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Went to a resi today where I never have any luck catching bass, and is the bane to my existence. Plus I went because my son wanted to go fishing. So I took three rods with me, and headed to the resi. I started with "my" crankn' rod which consists of a 6'6" M F Fenwick Eagle with a Lews SS1S 5:4:1 winch loaded with 12# Trilene Super Strong XL, and a Flouro leader. I know you are probaply saying to yourself, mono on a rod for crankn'? I'm only using shallow divers, in this case the Manns -1 in Baby Bass plus I need the mono stretch to compensate for the fast tip, if that makes any sense. Started fan casting at a boat ramp, or for this resi a canoe or kayak ramp. Three cast later I catch this: I was like "Are you kidding me this place gives me no love, its the same as usual." Headed onto the dam, and I see yearlings and baby bass all along the rocky stone embankment. So I'm thinking this might be good. So with the same set up I started casting perpendicular to the embankment, and then my retrieve stops. I'm thinking I got snagged into some underwater branches, so I sweep my pole to the side, it gives, continue crankn', and then I see this bass jump out of the water. I was in shock, but immediately I lower my rod so I can keep this bad boy from jumping again, and try to spit the lure. Once I got him corralled, and in my hands I see how well the treble hooks were hooked into him. I grab my fish grips, some pliers, and unhook em'. Weighed him at 2 1/2 # Where the hell did my chin go? I think "my" crankn' set up should work pretty good for the shallow divers and square bills. I think if I went with flouro all the way, and with that fast tip I would of lost him. This will also give me the braggn' rights that I've caught a bass in every body of water I went, to target bass specifically

Yeah, it was fun to actually weigh fish. I didn't have a good culling system, so we tried culling once and then just gave up and tried to catch a really big one. Those little suckers are almost impossible to get out of a full livewell. Should have brought a minnow net... I would appreciate a quicker weigh in next time. It was tough enough to get the time off from wife and baby and spending an extra hour at the ramp didn't help my cause to be able to do this again soon. I know having only one ramp made it tough to get everybody out (especially in the dark). Just my two cents.

I was able to take my little princess fishing yesterday evening and this morning. She loves to go with me and its been a little while since I was able to take her due to work being so crazy. She out fished me 3-1 last night and 4-1 today. I asked her if she was paying off the fish and she game me a sly little smile and said she has been giving them the dead minnows from the bait bucket. I was told I Love You more during our time fishing than I could count. Folks if you have kids, grandkids, or nieces and nephews and haven't taken them out fishing you don't know what you are missing out on. I promise they are memories that will stay with you both for a lifetime, I know mine with both of my grandpas have!

I cry and ponder my existence in the world. Or I fish a wakebait over weedbeds, depends on my mood.

Two beggars are sitting side by side on a street in Rome, Italy. One has a Cross in front of him; the other one is holding the Star of David. Many people go by, look at both beggars, but only put money into the hat of the beggar sitting behind the Cross. The Pope comes by. He stops to watch the throngs of people giving money to the beggar who holds the Cross while none give to the beggar holding the Star of David. Finally, the Pope approaches the beggar with the Star of David and says, "My poor fellow, don't you understand? This is a Catholic country; this city is the seat of Catholicism. People aren't going to give you money if you sit there with a Star of David in front of you, especially when you're sitting beside a beggar who is holding a Cross. In fact, they would probably give more money to him just out of spite.” The beggar with the Star of David listened to the Pope, smiled, and turned to the beggar with the Cross and said, "Moishe, look who's trying to teach the Goldstein brothers about marketing!"

This is the PQ 5-Year Challenge test reel on a St. Croix Premier rod - just another day in the office. BUT, for some reason, I haven't been able to convince myself that I NEED to fish NRX and Antares, Calais, Conquest, et al under these conditions...

I know the value of a dollar so I'm very careful with my stuff. Funny thing is I treat them all the same regardless of price.

