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Fred_BearOh gotcha. You not using a kayak seemed kinda fishy.
The dc reels are awesome ideas, but theres something about having a computer in my reels that scares me haha. Probly because ive had so many problems with trolling motors, graphs, starters, bilges etc that i just see it as another thing that can break. But ive also never used one or know anyone that has used one so i actually really have no idea. Technology is just scary to me
But yaa ive been living like a vagrant all winter so i can splurge on a metric shit ton of gear this spring. I have a "wishlist" that fills up 3 sheets of notebook paper lol
Yeah I thought us was just unnecessary, but found a smokin deal on one, and asked a few people I know who have it and they were all like "I paid double that and it was still totally worth it"
I've been toying with the idea of going canoe instead of kayak though. If I can find an aluminum one for cheap I could make it a killer custom for a fraction of the price. It still hurts me to think about spending a grand+ on a plastic paddle boat and a nice widebody canoe would be awesome to build.
Huck_NorrisYeah I thought us was just unnecessary, but found a smokin deal on one, and asked a few people I know who have it and they were all like "I paid double that and it was still totally worth it"
I've been toying with the idea of going canoe instead of kayak though. If I can find an aluminum one for cheap I could make it a killer custom for a fraction of the price. It still hurts me to think about spending a grand+ on a plastic paddle boat and a nice widebody canoe would be awesome to build.
Well let me know how the reel works. Im interested now.
Im gonna commit to froggin and junk fishing a little more this year. I assume youve had multiple frog rods, what kinda action and power do you like? I was thinking either heavy with a fast tip or mh with extra fast
Fred_BearWell let me know how the reel works. Im interested now.
Im gonna commit to froggin and junk fishing a little more this year. I assume youve had multiple frog rods, what kinda action and power do you like? I was thinking either heavy with a fast tip or mh with extra fast
I have an Heavy Extra Fast, but I went through I think 3 rods before I settled on what I have now which is a 13 Envy @ 7'2". It's a tough call on which way to point you though since it's so damn subjective but I really like a really big backbone with a small softer, springy tip section to really load up when casting those 1/2oz frogs. Too stiff through the tip and I wasn't happy though, and casting/walking suffered. I had a MHXF Crucial that was stiffer than the HXF I have now too, which doesn't seem like it should be but it totally was.
Rod companies drive me nuts with that shit. The only other rod I found that had the right ratio I was looking for was a damn Ugly Stick Elite (lol) MH spinning rod which I got for our kids to throw bigger shit with. Ended up working out great- beefy backbone and short springy tip. Not very sensitive but it's cheap, tough and gets the job done pretty damn well for the price.
Huck_NorrisI have an Heavy Extra Fast, but I went through I think 3 rods before I settled on what I have now which is a 13 Envy @ 7'2". It's a tough call on which way to point you though since it's so damn subjective but I really like a really big backbone with a small softer, springy tip section to really load up when casting those 1/2oz frogs. Too stiff through the tip and I wasn't happy though, and casting/walking suffered. I had a MHXF Crucial that was stiffer than the HXF I have now too, which doesn't seem like it should be but it totally was.
Rod companies drive me nuts with that shit. The only other rod I found that had the right ratio I was looking for was a damn Ugly Stick Elite (lol) MH spinning rod which I got for our kids to throw bigger shit with. Ended up working out great- beefy backbone and short springy tip. Not very sensitive but it's cheap, tough and gets the job done pretty damn well for the price.
So does the 13 envy feel lighter than a heavy then? I always thought shimanos felt on the lighter side of their action so thats weird. Ya i hate that in rod companies. Abu is heavier than their rating, i have a mh that feels stiffer than my fenwick heavy i use for flippin. I was using that abu for fogs but like you said it just doesnt have the right tip, made casting them a chore.
Youve had dobyns rods before right? Do those tend to be light or heavier compared to ither companies? It seems like they even vary between models. The 735 champion is a mh but the 735 savvy and fury are heavy and have the same lure and line rating as the champion. But of course they dont carry dobyns anywhere around me so i cant check em out
Fred_BearSo does the 13 envy feel lighter than a heavy then? I always thought shimanos felt on the lighter side of their action so thats weird. Ya i hate that in rod companies. Abu is heavier than their rating, i have a mh that feels stiffer than my fenwick heavy i use for flippin. I was using that abu for fogs but like you said it just doesnt have the right tip, made casting them a chore.
