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My arsenal for 2017 is all set. It's taken a while and a lot of hunting for good prices but i'm all set with Dobyns Rods and Shimano Reels. 4 are JDM so far, but i'm looking to build.

Did this carving today. Asked my wife to paint it. I was so pleased with the way it turned out, I asked her to paint the bass as well. PERFECT!! The turtle on a log is 3" long, 1 1/4" high. The bass is 2 1/2" long. Hootie

Sure you can. Don't let your dreams be dreams. Thats my go-to setup.

I went yesterday from 12:40-3:30 with my buddy. I enjoy holding down the back of his Tracker. Weather had been warm in SC for the last week or so but it had gotten to freezing at night and around 52 for a high the last two days. The water temp was about 51-53. We tried Trick Worm, I tried T rigged craw and a black spinnerbait. But we caught all 5 on a gold Rat L Trap. The biggest being this 4.5 lb that crushed my very slowly retrieved Trap in deep-ish water. She swallowed the bait and nicked one of her gills. It was clear most of the fish were on the deep side of the boat. And the bass were not biting on the sunny side of the lake.

The ponds locally were frozen for a few days but was too busy to drop a line when they opened until today. Ironically it was sleeting during my outing. Water temp was 40-41 and they were pretty fiesty hitting the crank. Glad to see a decent amount of 50 degree temps coming this week.

If I'm bass fishing, I will always have at least one rod with a T-rig.

Semper Fi to all the Marines, and thanks to all those who served in the other services. GySgt, Ret. USMC 1982-2002

If a bait's hardware is substandard, I change it with Owner Hyperwire Split rings For the line tie, I like Owner Oval OR Tear Drop Split Ring ~ Size 2 or 3 A-Jay

Makes it much easier http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/lisle-handy-packer-bearing-packer-lis34550/25981323-p?iv_=__iv_p_1_a_214327102_g_12425515822_w_pla-61865531738_h_9021497_ii__d_c_v__n_g_x_pla_y_6201684_f_online_o_25981323-P_z_US_i_en_j_61865531738_s__vi__&utm_source=ACQ&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA&utm_content=shoppingcampaigns&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwrbEBRDqxqzMsrTGmogBEiQAeSE6ZdhlBBf81mWKqhxDbzJX3DPhK7wS_E93CUmUCIV8zzAaAuuE8P8HAQ

But seriously, grab a Zoom Trickworm, Zoom Finesse worm, Yum Vibraking Tube, craw imitation of your choice and stick bait of your choice and you'll be good. Don't go crazy on colors either. Black and Green Pumpkin do 99% of my work.

I've caught bass on everything mentioned but the yum pulse minnow (I haven't tried it tho) I really think you can't pass.on the fat ika , double tail hula grub , and senko.. The kalins grub mentioned is awesome too. I think you should try the SK rage structure bug and a zoom trick worm.

GY Fat Ika 4/0 EWG hook. Can't go wrong.

There are plastic shims under the spool. Remove one, and it should lay correctly.

Posted this one before

It was either this one, pooping out a Roboworm while chewing on another lure (weird & rude) Or this one, who had major delusions of grandeur

Last week I made a large order from Amazon.... I ordered an airbrush kit, complete set of wicked paints, and 5 different type of crankbait blanks. After watching lots of youtube videos on it and getting some confidence. I finally got to play with it today and took my time, made three. Except for the mesh I used for the scales on the second one, all by hand no stencils.... What do you guys think? First one I made, having never before touched an airbrush. I was going for a small simple sunfish look Second one, didn't really know what I was going for here, just kinda let my mind wonder..I used an old net from a cheap Chinese made minnow trap to create the scale pattern, but I went a little too dark. A little dab will do ya on these paints kids. This one is my favorite. I got the basic idea from a youtuber and went from there.

I liked all of the anglers in yesterdays field so I couldn't just root for just one guy. However, there was a part of me that wanted to see Watson light em' up "jacking a spoon". this technique intrigues me ever since he demolished the field last year using that spoon.

Unopened? None. How much doesn't get the time it deserves? Too much.

I have one spooled up with Yo-Zuri Hybrid and two with braid and a Tatsu leader. I think the Yo-Zuri performs better with bottom contact (Senko, Fat Ika and Rage Tail Baby Craw). For weighted baits the braid/ fluoro leader works just fine. A big advantage to the braid/ leader combination is fishing "brand new" line (leader) on every outing.

I don't know about the bass, but what's wrong with your arms that they don't bend at the elbows? ??

1. My maternal grandpa who passed away this past year. I only ever went with him once and I really regret not going with him more. 2. I'd reach a little higher because it's easier to learn with nicer gear imo. I would have started with a 100B Curado and 7' MH/F Avid (of what was available when I was starting bass fishing). 3. Hooksets are free. I missed a lot of fish when I was learning because I didn't want to set the hook on a limb and lose a bait.

I have cheap version that goes on the end of a grease gun, makes a big difference, but I still hate doing it

In addition to the other comments, Austin, you might want to give the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm a try on a drop shot. http://www.baits.com/?p=228 I've found it incredibly effective in the more natural colors and laminates like green pumpkin/watermelon and so on. Fishing it by bridge pylons is prime for drop shotting. Good luck!