A-Jay

I use snap swivels on all of my rods because I switch baits a lot. It may cost me a fish or two, but with the high speed movement of most bass lures I don't think it's a detriment. I use spooks, frogs, senkos, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and other bass lures. I think bass just aren't as picky as a fish like a walleye so you can get away with it. Well, I lost 2 big fish to swivel snaps breaking at the O-Ring. I don't know if they were northern, musky, or large bass that broke them. I don't need a swivel type, but that's just what I've always had. I've used many brands but they are usually expensive and usually rated for 35lbs breaking strength in the size I use. I bought a 20 pack (I believe) from Cabelas and it was like $17. Yikes. My friend said a swivels o-ring will get caught on a northern or muskies teeth will be popped open, even if it's not a big fish. That makes sense. I know one of them was big though because it bit my Ragetail Toad right at the boat and floated next to the boat until I realized he was hooked and he started to swim away. With one swish of his tail he was gone, blowing the O-Ring apart on my swivel snap. He appeared to be a 40"+ inch musky. That puts him roughly in the 12-20lbs. range I believe. Well, I was looking for a substitute and I found Mustad KVD Fastach Clips. They come in 2 types, one with a swivel and one without. I've only tried the non-swivel version. The swivel version's o-ring is welded, which is nice, so far less chance of a fish breaking it. What's also nice is that you can find them at Walmart for cheap. They are $2.86 for a 12 pack. Oddly enough I haven't been able to find them on Cabelas or Bass Pros websites. Tackle Warehouse does sell both versions though. They appear to come in stainless and black. I assume the black is just stainless with a black coating. Added benefit is that they seem to attract far less weeds then swivel snaps do. So that was a nice surprise. My brother, my friend, and I all used them last weekend with great results. No lost fish and we caught about 8 northern in the 2lbs-5lbs range and over 80 bass, with one being 3.1lbs. Most of the bass were in the 1-2.5lbs. range. Didn't have one failure with the Fastach's. I'm sold. I've also used them on 3 previous trips and haven't had one failure. They are easy to swap out lures and unlike snaps you don't open and close them which can bend the metal and weaken it. They are cheap and don't break. If you need a quick change terminal tackle, this is what I'd get. We used the #3 size which is a 75lbs. breaking strength. I also have the #1's, but they are fairly small and hard to use with bigger hooks. We used the #3 with our wacky rigged Senkos and had no problems. Since they don't break, I think 1 pack would last you quite awhile. Score: 10 out of 10. I believe the Break Ratings is this: #0 - 15lbs #1 - 25lbs. #2 - 50lbs. #3 - 75lbs. http://www.***.com/Mustad_Fastach_Clip_12pk/descpage-KVFC.html

Went to it today. Had a great time. About 30 ft from the stage great seats. Was really surprised about the size of fish coming out of the water. For my first bass tournament ever really set the bar high. Especially since home favorite won. Only regret was to see more elite series pros. But still great fun.

Your drag should give before your rod breaks..

Sometimes the body will twist on the hook & impale itself. Just reposition it so the hooks are pointing up. I sometimes tweak the hooks by opening the gap just a little with a pair of pliers. I use the regular spro poppers not the baby popper.

If the extent of your casting reel experience is having the brakes set to the point where the lure barely falls from your rod tip and you aren't thumbing the spool during a portion of the cast(i.e you will have to stop the spool /w your thumb before it hits the water and feather it during a portion of the cast), then you are ( i don't mean any offense here) still a beginner using a casting reel. Albeit you have figured out the very basics of how to cast, there is so much more to make things more efficient /w the brake settings. Flush the bearings and do it right. My shimanos are set on 1 brake and on occasions 2 /w a very loose spool. with that particular rod you are using and a 3/8oz lipless crank (again, no offense) if you aren't able to absolutely bomb that bait into the the proverbial next county, the issue is you. Clean the bearings and learn to use less brakes for distance. As for the buzzbaits, bladed baits create a lot of wind resistance which will diminish a lot of distance when casting overhead or trying to "huck" it out there. cast side armed and lower. And don't do this

Yesterday. 8.46# certified at ramp.

Frog is not always on the menu. You can keep pounding the water and and increasing your frustration or...... change baits. I know its easier said than done. However, I am an avid frog user and I have learned, if I am fishing for a long while without a bite on a frog, its time to switch strategies.

Bright moon Clear skies Clear water Create shadows Which creates an ambush point! Just saying

That would be another advantage of a paper tournament, weigh ins go much faster. We could always still weigh them but just do it on our boats and have to show the scale and fish in a picture kind of like we do at the get togethers, that would be much faster as well. Not having to catch keepers also makes lakes like Olathe or Hillsdale more viable options when you don't have to catch 18" fish on lakes were there aren't many.

Well your name on here is fitting! I would invest in an oxygenator too

That Dartanium material works well enough but I've seen it deteriorate and/or harden and stick. The Carbontex drags are the real deal.

