T-Billy

X2

I've been the victim of both those attacks. 😂 Pulling fish from the thickest cover around is where I really excel, but I'm pretty good at catching them in the dark too.

Just the opposite. I love 'em, and added them to several other reels.

@JN94 I have that rod and it does ok with a-rigs, but I prefer the heavier rated one. The extra backbone takes a lot of work out of throwing it.

When the shad are schooled up in those mega schools, I've done best by fishing the perimeter of the schools and nearby structure rather than in the schools. Trolling that rig just off bottom over structure can be killer as well. About 2 MPH seems to be the magic speed. I've caught lots of bass, eyes, and muskie trolling it like that.

Nah. If they did @A-Jay would have had one years ago.

Nice. I got to see a Red Tail Hawk take out a cottontail last fall. It was pretty impressive. Head shot with the right talon. Instant death, that bunny never even twitched. The hawk had to work pretty hard to get airborne, but it managed to fly off with it.

I would never limit myself to one. That's just silly. I could however get by quite happily with a green pumpkin Beaver and a black Zoom Ol Monster. Sometimes profile is a big factor. They'll either want one or the other. Weights are gonna vary from 1/8 to however much it takes to get through the mat. 7'6" HF rod and 50# braid. Snelled straight shank always.

Yep.

Yep. Chuck and wind when fishing around weeds. Make several speed changes during the retrieve. Bites mostly happen right after a sudden speed change. When fishing rock structure, I have two retrieves that work well for me. #1 I'll let it hit bottom, give a few turns of the reel handle to get the blade going, and let it fall back to bottom on a tight line. Most bites will come on the fall. #2 A slow steady crawl along the bottom also works well. Just fast enough to get the blade working. You want it banging off the rocks as it crawls along, much like a swing head jig. A bladed jig comes through rock really well, and when it does hang up I can usually free it. It's been my favorite bait for fishing in the dark for many years now, and second place ain't even close. I prefer a 3/8oz for fishing weeds and a 1/2oz for bottom bumping.

If you haven't yet, give a bladed jig a try before sunrise once the water gets up to about 70. Outside weed edges and over top of submerged vegetation are prime, as is bumping it along bottom on rock structure.

That wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary here in my neck of the woods. I passed a lifted 70's vega rollin on a set of 44" boggers yesterday. I love it here in Carrolltucky. 😉

The Ohio River would be locked up solid if it weren't for the barge traffic.

I could get by quite happily with a flippin stick and a heavy moderate moving bait rod. Beaver, worm, bladed jig, spinnerbait, swim jig.

No senior moments at auctions, but I've had plenty elsewhere. 😂 Congrats on the boat!!!

I don't know about average Joe's, but I've heard the legend of 'Ol Crickety, Aka The Swamp Girl. Legend has it, she's a way above average Jane in Maine that regularly catches 20# sacks before breakfast, and she only uses three lures to do it. Seems impossible, but the locals swear it's true.

Booyah baby boo jig.

Nonsense, there's nothing between my ears but about 8" of air space. Shine a flashlight in one ear, it'll shine right out the other. 😂

8 speed is my pick for this scenario. It's also my speed of choice for all bottom contact baits.

Yes.

Sorry, no experience with the vest, but I have their Trekker coat and bibs, and they are excellent quality, and very warm without being bulky.

The only one I've messed with is open G. DGDGBD Hello George and Keef!!! 😂 Thanks Katie. I do seem to have a knack for that.

Nice @Blue Raider Bob. My musical tastes are all over the place. It's mood dependant. I think mostly, I just appreciate talent when I hear it. Personally, I'm a hack of a guitar player, but I have fun with it.

@NorthernBasser, we love you too brother. You'll be in my prayers every day.

I was out working in -14 this morning. I had The Rodeo Song stuck in my head all morning. 😂