Youve had dobyns rods before right? Do those tend to be light or heavier compared to ither companies? It seems like they even vary between models. The 735 champion is a mh but the 735 savvy and fury are heavy and have the same lure and line rating as the champion. But of course they dont carry dobyns anywhere around me so i cant check em out
Well yes and no on the 13. I feel that it is a bit lighter than most heavy power rods, but it has the vast majority of the lure rating of a heavy and the backbone is fucking spectacular. That tip section is soft enough to *really* cast weights down to around 3/8 or so, which is unheard of in terms of most heavy rods so it just has WAY more versatility than any other heavy rod I've tried which really appeals to me since I only have 4 combos. The Crucial I had was the older EVA grip models, and while it was a great rod, it didn't have the tip I was looking for, it was just too stiff throughout.
I actually just sold my 705cb fast glass/ Curado i. It was a great rod, but the action just felt a smidge too slow for my liking. The rating I feel was dead on and it worked beautifully for big treble baits, but it just wasn't well suited across the board in it's rating. I need it to do multi-duty with T-rigs, jigs, jerkbaits etc. too while still being parabolic enough to absorb shock/shakes while still being sensitive enough to detect light hits and the hybrid blank just wasn't for me as a cover-all. If I had more slots, I'd keep it but I don't. I traded the 705 in for a used Megabass Destroyer Phase 3 Elseil, and the Exsence DC is going right on there so it's pretty much a dream combo for me. I got SILLY deals on both or I couldn't even consider them obviously, I could never afford either @ retail nor would I ever pay that. It helps that I actually *made* money on the 705/Curado combo too after fishing it for a full season, and then rolled that cash into the deal for the new stuff too. I love the gear hustle!
Wait wait wait... a megabass destroyer? Holy hell thats a beautiful rod, very jealous. I guess i could afford super nice rods if i could sell some, i just get too attached to em, which is why i have like 15 different setups lol.
Idk what im gonna do for a frog rod yet i wanna try something different. So im thinking a dobyns, daiwa, 13, or i also saw an okuma one that intrigued me. Probly just get whatever i can get a deal on
Yeah man, Phase 3!! Fucking stoked. Like you said though, you've got a deck-drowning number of combos and with options like that I'd be at a serious disadvantage in a tournament situation. I can't physically bring many rods with me so I just set up the slots I have as nasty as I possibly can. I love that there's a million ways to skin the proverbial cat though. It's like eating a Reese's. There is no wrong way to build a quiver, it's all about what works for you and how you fish.
7'1" G Loomis NRX 852c (MXF) w/ Daiwa/Megabass Alphas Ito Ai and 15# Smackdown
6'10" Megabass Destroyer Phase 3 Elseil MHF w/ Shimano Exsece DC and 12# Tatsu
7'3" 13 Envy HXF w/ Lew's BB1 Pro and 40# Smackdown
It may only be four combos but they're four tittyballin motherfuckers for sure and save for the new MH, I am super dialed with them. I am beyond excited to get back out on the water. It's been a pretty disappointing ski season so far, and fishing gear/reading has totally kept the stoke alive.
Ya those are some absolutely sexy combos. I wish i could afford some of those rods and reels.... maybe in a few years haha. Im probly just gonna add the frog rod and replace a spinning rod this year so i can have 2 legit spinning setups. Maybe a shorter muskie rod for jerkbaits and topwaters, its hard to rwitch a 8.5ft rod out of a bassboat haha.
My goal this year is to just get out of my comfort zone though. Less deep drop shotting and more up close and personal in the thick jungle. Try to become a more rounded angler to help out in tourneys.
Also need to get a 5lber, havent caught one in a couple years. A 50" muskie would be nice too
Fred_BearYa those are some absolutely sexy combos. I wish i could afford some of those rods and reels.... maybe in a few years haha. Im probly just gonna add the frog rod and replace a spinning rod this year so i can have 2 legit spinning setups. Maybe a shorter muskie rod for jerkbaits and topwaters, its hard to rwitch a 8.5ft rod out of a bassboat haha.
My goal this year is to just get out of my comfort zone though. Less deep drop shotting and more up close and personal in the thick jungle. Try to become a more rounded angler to help out in tourneys.
Also need to get a 5lber, havent caught one in a couple years. A 50" muskie would be nice too
I really REALLY want to enter a tournament this year just to see hat it's like. Too bad I don't know anyone who does it or has a real boat. My only boat owning friend barely fishes at all. It just sits. Ugh. Oh well. Maybe someday.
