Bakerlounge

Agreed, would have to have motocross gloves on to fish these rods.

Any recommendations for river smallmouth baits for the Minnesota area? Have a couple small glides, rats, Toxic Slender Snap, WnC 66 and some Yunique Scouts & Gills packed so far for a trip later this week.

I have a few Tatula 300’s along with 200’s, 150’s, 100’s and prefer them over the Tranx, no complaints with the Curado other than I prefer the brake adjustment on the Daiwa’s over the Shimano (not opening the cover. I’ve also fished a Lexa 300 in fresh and salt and it is seemingly indestructible. Currently using a couple Lexa’s and Coastal’s for salt and Tatula’s for the fresh.

86 Doomrider, 86 Passenger, DS Customs 8” and Rafa Joey’s have all done well for me on NorCal lakes and the Delta

Beating the bank and after a few pitch casts close to where I was standing I bombed a long cast out and cranked down a Stray Rats Rumble Rat I recently traded for along a shade line and got T-boned by this little guy.

In my experience the TK needs a snap, some weight, tail down and a lot of rod input to glide, you really have to work the bait with the rod and reel, I recommend the transfer tail and board weights if you want to fish it as a glide, I typically fish TK's with the bill in cranking or dead walk and use the Klash 9 when I want to fish a glide.

Straight fluoro for me, was losing fish on straight braid and switched to fluoro, which I use for 90% of all other applications and have had better success, sinking like doesn’t bother me with the style I fish rats. Mono would be my second choice.

Reckless EC Rodent (can find them second hand on here pretty regularly), Toxic Mink, Spro Rat 50/40, PB Rat 2 or 3 piece, and the Sac Pig 1 or 2 piece rats are all favorites of mine. Can't go wrong with any of the rats out there just need to pick one and learn how to present it to the fish.