl spool is a quicker one but there nice. I think that you will like it ? definitely a little different than a daiwa but in a good way.

Nothing special size wise for sure, it was a grind with not much happening really. I got to break the new combo in with a fish at least lol. The bait used was a 3/8 thunder cricket gold series with a swapped skirt to a beast coast tackle natural gill with a mini zako trailer in 956. I made a decent cast, give or take 35-40 yards it touched down and I was like something doesn’t feel right, when in doubt set the hook. I saw my line moving oddly after I swung and figured that I caught something. I didn’t have my drag all the way tight on my tatula 80 and it played around with me a little and jumped out of the water a couple times. Then it tried to run into a brush pile but I kept it out and got it to the bank and grabbed it. I was surprised that it stayed on, hook was through the soft tissue on the side of the mouth. The mbr 844c did a good job of keeping it pinned and the braid probably helped me get the hook set at that distance. Like I said when it touched down I felt the bite. Either way I am happy that I caught something at least. the pond I fished is shallow so they start bedding earlier. Probably landed close to a bed and just got a reaction strike out of this little whipper snapper lol. I really like the 30lb sunline plasma braid though, I always liked it though.

I had way too much stuff, there is no reason why I needed that much stuff. I picked the mbr because it will work for a lot of things, it might not be the exact specific rod for technique but it will work for them and it’s good enough for me. I got tired of hauling my 90lb kayak off the deck and through the apartment and then down the stairs to put it on top of the car. It was not heavy just awkward I want to teach my kids and wife more about fishing and focusing less on my obsession of catching the largest bass around here that I can. I have owned the high end stuff and now I don’t have to be curious about what it’s like, that’s worth the price of admission to me. I wasn’t parting with my lews $70 reel from Walmart or my abu max pro, pinnacle deadbolt classic either. I like my cheap stuff also due to the value you can get at times.

Well I sold most of my stuff this past Sunday, both yaks and all rods 23 of them and 23 reels also along with most of my lures and plastics. I had way too much stuff and it was creating A never ending addiction. I got permission from the wife to own 1 rod and reel, besides my 3 beaters. This made it really hard to choose a rod, I was looking at megabass p5 super destroyer, tequila baccarat, and a couple loomis rods. I don’t trust myself with the recoil guides of the nrx + so I had to look lower or higher. I had really good luck a couple years ago with my 844c mbr. After 3 days of consideration and fondling of rods at my local shop I finally decided. G loomis conquest 844c mbr reel was a oddball being a tatula 80 but why not.

I got out for a few hours today. The weather cooperated good enough in my book. The bass were not in the mood today really, it has been cool lately that doesn’t help. The pike were definitely active though, but that’s normal. I started off the day with the experiment that I had planned, I wanted to try different black and blue craws and baits to see what ones my local fish prefer. I started with a black and blue bandito bug on a 3/0 owner jig rig hook. Caught a pike or two on it and no bass, switched to a rage craw same color rattle version and got one more pike. I then decided that it was time to go big or go home, I went big. Well not really but I don’t know of many people that throw swim baits around here. The lure was a jackal gantral jr in rt carp color, this pond has a lot of carp in it so I figured that they might be munching on them also. Probably 10-15 cast later I started working parallel to a old fallen tree that’s next to a old submerged stump. I caught my first and only bass of the day, not big but weighed 2.5lbs. I caught one more pike on the gantral and he destroyed my leader. I also went in the cold water shirtless to get my gantral off the old stump, sorry for the shirtless pictures lol. I then switched to a mini max black and blue with a mini zako in electric shad. Caught 3 more pike on it in 15 minutes. The odd part was that the biggest pike of the day came in with a hitchhiker a lamprey, it flopped of him on the bank and I disposed of the parasite. I then tied a jig on without a leader and had a pike destroyer it at the bank got him onto shore he bit through my line and then I removed the jig and he was back on his way and I still had my jig. I fished a little bit longer but it went dead, I had a pike on briefly with a sleeper gill but I didn’t get a good enough hook set so that one got a early release. All in all it was a good day, the experiment will pick up when the bass want to play again and I have the time.

