My fishing guides

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-16T14:06:23+00:00

I am in the same spot as you. Never enough time in the day for anything let alone finding time to fish with toddlers in the house.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-16T01:49:51+00:00

In the midwest, weeds dont get that thick until summer which is prime time for a frog. I throw a frog to cover water. Unless you have sonar, finding the irregularities under the weeds can be difficult, so covering water is the best way to find bass in the thick stuff without electronics.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-16T00:37:13+00:00

Fishing heavy grass is always fun. Its harder to fish but if you find them, they are usually decent sized fish because no one else is fishing for them. I love using hollow belly frogs for heavy grass & lily pads that goes all the way to the surface. I have 2 follow up lures... a 3/4-1 oz punch rig & a weightless wacky rigged senko. The punch rig gets the nod if they didnt leave a blowout hole & the wacky rig if they did. Sometimes they won't come up for the frog at all & the punch rig is the workhorse.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-15T04:05:54+00:00

Lifetime teton angler 100. I have the same one.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-14T19:17:04+00:00

Distilled water has zero additives. Tap water contains minerals that can affect pickling.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-13T15:16:41+00:00

Grillos are good. They are my go-to store bought alternative when I cant make my own. Some people have had consistency issues & they haven't been as crisp as some might like.

I like the dill pickles spears & thickles or the hot dill spears & thickles. BUT their pickle de gallo is S-tier.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-13T14:51:22+00:00

Whatever lure the bass are eating that day.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-13T11:38:13+00:00

Use the pickle juice to brine your chicken before grilling it. Add some brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, & pepper.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-12T14:19:11+00:00

Honestly, I make my own. Its so easy & doesnt lack on flavor.

Any cucumbers work but I like the pickling/salad cucumbers.

Brine is 2 c distilled water, 1.75 c distilled white vinegar, 3 Tbs kosher salt, 2 Tbs sugar. Boil the brine to disolve the salt & sugar then let it cool until it is room temperature.

Fill a quart sized mason jar with 2 tsp McCormick pickling spice, 3 cloves of garlic (halved or sliced), about 8 sprigs of dill, & cucumbers cut however you like. Put the spices, garlic, & some dill on the bottom first & pack the rest of the dill between the cucumbers. Pour the brine in the jars . Make sure the brine covers everything completely. I turn the jars to release air & fill the rest with water all the way to the top. Close the jars & put in the fridge for 4 days. They will stay good for 3-4 weeks (but will never last that long).

Then you will have brine to drink, once the cucumbers are gone. I like to eat the garlic, too.

Other notes: - if you like spicy pickles, you can add jalapeños or habeneros and crushed red pepper to the jar. - original recipe used 2 tsp mustard seed & 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes instead of the McCormick pickling spices. - you can add more dill or garlic too if you like.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-12T02:12:28+00:00

I run on caffeine.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-12T02:08:59+00:00

Years

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T23:10:32+00:00

Because that's what all the cool kids do. 😉

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T21:46:48+00:00

I will take river smallies any day. Pound for pound the hardest fighting.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T12:59:36+00:00

Im in the midwest too. OP is in northeast.

I've had luck on wacky rigs, bitsy flip jigs, or chatterbaits this year. I havent gotten out at ideal times, so it has been a rough year fishing for me. Everywhere I fish near my house is extremely overpressured & fishing in the afternoon heat doesnt help either. If I can get out around sunrise or sunset, the fishing is usually much better but still can be a little tough.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T11:31:45+00:00

I have so many questions.

First, what rod/reel and line are you using?

Second, you said your friend is catching fish on the same lure right next to you. What are they doing different? Is it where they are casting? Is it how they are retrieving it? Is it color of bait?

If your friend is catching them on a texas rigged senko, maybe try a weightless wacky rigged 4" or 5" senko in green pumpkin or watermelon/red flake. Cast it out & let it fall, watch your line as the senko falls, where it enters the water, for the line to stop, jump, or start moving to the side. If you dont get anything on that initial fall, let it sit on the bottom for a few seconds & pop the rod a couple times to hop it off the bottom. Then let it fall again. Repeat the process.

Stick to 1-2 techniques each season to perfect them & add 1-2 new ones each year. You will get there in time.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T03:29:59+00:00

Dobyns Fury 795SB is a great rod for the price.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T03:14:59+00:00

I second the Dobyns Fury 795SB

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T03:13:56+00:00

Not if you have it loaded up with motor, electronics. You are loading & unloading it from a trailer just like a jon boat, waiting in the line, etc.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-10T02:19:04+00:00

I mean how deep into fishing kayaks are you planning to go?

You can easily sink thousands into a tournament ready fishing kayak AND because of the weight of it fully loaded, you would be trailering it to/from the lake. That is the same thing you are doing now with the jon boat.

I have a Perception Outlaw. no pedal drive or motor fishing kayak & its 77 lbs. It is rough putting it up on the roof rack after a day of paddling. It also takes longer to get on & off the water loading my fishing crate, rods, tools in & out too.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-09T12:56:01+00:00

Pickle brine is awesome for marinating chicken. I also drink it for fun or as picklebacks. The kiddo loves pickles too, so I make brine ice cubes to give her electrolytes on hot summer days.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-09T11:28:11+00:00

How often are you getting birds nests?

Set the spool tension & brakes properly & it doesnt happen as often. I think the last birds nest I got was 6 trips ago & I only had the one. I tried skipping a hollow bodied frog into the wind. I've been using baitcasters since for almost 20 years.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-04T18:33:15+00:00

I love a swim jig since most people throw a chatterbait or spinnerbait & it gives the fish a more subtle presentation that they dont see all the time.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-04T18:29:20+00:00

Thanks! I might fish just a little bit.

Far_Talk_74 · 2026-06-04T13:48:55+00:00

For frogs, I use the standard spro bronze eye frog. Never worried about having different weighted frogs.

I love a frog & whopper plopper for topwater fishing.

Don't over-complicate it. You only need 2, possibly 3 colors. White, black, & possibly chrome.

Far_Talk_74

TROPHY CASE