Simp

So I just jumped on a special for this combo from cabela's. It seems like lews makes a ton of store specific combo's but so far all the reviews are fairly glowing for lews combo's. I was at dicks the other day and they had a carbon blue combo that felt amazing. I almost bought that right then but 80$ is just enough to make me hold off and do research. Well tonight at 3am I see an ad for the lews laser RZ carbon combo for a insane price. I was in the market for a ML finesse combo and this fits the bill it seems. I'm hoping the rod is as nice as the carbon blue felt and the reel seems to be a step up. Does anybody have any feedback they can provide for this combo?

I grew up a competitive swimmer and so my first instinct is to say man up and get it. However for 99% of the people they probably shouldn't do something like that. I just have zero fear of water in terms of swimming. I've been know to swim and dive down pretty deep for lures. I'll say this I wouldn't wait to long if u decide to dive. Things like a iPhone is going to get covered in mud or silt fairly fast.

I've seen punching jigs like these.

Yeah no doubt give these a try! I personally went from Jewel finesse to War Eagle heavy finesse jigs. I fish 3/8 as my primary weight and they offer a finesse jig in that weight with a heavy wire hook. I'm able to pitch that bait with a flipping stick and crack it with out bending that hook even with braid. I've bent a fair amount of jewel light wire hooks.

I think that's kind of what's great about the bait. You can fish it a million ways and as long as your getting bites it doesn't matter how you fish it.

Honestly as previously said a ton of it is TIME ON THE WATER! I'm not saying it can't happen but the prespawn deserves your full attention. Get up at dawn and even if it's just for two hours at day break fish it. I live by Carbondale IL just 90 minutes away from your original location. I've caught three fish over 7'lbs and two of them from a Pond on the SAME DAY! I spent all summer catching 5 pound bass after 5 pound bass from the same pond trying to get a 7lbr. Then mid September on a overcast evening the pond went into a feeding frenzy! It took dedication of going out day after day to learn where I needed to be to catch those sevens and I'm more proud of those two fish then I am my actual PB. I don't know what your ponds look like but if the they look like this photo get a frog, some braid and big heavy rod! My actual PB that almost went 8 was caught in a tournament in 50 degree water on a spinnerbait. The big girl was looking to feed up for the spawn and I somehow got her in on 8lb line in standing timber. I consider this a lucky fish. The only thing I feel I did was put time on the water in prespawn conditions. I shouldn't have been able to get a hawg like her threw all those tress but the water was to clear to get bites on anything but light line. So if your looking for the key to catching a PB the only two things I can tell you that will surely increase your odds is time on the water and proper equipment. Don't go fish a pond like the one in the photo on a light set up. Don't fish a supper clear lake with 20lb mono ect, Some people will tell you use a swimbait, others a frog but none of it matters if the lures never see the water. Oh and of course the biggest thing is you have to be on some water with BIG FISH! You can't catch a PB if it's not in the pond or lake.

All photos taken in Southern IL on local lakes.

No pro or anything but I reserve all rights to these photos and please give credit if you post or share them.

The only way to build confidence in a technique is to fish it. One of the things I've tried to do each year is pick something new to become proficient at. I learned to first fish the jig from a group of West Virginia boys at the Keytucky Lake roadtrip in 09. Now I don't go fishing with at least one tied on. You will find a million tips and a million videos telling you how to fish a jig or Texas rig. None of it matters until you tie one on and start throwing or pitching it. Don't stop until you gaine the confidence in the lure. I'd also suggest a drop shot rig for ponds with that mossy soupy bottom.

I'm so freaking tempted. I love this lake! Went down to the Alabama side with the dam and caught my PB smallie. Then on the northern end in Tenn had a giant largemouth pull out the bottom treble hooks from from my hot lips crankbait.

Hope you guys have a great and safe trip! Just remember to stay away from the chicken!

Had a huge one on a Hot lips crank bait at Pickwick a few years back at the bass resource road trip. The big girl jumped close to the boat and turned hard. She looked like she stayed buttoned up when out of no where the crank bait floated up. On closer inspection she had pulled the back hooks completely out of the lure. Still have that crank bait with no back hooks. I took a picture and sent in to the manufacturer and they mailed me a new one. Just wish they could have mailed me a huge bass as well.