Well I got some more stuff, more different craws to try in black and blue and I wanted to try some spro square bills. I wanted 3/8 oz jigs, I accidentally got a 1/2 oz black and blue. It will work, I fish shallow weedy places so I like to go lighter on my jigs. I wanted to try a variety of craws in black and blue and see what my fish prefer lol. I lost my rights to purchasing any more fishing stuff for a while. I don’t need any more and I told my wife I have a problem and I need help, I am still breathing so I am currently alive for now.

I grabbed a few more things to try out, all this talk of swim baits had me itching to try a new idea. I fish a pond with a lot of carp so I figured a carp gantral jr couldn’t hurt and I wanted to try the small s waver also. I have a experiment for the black and blue plastics this weekend if the weather cooperates lol. Black and blue plastics are rage scournbug midsize rage bug rattlin rage craw bandito bug d bomb is bayou flash 1/8 tungsten for the shallow weedy waters I fish 3/0,4/0 rig n hooks 3/0 owner jig rig hooks gantral jr rat carp r2s s waver 168 yellow perch 1 spro 30 size rat in brown, wanted a bigger one but they didn’t have any ? hopefully the weather cooperates ?

Well I caught a couple today, had 2.5 hours to go fishing. Second cast caught my first pike of the day on a rapala slim 4, poor thing chocked it. He swam off though, next fish and the best one of the day bested me at the bank. Only had the rear treble in the very edge of the inside of the mouth, gave a dance at the bank unhooked himself and then threw itself onto the bank. I about went in backside first trying to grab it, but he laughed and ran back into the water lol. Took a while to catch my second tiny bass on a demon dt-4. I then caught 2 more pike on the dt-4 and a Rocco. The best bass of the day was probably 2.5-3lbs. That’s fishing though and crank baits, you win some and you lose some but it’s still a blast.

Well I bought the tray to separate my flat side cranks from my lipless box lol, then I went down the color rabbit hole again yay. That’s roughly 5 different stores to find the colors and different flat side cranks. I know the dt are not flat sides but I have heard that the 6 is subtle compared to the 4 we will see.

All of those look really nice, I bet you those machete minnows will be really good. I would eat that if I was a fish. Of course I already eat everything as is, I am definitely convinced that fish will eat anything if you present it correctly.

I got a couple more things that I wanted to try this year, I am going to switch from stick baits to tubes and see how it goes. I plan on using speed worms, trick worms and rage craws also. I also got a jabber jaw to compare to the axis 2.0 to form a opinion. I have a idea for the salty core tubes, I am thinking about using my owner haymaker 2/0 hooks to see how they work with them. The body looks thin enough that I should get penetration but I will see when I rig one up.

Well I got out for 30 minutes again today, it was raining by the time I got to my spot. My first cast felt multiple taps and set the hook, felt the weight and then nothing. I knew that I had a pike just bite me off well time to re rig and use some of the new 4.5 flipping tubes that I just bought before I went fishing. I wanted some larger bodied tubes for my owner phantom tube hooks that are 5/0. I got re tied and put a black and blue flipping tube on, which is more fitting for the dirty pond. Around 5 cast later close to the bank I felt a little weight. I didn’t set the hook too hard, saw that it was a bass and kept tension on the fish and got it onto the Bank quickly because I knew that I didn’t get a very good hook set. A decent little bass. I kept fishing a little longer and felt another bite and set the hook and got it in and it was a pike this time. Bait of the day was a 5/0 owner phantom tube hook 3/16 weight with a strike king 4.5 flipping tube in black and blue. Not too bad for 30 minutes if I say so.

