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9lbs on the 9” Bucca Shad Swimbait!!

A decent sized smallie chilling in 2/3ft of crystal clear water hiding behind a buoy went for a headshot on the 256 Klash 9 I wish I brought my scale and board but I left all my gear in the car was aiming for striper but this was a very welcome surprise IRod air tatula 300 30copoly

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Do what I do if your unsure. Buy two!

A lot of spots in the lakes I fish here in Northeast Georgia I’ve caught them on anything from Deps 250 to workhorse and kgb legend to stray rat rumble rat! I had them hit a HawgHunter mag but didn’t get it.. they are really aggressive fish!

Never fished the leviathan so no comment there. But the Hinkle doesn’t even begin to push the limit of the 908. One big thing I’d consider is the action of them both. You’re getting a rod for big hard baits. A good hard bait rod is always going to flex a bit further into the blank. The 908 is NOT pool cue. It’s really fairly parabolic while being able to toss 13-14oz. Many rods can cast big baits, but many of those tend to lose you a lot of fish because they’re too stiff right to the tip. You want some flex when that fish is tossing around 10oz when it comes up shaking it’s head.

Throw whatever you want don’t understand why people say to down size we use to get them off 10in floating tt, hudds , 8in punkers ect never really threw glides but I’m sure they would smash any glide maybe not so much 250 size

This is my PB, caught on a gantreal swimbait (friends lure). SHe was 6 pounds on the dot. My real Pb was 7 1/2 but it was on live bait so I don’t count it. IMG_1957.MOV

Got my second UFO fish ever and it was my PB! 7.9 Pounds. C2C will be posted soon.

So I’ve acquired a pretty good supply of decent baits of the end of summer thru fal of this past year ranging from toxic, drt, golden belt and many others based on well hype let’s face it and some of my own research. I just want to know wat the vets out there that fish the Midwest what’s best plan of attack as the cold water begins to warm? Thank guys any input is appreciated..

Scale bounced between 8-15 and 9-2; I'm going to call it a 9 pounder lol. NLMB trout eater caught slow-rolling (6-7 minute retrieves) in high 30s/ low 40s water in ~15 FOW. First fish in almost 5 months because I mostly fish ice-out to end of summer. Dobyns 867/ Calcutta 401TE/ 25# PLine PF/ custom brook trout 8" weedless hudd ROF12

Agree, didn't notice much difference in the 110 and 117 handle other then availability/price.

I have a 110 on a Daiwa Ryoga and a 117 on a Conquest 300. Not much of a difference to me, it’s like 1/2in between the two.

I have a big gill glide that will do that. But they are no longer made. I believe the name was Leader Elite or Something similar to that. Absolutely love this bait. 8” and 6oz or so. Biggest they made. Owned it for years. Would be well worth looking for one in my opinion.

I think a lot boils down to the fact that some don’t know how to properly cast legit heavy baits. Then again, we all have different preferences in how a rod should feel I’m sure. And I have nothing against a Leviathan. Just never ran into the opportunity to buy one. And you’re welcome.

Don’t sleep on the 908. The first time I put my Hinkle Trout on full send, I had to thumb it hard and pull the rod back to keep it from landing in tree limbs across a cove I fish often. Never had a bait come close to covering that distance before I got my 908. Heck, I throw a Moby on it and so does the maker. I can’t speak for the Leviathan or Omega since I’ve never used one. But the 908 is a brute.

Search button and google are your friends

IMG_1067.MOV Loving life! Thanks for reading SU

New 6" toxic mini wnc Thanks to a good buddy who picked it up for me at the show. I owe u one bro

Absolute stud! Well done!

117 on the 300

Got a 117 on a conquest 300. Don't like it or the reel. Holding the round reel all day jacks my wrist and I have bear mitts. Could just be getting soft but its been collecting dust and prefer the 110 on a low pro reel.

I’m sure others will chime in with guidance specific to the midwest but Matt Allen from Tacticalbassin just did an hour long video on exactly this topic which is definitely worth a watch if you haven’t already. They also have some good videos on the winter to spring transition that aren’t swimbait specific but still apply in terms of where the fish will be coming from and where they’re going. Hope this helps.

A year ago I thought swimbait fishing was dumb and I would never get into it. Well a lot changed. Here’s my main go to’s when fishing and what I bring typically. I have way too many now, this is probably ~1/5th of what I accumulated.

you're just bitter AF my guy. I truly feel sorry for you, all that comes out of you is negative ish.

Too many people fishing these days for the wrong reasons, ruining it for the people who actually enjoy it.

This seasons ride, gonna be a fun one. Just switched to Hobie from a pedal drive. Really impressed so far

2019 Bonafide SS127 and a 2017 Pescador Pro 100. The Bonafide is my main, and I use the pescador as a buddy yak if someone wants to come along. I like the Bonafide - super stable, really comfortable, and has some nice features - the sliding drawer under the seat is awesome - but man does it suck in any amount of wind.

Chuck Baits !

I live in Arkansas, so my 2 cents may not be as applicable to your waters. The animals that swim around here (rats, nutrea, muskrat, etc) if you chase them in your boat or kayak they dive when you get close. I think this is common for animals evading a predator. If you pay attention to bass behavior, when something flees or changes course quickly, it can create a reaction strike. I think the cranking of rat baits can imitate the fleeing animals well and get you strikes. As to the Cl8, the one I had seemed to be a more subtle rat. There are some rats that are much wider and noisy. I use to follow the theory that loud and noisy top water was the way to go. This was because I wanted to imitate an animal that was struggling in the water. The more time I spend on the water the more I just see animals swimming around regularly and not struggling at all. I think I will personally pick up another baby possum in the spring to imitate a more subtle swimming animal. IDK if any of this helps lol