Took the yak out on the Potomac at Mouth of Monocacy today, it's becoming one of my favorite spots lately. Easy to paddle and river is calm. I was worried it was way to low this weekend. This morning the river was at 1.2' at Point of Rocks, good thing my brother didn't get the Jon boat out, it was super low. Caught 10 and managed one worth posting a picture. 17" hog. Oh yea. Best smallmouth this year, and 2" shy of my personal best. Wish I had my scale with me because he had some weight to him. I'll be back out there Tuesday night.

Nope, it makes feel warm all over.

Fish it like you stole it!

I use braid on everything. Tie a leader on if necessary. It's my favorite.

id go with 50-65 braided line and with that setup youd be able to horse out a toad

. Looks legit to me. Besides why would I ever doubt you.

Silicone, get some waterproof silicone caulking. There is marine grade. Make sure everything is dry and you can put it all around and cover the head. When it cures it is waterproof and water tight. No water can get it. It isn't to hard to peel off if you need to unscrew. I usually drill the pilot hole, put a dap of silicone in it and screw the transducer tight then cover the screw area. Then its watertight.

Bro - you're tired, and cranky. You don't just toss a newborn into a car to go live in another city open ended with no family or friend support network for your wife as she sits in a hotel all day with two kids. Would it be easier if you were younger with no responsibilities to just pick up and go? Of course it would. But I wouldn't trade my kid for that life, and I doubt you would either. Newborns are haaaaaard. Two healthy kids and steady employment is nothing to sneeze at. So hitch up your skirt go hug your wife and stop being a little ***** about it.

Shimano uses a wet drag system which takes a special drag grease on the disc. If the seller removed the grease and ran it dry, it could eat away at the washer. Had this happen on a reel I purchased. I could see black flakes and it felt gritty when rubbed in between my fingers.

Odd that the drag washers fell apart. If they have turned into what looks like dissolved cardboard, my guess is the reel took a long bath in a lake. If that is the case, there is probably more going on with the reel than just the drag.

Sounds like you got a great deal!!!!

It doesn't look as green in the pic as it really was. I don't know what the goofy expression on my face was all about either?

She is on that new biscuits and gravy diet!

My budget doesn't allow for anything high-end, so a $300 combo represents a significant investment to me. I also treat everything pretty much the same. They are all tools. I enjoy them for what they are. I would not have a tool that I was afraid to use or lose. I have fished with guys who are so worried about their gear that it becomes their central focus. Life is too short. Buy what you can afford and enjoy!

Yes sir, it certainly would. $900 combo is double eggshell territory for me, not going there! Nice rig Hootie! You deserve every exhilarating moment with it, enjoy!

I treat all my combos the same, I am careful, but I use them, because that's what they are meant to do.

Thanks a lot. Now you have given me something else to worry about....lol. Hootie

Yes I have caught FLMB while I was working and living in Florida as a Fisheries Biologist Assistant. I have not caught a double digit largemouth bass anywhere. My credentials... Well since you are "calling me out" I guess I should list my credentials ?? I usually don't like pointing out my "credentials" but since you insist.. I am a fisheries biologist that works with fish everyday and fishes 120 days on the water every single year almost exclusively for bass. I keep detailed regards of every single fish I have caught since 1998. I have worked in a fisheries related position in Maine, Vermont, Florida, Illinois, Alaska, Iowa and Missouri. I am a member of 2 bass clubs currently and have set lake records while winning tournaments, club and opens. It is true I have never caught a DD bass but I have spent most of my time in New England where they are exceedingly rare. My biggest is a 9 lb 1 oz, a pure NLMB whch was aged at 16 years old. This year I have caught 37 bass over 5 lbs all pure NLMB. Sure they aren't DD but they are big fish in New England and far older them most FLMB. Sure you have more experience catching FLMB but the original post is whether or not NLMB and FLMB will strike the same lures.. Yes they will. It is simple. If something is hungry whether it is a bird, a bug, a fish a person it is going to eat. Simple biology. FLMB get big for sure and to do that they must eat. There is no need to over complicate things like we as fisherman do so very often. If a bass is hungry it eats. Fact. Tom lets see some pictures of a few of the hundreds upon hundreds of DD you have caught ? Any recent ones ?

See what happens when you sit next to the right people. Just kidding congratulations you should be on cloud nine.

I caught a 5.3 lbs largemouth tonite in norwood at this little pond you wouldn't even think there would be fish in.

Cool Drone shot from last week of me on Great East.

