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You're a true gem. We don't realize how fortunate we really are.

Same. Again, I'll tip my cap and enjoy the sight.

Yikes.

Will they come up for topwater? If not, a stupid rigged tube comes through a lot of wood. A senko on a 1/16oz shakey head is good in trees too. We deal with this on a couple of favorite points up the White from Kimberling every year. It's a bear, but worth it if you can deal with the hang ups. 3/4oz swing head was good to us on the last summer trip, and we caught some there last week. Just not bunches yet.

That's exactly it. Nothing else is close. The Shadz has its moments, due to the buoyancy and different profile. It's also an amazing bed bait. But that's about it. We left all the hula stickz and other nonsense at home for the trip.

Should be good to go.

I'll work on it. Give me a few.

Well put, Mark.

It's like anything else in that way. If you're a crankbait guy, you'll have more than one stick. Jig guy, same deal.

I caught a total of 2 fish on an actual TRD this trip. A few more on the Shadz. Everything else was the cut stick.

Literal life saver. If you can get it on the hook, it works. Fantastic on split shot and tube fish.

Nice to see you, hoss.

Interestingly, I tried a baitcaster, but not with braid. Another gentleman on here was using one, with 6# mono, I believe. I happen to have a baitcaster built on the same 7'6" blank as two of my favorite Ned spin rods. I normally use it for letting them load up a wake bait. Gave it a whirl several years ago. About all I can say is I tip my cap to anyone who can make a non-twirly reel work for it.

I can see that.

It was fantastic smallmouth weather. If I wasn't so tired and sore, we'd have fished some yesterday too.

No 8 made some fine sticks. I have a 7' Hellbent we use for tubes and big shakey heads. If I'm throwing it on docks or trees, I use a 6'6"-7' rod. The 7'6" is for the massive gravel banks and points. Long casts, hooksets at the end of the same, and better control of the fish. Example...it makes it easier to guide a hot smallmouth from one side of the bow to the other, without hitting the TM. It's not for everyone. Keep in mind, it's often the only thing we throw all day.

Great thing about the St Croix blanks is the consistency. And they're easy to match to the factory rods. Have an Avid drop shot blank I built into a light Ned rod (1/32 and 1/16), and a fine DS rod too. Have another SCIII 7' M fast tucked away in the basement.

It isn't, if you just throw it here and there. If you throw it 90% of the time, regardless of depth, season, etc, the nuance matters. Quite a bit, actually. Some ML are great, some are basically noodles. Most work ok to get into it initially.

It's spotty, even within the same cove. I thought it was going to be gone, but the cold seemed to stop the break up process. Fish are up in it, it's just sort of a nuisance.

The swelling has gone down a bit. Biggest complaint people seem to have with it is the grip/seat. I didn't mind it, but it does beat you up. Found it impossible to use with two fingers in front.

And don't confuse "too sensitive" with wanting a fiberglass Snoopy pole. Just that if you're a plastics guy anyway, it's easy to snatch it away from them if you're a tad early. We could have walked across Schooner on the K's that just fiddled with it before eating it. The Falcon exacerbated the problem. With the old Venerate, I could actually watch the tip load up, like fishing bait for eyes up north.

Wanderer of the earth. The paths are many.

We're mostly straight Seaguar 6#. The boy grew up with braid, and generally prefers it, but he's just now getting to the 3000 size reels. And his obvious need to use FC in the wind, with the reach of a 7'6" stick is how I ended up buying rods 😬. We do run braid for a few purposes, but I much prefer straight fluorocarbon for the Ned, and most other twirly reel applications. Rolling for the other KC this morning, after some Ma's and fellowship. Y'all take care. Be good to the brown fish.

Really, really great stuff. Son's been coming in the summer since he was 3, he's 15 now, and made his first spring trip, courtesy of the virus. Had some amazing days.

Those Lew's 6'9" rods are tons softer than what I like. They'd maybe be ok for the 1/32 or 1/16, but they're so slow I think casting them would bug me. Their 7' Laser Speed Stick UL is closer, and in fact we have two for playing around in the summer. Folks would be shocked at how hard I pop fish on 6# line, and how many times. Blank has to have a particular taper for it. Need to get them stuck at distance, and handle them when they lose it at the boat. Ordered the Loomis IMX 901 Walleye jig pitching rod, and a Dobyns Champion XP ML. Both 7'6". Honestly, the next Dobyns up may be right. Figure I'll have to return the Loomis, but the special offer was too good to pass up.