Huck_NorrisI really REALLY want to enter a tournament this year just to see hat it's like. Too bad I don't know anyone who does it or has a real boat. My only boat owning friend barely fishes at all. It just sits. Ugh. Oh well. Maybe someday.
If you can find a site that has all your states tournament series just do a little research on em. I know there are plenty here that are not super serious and have people that do them with little 12' tiller boats.
On a related note i just did the math this morning, if i would have stayed at my dads an extra year instead of moving out i could afford a bigger better bass boat. Woulda been nice so i could hit the bigger lakes and not worry about rough water
soulskierWhat's up with all this summer fishing talk? There is no greater fishing than ice fishing, haha
I work thurs, fri, sat, sun every week and get mon, tues, wed off so I have been spending an excessive amount of time on the frozen water
Pretty much have my tickle stick dialed in for all things pan fish and don't have to go grocery shopping this week
That's pretty awesome, I don't get down with the ice fishing though. I just can't get into it, I feel like I'm missing out on snow and gravity. Winter time is all skiing for me. Gotta squeeze every cent out of those passes!
I am really excited for summer though. I just sold my kayak and picked up a pretty sweet canoe off CL too. Hopefully I'll have time to make the rod mounts this week, I've got some pretty sweet plans for it.
Ya i can only ice fish for 2 hours max before i get sick of it. Idk what it is i just cant do it.
But i just planned a sturgeon fishing trip on the rainy river in early april. Stoked for a chance at a 60+ inch 100lb fish. I think i need to find a bigger net too lol
Fred_BearYa i can only ice fish for 2 hours max before i get sick of it. Idk what it is i just cant do it.
But i just planned a sturgeon fishing trip on the rainy river in early april. Stoked for a chance at a 60+ inch 100lb fish. I think i need to find a bigger net too lol
Ooooh, dinosaur fishing! That's going to be so cool!!
Oh and BTW, the new setup is complete... And it's fucking perfection.
new rod n reel, new lure, first fish of the year! its been 70 or so here in central california so trying to get it before winter comes back. going to be a good year i can already tell!
Picked up the 2016 license, got the step son a fly rod to mess around with since he seemed to enjoy watching me have at it. Now to just try my hand at the little fly tying kit the wife got me before winter is out.
It was over 60 this morning when I woke up and it rained about two inches yesterday.
It's safe to say the fishing season is pretty much here. I'm sure the temps will fluctuate back and forth but that's the second round of hot rain recently and there isn't a scrap of ice left anywhere.
Lucky. Cant legally fish for bass here till may 14th and there is no ice on basically all the local lakes thanks to warm weather and rain the last week. This is gonna be a long 2 months
Fred_BearLucky. Cant legally fish for bass here till may 14th and there is no ice on basically all the local lakes thanks to warm weather and rain the last week. This is gonna be a long 2 months
Oh man that sucks! I guess I'll just have to catch extra in your name!
Gonna go out for trout this weekend with the boy. Hoping to nail a few holdover stocker rainbows to give the kid a thrill and show him how to gut and clean theme.
Huck_NorrisOh man that sucks! I guess I'll just have to catch extra in your name!
Gonna go out for trout this weekend with the boy. Hoping to nail a few holdover stocker rainbows to give the kid a thrill and show him how to gut and clean theme.
Ya im mainly sad im gonna miss prespawn and probably the spawn as well. Guess ill just have to go for some slab crappies and put some food on the table
Fred_BearYa im mainly sad im gonna miss prespawn and probably the spawn as well. Guess ill just have to go for some slab crappies and put some food on the table
I'd do it just to take advantage of the weather once it's clear out there. Crappies are fun too!! I was just working on different techniques and wasn't honestly thinking I'd actually catch anything nice.
Huck_NorrisNah. I want nothing to do with any bait that can foul hook a fish that many other times during the fight. 3-hook jerkbaits are bad enough.
Huh ive never really heard of that happening i guess. Ive seen some of the biggest ambassadors of the sport and huge supporters of catch and release use them so that never really crossed my mind. I would think with the stiff wire frame thatd be pretty hard to do
Fred_BearHuh ive never really heard of that happening i guess. Ive seen some of the biggest ambassadors of the sport and huge supporters of catch and release use them so that never really crossed my mind. I would think with the stiff wire frame thatd be pretty hard to do
It definitely happens. Moreso with the huge cloud style ones but picture a big bass crashing that baitball and then fighting all the way back to the boat.
