Team9nine

Funny how that works. I can tie the Alberto without any problems, but the often recommended "J-knot" drives me nuts trying -T9

This covers a little of it... http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/2007/10/livewell-additi.html

Catt, your math is incorrect. You forgot to calculate based on number of angler-hours which those stats in the article are given as. According to the press writeup, Sam Rayburn event had nearly 3700 anglers entered and fishing. If that number is correct for that event, then the math is 8 hrs/day x 3 days x 3700 anglers = 88,800 angler hours divided by 277 bass >5 lbs = 320.5 angler hrs per 5 lb. bass. Also keep in mind the report stated that when just looking at the best lakes (which Sam Ray & Tol Bend would be considered) ,the average hours dropped to just over 150 hrs. per 5 lb. fish. Stats also didn't actually include any data for Texas or Cali., just the 6 or so states listed. The bigger point of the article was geared toward Midwest fisheries and to not believe every report you hear of guys catching all these big bass. -T9

Spook Jrs. are my favorite. I'll take them over Sammy's most days in the waters I fish. Newer Spook Jrs. are different than older ones though. Older Spook Jrs. are more like Sammys, just louder. As someone else mentioned, Sammy's in calmer and more open clear-water flats for me, Spooks in tighter parameters or more stained waters. And yes, you can add a feather tail to most Spooks and be fine, just watch for excess drag/resistance. Will up the number of small fish caught from my experience though, esp. smallies... -T9

I created a little gauge/icon I use from time to time on my blog (the sucker shot meter) that I use just for this type info when I tracked it. It was based around what I felt was a fair way to rate a trip on my local waters whether from boat or from shore. The last year I tracked it was 2007, although I did decide to start tracking again this year. Anyway, a catch rate between 7.5-10 bass per hour is what I consider great fishing. Anything over 10 is exceptional - just my ranking. In 2007, I made 92 trips and had a yearly overall average of 3.8 bass per hour which rates "fair" on the gauge. Had several "great" trips, but of course those were offset by many not so great trips ;D -T9

I'd say you're right in the ball park on that one. Wouldn't want to go too much different than what you suggested though. A lot of the deep crankers around here who used to throw 10 pound mono have gone to 12# fluoro instead because they can get the same basic running depth out of their deep baits while increasing feel of the bait on whatever setup they're using and still having very similar stretch characteristics. -T9

Ditto what MichBassMan said above. My two Avids are custom built sticks that I use for jigging/drop baits - they are lighter and more sensitive than the Premiers size for size, but they cost me... The 6' Premier is actually a pretty sweet stick that comes closest to the Avids in weight and sensitivity, more so than the longer 6'6" and 7' rods that are heavier and a little less balanced. Some people don't care for the shorter length though. As mentioned before, Premiers are a solid, well-built stick for the money, especially if you're not wanting to drop more than $100.

I've grown to like them. Don't think they're necessary on the front hook hanger though, so I remove and replace those with Owner or Gammis and just leave the rear SureSet in place. I then take the removed SureSet from the front of the crank and use it on the back of other brands of cranks, as well as topwaters, too. Makes them go a long way. I've paid enough attention when fishing to have noticed several fish that I otherwise wouldn't have caught because they were only stuck by the extended SS hook - might get you an extra dozen or so bass a year to the boat depending. -T9

Solid rods for the money. Just landed a 44# flathead on the med-fast action 6'6" Premier (see Other Fish Species forum), so they'll take anything a bass can put out. Own two Avids and two Premiers (all spinning models) and haven't had any problems with any of them. T9

I caught it Sunday on spinning rod with 8# line. Weighed 44.600 pounds on the marina scales. Took 1 hr and 42 min. to land. Shakey head - 3/32-oz. jighead and 5" worm off a point in a cove. Had the little worm sucked all the way down to the back of his throat. Got the bait out with the help of security who held it's mouth open while I inserted my hand with a pair of long nose pliers and popped it out. Took me into sunken brushpiles 6 times during the fight, as well as tied up in 1 anchor rope that a pontoon boat had out in the middle of the cove. Had to take the line under the rope, all the way under the entire length of the pontoon boat, plus under their engine and the feet of the 6 people swimming around the boat - somehow it all worked!

Bought a spool recently myself but haven't had the chance to spool it up and test yet. Around my parts though, many of the best local sticks use the Clear Blue Fl. line without any apparent negative affects. Keep in mind that in order to fluoresce, the pigments in the line must be activated by UV light rays which in many waters don't actually penetrate that far into the water column. This would be especially true at night under solely a black light which would hardly penetrate the surface waters at all. There might be some 'piping' effect, but I'm guessing it's minimal. That is why these lines advertise good above water visibility with transparent qualities below the waters surface. -T9

Like others have mentioned, they'll work fine and I use them from time to time myself with no problems, though I tend to grab the Gammi split shot/drop shot hooks first. -T9

Bet you'll love it! Matt does an awesome job on the custom stuff. I've got 2 Otterods myself and absolutely enjoy fishing with them both. -T9

