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I'm taking advantage of the few last days we have here in the upper 40's. Not sure what water temp was today but I'd guess around 40. First cast at the first spot I pulled up on caught a 4lb pickerel. Thought it was going to be a toothy day. Caught 8 bass while anchored with a couple 4lbers mixed in. Continued to move along catching bass pretty frequently on cranks and swimbaits. Didn't get to hit too many spots before having to cut the day short. Ended up with 18 bass 4 pickerel. They were still hammering moving baits, didn't have to slow roll too much.

I'm about the bite, not about the fight. Thats why I didn't care for the saltwater fishing I did a few years ago. The guides were like "isn't it fun fighting that fish? This is a lot better than a largemouth isn't it" My reply was "eh, it's ok, I'm getting tired of reeling though"

First, light tackle is fun. That's a big reason I fish finesse so much. But, bass fishing tackle is designed for fishing where bass live and for setting the thick hooks sometimes required to get the bass out of the thick stuff. Not necessarily for the fish itself, but more for the where we fish and what we fish with.

What a difference 4 months and 14lbs makes. You would never know this boy was 10 weeks premature. Born 7-27 weighed 3lb 7oz. Now he is around 17-18 pounds What a difference 4 months and 14lbs makes. You would never know this boy was 10 weeks premature. Born 7-27 weighed 3lb 7oz. Now he is around 17-18 pounds

If your in it for the fight, black basses are the wrong species.

When a regular "customer", tells me they really didn't do anything this time.

I had this exact thing happen to me when I was 15. It was the first 5lb+ bass I had ever hooked. That event was actually the point where I started buying heavier gear. I use heavy gear around slop. I won't argue that at times it is necessary. Unfortunately I was alone at the time so the pictures aren't that great.

Ya ever try pulling a 6# plus Hawg out of matted Hydrilla or buck brush? I guess y'all no problem losing a Hawg with a lure stuck in it's mouth?

There are 2 threads appropriate to your question, setting drags and horsing in bass. Bass fishing is in general way over kill regarding the tackle and line # test used. The simple fact bass anglers enjoy getting the fish in as quick as possible including skiing the bass across the water surface should clarify the thought process. The sport isn't fighting the fish, what counts is putting the fish in the boat as fast as possible, including bouncing the bass into the boat. Try bouncing that 42lb cat into the boat. Tom

Gotta love living on the Chesapeake

Back in the day, and I'm guessing @Catt could confirm this, we didn't have a lot of jig terminology options. I believe it was Stanley Jigs that first intentionally marketed and labeled "casting" jigs and "flipping" jigs. Casting jigs had lighter wire, smaller hooks and a longer shank with more of an O'Shaunessy style hook. Flipping jigs were beefed up wire and sizes, and more round bend design with a larger gap, but a shorter shank. Casting jigs tended to be thrown on lighter line (and casted) due to design, while Flipping jigs were for a more vertical approach (pitching and flipping), heavier line (including the first super braids) and heavier cover. These same original jig concepts are still alive and well in the walleye world, also.

To me it's about using gear based on the average of what I expect to catch, and the baits I normally use. In the past I've mostly thrown weightless or lite weighted soft plastics and medium lite to medium rods worked fine. I want to start fishing heavier baits ( jigs, larger swim baits, etc) and picked up a MH and H rod to do so. I guess what I am trying to say is I use the lightest set ups I reasonably can for what I am throwing because that is the most enjoyable for me to use. I like the fight. Do I worry about breaking off a fish? I spent many years fly fishing and learned to let the rod and drag do the work. Do I worry about leaving a bait stuck in a fishes mouth? It happens on rare occasions . Try fishing in waters full of pickerel and never have it happen. If a fish is hung up in weeds, branches, I will make every effort to get it free. But ultimately if my overriding concern was to never hurt a fish, I wouldn't be out there in the first place trying to stick a hook in it. Jim

No way. When you're fishing for giants. I want every advantage.

With proper technique, a blue marlin of several hundred pounds can be landed in open water on line lighter than most would consider for bass fishing, don't believe me? 573-POUND BLUE MARLIN ON 4-POUND LINE 161.4-to-1 573-pound Atlantic blue marlin Line Class: 4-pound Angler: Leo Cloostermans Actual Line Strength (Wet): 3.55 pounds Fight Time: 18 minutes Location: Azores Date: Aug. 10, 1995 On the flip side, hook what would be bait sized for that marlin in a 5lb largemouth in the middle of a brush pile on 20lb fluoro, there's a good chance the fish wins that battle if you don't get it out right away. Is it overkill? Yes if every fish was hooked in an open water setting with no cover to run to, but it's necessary to land fish in a lot of real situations.

