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Some folks' funny bone is broken I wonder why guys with such great marriages have the need to point it out? Anyway, trust me, the failure part sucks, getting through it, and finding the light at the end of the tunnel is an epic success. But go ahead, hurl stones from your glass house.

It's pretty much a yearly tradition for me to go fishing on my birthday. So when I got off work yesterday and it was nice out, I decided to keep that tradition going Opted to hit one of the local lakes despite the fact that I knew I was pretty much ruling out the chance at a big fish, it's still my favorite close lake. Lots of fish on beds, shad spawning everywhere in the newly growing water willows, and the water was clearer than I've ever seen it before had me concerned. Took me about 30 minutes before I started to figure them about a little, catching a few on a shakyhead and some on a wacky rig. I had a 175 Slide Swimmer tied on and with all the big shad on the banks, I figured there had to be someone up there eating them. I was right, and actually found 2 that were up there eating them, both much bigger than anything else I caught all day. Thankfully I brought my Garmin Virb Elite and got both fish on it, you can even sort of see the blow up from one of them as she ate it almost immediately after it hit the water at the end of a fallen tree.

Are you sure they were bass? Many times bluegill or crappie will hit your bass offerings. If you're sure they are bass, then the bad news is you're doing something wrong. The good news is you're doing something right. Something isn't just right and the fish aren't committing you your offering. It could be the offering, in which case FB06 has good suggestions. It could also be something else. Are you sure they weren't spawning? How clear is the water (your line could be a deterrent )? Can the fish see you ( standing and/or bright clothing make you more visible)? What about scent, yours? Try the simple things first, then look elsewhere.

Change color Change size Slow down Speed up Change hooks (if using trebles, current one's could be dull or too small) Do something that's just enough to make those fish want to eat whatever it is you're throwing

I'm pretty much a Daiwa guy. I use ten baitcasters and four spinning setups. Here are most of my baitcasters.......

One of my biggest frustrations is pulling up to beautiful looking cover and getting snagged with first cast. I've been known to lay down the snagged rod and throw something else....only to immediately have two lures hung while I motor in and announce my presence.

Maybe its the vodka

I always call the smaller ones hollow bodies or paddle tails and the bigger ones are called swimbaits.

The lakes around me were blown out from recent storms, so my buddy and I decided to try something a little different. As an A-Team fan from way back....I love it when a plan comes together.

Real Prey makes a good one.

Ned rig

If you're planning on eating a lot of fish rib bones, I'd encourage you to always dine with someone who is proficient at this . . . A-Jay

Punctuating a properly formed sentence was a big moment in my life. Upgrading the wife to ex-wife was another. Teaching my oldest son to drive is pretty cool, too.

Not the funniest thing ever - but it's funny & recent. Two days ago I was out on a lake smallmouth bass fishing. The lake has very easy roadside access and gets a fair amount of recreational use. For this reason I only fish it very early & late in the season before and after the mainstream users are on it. So I'm anchored & casting and along comes a small boat with a undersized outboard - high rev & too much smoke. The nice man & his wife appear to be of retirement age and have decided that I looked like I wanted to chat. So they come right up to me - like 10 feet to say hello. The man leaves his irritating little motor going and strikes up a conversation. I had decided before he got close that I would just grin and bear the foolishness. So I smile & say hello and the man ask's me if I'd "caught any" and I said that I had. To which the man informs me that "last year I caught a 26 incher over there in the corner" I smiled again was secretly thanking him for that comment - And my reply was " That's excellent, Congratulations, but I have to ask, was there a guy in a boat sitting right next to you with a really loud outboard running when you caught it?" And then I smiled again. The look on their faces was PRICELESS ! Especially Mrs. crazy - it looked like she has stepped in something bad . . . . They had no response but instead wished me luck and went on their way - driving right over all the fish in the cove . . . Some "fisherman" just don't get it I guess. A-Jay

I sell more 3/8 then any other weight. Probably all weights combined.

I won $10 on a scratch off lottery ticket once. Epic.

Please, do share.

3:16 Rising Son bottom hook in Carp color Hudd ROF 0 with the brown sides/black back, nail weighted

At age 16, somehow having the chutzpah to ask out an 18 yr old girl that was way out of my league. There was no logical reason she would even give me the time of day, much less actually go out with me. But fortune favors the brave, she said yes, we dated for 7 years and have been married for another 29 years. Very lucky on my part. I do have trouble understanding how some believe the failure of a marriage is an epic success. I hear some guys say that divorce is expensive because it is worth it, but that kind of sounds like they are trying to convince themselves that giving up on a commitment ("for better or for worse") is somehow cool. I find it telling & feel sorry for them.