A cop is out on patrol, and sees a car parked in the local lover's lane, with the windows all steamed up. He knocks on the drivers window, and the guy inside rolls it down. The cop sees that there is a guy sitting in the front seat, fully clothed, and a girl in the back seat, also fully clothed. "What are you up to here, son?" "Well, officer, I'm reading a magazine, as you can see." "And what's she doing back there?" "I think she's playing a game on her phone." "Have you been drinking tonight?" "No, sir. I'm only twenty." "And how old is she?" The guy looks at his watch and says, "Sir, in eleven minutes she'll be eighteen."

Bubba went to Alabama on a football scholarship. He was a good running back, but a poor student. At graduation day, Bubba didn't have enough credits. But he was a great football star and the students held a rally and demanded the dean give him a diploma anyway. They were so insistent that the dean agreed if Bubba could answer one question correctly he would give him a diploma. The one question test was held in the auditorium and the students packed the place. It was standing room only. The dean was on the stage and told Bubba to come up. The dean had the diploma in his hand and said, "Bubba, if you can answer this question correctly I'll give you your diploma." Bubba said he was ready and the dean asked him the question. "Bubba," he said, "How much is three times seven?" Bubba looked up at the ceiling and then down at his shoes, just pondering the question. The students began chanting, "Graduate him anyway! Graduate him anyway!" Then Bubba held up his hand and the auditorium became silent. Bubba said, "I think I know the answer. Three times seven is twenty-one." A hush fell over the auditorium...and then the Alabama students began another chant. "Give him another chance! Give him another chance!" Just a few good ones.

The maid asked for a raise, and the wife was upset. She asked, "Now, Helen, why do you think you deserve a pay increase?" Helen: "There are three reasons. The first is that I iron better than you." Wife: "Who said that?" Helen: "Your husband." Wife: "Oh." Helen: "The second reason is that I am a better cook than you." Wife: "Who said that?" Helen: "Your husband." Wife: "Oh." Helen: "The third reason is that I am better at sex than you." Wife: "Did my husband say that as well?" Helen: "No, the gardener did." Wife: "So, how much do you want?"

Two sisters, one blonde and one brunette, inherit the family ranch. Unfortunately, after just a few years, they are in financial trouble.. In order to keep the bank from repossessing the ranch, they need to purchase a bull so that they can breed their own stock. Upon leaving, the brunette tells her sister, 'When I get there, if I decide to buy the bull, I'll contact you to drive out after me and haul it home.' The brunette arrives at the man's ranch, inspects the bull, and decides she wants to buy it. The man tells her that he will sell it for $599, no less. After paying him, she drives to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram to tell her the news.. She walks into the telegraph office, and says, 'I want to send a telegram to my sister telling her that I've bought a bull for our ranch. I need her to hitch the trailer to our pickup truck and drive out here so we can haul it home.' The telegraph operator explains that he'll be glad to help her, then adds, it will cost 99 cents a word. Well, after paying for the bull, the brunette realizes that she'll only be able to send her sister one word. After a few minutes of thinking, she nods and says, 'I want you to send her the word 'comfortable.' The operator shakes his head. 'How is she ever going to know that you want her to hitch the trailer to your pickup truck and drive out here to haul that bull back to your ranch if you send her just the word 'comfortable?' The brunette explains, 'My sister's blonde. The word is big. She'll read it very slowly... 'com-for-da-bul.'

Roger

Spinnerbait season for me begins January 1 and ends December 31.

Yes for the Fortrex The new MSRP is $999.99, but some will sell at a lower price than that. Do a web search for it. It is worth it at the original MSRP of $1499 Get the largest display model you can afford. BIGGER is always better. It is very simple to install. It comes with a Heading Sensor GPS antenna and a 20' Ethernet cable. The attachment instructions are really simple, it just clamps onto the trolling motor shaft. You adjust the transducer shaft in the clamp so the transducer pod is just above the TM prop diameter. It has two cables attached to it. One is the power cable and the other is the communication cable. The power cable has a power cord that you attach to the battery. The Ethernet cable connects the communication cable to the display. It is recommended that you put a On/Off switch on the power cord so you can turn it off when not using it. Plus add a 1A fuse/holder on the positive conductor. The purpose of the heading sensor GPS antenna is to assign waypoints on the 360 view if you want to.

Yup sure do... 2 Custom cork pistol grip rods in 5'6" med/pwr, fast/med fast tip rods... Use them for twitching ChugBugs, Zulu's, up close spinnerbait/dock work. Mostly soft top water... Tight Lines!