Ham

The Mustad steelhead hook is Heavy Duty. I always come up with my names for stuff. The HD label is one that I use to set the Steelhead hook version apart from the original Zig Jig. The original has a fine wire hook that sets easily. It is very sharp an can be set with the softest UL rod out there. That hook can get soft after you catch a bunch of fish on it or pull it off a snag. I would not throw it on a ML at all. It is a finesse jig. I can throw the HD version on any spinning rod I own without concern that I'm going to open the hook up.

I want some breathable and layer under that. The OP and I talked about this already. I'm a Cabelas guy. Be patient and catch a sale on the GuideWear stuff. It lasts for years and Cabela's really stands behind their product should you somehow have a problem with it.

So, as it turns out the jigs that I handed out at Jigfest were not the "new" hook versions. Richard meant to send me some, but in his haste to send them out grabbed the wrong ones and I in good faith having never seen the HD model passed them out thinking they were HD's . My bad. Richard figured out his error and sent me some of the HD models. Very noticable difference once you've seen one. Richard made a trip to Key West between Christmas and New Year's and caught a variety of saltwater species on the HD Zig Jig which should tell you plenty. He used the same hook that Super Dave does in his Ned Heads so a lot of you may have had some experience with that hook already. In the 1/8 oz jig it is a #4 and it is a #6 in 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz sizes. It is an amazing hook. Needle sharp and VERY strong. I have told folks that the Zig Jig is an excellent cool / cold water smallie jig. It really is and if you don't have the skill or desire to tie your own custom winter time smallie jigs, you really ought to try the Zig. The HD version will let you use a little heavier rod and reel combo IF desired without concern that the fine wire hook of the Zig Jig is going to be overpowered. BUT I really havent had too much of an issue with bending hooks on fish using the original Zig with a light rod and 6 lb line. I had some concerns that the HD jig would require a heavier rod for a good hookset. This concern was unfounded. The same rods I use for the original Zig JIg will set the hook of the HD without any problem at all. I would think you would want at least 4 lb line and a rod that isn't a total buggy whip witht he HD. Richard and I got out recently and caught some cool water smallies with the HD and it did just fine. No issues with the hook. Smallies ate them up. Where I think the HD Zig Jig is really going to shine, is for Big Whites or Hybrids in fast water below dams and oversized trout, steelhead, or salmon. It will be a heck of a jig for flounders and redfish too. I'll be shocked if anyone runs into a fish that will bend this hook out. The HD is up for sale on the website now. I will be buying a few dozen, but it is not my intention for the HD to replace the Original as much as supplement it in those certain applications. It is my understanding that the HD ones are going to be $14.95 a dozen online. A moderate price increase to offset the more expensive hook. Sizes and colors are a little more limited in the HD than in the original, but plenty of good choices.

" I was called a Hillbilly" , So?

Yo Mojo, Where are people launching these days? It really should be a COE list, but I'd love to see a list of what ramps are usable at what water level. Of course, they would need to add the tag line that every one launching a boat is responsible for whatever happens when you try to launch.

No one believes me when I didn't move here for the fishing. I moved here to get away from the almost year round heat and humidity of Louisiana. I knew there was fishing here and I would never move somewhere where the fishing opportunities were really limited, but still. you are correct though, lots and lots of good places to fish close to Mtn Home. The next couple of months might be less than ideal, but so it goes.

Hey mic, I would love to do so. I have no plans on going anywhere and I'm going to fish as long as I am able. If we don't manage to make it happen this year, we can keep trying. The years seem to fly by and I struggle to stay on task at times. The rest of my life gets in the way of my fishing a lot.

To me what's crazy about the MLF deal, is that KVD has beat them to death multiple times catching small keepers. I'm surprised that no one else is going that route.

Not great news as far as I'm concerned. Likely say good bye to the second island at Rim Shoals.

I've fished for 10 minutes this year. I'm ready to break into the hatchery at Roaring River to throw a jerk bait a few times before they slap the cuffs on me. To say I'm on edge doesn't begin to do it justice.

Nope

Professional Sports is a business that for whatever reason I care about. There is NO reason for me to care about a bunch of guys that get paid a bunch of money to play a game, but I do. I hate it for St louis that the Rams are running away. I know that I would hate it if the New Orleans Saints ever left I love that the Green Bay Packers are tied to that community. I wish there was some way that all teams that have stadiums built for them with government money or tax breaks or whatever would be forever bound to the community that helped them be viable.

I'm sure that Brian Sloss would guide you to an incredible trip. I think he's really dialed in on the 11 Pt. I know that it is doable in a rented canoe navigating from pool to pool as well. At the bare minimum, rent a boat from Brian and get the skinny on what's going on.

"if they weren't white" ehhhhh I would think in this situation being white would work against you. It's usually minority groups that get treated with kid gloves. The "occupy" folks got to be obnoxious for a long, long time. Sooooo It's a delicate situation that I don't fully understand all the nuances of. I can see were the authorities don't want another Ruby Ridge. I would hope that no one loses their live over this deal, but if the knuckleheads fire on LEO's or Feds then whatever happens is on them.

Phil is the Man on Taney. I've caught a few trout on Taney and a few more on the White River below Bull Shoals. I use 6 lb mono or copoly tied to nanofil witout too much of an issue. In heavier water, the smaller diameter line will cut the current better AND in theory fluro should be a little better. Keep in mind that fluro requires you to pay a lot more attention to how you tie your knots and what knot you use. I guess if I felt like it was necessary, I'd switch to 4 lb fluro.

Ohhhh the difference a "P" can make. The strippers frolicing in the shallows is going to muddy up the water too. Hats off to those young ladies for their cold water tolerence.

Hey Champ, I heard that Obama is considering Executive Action to stock Stripers in Table Rock. you guys might never have clear water again.

Thank You for the update

TR continues to fall (albeit slowly) and BSL continues to rise. Sigh

I've read where some folks untwist the yarn and wrap the two parallel strands in as one rather then the one tightly twisted strand.

That stinks.

I wonder how long the existing Hybrids on Norfork will hang in there?

I get 200 million freee and clear, I will have a LOT more time to fish even if I don't have any "extra" days on this side of the dirt. I would concede that mo money CAN be mo problems, but I don't know that is an absolute.

I'd up my goal to 100 fish species in a year. I'd plan on catching a fish in every state in the USA. I'd also get a passport and head to fish with the aussies for some Barra. I'd give a lot of old fishing gear away and roll out some new bait casting stuff and some new spinning gear. I'd get a half dozen more Tenkara rods. and a few really nice fly fishing reels for the flyrods I have. Order a new Basscat Cougar FTD, a tricked outboard jet rig. A Topwater Trout boat with a 40 HP jet. A ba rebones Supreme with a 10 HP for the Buffalo, a low profile drift boat with a second trailer, a War Eagl aluminum for catfishing the Mississippi and spider rigging crappie, and a pontoon for taking the wife sun bathing. A 25 foot camper for fish camp. I'd probably need a couple of new trucks to drag that stuff around. 1 ton for the travel trailer and a Tundra for the boats. Try to fish 200 days a year.