I finally got to go out for a longer session for me today, with everything that’s going on in my life. I decided to go fishing at my one pond that I have done ok at in the past few years, my daughter caught her pb at the pond. I had to replace some hooks on a crank bait before I went and decided what I was going to throw. I settled on a 1/2 jackhammer and full size zako trailer, the next bait I used was a magnum zoom lizard in black grape on a owner jig rig hook. the first fish was the only one that I caught on the jackhammer, first fish took 10 minutes or less. I saw small ones just cruising the banks. I casted parallel to the bank and brought it back to me with a straight retrieve until I got to the brush in the water in front of me, that’s when I switched to a yo yo retrieve to work it through the wood. A tiny one came out of nowhere and just hammered it. I then tried a few more spots and got it hung up on a branch underwater and walked out to get it back. The water was probably 5.5 feet deep. Got that back and tried some more spots where the bigger ones are but no takers, tried multiple retrievals. Got hung up again. Made my way down the bank slowly to get it back and spotted the best bass that I saw all day under a sunken tree, it spotted me and swam off slowly. Got my jackhammer unhung and tried a few more places but nothing. I switched lures, now I was onto the zoom magnum lizard in black grape on the owner jig rig hook. I caught my second small fish of the day within five minutes of swapping lures. I then moved on to all the different spots and got some taps here and there but it was either bluegills or more smaller bass, I would swing and there was nothing there. I was getting ready to leave and get my tackle bag packed up when I saw another small bass hanging out near the bank casted past him a ways and worked it back and he appears out of nowhere and crushes it. I was out for three hours having fun, quantity wise was up quality was down. I will say that a dink a day keeps the skunk away though. I had taken tubes with me and if I would have used those I probably would have caught more numbers, although I was trying to target bigger fish and cut out the smaller ones. Either way I finally used the owner jig rig hooks that I bought and caught something on them so that is a plus. I really liked getting out there and having fun. I think that some of the fish get out every year when it floods over, it really flooded last week. But all in all it was a good day.

Yeah it basically comes down to who is working there. They weren’t the friendliest but I will probably still go there. In the end I am a consumer of fishing stuff and I like to buy locally and not over the internet. So I am left with options but not many oh well. Thank you for your input on your local stores. It’s definitely the people who make a store though, in reality they could have not offered to do it. My hats off to them for following through though.

You are back and on them, feels good to hear how you’re day went and I am happy that you caught some really nice ones to start off with. Congratulations and here’s to many more to come from you. I haven’t been able to get the kayak out lately here, but the weather has been beautiful. I have only caught 9 pike in a day so far this year, 1 maybe 2 bass at a time for any session.

Well I changed the blade and skirt on one of my spinner baits, first time ever doing this and I am sure that I screwed something up but it worked. I took it from a quad willow to a single 4.5 Indiana hildebrandt in gold with a pro pumpkin skirt. Idea is to try to keep it to mimic bluegill. I didn’t get out with it before sunset so it was dark so I couldn’t tell if it’s tracking true or not, that will have to wait till another day lol. I started out with the deeper spot and casted in the dark but no bites, could definitely feel it pulsating really nicely. I decided that it’s time to get wet to work on a prime bank. I took the shoes and socks off and went in. In less than 15 minutes I caught my first night spinnerbait bass of the year. Small fish but it was a blast my drag was a little loose, I got a good hook set in the roof of the mouth but it was definitely pulling drag but even with that mistake I landed it to my hand. I then took some really bad pics in the dark but it worked and I have proof. I am really starting to enjoy working on and tinkering with my baits. It’s definitely fun. I finished the night off giving someone who was fishing before I got there a jump start due to there battery being dead. I then headed back home feeling proud.

Well my local shop has there local sale going on so stocked up on a budget lol. I reworked a spinner bait that I didn’t like years ago. I finally know what I am buying and not just buying gimmicks lol, I don’t know what I was thinking a quad willow spinner bait face palm. I took it apart on Sunday and decided what I wanted to do. I wanted a single bronze blade but all they had were willows, didn’t want that. I settled on a 4.5 hildebrant Indiana blade in gold, next was my skirt choice beast coast pro pumpkin. I think it looks ok, your thoughts ? I bought some mustard triple grips and got a free pair of split ring pliers so I could live with it. next stuff I bought was a royal pain in the butt. I took my daughter to dsg to get new shin guards for soccer. I saw a few sixth sense lipless cranks that I liked, I then saw a sign that said buy 3 get 3 free so I picked out 6 baits that I liked. Got to the register and they tried to charge me for all of them. I told them about the sign they called a manager and they looked, took 10 minutes and then they tried to tell me that it was only googan and rapala buy one get one and I told them it’s on the end cap and says 6th sense hard baits and soft baits buy three get three free. 10 minutes later they come back and take the 3 off so I get 6 cranks for $30 but they were rude and didn’t want to help. I don’t see me really going there much anymore.

