Smirak

As promised, here’s what the baboon did to me this year… 1st pic - Mrs Smirak ordered the gift cards from TW. Got the physical card so I’d have something to actually open. As discussed previously, the gift card equipment went down on like the 22nd. So, in order for me to have something to open, she painted these “gift cards” for me. She said the pelvic fins act like rudders (notice all but one is facing the wrong way 😂😂). Honestly, as much as I love the tackle, this was my favorite gift. 2nd pic - total haul. All either 1/2 oz or above. For some odd reason, I just don’t like throwing under 1/2 oz moving baits…I have them, I use them, but find that most of my new purchases are all 1/2oz+ and are usually the ones that get tied on first. 6th Sense Congo Craw (can’t get them locally anywhere) (5) Damiki Vault (3) Dr Slick split ring pliers. Initial impressions are they will be good. A few Crush 75x flat side squarebill A few Quake 70 lipless Spro crawler MB SV-3 spinner bait (2) Keitech tungsten jig (1) J Braid Grande x 8, 50lb MB Orochi XX Diablo Spec-R Tatula 103H Some A rig wranglers Free TShirt!

New rod/reel with Diawa JBraid Grande x8, 50lb. Line feels real good and supple. Some braided lines are more “stiff”. This braid is very supple and not stiff. Excited to try it out!

Yeah, something was wrong. It was an older Corps of Engineers watershed lake. We actually wound up draining it, redoing it, deepening some parts, adding tons of cover and it became a really good lake/pond. This pic is about 20yrs old as that son is now 24. We didn’t weigh it, but maybe 3lb? This was actually pre-pond renovation…we kept a big hole for fish, and finished everywhere else around it.

.22-250 or .300 blackout. .22-250 is what I used when living on some property back in MS. The trees weren’t necessarily the problem, but the d**n was leaking as a result…

Sorry, bug Ron Burgandy fan here and could only think of that scene… “I read somewhere that their periods attract bears. The bears can smell the menstruation.” ”Well, that's just great. You hear that, Ed? Bears. Now you're putting the whole station in jeopardy.”

If I’m not in my kayak, I try and pitch the docks at the marina there. I haven’t been there in about a month or so, but when the drought is tough (like this year), Aldridge creek gets super skinny, super fast: honestly, never had good luck in the creek. I fish the “bow” created by Hobbs Island and it’s good fishing, but very little to no bank access…

Oh yeah man - I fish at ditto quite frequently. I’m a kayak fisherman, so I like to hit the little creeks, sloughs, etc. Also, don’t mind taking it on the main river either.

The one I’m digging right now is the Jackall TN70. Don’t know what color it is, some type of shad, but that thing just flat catches fish…

That’s where I caught them last time. Only issue with that is I from the GA side, there’s not real good “legal” access. I fished it from the AL side, but had to walk out on some rocks to get there…was probably about 20’ from those rapids. Rumor is that they are about to be removed so the hooch can resume its normal activity…they’ve been there 30+yrs for now…I used to be stationed at Ft Stewart and traveled to Benning a few times back then. I remember them building the rapids…

Not really a regional post because they get so little attention usually. However, I’m going to be in the Columbus, GA area Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. Wife is working in GA for the next 6 weeks. Anyone want to fish or at least tell me where to fish? Bank only, fished the hooch last time I was there and caught a couple nice stripes/hybrids… Have access to Ft Moore (when I was there it was Benning), and can fish the lakes/ponds there too. Edited to add - what to take? I’m bringing three setups with me…my UL spinning, my jb spinning and my new Tatula/MB Orochi XX (MHF, because I haven’t used them yet). Thinking of bringing along my jerk bait box, a lipless box and a TRig/Jig box. Anything else?

Thanks Mick! I’m a woodworker by hobby too, so anytime I hear “burl” I get excited!

Thanks Mick. That’s some nice burl, where’d you source that?

Mick - what handle/grip/seat(s) do you prefer on your blanks? I’ve come to realize I prefer a full length cork grip… That said, I’m not real sure why full over split (I prefer cork over Winn/EVA) because aside from casting, I very rarely have my hands below the reel seat. I palm all my reels, so maybe that’s why I never use my handle, except for casting?

After the misread topic concerning the M L F, I was anticipating this one to be a little more x rated than it is…

I stopped by Academy near my daughter’s house in Cookeville, TN. They had St Croix Bass x under $100 and mojo bass for $125. My local Academy doesn’t stock them, didn’t even know they stocked them. Only about 45mins from Dale Hollow makes sense I guess…

I just ordered some Congo craws by 6th sense. Haven’t tried them yet, but am waiting for them to come in. aside from that, it’s usually something Rage or d-bomb/baby d-bomb. Paca chunk or slim sometimes. Just depends on what’s in my box at the time…

Everyone I come into contact with I make them read the title of this thread…they all say the same thing at first…

Weight of tour versatile ~155g

Awesome! Based off your username, if you’re a vet, make sure to get the discount at TW. I just picked up and Orochi xx for $169

After much deliberation and analysis paralysis, I grabbed another tatula sv tw, this time in a 6.x:1. Also picked up an Orochi xx Diablo Spec-R.

Yall realize how “hard” it is to spend $400 at tackle warehouse WITHOUT any big ticket items? Got $400 for Christmas and placed an order today. Bought a new rod, reel and other stuff. Once the rod/reel were in my basket, due to my military discount, I still had a little over $100 to spend. Didn’t need/want any big ticket items. Grabbed some line, hard baits, soft baits, and a pair of pliers. When you’re buying $5-10 lures, it gets very daunting to keep track! I think all in all, I got a half dozen blade baits, a few sv-3 spinnerbaits, half a dozen or so crank baits (lipless and FS), and some other stuff. I’m not complaining, but I quickly go into analysis paralysis. Will post pics when it shows up. Showed arrival on 1/6, but just got a notification that the order is being prepared for shipment…

Generally speaking, TW is “on it”. Got a GC for XMas, but no code. Called yesterday and the machine that manages that went out. It came back online yesterday. I feel like if you were to give the em a call, they’d get it for you…

I’ll have to get back to you on that. Just ordered another Tatula and another Orochi XX; Diablo Spec-R this time. Along with a crapload other stuff from TW.

6061 is what most often is referred to as aircraft/aerospace grade aluminum. You see that a lot in marketing. In the airplane/spacecraft world, we just referred to it as aluminum.

Thanks! I didn’t even look. Not a huge fan of glass rods, tbh. I’m looking at the SB rod vs the orochi xx Diablo spec-r now. Nearly the same price…