Crestliner2008

I've never fished a tube I didn't like! That being said, I like the Yum Vibra-Tube, as well as the original gitzits. It's all in the presentation more than in the make - IMO.

Make sure you focus on current breaks - any time of the year. Don't just haphazardly cast to open water. Reverse flowing eddies and moving water along any backwater sloughs can hold them as well. If you are really hurting to tied into a smallie this time of the year, spend your time casting an 1/8 - 1/4 oz. in-line spinner, like a Mepps, Roostertail, or Panther Martin. Yep, you'll loose some. If not, you're not fishing in the right places. You'll get bit, sooner or later though! If you have some time on your hands, probe every nook & cranny of any productive area you find, with a 4" Senko, texas rigged with a 2/0 EWG worm hook, on 6# test fluorocarbon (just put a small, quality crane swivel (like a Spro PowerSwivel) about 2' up your line to prevent line twist). The spinner will find active bass quickly. The Senko is what you use once you find them, in order to maximize the number of strikes you get. JMO. ps : If you try the spinners, put a quality ball bearing tyep swivel up ahead of it, about 2' up on your main line. If you are pleased with the results you get with this set-up, switch your main line to 4# test Fireline Crystal, with a fluoro leader. You'll be even more pleased that you did.

I'm also primarily a fisherman that prefers spinning gear for most of the time I'm on the water. I've been using baitcasters for over 35 years though and am quite comfortable using them; but spinning rules for me, as I'm primarily a smallmouth fisherman. Anytime I'm fishing large plugs, spinnerbaits or blade baits, I prefer a baitcaster. For everything else, I find a spinning rod in my hands. I really like one particular medium-heavy, 7' spinning rod of mine, with a 4000 Sahara. Have caught a lot of both species of bass with that rig, as well as northerns and stripers too! I do "enjoy" using a baitcaster from time to time; but I suppose I could live easily with just a spinning rod in my hands.

Neat video!

Sounds to me like you want him to experience catching a bass. That's great, but maybe you should re-think this just a bit and take the suggestions of "Nine Miler" above. You may prefer bass fishing, but being a newbie, he would probably be very happy just catching "something". And that would go a long way with getting him hooked on fishing, which I'm assuming is your goal. If you are dead set on starting him off on bass fishing with artificials, then by all means, go with the 5" Senkos.

Ditto! ;D

We just got rid of our ice up here about 3 weeks ago! Yesterday I went out with a buddy of mine and the water temp, in this particular lake, was in the low to upper 40's most of the day. Barely broke 50 by the time we pulled off. And top that off with flooding conditions almost everywhere in the lower New England states. We actually launched the boat in a flooded parking lot, as the ramp was totally underwater! We are having to deal with high, cold, muddy water conditions here a bouts. I did manage to get a couple of pickeral and my partner got one nice bass - 4lbs. 5oz. for the day. And we had to really work at it! Hopefully the conditions will start to warm up and the fish will as well. Sometimes we have to take a step back and smell the roses!

The big "advantage" to either CEH or BPS in Foxboro, is that you save the outrageous shipping charges! What I like to do is place my order over the phone and go to one of these for pick-up, when they call me to say it's in. It costs me gas to get there, but that's still cheaper than paying postage - especially if a group of us take a "road trip"!

Great pad walker! Have taken some impressive LM on that bad boy. Don't hesitate to give it a workout.

I know some folks have been hitting some decent bass out toward the cape, but I haven't had much luck west of Worchester so far.

If you want to head north, you can't beat Champlain for either species. If you're interested in CT., then by all means hit Candlewood.

Definitely give it a try from shore. Look at it as just another finesse presentation technique. You are limited with access to a lot of areas that boats are not limited to. Consequently, you need to strain ever inch of water you find. The drop shot accomplishes this quite well. One thing though, do not "over-work" the DS. Sometimes I'll just drag it a bit, without ever employing the "twitching" that I see a lot of folks doing. Don't forget, no matter where you fish, there is some movement of the water. And those small, supple worms will take on a life of their own down there! Over working your bait sometimes puts the fish off.