As good as your doing I would like to tell ya you need to make a road trip and catch some fish!! That's awesome.

I was shocked that some of the competitors were still throwing topwater baits 6 hours into the tournament. And Ott Defoe's trip wading through skinny water was a big gamble. Like he said, he couldn't change his mind after that. It was all or nothing.

Trick worm

Yep, you mix them, you may wind up with soap in your hubs instead of grease. Take them out, inspect them, clean and repack them, and replace the rear seal.

Single-tail Grub: Kalin Lunker Grub Ned Rig: Z-man 4.0” Elaztech Hula Stickz Senko?: Hmph, that's a new one on me

culprit 7.5 inch ribbontail in black shad. t-rig with an 1/8-1/4 oz weight| 10 inchers with a 1/4-1/2 weight zoom super fluke or jr. t-rig weightless or drop shot yum pulse swimbait in sexy shad and summer gill. belly wieghted t-rig or a 1/8-1/2oz worm weight weightless t-rig trickworm, also works better on a jighead sometimes. ive always disliked the swimmin flukes, the gutted design works great for the fluke but with a belly weighted hook a full body is better.

X2 !

OK, so my favorite soft plastics are Zoom Super flukes or swimming Super flukes, Berkley havoc crawfish, Culprit Fire and Ice curley tails. For a Texas rig a prefer a baitcasting rod and reel but either will work for these rigs I'm gonna list. First try a Texas rig or Carolina, Drop shot, and last you could nose hook a worm. That's all that I can think of right now. About that point your fishing, try a Carolina rig and drag it across it a few times. Or drop shot (depends on how deep it is though). Good luck man and I hope I'm able to at least get you to catching fish. This is what works for me.

Almost every soft plastic has its time and place, the same goes for the different rigging methods. Do a little research (the br articles are a good place to start) on which soft plastics and rigging methods are best for each set of conditions. Right now the bass are on steep dropping shorelines near deep water, so if possible this is where you should be fishing during the winter. Fish slow with either blade baits, small hair jigs, jerkbaits if the water is clear, or the Ned rig.

Now your sucking your wife into this?

Finally got to get out on the water for a few hours. Was hoping the fish were still stacked deep but the stretch of warm weather has them scattered around. Was tough today with only 2 fish for me (5lb and 3-1/2lb). Both were caught in 30ft on seiberts 3/4 football jigs and rage lobster in falcon craw. This lake has a very large population of big bass. No foreign boats only rentals....Fishing out of a John boat with paddles only is a pain in the rear but an anchor helps. My triton is getting jealous of the time I'm spending on a tin boat, lol.

Spinnerbait, chatter jig, square bill shallow crank, anything moving faster instead or slower. Tom

While it could be mounted, the rod guides would prohibit a good cast

Caught a gut hooked bass on a crankbait and was able to remove the hook.

Very long and thin spotted bass. Even had the goggle eye, just too thin: Very Black smallie. Not that unusual on Erie but even the stomach and fins were dark as night: Very yellow Drum. Was my biggest recorded one, a bit over 13lbs. Yes, I am wearing broken sunglasses and look like a dufus:

Active duty Army

Oscar Robinson?

This ^^ The most important moment in my "bass" fishing life is when I caught my first bass on a Texas rig . I was trying to mimic a jig and pig another angler was having success on . My rig included a bullet weight black spinnerbait skirt and a black double tail Mister Twister grub . I was lifting and dropping it in rip rap , felt the tic , reeled down and set the hook . From that moment on I was a much better angler .

I'm not a religious person by any means at all but everything happens for a reason! It may not be what you want but it's in your best interest.

Then it was not to be! I have learned one thing for sure in my life. When I want something, maybe even REALLY want something and it does not work out, often there is a hidden reason why it does not work out. That reason has shown itself later and I am usually better off for it. Maybe there is a better deal coming your way, it just has not revealed itself yet. My wife and I had locked in on getting a brand new Champion boat many years ago. We even went to the factory, had a tour and sat down with the factory regional director. We custom laid out that boat, returned to our home state and sat down with our semi local dealer all he had to do was confirm the deal the factory rep had made with us, have us sign the order and wait for it to show up. The dealer refused the deal, we left heartbroken and mad!! We had traveled from PA to TN and back to have this jerk cut us off. Two days later my wife's transmission failed and we decided not to repair it. We had already been preapproved for a loan on the boat. The bank was happy to do a tiny bit of paperwork and change the type of loan and we had a new car in days. That could have been tough if the boat deal worked out. Keep your eyes peeled, maybe a nice used fiberglass is in your future.

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad. Tatsu #10 or #12, baitcaster. Technique: Cast and lean forward allowing the lure to fall on slack line. Hold the rod steady at 10 o'clock and reel quickly about five turns , then allow the bait to fall STRAIGHT DOWN on slack line. Repeat until you feel you are "out of the zone". 100% of the strikes will occur on the fall. A few years ago on a BassResource RoadTrip at Pickwick I caught 78 bass in one day!

This is about four years ago and a few months ago with some newer stuff.

If you are content with the price you paid then the deal is good.