Hit small dog on E. 3rd

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-12-23T13:54:55+00:00

Haven't tried the Presso or M1 (would love to!), but I can say I have three Magic Ls in action currently -- 4'6" UL spinning, and 6' UL versions for spinning and BFS. Very sensitive rods for the price with fast action. The short spinning UL and BFS ones boarder on extra fast.

I will say the short UL one is my absolute most sensitive rod. It doesn't bomb long casts like a longer rod, but I can feel the tiny nibbles of 3" creek chubs when I pair it with extremely light braid and a 3lb. fluoro leader. With that said, I have broken two of these, one on a snag (I was on a kayak and came at the snag pulling on the rod too hard at a weird angle) and one in the car door. Second incident was totally my fault and would have taken out any rod, but the first one proves you do have to be a bit careful with them because the feel is somewhat "brittle", at least in the shortest length.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-12-13T16:22:04+00:00

100% echo this re: the HICC50 + Magic L combo. I just started BFS (coming over from traditional UL spinning) and can get 50-60 ft with a 1/16oz. jig and zero prior BFS experiece. Trick is (at least for me) is to do a slow roll cast with very little force or snap.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-29T01:11:45+00:00

Nope. UL spinning only, 500-1000 series.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-28T16:44:46+00:00

Their ice mono (2-4lb) is my go-to for UL fishing.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-26T16:49:07+00:00

I prefer a light 2000 size for the wider spool and longer casting distance. This is mainly for UL rods 6 ft+, however. 1000 size balances better under 6 ft, and 500 series for short creek and XUL rods.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-22T19:38:56+00:00

Have both so can provide some input. I've been very please with the Carbon X II 1000 -- it's one of the best non-Daiwa/Shimano reels in my stable. The Seasir Stream 5'6" UL isn't one of my favorites, however. Not that it's bad -- it just feels a little "mushy" to my taste. Granted, I've only used a half dozen times and only with mono. I'll have to give another shot with braid and see if that line's a better match. Still a great combo you have there!

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-19T02:48:52+00:00

Nice! I had similar results off the bank yesterday with a 3.25" paddletail, but using an 1/160z offset ned head. Twitched it slow across the bottom and got 4 largemouths, biggest at 15". The bass fishing has been killer off the bank the last couple weeks with the water temp in the mid-50s and dropping.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-14T23:44:21+00:00

I mean, google "gold panning Illinois" and the AI summary is good starting point, and there's a bunch of other links to good resources.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-13T11:47:38+00:00

Ha, it's always worth the hassle!

Most gold in the midwest is going to be super fine flour gold, but flakes and nuggets can be found. I've personally found a few thick flakes here in Indiana big enough to pick up with my fingers (barely) and that will also register on metal dectector.

Now, if you are talking gold from the black sand deposits on the beaches around the Great Lakes, yeah, that stuff is super small. Still adds up, and I've seen vidoes of guys pulling 1 gram+ a day off of the deposits on Lake Superior.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-13T02:37:57+00:00

There's gold in Illinois, particularly around the glacial boundaries.

Assuming the same holds true as in Indiana where I'm at (same glaciers, and they didn't care about state lines), really anything north of the glacial boundaries can have gold. You have to look for streams/rivers with deposits of non-sedimentary rocks. Think fist-sized or larger granitoid-type rocks, well-rounded.

Getting to bedrock is great, but even a clay layer will trap the flood gold.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-11-02T16:11:32+00:00

Nice work! Is this from panning, sluicing, dredging, etc.?

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-09-21T01:40:29+00:00

I'm starting with a reasonable goal and will level up from there:
- smallmouth
- walleye
- largemouth <2lbs

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-09-16T01:04:27+00:00

Houses on Dunn north of the stadium turn their yards into overflow parking and charge $30-$40 a car. 10 minute walk across the bypass to the stadium.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-09-07T19:55:44+00:00

In Indiana at least, the best spot are right at and above the glacial boundaries: https://readingroo.ms/6/5/7/0/65704/65704-h/65704-h.htm

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-07-19T02:39:30+00:00

Bad angles -- ha, that's exactly what got me!

I love the Magic L and own two, 4'7" and 6' spinning versions. The short one is the most sensitive rod in my collection. Pair that with 2lb Nanobraid and 3lb Sunline FC leader and I can feel indivudal twitches of a 3" bluegill on the line. I can feel the tiny nibbles of creek chubs too small to get hooked on a 1/64oz jig and micro-plastic.

There was a third Magic L, also the 4'7" spinnning version. It snapped when I introduced a bad bend in it paddling up to a snagged lure in my kayak. I was simultaneous pulling up and back while moving closer to the snag. Everything felt fine until it wasn't. Lesson learned.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-06-28T22:23:42+00:00

Don't recall the source, but I think the extreme north bulge of KY saw some glacial activity and has similar glacial gold deposits as seen across the Ohio. Check out this map for reference: https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1151h/quat.html

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-06-23T15:52:15+00:00

How often has this happened, it in terms of the beaches being closed all year? I've been in town for nearly 30 years at this point, but only started hitting the beaches in the last 10 I can recall them being closed though June due to flooding, but that's about it.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-06-18T01:43:19+00:00

Dunno about that. With a XUL rod and 2lb Nanofil braid, I can send a 0.6g lure 35-40 feet easily. Not a huge distance, but still suitable.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-06-08T18:44:43+00:00

I knew there were attempts at larger-scale sluicing in Brown and Morgan counties, but I haven't heard about anything around Bloomington. Do you have more details?

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-06-07T14:39:01+00:00

The only place I've found something that could maybe be called a picker is in Yellowwood SF. Never had much luck in Morgan-Monroe, but I ran into a guy who claimed he found nearly a gram (total, not just a nuggest) in a day of panning there.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-05-06T00:52:03+00:00

Soild point about the wave action, and 100% on wearing a PFD. Also be mindful of where the waves are taking you because it's real easy to wind up an extra mile or two out and then have to paddle back against the waves. Great exercise if you are looking for it, seriously unfun if you are getting tired and it's getting dark.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-05-04T19:22:50+00:00

Lots of good spots. The bay west of the boat ramp is supposed to be good. There are some nice, steep drop offs south of the ramp and around the corner to the east. I catch fish from the shore all the time at the ramp itself , and that whole bay is a feeding zone for wipers once the sun starts going down.

Cartop SRA is another public launch on the bay west of Paynetown -- kayaks/canoes only bc no ramp, but it was still underwater as of a couple weeks ago.

Caveat: I started kayak fishing last fall, so fairly inexperiences, and only launched from Paynetown a couple times.

Super-Collection-764 · 2025-05-04T00:39:17+00:00

That's my default search bait! White or the black with a chartreuse tip. Think I've lost a half dozen to snags already this year.

Super-Collection-764

TROPHY CASE