Go for it - you'll never know unless you try. I've ben using a bunch of both the yellow PowerPro and the flame green Fireline and both have performed very well, and I'm rarely using any leader. Hundreds of bass to the boat between the two. If it's having any negative effect, I'm not seeing it. -T9

Thanks Skillet - I literally caught it "crankin watersheds" (LOL) - using an RC 2.5 DD

Just the opposite around here. I fish a local reservoir that gets routine treatments for algae (Cutrine copper treatments) and we look forward to the period right after the treatments. We joke that they're adding in 'the steroids' again to the water because the bite gets so good for the period (days to a week) immediately following treatments. I think it is a combination of clearing water from the dieing algae allowing bass to feed better (visually) along with some lowering of O2 in the deeper depths that makes the shallow water bite better. -T9

Pain in the 'you know what' but I don't let it stop me from fishing. I usually end up having to adjust somewhat around here because you often can't get away from all the traffic on our smaller reservoirs. This usually means leaving the shallow bank fish afer a period of time due to crashing waves and roiled waters. In that case I either move offshore or move to the edge of the mudline being created. I think the offshore bite actually can still be pretty good because all the traffic keeps things stirred up and helps camoflauge the angler against the increased background noise. Just went out yesterday on a small lake getting lots of pleasure boat traffic from 2-6 PM but still managed nearly 2 dozen keeper bass including one that went 6-04 fishing deeper main lake structure. -T9

Been long enough ago that I can't exactly remember when the last time actually was. That said, I do keep a nice rubber net in the garage for if I ever do get a round to having to use one. That was what I used to fish some local jackpot tourneys with because my partner liked to always have one, but that was 6-7 years ago. I never used 'em in tourneys myself. Got some interesting reactions over the years from draw partners over the issue. I've always considered them a 'crutch' but have no problem with guys choosing to either use or not use them. -T9

Been a little slower than normal here on the central IN lakes this spring due to the clearer than normal water, but life got a lot better today when I caught this 6-04 bass from a small public lake today .

Or you could get really radical and just try tying your braid directly to your lure and just skip the whole leader deal. Might be surprised with what you can get away with on some waters. -T9

Used to throw it quite a bit but have gotten away from it. Plastics are more convenient, more consistent and offer much more color options. Bulk and fall rate can be pretty well adjusted for with either trailer. The cold water temp deal is pretty much just an old rule of thumb that doesn't have much truth to it any more. I catch hundreds of bass every year in water down to 36 degrees using plastic trailers, though I've never tried a jig and pig through a hole in the ice. I have caught plenty on plastic though with the lake partially ice covered where you could still cast open water. About the only time I still use pork is when I know I'm going to be fishing a jig all day long, in warm or cold water. This is because of efficiency. The one big advantage with pork still is that I can put a piece on at 7AM and fish it all day long, catch or have short strikes from any number of bass, and still have that same piece of pork going strong 10 hours later. Simply remove and put back in the jar until the next day No ripped off or torn trailers, no missing claws, no sliding down the hook shank, no digging arund the tackle box for a new package of plastics, no getting fllung off with a basses headshake during a fight. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking 8-) -T9

Like Paul mentioned, while the occurence is well documented, nobody knows for certain what the cause is. It is most likely not diet related though. Some speculate that it might be related to C&R and excess handling, others think genetic, while still some believe it is environmental (infection or chemical). I've spoken to the lead fish pathologist here in my state and he speculated either chemical or parasitic reaction, but he couldn't state either with any certainty. The researchers at Auburn U. were supposed to be undertaking a study to determine cause, but I have never received a response from them to see if that study ever occurred. I certainly haven't seen anything in the literature documenting any such research. I've watched for it quite a bit here and it seems to be more of a seasonal thing on many of my local waters with the highest incidences in the spring, but that is purely anecdotal. I really need to track it more. I do have pictures of bass I've caught going back nearly 20 years that displayed the blotches, so it is not a "new" thing, at least not in my waters. -T9

Personally I tend to agree that the clearer the water the better, mainly from the standpoint of a jerkbait being a great bait for suspended or semi-active bass that will actually pull the fish to it from a distance when they can see it. That said, and as you experienced, in muddy water a bass will still eat a jerkbait if you can put it right in front of it's face. Much easier to do in a river situation, but can be done everywhere. It's just that most times in muddy, cold water there are better alternatives. -T9

Like has already been mentioned, a lot of this is personal preference. I get the most fishing satisfaction out of going very small with my jigs in very cold water - 1/8-oz. hair jigs, custom hand poured tiny frog trailer (no extra action) and 5#-10# braid or 4-6# fluorocarbon. Add a 6'6" custom ML fast action rod and cold water bassin' life is good 8-) -T9

Ice came off my local reservoir on Thursday. Needless to say, after this long winter I was on the bank for half hour fishing Friday night after work. Saturday was a rain out. Got 3 more hours in on Sunday and another hour in on Monday after work again. Caught 2 on Friday, 9 on Sunday and 4 more on Monday No skunks yet ;D Have the boat ready to go and will be hoping to increase those numbers a bunch this weekend after all this warm weather. -T9