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Not a fan of Roland at all. His show is a 30 minute commercial disguised as a fishing show and I've heard he's a real jerk in person. I like Evers. Great fisherman and was really nice to all the fans I saw him talking to at the Classic.

Probably a bad spool. I have heard dozens of bad things about spiderwire line. Try power pro, it is all I use and never fails me. I would also advise you to get a spinning combo to spool up with 15lb powerpro braid. You will cast further and catch more fish by detecting more bites. Braid has excellent sensitivity.

I had to take advantage of tackle warehouse having 15% off and I wanted my first baitcaster. I ordered a lews tournament speed spool and a *** 7'1 mh rod. Going to run 40 lb power pro slick 8 on it. Thanks for all the advice on here before I ordered it.

Try the new Siebert Outdoors punch jigs. I think you'll find they are a lot better. Wire tied, great colors, and only $5.75 for the 1oz weight version.

^^ As Jrob said above, braid in the lower pound test (10lb for example) will easily snap off if it stops suddenly, especially if you have a bad spool. The way a spincasting reel works is that it has a small metal pin that holds your line in place while the reel is engaged. If the line catches on the pin while you cast, it might snap. Braid is usually best for spinning and baitcasting gear. If I were you I would stick with mono on the spincaster. You can avoid tangles by spooling the line opposite to the direction the reel retrieves line (clockwise or counter clockwise). Another method is to tie a swivel to your line, clip it to something solid like a tree branch, then pull from far away. This will stretch the line and remove any kinks. You have done the right thing by joining Bass Resource. This forum is a great wealth of information and all the members are very helpful. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

At the beginning of this fishing season I chose to dedicate a lot of my finesse fishing to the drop shot. I have been limited to drop shotting from the banks and occasionally when I get out on a boat. Last week I was given the opportunity to fish Lake Bomoseen in Vermont. I knew the lake from prior tournaments and I decided to dedicate a majority of my time to working a drop shot no matter what! I just wanted to get a real good sense for the presentation at various depth and through various pieces of cover/structure. I wanted a drop shot which was versatile across all conditions so I chose to rig up with the following setup Rod: Rapsody Drop’ Em rod. 6’10” MH XF Tip. Line: Seaguar InvizX 8’lb test Hook: VMC 2/0 Spinshot Lure: Strike King finesse worm. Green Pumpkin with red fleck. Weight: varied but ranged from 1/8 – ½ oz. Hanging around 9" from the hook. Lessons Learned 1 – Shallow drop-shotting – Rock You need to use the lightest weight possible and try and keep the presentation moving a bit more. Almost imagine you are ticking the rocks one at a time. With weights heavier than 1/8 I found myself getting hung up much more often. Caught 2 fish using this method. (Sidebar: This was something I learned on this forum. … Thanks!!!) In an effort to save $$ I would tie an overhand knot around my weight. When I did get hung up I would lose the whole rig instead. I switched over to pinching the weight on and just crimping the weight a little more to get a solid hold on the line. When I was hung-up I would lose the weight and keep the rest of the rig. 2 – Shallow drop shotting – submerged grass, weed edges I generally would use a Mojo rig for something like this . I rigged the weedless drop-shot on purpose to work it and see what happens. I found that the 2/0 spinshot actually made it through the grass better than I thought. I bet a traditional 2/0 tied on the “old fashioned drop-shot way” would be better. The spinshot did get weeds a lot of the time. The 1/8 oz weight also made it through easy as long as it was the long slender model. It is quite the workout popping it through the weeds but it did work out for 2 more catches. That includes my biggest largemouth at almost 3 lbs. 3 – Pitching to targets (shallow) According to Gene’s advanced drop shot video a shorter leader was preferable in this situation. Being lazy and wanting to keep the same rig I actually did something different. I “pitched” the weight to the cover and gave the lure a little more slack to ensure it fell more vertical. Pitching under an overhanging tree was good for one more bass. 4 – Deep Drop shot (30+ feet) We used part of the day to try and catch some deep water smallmouth. We found some submerged humps with the electronics and marked fish. I had to use ½ oz weights to keep bottom contact. Maybe in time I can lighten that up but I needed the weight to help me feel the bottom. We could never keep the boat on top of the hump so we struggled to catch a fish. My buddy had a strike but his hesitation kept him from setting the hook. Zero fish, not even a nibble for me. I found it difficult in deeper waters to feel the bottom with a cast and drag method. Jigging it was much easier. If we could control the boat over those humps life would have been much easier. J Not sure how much help this will be for everyone but it was worth posting to get feedback on other things I could have tried. As always your feedback/suggestions are always appreciated.

When I say little I mean little, 4 lbs........maybe less, chased it down over a large rock pile about 75 yds down the beach, drag was tight too.

