top_dollar

I fish small jerkbaits about as much as anything else. Here is what I have found. I land almost all of my fish using 4# Mono (S.O.S line from Leland lures is my fave) and a medium power, moderate fast to fast spinning rod. That seems to give me the right amount of twitch on the bait to generate strikes, while still giving enough cushion to keep the fish from pulling off. I prefer the stiffer rod with mono with all jerkbaits, because with too soft of a rod, you will not generate the action required to get lots of bites. You have to be able to work that jerkbait effectively, and that works best with a bit stiffer of a rod IMO. I fish mono line on every treble hooked bait i use, except when i am longline trolling, but in that case i am using a 9 ft downrigger rod. What you didn't mention, and what I suspect is probably the issue, is the size of the treble hooks you're using. I have not found a way to keep fish hooked using anything smaller than size 6 trebles. I tried for a while to make it work, and just kept losing fish. The smallest treble hooks I am willing to use anymore are size 6. I have found semi-success swapping out size 8/10 trebles with size 6/8 circle hooks on sub 2" jerkbaits, but anymore if i have to use a jerkbait that small i will use something else entirely.

Thanks. She is doing OK. The leg will probably heal up just fine. She's bummed out wearing the lampshade collar of shame. 🤣

My poor dog got bit by a snake down at the river! Her front leg is mangled pretty bad. She is finally starting to put weight on it though, and the swelling has gone down significantly. The vet said to keep an eye on the bruising to make sure it doesnt spread. Ill try to upload a few pics. It is mostly my fault for allowing her to run through the thickets and such on the river banks.

Good lord!

Being so close to your house, just go fishing there all the time and change your tactics if it doesn't seem to be working. You will eventually figure it out, and there are plenty of fish there. If you wanna built your confidence up, bring a crappie rig. Either a tiny jig under a float, or just casting a twitching a small crappie jig.

I may be wrong, but I think all that mine tailings were below leadwood. I don't think the upper big is really on anyone's radar, and probably for good reason. Those fish in smalliebigs pics are not the type that you catch on this stretch.

darn!! That is a big posterior fish.

🤢🤮

Well, I will not be keeping any fish I catch no matter the species.

How come? I believe I will be floating to Dawt mill in early november.

Fair enough.

hopefully some of those boats sink right off point 7 in about 30 to 40 foot of water. A few off of the schooner creek rolloffs would be cool too.

It doesn't seem to rub you the wrong way when the president disrespects the office of the presidency.

How come?

Fished 11-4 today. Just paddled up a few riffles from tdl. Caught bass on jerkbaits and top waters. Mostly smallmouth a few lm mixed in,, several panfish too, all dinks. Water was a bit dingy, maybe 3 feet of clarity. Caught almost everything by 2 pm, after that I couldn't get bit.

Are old Johnson/evinrude's still valuable due to parts being available? I have a little john boat with a bow mount trolling motor, but im kinda tempted to put a little 5hp gas motor on it.

I generally throw 2-4 inch swimmin minnows on a 1/32 to 1/4 oz jig head. If i am bass fishing, than im almost always throwing them on a 1/16th or 1/8th ball head with a #1 or #2 hook. I prefer to throw them in water that has at least 3 feet of visibility. If there is lots of grass/vegetation around, slap them on a weedless ned rig jig head. They are super easy to fish....cast, count, slow retrieve (retrieve any way you want though). I usually use a slow steady wind, but every couple of handle cranks ill either pop or drop the rod tip, that often times triggers a strike from following fish. 1 more thing is that i fish them up in the water column. I like to fish them above the fish I am targeting. If that is not working, Ill put a plastic worm/craw on the same jig head and work it along the bottom.

My guess would be about a bakers dozen.

It could be better TBH. They have some accessories that are supposed to help, i may buy them. If you keep the straps good and tight, it is fine, but if the straps get loose, the bar will dig into your lower back.

Hire a guide.

I think it is hunger that makes them feed.

I have a bite. I think 800 bucks. Its a good boat. Wide, stable, and slow just like me. Its like 75# I think. I have no trouble getting on a car or truck.

Hey you gotta make due with what you got. Ive fished TR plenty from a party pontoon with no trolling motor. Long lining deep cranks was how I dealt with it.

My uncle once told me for any trip you go on, bring half the stuff and twice the money. That typically has rung true in my experience.