I don't mean to say guys who use them are out to hurt fish at all, but it's certainly upping the likelihood of foul hooking and such. I'm sure the fish would be fine anyways, I'm just a nerd like that.
Huck_NorrisIt definitely happens. Moreso with the huge cloud style ones but picture a big bass crashing that baitball and then fighting all the way back to the boat.
I don't mean to say guys who use them are out to hurt fish at all, but it's certainly upping the likelihood of foul hooking and such. I'm sure the fish would be fine anyways, I'm just a nerd like that.
Oh ya i can picture it happening. I just never really thought of it before. I guess maybe since theyre illegal here and ive never actually seen one before in person i just couldnt picture it. But ya after a little research youre right it definitely happens.
I also found this though which is awesome. Never heard of anyone using em for muskie
Only ever watched his ice fishing stuff until that one
Ya my favorite fishing videos for sure. If you havent watched 39 hours id give that a peak. Quality series with a bunch of good entertaining fishermen.
Got on the water for the first time today. Went crappie fishing with some bobbers and beer. Didnt catch a single crappie because i have no idea what im doing lol. Did catch this though
Pulled the trigger on a new yak last night! 2016 Feelfree lure 11.5 in lime camo. Been in my entry level boat going on 4 years now. While it's still in great shape it's shortcomings have worn on me- well, mostly my back- but it's time to upgrade! With the level of care I will give this rig it will last me a bare minimum of 10 years. I can't wait to pull this bad motherfucker out of the plastic and go for a float!!
Huck_NorrisPulled the trigger on a new yak last night! 2016 Feelfree lure 11.5 in lime camo. Been in my entry level boat going on 4 years now. While it's still in great shape it's shortcomings have worn on me- well, mostly my back- but it's time to upgrade! With the level of care I will give this rig it will last me a bare minimum of 10 years. I can't wait to pull this bad motherfucker out of the plastic and go for a float!!
nice! buying a new car soon and after that I want to pull the trigger on a set of yaks, super excited gonna be fun this summer
jasontheredheadnice! buying a new car soon and after that I want to pull the trigger on a set of yaks, super excited gonna be fun this summer
Best decision ever! Even a cheap kayak is a TON of fun. They're just so east to take places, throw in the water and enjoy yourself with. IMO there's almost no reason not to own one unless you love in the desert or something.
First time back out in a while and although the spawn has the fish staying pretty quiet, I was able to find a new spot that exceeded my expectations in every way. Super secluded- no houses or roads nearby, deep parts, heavy cover and lay downs out the ass. If the wind wasn't a tick below tropical storm level,I would have stayed much longer. I can't wait to really learn the place!
Still havent caught a muskie of a real pic worthy bass. But since there hasnt been a picture of a fush posted in a while heres a small pike i caught last night muskie fishing.
Went to Quabbin, rented a boat and caught a bunch of fish. Like... A fuckload of fish. Nothing really big but some solid action all day nonetheless. Lost a few giants though, gah- hate that!!
Biggest pickerel I've ever seen in my life. I have literally caught tiger muskies smaller!
This reservoir used to be towns, so there are old flooded roads and rock walls through parts of the water and heavy cover... A pain to get to, but always exciting to fish!
.Hugo.You fish smallies there at all? Just saw a pic of a 6-9 caught out of quabbin
Not usually. I like to fish the pond side, which is mostly LMB and heavy cover, also less traffic since there is only one way in the pond.
The lake side is the one with all the smallies, but it can be really tough to find them with a 14' boat, a 6hp and no electronics when you're on a lake it can take an hour+ to cross. There are some monsters though for sure.
Huck_NorrisNot usually. I like to fish the pond side, which is mostly LMB and heavy cover, also less traffic since there is only one way in the pond.
The lake side is the one with all the smallies, but it can be really tough to find them with a 14' boat, a 6hp and no electronics when you're on a lake it can take an hour+ to cross. There are some monsters though for sure.
Gotcha makes sense ha. You could hit em when theyre spawning though. That shouldnt be too hard to find em
.Hugo.Gotcha makes sense ha. You could hit em when theyre spawning though. That shouldnt be too hard to find em
I know a couple old timers that would show me the ropes on the big lake, but it's just a matter of not going to heavy cover heaven haha... If I go, I will almost always want to go hammer pads.