Went out on Sangchris a little over a week ago. Got some decent fish on the jig. Check out the video I made while I was out! Anyone else in IL fishing power plant lakes this time of year?

"Is bass gear overkill ?" May depend on how & where you're fishing as well as the size of the bass you're expecting / hoping to catch. For me, Overkill - Is a State of Mind. A-Jay

Bluegills eat bass eggs. Kill em!!! Birds eat the same food as bass!! Kill em!!! Bucket fishermen eat bass!!! Kill em!!!!!!!

You did the right thing

Got a whole book I live by ?

Caught this fish and was wondering what you guys thought it would weight, be honest please. It was 20in and I'm around 5'10"-5'11" if that helps.

I apologize for not being on here much lately. November 11th I had to move back up here to Shreveport and leave my job at Bill Lewis Outdoors Rat L Trap. Since then I've been seeking new work trying to stay as close to the fishing business as possible. I've applied at Bass Pro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. I finally got a call this morning from Academy Sports for an interview in the morning. I'm really excited about that and was told they are really interested in me. It's only for a part time position at this time, but I'm confident I can turn that into full time as long as I can get my foot in the door. If y'all could say a prayer for me that would be greatly appreciated. I really need this job and I believe the knowledge I've gained from here and the books I've been reading will greatly help in my success working there. Thank you all in advance for the prayers and being such great individuals with the knowledge you've passed on to me. I love you all and God Bless!

Some recent catches in the York River, and its creeks.

I buy my fluoro and braid in bulk spools. It cuts my cost per yard down enough that I don't have to worry about it so much. Example: Sunline Sniper FC 16lb. TW price - $23.99 for 200 yards - 0.11995 per yard TW price - $66.99 for 660 yards - 0.1015 per yard Factor in buying during a 20% off sale TW price - $53.59 for 660 yards - 0.0811 per yard If I figure that I need 70 yards of fluro on my reel: 200 yard spool normal price - $8.39 per spooling - 2 spools and 60 yards to try to make due with 660 yard spool normal price - $7.10 per spooling - 9 spools and 30 yards for leader use 660 yard spool sale price - $5.67 per spooling - 9 spools and 30 yards for leader use

If you dont use leaders filling the spool completely with braid will save the most line/money. As line gets used back with cheap mono.

The size of the line depends on the cover. I think that two excellent points were made. 1. A fish getting tangled and broken off. 2. Fighting a fish for too long and releasing it to die later. you need something that will get the fish out of where ever you find it, whether that be brush or pads. Then bring it to the boat in a "reasonable"amount of time. I fish in some gnarly stuff and light line has no place there in my opinion.

When I first started, I was lazy and just spooled the whole thing with whatever line I wanted. Then as I became more confident in knot tying, and realizing the innermost 2/3's of a spool will probably never see the light of day, I started to use backing. I do a full spool of backing, then walk it out 75 yards, then cut it, then tie on my main line and spool it full again, depending on the rod/reel. I make sure I take it out far enough that when I re-spool, it covers the knot comfortably. I walk it from my family room through the kitchen and back 4 times which is approximately 75 yards, or, in your case, you can pace off 50-55 steps, where each step is about 1 yard.

What would you recommend for pulling bass over 8 lbs out of buck brush? Aint talking about fishing the edges but flipping-n-pitching back in it!

So it turns out the Revo SX that Cabelas had was a gen 3, which I gather is notorious for lots of reliability issues. I ended up getting a Pflueger Supreme XT for under $100, which I've never personally used but have only heard good things about. Still need a rod.

Ebay https://m.ebay.com/itm/Daiwa-Steez-1016SV-SHL-SV-TW-7-1-1-Gear-Ratio-Left-Hand-Baitcast-Reel-Hat/202137188319?hash=item2f1050b7df:g:hWIAAOSw0exaJv07

