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Drives me nuts. I know EVERYONE says there's no twist effect on braid, but there is. It results in wind knots and tip wrap. Troll it out, and reel in between your thumb. It's also the reason I don't prefer a really "limp" braid. I like it to have some body.

Personally, I'd just stick with the braid main line and then adjust by either keeping your rod tip pointed down/lower most times to minimize wind effects (Ned writes about this quite a bit), and/or shorten your casts so there's less line for the wind to grab. That said, if you'd prefer to switch, look for an easier handling line in either nylon (basic Stren, Trilene XL, etc.) or fluoro (InvizX, or any of the newer "finesse" lines now coming out on the market) - but still consider keeping rod tips lower and casts shorter as good practice when possible. -T9

This is interesting!

My kind of guy. I'm not quite as ambitious as you, but I agree that I'd rather put down one rod and pick up another rig than having to retie to change baits. In my paddlin' canoe I can carry ten rods, the one in my hands and nine in the rack and ready to go. Truth be told, I should have made the rack to hold eight rods. Wouldn't have to stagger the reels with a bit more spacing. Notice all the rod tips are below the small foredeck and rails. Cannot be snagged by brush or weeds.

I have absolutely no idea about how big or small or wide a 25 size reel is, I have never owned a Pflueger spinning reel, all I can say is that 8 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid works fine on a 2000 size Daiwa reel, and I don't use line conditioner.

another site is running 35-40% off a lot of Lucky Craft hardbaits right now, just placed a little order.

I've spoken to several researchers who have studied the condition at Auburn University fisheries dept. as well as aquatic pathology experts at Purdue U. and as ETS stated, there has been no conclusive cause to my knowledge as of yet. The MD explanation of sun exposure makes no sense to me, nor does the healthy fish population theory. Most tend to point the finger at either something chemical or something biological. Will be very interesting to see what really causes it when someone finally figures it out. -T9

It's tricky but I like to give the fish a chance. Or maybe it's 20 and my phone just doesn't like typing 20.

It is like any lure; fish get accustomed to them and they don't work as well. I started using them a few years ago. The first 7 fish I caught were in the 4lb range. I was sold. They still work, but not like then. So, yeah, they are way over-hyped and everyone should stop using them!

I fish mostly Floaters, Slow FLoaters, and really shallow suspenders but I pretty much use the following and I fish them all year, and in places most guys use Frogs or flukes as long as I can find a crease in the weeds, wind blowing the emerging weeds on the surface over, or I will literally pitch them into pockets, but I also steer them around weeds, and I fish Jerkbaits ALOT since they can be a Topwater, Crankbait, Swimbait, Suspending Jerkbait, even slow sinking models work well at times. 1- Every Angler needs to have a few Original Rapala Balsa Minnows (If you read articles many pro's will state they will outfish live shiners on some days, that is rare but true, They are the Senko of hardbaits imo but you need lighter line for best results with balsa.. -F-9 is a good size to have, F-11 is my favorite, but the F-7 is good to have, I would get a Flat Rap as well for a slower float,colder water, basically the balsa version of the shadow rap...9=9mm. Colors usually only need Silver/Blk-Gold/Blk, Clown or firetiger for stained water. I usually just put chart or pink stripe on sides if stained, you can get it off later by sanding. Bomber Long A 15 Floater- Best Floater for any water color, casting gear, go heavy, most strikes come on pause but waking the long A can be deadly, tournaments are often won by someone Waking a Long A but Fish have to be active feeding on bigger threadfin shad etc. I always paint the back red or pink nail polish to steer it and see if fish swirl or take it under on long casts. I love the Smithwick Rattling Rogue for stained water in clown or gold/black, not the cheap looking ones, the ones that look like the Mcstick For suspenders- I fish the husky Jerk, Xrap-Pointer-Rogue-timmy Horton Pro Long A suspender, Countdown rapala sinking version. Line and action and how you work it matter more than brand imo. Suspenders are much different but floaters work in Florida all year round, or you can get them to slowly float or suspend anyway with adjustments. In Winter lures that sink slowly can work well, so can a slow retrieve, you don't have to always jerk a jerkbait, I learned that a few years ago, fishiing it with a pull, pause or slow roll can work well... I would invest in some minnow baits for sure. Make sure you have good hooks, and if possible add some tail dressing for more strikes on the pause. Hope that helps. There are so many good lures available now that there is really not a wrong answer but I think the fact KVD throws Rogues in the cold over his own Jerkbait even though one time it was a 1960's version says Smithwick is pretty good. This. Boom. job done

