NEbucketmouth19

I went Saturday, 30 minutes after open I still had to park like allllll the way at the top of the hill by the actual hotel. Crazy busy but the line in was moving at least. Snagged some more real prey baits and some conventional tackle but it was just cool to see some of the bait makers and dream about a new kayak or boat haha.

Tried hard to not snag another TK but we have a lot of goldens in our ponds up here and it was too tempting haha.

I get we all start somewhere but bruh...

Yea I rigged a couple to perfectly suspend and you can fish them just like a jerkbait.

Not sure what you do for work but the amount of sitting most people do is not great for your back or hips. There's lots of videos on stretches and exercises you can do to combat the imbalanced that develope as a result of that.

How do you all approach a lake that has just turned over? Besides "go somewhere else" haha. Pulled up to my local lake yesterday to find the deeper basin turned to chocolate milk (relatively, it's usually very clear and was down to about a foot of visibility). The northern shallow area seemed normal so that's where I focussed on, fishing the windblown shores and deeper (again, relative, like 8 feet) areas.

I'm more impressed that they managed to rip off Shimano's DC system, AND Daiwa's T-wing AND Daiwa's new Bluetooth reel all at once without patent infringements.

I have only used the small sizes but definitely sharp. Can't speak to strength for the larger ones.

I feel like a bill just falling out to no fault of the user should be covered by the builder. I've had it happen to a couple other baits and usually have no issue getting sent a free bill to superglue back in. That said I do love my 3pc PB Rat and have had no issues yet.

I used the FG for a few years but never fully trusted it. I got good at tying it but the "finish" to the knot would occasionally come loose. It just didn't sit right with me. Since then I've gone to the Albright, but for larger diameter leaders and braids I have liked the blood knot after seeing Tactical Bassin recommend it. What I like about that is it's not as low profile as the FG but it's very easy to tell when it's tied right, and the tags stick out perpendicular so less chance of hanging on a guide.

IMO straight 65lb braid is basically asking for cast offs. No knot is going to help you. I'd use a shock leader (I like Sunline System Leader for softbaits when I use braid main line) or try a different main line.

Sweeeeet. Scored a chipmunk.

Those are some pretty sickening numbers in the Nay column. Yikes.

Yeet the bait. Retrieve the bait. Nah but I like rigging them on a Flashy Swimmer Beast hook and ticking the tops of weeds. To get deeper I'll put nail weights in the chin.

I was tempted but I didn't realize they were 9oz...jeesh that's a big boy. Don't think my 867 would even throw that comfortably.

Definitely gonna try and snag a TK.

Finally scooped one. Do they actually get down to 7ft?

Yup, I broke a Fury Spinning rod and upgraded to the Sierra, I forget what the cost was.

Gantarel to me is about triggering reaction bites. Not sure a slow dying action really aids that, but I might give it a try. It looks like snag city though with that hook placement.

Yea if you're patient you can worm them through some pretty thick stuff. I made a few bad casts when I got my first that I was sure wouod come back with 10lbs of salad but nope.

I strip mine straight to the frame every winter. Pure Acetone for cleaning bearings. Aircraft grade simple green for cleaning reel parts. I use a cheap ultrasonic for the bearings (I put them in small jars with the acetone). Lightweight oil for spool bearings, heavier oil for frame bearings and the levewind. Cals drag grease for gears and a LIGHT light light coating on the drag washers.

Spro King Daddy for the "big bait only" guys.

I love my Monka but like others said it can be a PITA to tune. But when it's in tune..it's lethal. Not a good choice for the wind though.

I started with a Monka 1piece and have had most of my luck on that. I've tried mixing in a battlewing when there's some chop on the water but I honestly haven't had much luck with it.

MDC. Just got a gill and crankdown perch. The Gill is nice almost reminds me of an in between of the G2 and wood shellcrackers. Perch cranks down well and has a nice action.