Finally got my swimbait combo going. Reel is a Ringa SSS with 6.8:1 gearing and a RCS1016 SV spool. Rod is a MB Hyuga 72H. The reel was a complete impulse buy, I had wanted a round reel for a while but was not ready to drop the money on a Lin or Monoblock. The ability to take 34mm spools pushed me over the top. I have discovered that it is sensitive to inductor length as the stock spool from a sv103 would rub ever so slightly, but the 1016 and 1012 spools both work great. I am really surprised at how comfortable the reel is to palm it is and I really feel like the spool sitting higher makes thumbing it a lot more precise. The rod I was waffling over for a while. I had bought an Irod Fred's MS in the spring to use for frogs and light swimbaits, but I ended up liking swimbaits more than frogs, and could never get used to both the long handle and overall length of the Irod. I came across the Hyuga and read some really good things about it, so I took the chance. After today I am in love with it. On the high end, it casts and works a BBz 50 Rat like a dream. It effortlessly lobs it out as far as I would ever need to cast it but I can still make short accurate casts with it as well. The rod tip just bends in a bit on a slow retrieve and if I crank it fast to work the rat 6-8" down the rod handles it great, the FMS felt like it was going to snap when I tried with it. On the low end, I fished a Little Creeper Sunfish on a 4/0 Beast hook and it will just launch that little guy. I felt like the sensitivity was pretty good, I could feel the riprap bottom and could feel it land when I made little hops. I have the reel spooled with 25lb mono, so I was not expecting much. At the end of the day I tied on a 1/2oz frog and the rod loaded and cast that well enough that I think I am going sell the FMS and try frogging with this combo. The only thing left to do is get a longer handle for the reel, I can't decide if I want to keep the stock corks or go nuts and get a ZIP handle and knob set, like this guy but in purple.

Let's see if I understand this ? If I set my drag at 1/3 of my lines breaking point & I'm using 65# braided line my drag should be set at 21.67 lbs? My max drag on my Calcutta is 9.5 lbs so I guess I can only use 28.5 lb braid!

One of my favorite tools of the trade.

Tatula Sv are going for good prices I like slower speeds for my paddle tails so got the 6.3.

None of my other usual sites load slow but in the last few days BR has been slow and times out sometimes too. Anyone else or is it me?

Yep, I caught a 4'lber at a local park on my son's 5'6 ultra light with 4 lb mono while fishing for bluegills. He thought he was snagged at first and I came over to help. I yanked left and then right, and then it started to run and pull drag and it was on. Took about 10 minutes to get in for only about 15 yards away, but it was so much fun. We fished from a boat dock over the water, so there was no brush, rip rap, or anything else to deal with and just took patience.

Best bet was probably TW's 20% off blackfriday deal. Check Dick's website often, they usually alternate a deal for $20 off $100 and some other deal.

Lol!!!! Fair fair, good point!

for a box that costs less than $10 it stores tackle really well

Laughing at all these reply's!!!! They eat the same food as BASS!!!!! Kill em!!! They compete with Bass! The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!

Legal or illegal to release, those darn fish can be awful slippery. Just sayin. BTW, they have never been proven to damage bass populations and are very powerful fighters. More than qualifies them for being a "good" gamefish in my book.

It’s a guideline. Meant more to avoid snapping your line on a hookset. You crazy bass fisherman insist on bringing a nuke to a knife fight (65lb braid for bass). That’s why he was saying he’d like to set it and forget it, but can’t. To save his drag washers. Wasn’t because he was switching lines.

setting waypoints now LOL

A little something you might enjoy ~ A-Jay

I let my rod do the fighting, it does a better job than my drag! I set my drag at 6 lbs; max for my Calcutta is 9.5 lbs. If a fish surges I'll give it a little rod then lean back on it, this allows my rod to fight the fish.

Interesting time today. I went exploring other parts of the pond I’ve been wading in lately, felt like I was walking in quicksand. My knee-high boots were basically pointless, as it rained last night and the pond was up considerably. I managed to stumble on a sunken branch and puncture my boot, but thankfully it didn’t pierce my skin—it bruised immediately. And I also caught what I think might be a bowfin(can anyone confirm?). He was fun to bring in, and I’m super glad I didn’t try to lip him when I got him close. Also happy that I had my grippers nearby, put him on the scale for fun—3.2lbs.

When one omits the beer and adds an 'o' & a 'd' ~ The whole thing changes quite a bit. And not in a good way. A-Jay

I'm a big fan of the *** head.

I'm the author of Lunker Lore. The big fish out of Jalisco is over 7lbs. Those fish are only 3 years old though. In then next 1-2 years it'll be producing DD's. Camelot bell has gone through some major changes. The owner created a new lake. In 2016 he moved 75 DD bass from Bell to the new lake which he calls the "wolf pack lake." It's roughly 60 acres. The biggest fish moved was just north of 16lbs. That fish could push 18+ now. He also stocked a few giant males as well and the offspring from the first spawn 1.5 years ago are topping 4lbs now. Lots of exciting stuff in the world of private water going on. Obviously catching private water fish is much easier and I think there should be separate records, but it'll still be neat to see what some of these guys are ultimately able to produce on the top end range. It's been a while since we've seen a rash of some truly giant fish. Public or private, the world is due!

Been working on it every day guys. Have made a lot of performance improvements, and it is getting better. Will continue to monitor and tweak as needed.