I'm all for saving money so if the time was worth it to you, no you are not being cheap. I will say this though. If you get mono or fluoro into a big mess like that it can get pretty messy and a lot of times in the process of untangling it unless you are extremely careful you can kink the line in certain spots, this can happen with bad backlashes as well. If I think I damaged the line in the process of trying to salvage it I usually just cut my losses...literally, and toss the line. I backlashed pretty bad with sniper last season and got it all untangled. Well later that day I made a long cast and felt a bite, set the hook....and TINK. Lost the fish and about 25yds of line.

Grebes are the diving birds you usually see feeding on Threadfin Shad schools and very important in locating baitfish. Gulls can't dive deep and only feed on surface bait of any size. Cormorants are the bigger black water bird and can dive deep like grebes and eat all types of fish. I will assume the OP is talking about grebes feeding on Threadfin Shad, not Gizzard shad. Bass feed heavily on Shad during the fall and winter months, so yes find the birds and the bass should be close by. Lures of choice are structure spoons, flutter spoons, tail and under spins that match the size and coloration of the Shad. Tom

Bummer I missed this thread ... would love to have participated. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

That is what I look for during the cold water period. I use the FishID setting to determine if there are any suitable predators like in your picture that are feeding. Makes the decision to try to catch easier.

Great, made it through customs before Christmas. Glad you like the squarebills I caught a lot of fish on them. As YeaJRay231 said the Red Shad Culprits are deadly especially with the small mouth. Merry Christmas

I sell subarus for a living. The 2700 pound capacity is for a 6 cylinder model, and the trailer should really be equipped with brakes. I think your boat is definitely pushing it for an outback.

Same reason I pick out funky beads when I visit Corning - personal appeal. I like to put them between the weight and the hook, un-pegged. Especially when fishing a ribbon tail worm.

I had a refresher course in life this year. My wife had major cancer surgery at 45. My mom&dads health declined even more. My dad 74,still fishes tourneys,but at times he needs help. This year,hes lost 2 rod setups, due too his ability to grip things,esspecially in the cold. He says hes done,once they are gone. I wont let that happen,as he taught me how to fish. Im going to be trading about half or more of my tackle for reels(he will only use a certain old shimano). I know in time they too will be lost, but the trade will be worth it in more ways than one. I was fortunate too fine a member in Bass Resource,to make this happen:) I will continue to find more of the same reels,just in case. What did i learn again? Just like fishin,things change, and you gotta change. My family is and always will be first. Theres always someone worse off than you. My wife is 100% cancer free so far ,i am blessed in all aspects. Im at work right now, on a very slow shipping day,what a nice day : )

On the Tennessee River birds often = striper.

There's no right or wrong. Take the rod and mount a few reels to see what feels good. IMO the whole balance thing is way over thought and obsessed on. St Croix uses great blanks and tend toward the shorter side on handle length. If you decide adding weight is an absolute must don't do it with the reel. Go the cap and washer route.

I think that's a little overly dramatic.... I don't think many people use oils anyway, most people I know use dish soap (myself included). It clears about a 15' circle for about 15 minutes before being washed out. One dock owner washing his boat one time is going to put more soap in the lake than I will in several seasons. Two wrongs don't make a right...But I'm comfortable with it personally and I don't believe it's doing any harm. I can live with effecting a 15' circle for 15 minutes on a 20,000+ acre lake. I wouldn't use oils, but if you're talking dish soap too we'll just agree to disagree. FWIW, some people also just use their spray scents....The oils in those have the same effect, something to think about if you are concerned about the oils on the water surface and use those scents.

If the cap is too tight the spool shaft hits it keeping the spool itself from seating properly. Glad I could help. Merry Christmas.

This is in northern Missouri . In the winter when gulls are diving for shad its because of the shad die off . In the summer/fall it is because of fish chasing shad but not necessarily largemouth bass . In the small lakes I fish it will definitely be largemouths , in the big lake its probably white bass .

