Crestliner2008

I've also tried it on smallmouth & largemouth bass on the drop shot. It works. Just a matter of deciphering what the bass's mood is at a particular time. Sometimes no movement at all is what gets you connected. Other times, a more aggressive presentation, like the recoil rig, works wonders. I especially like to utilize this presentation when I see bass are suspended in the water column. This recoil rig gives the bait a very exaggerated movement in very little space. Like I said, I keep it as just another "tool" in box.

Welcome aboard! Didn't know the Philippians had bass there. Visited there many times during the 60's while I was in the Navy.

Sounds to me more like spring run-off. Water leaching into the pond from spring run offs and rains. It should clear in a couple of weeks - if it's not a man-made issue.

Regardless of your location, the length of days comes into play as well. There will be seasons in which the bass start to think about spawning. You just need to figure out which time of the year that season occurs. The changes may be subtle, but the changes do occur. Where are you from?

The biggest problem you have to solve in fishing is location. Once you are able to locate fish, the solutions to catching them becomes much simpler. There are times when you see bait and fish on your sonar, on a good structure, but still cannot get them to bite. Everyone has those days. Putting time in on the water narrows those days down considerable however.

We're still debating between the 73 SV or DI models. We mainly fish deep water reservoirs, targeting humps and structures in excess of 25' in some cases. Is there a limit to the side imaging effectiveness as far as depth goes? Thanks muchly Folks.

X-Rap.

To me, lures are just tools to perform a specific job you need done under specific circumstances. Trying to combine a hammer with a saw just doesn't do it for me.

Impossible to answer! Too many variables. It depends on what species I'm targeting along with the water I'm fishing and the structure I'm presenting to.

Using fluorocarbon for your leader, regardless of pound-test, is a crap shoot at best. Go with a steel leader and don't worry about the pike seeing it. They don't care.

They work well with a modified mojo rig that I've used for many years. Putting a small 4" straight tailed worm on those hooks, with a small weight about 2' above it and dragging it slowly on the bottom, is very effective.

As has been said, most any plastic bait will work with the drop shot presentation. I've been using tubes for the past two seasons now with success. I nose hook a standard 3 1/2" tube and place a small piece of an ear plug in the tail end. This keeps the tentacles floating a bit more, creating a very enticing presentation. My all time favorite plastic for drop shotting is the 4" Roboworm however. Rigged either by the nose or wacky, if there are bass in the area, these will get their attention.

From your post I'm assuming there is a restricted "open" season only. Here in MA the season is open year round. However, the ice just left the water about a week ago, and we're getting more snow today! So, I'm guessing it won't be until sometime next week or so before we can launch our boat. I feel you anxiety! Hang in there.....won't be long now.

He'll be just fine. Not sure if you were Tx rigging or wacky, but if the latter, try using a circle hook instead. Not totally fool proof, but a significant number of your lands will have lip hooked fish.

I concur, the Alberto is about as perfect a knot as there is. Actually, it's braid instead of a knot, but I'm getting pretty good at tying it, even in a boat with a stiff breeze! LOL!

WELCOME aboard! You're in the right place for the information you seek for sure. There is a lot of information contained in the "Fishing Articles" above, as well as contained within the posts on the various forums. You've got a lot of reading up to do. However, on your journey to success, let me say that this group - some of the finest anglers in our country - will be more than happy to answer your questions. However, we do need some information from you, such as: How long have you been fishing? Which bass species do you fish for? What part of the country are you fishing? What kind of water do you fish - lakes, ponds, rivers or reservoirs? Do you own a boat? Do you have a sonar? What kinds of presentations are you interested in? Given this kind of feedback, any questions you raise can be answered more precisely to your needs. Once again, Welcome aboard!

Another thing you should think about getting is a book entitled, "SpoonPlugging" by Elwood Buck Perry. He defined structure and how bass relate to it. No matter what kind of fishing you do, or where you go, this little book will help you to become a better bass fisherman. Guaranteed!

Not sure of the depth at which you'll be fishing, the water temp/clarity of the pond, which species you are after, etc., so this is pure speculation.... Reel it down a few turns and stop it there. Watch your line for a twitch. Don't move it for about 30 seconds (it will appear to be more 30 hours!). Then give it a twitch. Not a hard twitch. Just a twitch. Wait again. Spring is cold water fishing and this kind of presentation has paid off for me big time in my neck of the woods on smallies.

5" Senko 3/4 oz. Silver Buddy 1/2 oz. Spinnerbait 3/8 oz. Jig with RageCraw Trailer

WELCOME aboard! You've chosen the right place to get correct information from the best bass fishing forum there is. However, since I've never spent as much money, as you are planning to spend, on any of my rod/reel combinations, I can't be of help to you. You'll do just fine.

I'm sure all of these suggestions work very well. Actually, I've never really tried any kind of shad/worm style that did not catch me bass. It's the nature of the beast. You might do well by looking at the old, simple 3" Sluggo, nose-hooked. When twitched, it side flashes very nice. Has been very productive for me as well.

I don't specifically fish for stockies, but have caught a ton of them while crappie fishing. Most specifically, casting small 1/16 oz. ball head jigs with plastic crappie type trailers. I prefer 2" straight tailed plastics on this presentation. The Bobby Garland's Baby Shads are a prime example. Just cast out and retrieve slowly. Like I said, very effective presentation for both species.

I use to be a huge Shimano fan. I have 4 still in occasional use. Great reels....until they are not so great. The spool friction rings can go bad and cause a sticking retrieve from time to time. Repairable, but annoying. It happens. Which I think is why Shimano changed all their models a few years back - with a substantial price increase to go along with it! Since then, I started using the Pflueger Presidents. Great reels; quite a bit less expensive than the Shimano's, yet every bit as smooth and reliable. I now have 3 more and they are kept in use for most of each season. For my money, I believe the President's have no equal. JMO!

A great entertainer. His music will endure for many generations to come. R.I.P. my man.

Dwight is correct. I'm sure big smallies have been caught on big hudds and 9" Sluggos, but neither is a high percentage type presentation. And they require Xtra heavy gear to toss them. Smallies can be caught in greater numbers on any number of presentations out there that do not require football shoulders to toss. Eventually, you will tie up with a 6 lb. smallies with conventional gear. And the experience will probably be a much better. JMO.