I have a Sahara 4000 which I've used for several years now. Not experiencing that kind of problem? I have 2 other smaller sized Symetres as well. I agree with Bass-Brat IF you did not use a backing on the spool. If you do have a mono backing (or anything other than braid), then I'd have to say something is wrong with your drag washers. Try disassembling the spool. Clean and lightly oil the washers and reassemble. If that don't do it, I'd be very surprised. You've got a fine reel there. You really shouldn't be experiencing these kind of problems.

X2 - impossible to give you specific recommendations without knowing what you want/can afford to spend!

Cabelas people there have no clue where anything is or what you are talking about - most of the time. They backorder just about everything, unless it's clothing. They do sell a LOT of hats! ;D And have you ever tried to get through their check out lines? OMG....talk about S - L - O - W ! BPS in Foxboro is heads & tails above CEH in my opinion.

1) 3" curly tail grub, on a 1/8 oz. ball jig. 2) 6" Slug-Go, rigged weightless. 3) Mepps In-Line squirrel tailed spinners.

There is just something about a 3" smoke w/blk flake grub (the flat tailed grub, not the curly tailed variety), on a 1/8 jig head that just drives smallies nuts sometimes!

Last year was the first time I tried yellow PP on both a heavy baitcasting rig and one med-hvy. spinning rig. These old eyes are giving me trouble with detecting line ticks and this yellow PP more than makes up for it. I use a 7' - 8' fluoro leader connecting with back to back uni knots. Used this set up all last year and caught some really fine bass with these two rigs. I see no problem with the yellow at all.

Classic Patterns gets my vote, with a Fish PAA coming a close second. Thank God for DVR! ps/ I usually watch 'em all anyway!

Hate to tell ya folks, but there is a benefit (believe it or not) to getting old! I always buy my "Sporting" (hunting & fishing combo) license. This costs a resident here in MA $49.00/yr.. Turning 65, my new "license" for this year was only $25.00! And when I'm 70, it's free. Eat your hearts out guys! ;D BTW - This "license" is actually a tax - the word license is suppose to make you feel better about giving more of your hard earned money to the government - pure & simple!

I doubt that nature would be stupid enough to allow fish to spawn in conditions which will not support the fry. This is the reason bass usually start to make beds when the water temps are stable and approaching the 60 degree mark. I suppose anything is possible, but the frys survival is what's in question here. The egg's survival is dependant on (consistently) warm water and plankton for food to support the hatching fry; neither of which is available yet. JMO - I could be wrong.

I was born with glasses. ;D Have used clip-ons for many, many years. If you are going to get them, buy GOOD quallity clip-ons. Or, you'll be buying them a couple of times a year! The cheap ones you get at CVS are worthless. They scratch easily and create distortions. 3 years ago I bought my first pair of prescription polaroid glasses. I'd never go back now. The distortion and glare are gone now and they make great night driving glasses as well! Worth the initial expense. When it comes time to change your prescription, all you really need to do is buy the lenses and keep putting them in the same frames. And if you elect to go that route, get titanium frames. Much more durable and lighter. JMO.

Absolutely!

Bill Norman lures. Get a decent selection of sizes and colors and you'll do just fine.

I agree on what he said about LC's. Great lures. You just can't go wrong. Get a selection of a few colors to match conditions and forage base and you're good to go. However, don't discount the X-Raps. I have 1/2 dozen or more and have caught quite a few smallies and LM on them. Never seen that problem with stuck weights, but I suppose it could happen(?). Remember one thing with hard jerks this time of the year. The water is cold (at least in my neck of the woods!). Make sure your bait does not rise when paused! Regardless of what kind you use. If it sinks slightly, so much the better, in my opinion. When the water temps start getting in the mid 50's, a jerk that rise very slowly can sometimes be a trigger, but hereabouts, our water is still in the 40's! To correct a "floater", either switch to a next size larger hook, or add a bit of weight to the belly hook. I like to use very thin lead (or composite) solder wire. You can also add an extra split ring to the existing eye that the belly hook is attached on. Experiment with weight as this will vary according to the water temperature. Just paying attention to this small detail can make a tremendous difference in your success.