You may want to address your open letter as good sportsmanship and bad sportsmanship. Public waterways are open to everyone who has a fishing license to fish. The fishing license isn't a license to disregard someone's space without asking permission to share it. Good sportsmanship is respecting others, if another angler is fishing where you want to fish and they are there before you arrive, ask to share the spot. Bad sportsmanship is moving in on the angler that is already there and without asking. The boater can easily see you are there and vice versa. Casting a heavy weight at another angler could escalate into a fight or worse, not good sportsmanship by either angler. Happy 4 th of July, enjoy the fire works! Tom

You have to mark your territory every way you can.

It's all in the boaters handbook. If you are a boater it's your obligation to ride up onto a shore-bounder

Send the Facebook link to the authorities. They'll look into it I'm sure. Sucks to see that stuff.

I hope you catch some of those beasts you were telling us about

I like Rattles in grass, dirty water or night conditions... You're set up choices are good IMO, just be patient as you work through the details... Good Luck and Safe Fishing!

FWIW...I use 10# 832 braid and it works really well so I think you're going to like the braid. I enjoyed your write up, very descriptive. Thanks for posting.

Well this is preference imo, I like a softer tip (Well more true to the Power ratings), I don't like too stiff for the ratings. However, you guys are in FL so I can understand you need a powerful rod. He may have needed to buy a Heavy Powered rod, but I don't believe he's going to be hindered too much.

I snell my knots as well while flipping and all it would take is some extra space or another way to design the jig, anyway just surprised its not been done.

Ok, I was going to say I'd bring my boat down to fish with you. I have a buddy that lives up from the launch. I've fished there once and it was AWESOME!

Don't forget kruk and dykstra too although dykstra pretty much went nuts from all the roids I think Kruk was highly underrated too....career .300 hitter and traded his number to a rookie for a case of beer, can't beat that!!!!

Great job out there! Ya know, Netcraft offers "drop shot swivels". The kind with the wire keeper so you can attach any style or weight of sinker to the swivel via a small split ring. Works just fine and is an inexpensive alternative to buying pre-made ds sinkers. I use steel bass casting sinkers from WalMarts with this set-up: I use 1/4 oz. sinkers for 90% of my drop shotting. I switch to 1/2 oz. when we are moving along and spotting pods of bait on the sonar. This heavier weight helps get my bait down to the fish in short order! When anchored however, I'll use the 1/4 oz. in any depth....including down to 50'. Now the Spin-Shot hooks you are using are just fine, but they do make an off-set worm style hook in the same design. This would be your most effective hook to use in the weeds. When fishing deeper water, I think you will find that if you target bait schools vs. fish, you'll be better off. I never look for fish....only bait. If I find a big enough bait ball, we'll anchor upwind of it and let the fish come to use. Works great with smallies. Finally do not be afraid to change the length of your line from bait to sinker. Remember, fish will most likely go up when presenting a delicacy above them. And no matter how clear the water is, the bottom foot or so is usually moss or weed cluttered, regardless of the depth. You need to keep your offering above it. Just some thoughts.

For me, I like to leave the swivel outside of my guides when casting - so from swivel to weight it is between 3-5'. (Depending on how many times I've broken off that day) if you're dealing with super clear water, ill tie a joining knot for another 10' of fc, then swivel, then the hook and sinker

I have the *** black 7'3 MHF with a Lews TP 7.1:1...I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

i think we should do both weigh and length

Awesome review!! Thank you. I'm going to do some punching this weekend in a Lake Weed as I call it. I'm going to test a hook idea I've been using lately to see how it works. I've fished tubes on my idea and that worked great. More to come on that if it works.

If you can do 30 pul ups from straight arm hangs with no kipping then i wouldn't even worry about it as even though you are skinny you are still strong. You are also pretty young too. I know i didn't grow till colleg really as far as bulk goes....i graduated high school at 5'11" 145 and then within two years of college i was up to 180 and now at 36 i am hovering around 195 Also you could try getting off the adderall too. I mean you seem like a good kid with a solid family and a dependence on a medication that in my opinion is over prescribed can only help you. The key to gaining weight is eating like a beast as often as you can but stay away from processed stuff and you will be fine. When i am hardcore cycling i comsume an easy 6k calories a day and still lose weight.

Well, I'm sorry to report that I just don't like throwing this big bait. Perhaps a more technique specific rod would help, but I really don't think this is for me. However, I'm going to stick with it until I catch a fish! Now that I at least know how I am suppose to be retrieving the Hudd, the chances of a strike have probably increased dramatically.

Zoom Finesse worms and 4'' Robo Worms

The Carbon drags that come in stock reels are really good, however I still often upgrade them with Carbontex from Smoooth Drag as if you look closely the weave is different and I do see some improvement.