That’s what I thought, I can’t recall seeing anything else quite like one. I am sure there’s another version made by someone else out there though.

I don’t know if it’s the one but z man hellraizer is the one that comes to mind.

Yes correct, you feel the weight of the fish. Because with weeds there stationary so it’s more of a dead static drag, the weeds will move some of course but nothing like a fish. Like when you are coming through grass with a lure you feel the resistance but then it pops free. The fish on the end is what makes all the difference, they pull back head shake or swim off a different direction. I am extremely ocd about how my lure feels coming through grass, so when I get bored I like taking cranks and working them through grass so I can feel the difference and I like to be patient and get them through cleanly. This is always fun. I am sure you will catch them, good luck and I am definitely looking forward to hearing about how your trips go ?

How I use the term is, that when you are bringing a lure through the grass you will get hung up here and there. Which will cause the rod to get a bend due to the hook or hooks being caught on something. You get that resistance, the difference is when a fish hits the lure it starts to put a different resistance on top of the other one, or stronger should I say. Like when you are ripping a lipless crank or like today a chatter bait out of the grass it loads the rod more and you can feel it have the heavier load on it. That’s how I explain it, I hope it helps you out. I am definitely not the best person at explaining things lol but I try. I am definitely looking forward to seeing some of your catches and stories this year. I can’t wait to hear them.

Got out this morning, figured it would be busy at a local park but it close by my apartment. Got some gas for the car and headed to the park, there was a few people there on the one side and the other spots had people on them already also. I headed around the corner to a spot that I hit frequently, didn’t want to get water over my boots again but it didn’t take long. I decided to just stay in the water with my boots full of water and up to my knees. I started with a tube, didn’t get any hits on the tube. Decided to tie on the mini max 1/2 with a matching zako trailer and work the weed line. I had the wind in my face and just kept going, turning my brakes down more and more to work on some control into headwinds. I was getting ready to leave and decided to fire off a long cast down the shallow bank,there’s a couple of deep pockets in the middle of the weed line and I wanted to go over those. I didn’t get hit over the pockets coming back through the grass I felt it get heavy and I reeled and swept the rod and felt it load up. I watched my line moving a little bit differently and that’s when I knew it was a fish and not just hung up in the grass again. I saw the fish and was definitely happy, it wasn’t huge but decent nonetheless. I got some insight on why the fish have been acting so strange, I figured that the spawn was getting close. I could tell by this fish that it is closer than I expected. All in all a decent fish for less than 30 minutes at a very pressured fishery. I feel like I am starting to get this body of water more and more. I have went from getting skunked here all the time to usually being able to catch something. It still skunks me here and there but to me that’s normal. Feels good getting there and making progress.

I grabbed a few more things, I finally bought some suspending lipless crank baits after a couple years. I got a different pack of max scent tubes because I liked the color watermelon vapor, looks good to me. Some owner phantom tube hooks and a rapala rocco in green gizzard shad. I figured that’s a decent color since they only had one left.

I tend to use fluorocarbon for my jig applications, although my bfs setup has light braid on it though. I caught my biggest fish last year with my bfs setup, some like fluorocarbon for slack line sensitivity. I use the light braid to help my bfs setup to drive a heavier hook home. Either will work let the cover dictate your line size and you will be good to go. I use 14-16lb fluorocarbon and 12-40lb braid.

I have more plastics than I remember, probably a few. The one I recall was a 6 inch manns jelly worm black with chartreuse tail. I have caught fish on it, I think that both of those color combinations should be great.