My wife. I could list all the great deals I've made, I could list all the losses too, those are are mere chapters. Success is a journey not a destination, I'm still on the road.

The ones without the split ring have a tighter action while the ones with them tend to have more thump and will "hunt" instead of swimming in a straight line. I prefer the split ring design myself but there's a time and place for the directly connected ones as well.

1) jet skiers 2) jet skiers 3) jet skiers

I don't remember her name...but what a night.

I'm thinking about it myself - but I might really mix things up by adding a braid leader. A-Jay

And smelt. Mmmmmm, smelt. I miss them.

Depends on the cover. I am not a big fan of braid, but braid in weeds, there's nothing better.

A few stories popped in my head, but I'm afraid they wouldn't be BR appropriate.

Bigger fish (saltwater) I'll fillet the back of the ribcage and take that big piece of meat off that's between the ribs and the skin. If there isn't enough meat for me to really worry about it then I don't. I'll pass on eating rib cages just because I'm lazy and don't like any bones in the fish I'm going to eat.

What? I can't believe you are choosing a Saturn over a BMW. Just kidding, I'm sure its a great reel. Don't let the trolls ruin it for you.

Sorry to hear that. Some people can't feel the difference between a Daiwa Jupiter and a G Loomis. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

You can't be tried by a jury of your peers because there are none. Children often innocently ask you, "What did people do before electricity?" And you can't remember.

Absolutely disagree with the noise theory, unless you weigh several hundred pounds I highly doubt you'll create enough vibrations to be detected by bass. On many occasions when things are dead still, someone will crank an outboard, I fire a cast at the prop wash & hook up. Sometime ya gotta wake em up! I also find light do not bother bass, many times while walking a bank or trolling shallows I'll shine my q-beam into the wayer & see bass just sitting there, turn off the light, fire cast cast & hook up. Lighted docks, lighted boat ramps, a row of camps with lights along the bank will be deadly areas. Darkness covers up an angler's presence & most of all his mistakes!

I giggle every time I scroll past this!

Kinda puts things in perspective, don't it?

Does anyone make an 18.5' that isn't stable?

Pull off 100' of line and put a strip of electrical tape around the spool. This will keep any backlash from getting too deep. Casting is 90% rod. If it doesn't load properly with the weight both distance abd accuracy will suffer. Tie on a 3/4oz weight to practice with. The braid and mono are about the same size so no problem there. Casting is just like throwing a ball in that release point is everything for accuracy. If the bait splashes down in front of you the release was late. If it launches up in the air it's early. Same thing left and right. Nice, easy fluid motion is the goal. Don't get frustrated and horse it.

I don't understand all of the suggestions to spool braid so tight. After the first long cast you've lost all of that tension. I spool braid like any other line.

Catt spends more time on the water at night then anyone on this site, listen to him. Tom

Am I the only one who never uses a leader when fishing with braid? never really saw the need and as far as I can tell it doesn't affect the number or size of fish I catch in really clear water

Is it just me or is that an enormous boat ramp? I would say my fiance could back a boat into that but I think I would by lying. Bless her heart.

Likely tubes would be your best bet.

Ok maybe just th best football team.

10 to 2 today on Webster. Water temp 50.2-53.6 backwaters were warmer. Plenty windy but when you could maintain contact with the bottom for more than 2-3 seconds, you might get a bump on small rubber stuff. 2 keeper bass and a pickerel for me and a somewhat smaller bass and a perch for the little woman. Oh and the next time you see a lamprey.....crush it's head with pliers. Where there's one, there could be enough to ruin your body of water.

I lose the feel that I am used to and need so much if I tie any kind of leader on, so I just tie direct always.

Exactly what you said, reduce digging it. It just handles better on a baitcaster IMO. You can fish 30lb without a doubt, but I prefer the larger diameter line.

That's all I use on my baitcaster. o leader for me and I have neve had a problem.

I have yet to use a leader when fishing with braid, don't feel the need to and the fish don't seem to mind either.

Do not know how to tie two lines together & have no need to learn,

no, you aren't the only one