I don't hate any fishing shows (except Charlie Moore), they all serve a purpose. Roland Martins job is to name drop and hock products, and he does it. That being said, I only watch shows I like, very few don't try to sell you something, but if you can sell, teach AND entertain me, I'll watch. The shows on my DVR are: Zona's AFS, Mercers "Facts of Fishing", The Bass Pro's, Lindners Angling edge, Hook and Look, Strike King Pro Team Journal, Bassmaster, PAA, and FLW tournament shows, Scott Martin challenge, and In-fisherman. If I am vegging out and flipping channels, I will watch Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Shaw Grigsby, Jimmy Houston and Hank Parker if they are on just for old times sake. I avoid Fishing university, Charlie Moore, and anything salt water related as I just have no interest.

The Rock is a tough customer to get bit on a deep crank. Biggest thing I've found down there is to get in some stained water. A lot of that lake is very clear and those fish see so many baits it's just tough to get one to eat a deep crank when they get a good look at it. I like places with standing timber, the bait deflecting off the tree trunks and limbs will get you a lot more bites. I fish my deep cranks on a 7' 8" Mojo "Big Crankster" with a 5.1 Pro Qualifier with 10lb C21.

Braid and spincasters aren't a good idea

Also check the eyes on the rod for nicks etc. Check the hole where the line comes out on the cover. Seems something could possibly be cutting the line.

Braid is prone to snapping off when you have sudden stops during a cast. The way line spools onto spincasters can cause overlapping which in turn causes sudden stops. I would stick with mono on your spincasting reels. Look into getting a spinning or baitcasting reel if you want to use braid.

went out tonight at 7 to about 9 pulled in 5 ..this was my biggest one 15"

Cast. Let sit until ripples move away. Twitch with stop and go pattern back to you. Strikes will happen when frog stops. Throw over pads and do the same. Throw over grass and do the same. Throw around piers, docks, boats, boathouses and do the same. Throw parallel to blowdowns. Just throw it and twitch it back to you. Your goal is to figure out what twitches the bass want and in what color.

I would say 10lb easy.....well after you use it as bait and catch the lunker that is in the same pond

Northstar leaves the weedguards long so you can trim them to your liking. Push them down so they are on plane with the hook point and trim them where the back of the barb is. As for the skirts, trim them slightly beyond the bend of the hook and you should be good to go.

As stated before, if the fly line does not have a loop the use a nail knot. Since most tapered leaders now come with a loop for easy/fast changes, you can make a loop to loop connection for future leaders so you don't have to keep cutting your fly line to add a new leader. Take either the butt section of a tapered leader (about 12") or a 12" section of 40lb mono. Tie one end to the fly line with a nail knot. Then tie a "perfection loop" into the other end of the mono. You now have a loop for connecting a leader with a loop-to-loop connection. Enjoy the new addiction!!

Piney Reservior was on last night here in Western Md. Between the 4 of us we caught 22 fish all on buzzbaits. Waded out knee deep and fished for about 1.5hrs just up and back a stretch of bank. 3lbs + was my best. Blew up on it about 5ft to my left. Scared me half to death in the dark.

Whenever there's money in my pocket...

legend xtreme 69mlxf

It's that sound on FLW outdoors when the angler hooks a fish, the one they play, you know what I'm talking about...not sure how to describe it...however, it plays in my head every time I hook a fish!! annoying! LOL

My dad would always swear by a culprit grape worm. You'd think he had stock in the company with as many as he had. He caught fish on them, so i guess they worked. LC

i use a 8mm red bead. 2 of them.they not only protect the knot form the weight, but also bang together making noise and "supposedly' attract more fish

Managed to get out on Saturday morning at Black Hills from 6:30-12:00. Only managed one after switching to a super fluke on a weighted hook. Came back for revenge around 5:00pm for about an hour. Managed two with one around 3lbs and missed two others. Not bad for a short outing. I may need to start going out at the latter half of the day from now on.

d**n, i've never seen or heard that happen to any reel

I've yet to catch anything on mine

Since I prefer using the trolling motor at the stern it helps to mount the heavy battery at the bow. I can mount it on the bow end floor but it saves more space and levels the boat even better when I mount it up over the bow.

Coming up with ways to save space in these little boats provides entertainment beyond the actual fishing. I still prefer using my trolling motor on the stern, especially when we're using the boat for water skiing. Since I sometimes fish alone, having the heavy battery placed at the bow end really helps to keep the boat riding level. I have a Humminbird portable locator that I previously purchased for Canadian fly in trips. It gets me by nicely for the kind of fishing I do with my Bass Raider.

Shaw Grigsby would be awesome...dude is very funny, versatile and has his priorities in order. One of the best Florida bass fishermen on the planet. Rick Clunn also... the guy is a bass guru. Freaky smart. I would learn a ton fishing with either of those two guys.

Caught in Johnson's creek in Kuckville, NY on a white boohya spinner bait. 3lbs 6oz