Welcome! The best advice I can give you is to look through the wealth of articles here at bass resource. They will offer some great advice on beginning gear and techniques. You have certainly picked a good one to start with. The yum dingers, stick baits of all types are a very versatile bait that is commonly fished slow on slack line. You generally want to free fall with out tension on the line but not so much line out you won't see your line jump if you get a bite. A very popular technique is to wacky rig rig them. A wacky rig is a circle hook or drop shot hook threw the middle of the bait. Just do a YouTube search for senko and wacky rig and u will see a million videos demonstrating how it's done. They also sell some wacky rig hooks with weights that speed up the fall and can be used to cover more water and trigger more aggressive fish. As far as frog fishing I wouldn't suggest you start there as a beginner unless conditions require it. Frog fishing with something like a spro frog require braided line and a powerful rod. Something you certainly want to have at some point but maybe not right off the bat. That is unless your primary body of water has so much grass that you REALLY need to start with it. I would suggest a pop-r or buzz bait to use on your spinning tackle to start off with for top water. A red eye shad or medium sized spinner bait are also good early lures you can use in many conditions and catch tons of fish. I would suggest you also invest in a medium sized tackle bag that comes with some Plano boxes aka plastic lure containers. You want a bag that won't weigh a ton when you go fishing ponds and not so small that you out grow it to fast. Rods- I would suggest a 6"6 medium rod and a 6"10-7"2 medium heavy. The bigger rods would be for your frogs with braid and other heavy cover situations. The 6"6 medium is a great rod for crankbaits and spinner baits and many many other applications. Reels- A spinning real is a good place to start and even Walmart specials do a decent job. It's when you move to learn bait casters that a quality reel makes a difference. I have no idea what your budget is but bass pro shops generally make quality real for all budgets. I'd suggest a carbon lite if you can afford it.

I've noticed if it's a overnight cold rain that's it's going to be slow early. I find it generally best to wait until later in the day with the sun starts warming things up. When the sun gets higher any mat grass will start to become more productive.

Thanks!

Rhino loves smallies, I'm betting that he had a drop shot wacky rigged senko. https://youtu.be/JA0dQRI0Q-U

Not when it comes to bass.

Long time no see Paul. I see nothing has changed with those hawgs your on. I've got a week of fishing planned starting on the 20th. I'll see if I can land anything like your hawgs. ;)-

Hmm well personally I've always preferred bass over crappie and bluegill. I know some people love catfish but my dad hated to clean them. We always cleaned bluegill and crappie and once in a while a bass. I've always preferred bass and they fit nicely on a bun What I want to stress though is this about the fishery. A family fish fry sure is fun though and the little ones love to see you bring them home.

I would think that Ohio is on the same time line as southern Illinois and the crappie are starting to move up to spawn. On the the tail end of that the bass will start. The next week or so look great to trigger the bass in the midwest to start a major feed to start a spawn in late April and early May. BTW when water temps are in the 50s warm sunny days are great for bass fishing. This isn't the dog gays of August and big bass love to sun on a nice big stump!

So we are all here because we love the green guy or girl. I just wanted to remind everyone to eat some of your catch. No seriously, let's not turn the bass into the cow like in India. Please take a couple minutes and try to read up on your lakes and even talk to your lakes DNR biologist. Way to many lakes and a majority of ponds are having issues with to many small fish. A simple Google search can often provide you with all the info you need to find out fish shocking data and often comments from the manager on management plans. Fish harvesting is a very important part of Lake management and we should practice in it.

I think location is key. Your in Georgia and it's a crap ton warmer then most of the country right now. I'm in Chicago right now about to head him for 7-10 days in in about a week to the southern part of IL. I'm trying to time getting home about a week or two before the bass are on beds. Current water temps from what I've been able to gather is still in the very low 50's. So the bright warm sunny days might actually be the better days to fish. Normal I like pre frontal overcast conditions 99% of the time, but a windy warm blue bird day can be great when your looking at water temps still in the 50s.

I'm one of the guys who said "#$%% that!" I'm going to braid! I went to braid with a few feet of fluro and I've never regretted it. I actually use spinning gear now lol. No more looking for soft fluro but seagar invisX as you listed was one of the softest and easiest to handle I've found.

I've stayed a couple times at Moors. I enjoyed my trips and found plenty of places to fish on either lake. Hope you guys have a blast!

Told them I only had one for Ralph Macchio........ True story except the the Macchio part.....HONK!!!!!!!!!!!!