My grandfather swore by those red shad culprits he sent you... Nice.

thank you to @Alan Reed for all of the great gear i have never actually owned a strike king squarebill i'm definitely looking forward to using all of this so thank you

Some Texas rigged piece of plastic!

No prep necessary for me. Add trailer of choice and go. I have switched to using Siebert Outdoors as well. I haven't purchased a lot from Mike but I still have plenty of my old stock to lose first. I did fall in love with this one from Mike because the fish couldn't resist it this past year. And its still almost like new. Bluegill color.

Personally i believe that during the winter it is better to get out on the water in the middle portion of the day. First off sometimes it is just too cold to get out there just at sunrise. Secondly during the middle portion of the day the water temp. warms up a few degrees causing the fish to feed more actively. Although the bite may be tough during the winter, there is always an opportunity to hook into a once and a life time bass, and thats what keeps us fishing. God Bless

The bass in South Florida get plenty of sun and none of the bass I have caught have as many dark spots like the one pictured above. Probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

I want to add that as for owning rods, there is never such a thing as too many, only not enough space to store them.

Took this pic this afternoon, for the past 4 winters this spot has looked like this, I can't catch a fish in this mess and trust me I have slung everything except for a stick of dynamite. It's hard to compete with the real deal. Cool 2 see it though.

I picked up one of those Shimano Nexave reels at our Academy last week for $20. Don't really need it, but couldn't pass up a Shimano marked $40 off. I really like using these low end spinning reels for bank fishing/pond hopping. No worries if I beat em up really bad.

Thanks @Last_Cast . You rock. I'll definitely put it all to good use..

Why would you want it totally flat? I'm usually looking for a little wind.

Be stealthy, big bass in farm ponds are sensitive to their surroundings. Most of my big pond bass have been on buzxbaits, spinnerbaits, 10" worm, and rattle traps. The common thought of upsizing baits to catch biggerfish hasn't worked well for me in ponds.

2 7' MH shocks 2 7.1 Supreme XT baitcasters 1 Hammer rods 6' 9" H that smalljaw67 convinced me I needed for my bladed jigs.

Unless you want to use specific locations. I won't stop you.

no such things as too many.

Catt, If you are not too busy this time of year, how about a back to basics on the fall to winter to spring migration? Might make these cold nights go by quicker. Don't use specific locations, more of a general discussion. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

well you've had success on a frog already i say keep throwing them, i would also look at throwing swimbaits, but it depends on what the main forage is

I have 6 of them now, 3 of the 90s and 3 130s, not by accident. The 90 is a bit temperamental, it likes to run under waves and dive at the startof the retrieve, but it was irresistible for the smallies this summer. I fished mine on a 7' MH with a 7.1 reel and 2lb braid. Hold the rod tip high and reel as soon as it touches the water and it stayed on the surface well. Mono works but it's a little harder to keep it up.

My general rule of thumb is to give someone a gift that they would not buy for themselves. So, I'd go with high end lures.

I wish somebody would have told me to get a better boat before I got married...

That I will spend thousands of dollars on this hobby. But then again, it's not hookers and blow so that's kind of a win.

Sure beats fightin' a big ol' fat ugly........oops better not say. I stay in enough trouble.

There have been threads about this here before, basically there are several theories as to why they get black spots, such as a healthy population, or being handled by fishermen, but no one knows for sure. I find it fascinating and I love it when I catch a bass with hyperpigmented melanosis

Man, they have a ton of senko colors in stock, it works out to like $5 something per bag.

I use the 3/32oz mushroom head and I also use a 1/16oz round head and no problems. The other thing is that it is a total myth that the worm or bait of choice needs to float, before the Z-Man plastics the rig used a 3" Senko and they are far from floating. The important part is that you get a slow fall, with a floating plastic it is possible to get the right head size to have it suspend in the water and that can be super deadly but I found that if the worm sinks, it can be just as deadly as long as the fall is slow. We've been using that rig for years for smallmouth with lockjaw and there are a wide variety of baits that work, if you use size 4 hook on the jig head you can use trout worms from Berkley, they are wicked but the problem is you will get crappie and bluegill along with bass, but the worm doesn't have to float, that is just put out there to sell TRD baits, but I'll say that a floating bait will just give you even more options and it will work just as well if not better at certain times just like every other bait.