SirSnookalot

Fished bass in Michigan for many years before moving to Florida, it's a lot easier here.

I have over 25 spinning reels, most are well over $100 but none of my reels specifically bought for bass. I do nothing but spinning, have a good idea of what my buck is going to get me and what's needed for the species and environment. Have 4 reels of the same make and model about $170 used in saltwater that I really like, I've moved the 2000 size to bass fishing. Does it perform any better for bass than my sub $100 reels, nope. For a bass fishing I'm looking for a reel that feel feels good on the rod and comfortable to fish with, it does not have to be the lightest out there. It's the marriage of rod and reel, not the individual attributes of each component. I have not seen too many reels $75-$100 that aren't smooth with good performing drags, that I know will give me good service over time. I'm not a weekend fisherman, do it 7 days a week, my track record with my gear has proven itself to me.

I have a 7' med Tourney, I bought it for bonita and have used it for snakeheads. The rod has good backbone for an inexpensive rod, as a bass rod it does feel a little awkward. I'd probably give mine away to a local, I'm not shipping, lol. Even for budget priced gear I'd be putting the emphasis on the rod, I'd have no problem with a trion on a little nicer rod.

Make sure to center the hook, that will help with the roll but it's still going to happen. I also use them as top water lure in areas of vegetation, clean water I'd use them on a jig head or nose hook it.

I fish inshore everyday in South Florida. We don't see l/p b/c here but some people do use round reels, although spinning does rule here. I don't think 1 rod and reel does it all, I use different set ups for the beach as opposed to the jettie and boat fishing. The species has a bearing as well. If I were to pick 1 do it all rod it might be heavy 25# class rod, I don't know much about b/c reels I do know Avets are very popular on the west coast, I have one myself.

I have quite a few fishing combos, I fish a number of different species, environments, boat and shore. Everything is braid and leader with 1 exception, I have 3 offshore outfits used on head boats. These boats either don't allow or braid or if they do, they just cut when you get tangled up, which always happens. I have another 3 offshore set ups for use on private boats, they all have braid.

I use a lot of topwater, I can and have taken the same 7'6 mh spinning rod caught juvenile tarpon and snook, then gone bass fishing with the same rod. I have no problem working a topwater lure and don't use a different rod for single or treble hooks. The reason I have no problem is simple, I do so much of it it's become second nature and I don't give it a thought. I will admit a shorter rod is easier to work, when I target bass most of the time 6'6 -7'. Just get comfortable with your rods, any lure type can be used with any of them. I do not own a technique specific rod.

The more casts I make the better my chances are. Catching a fish is easy but the great fish (not so easy) is having your lure thrown in the perfect place at the the perfect point in time, a few seconds either way can mean a strike or not. As I'm retrieving my eyes are roving looking for the spot to place my next cast. I waste as little time as possible, measuring a fish that appears to shorter than my rod butt, what's the point. I try to keep a constant flow, dry lures catch nothing.

To this day I'm a terrible speller, some how I manged to get thru school and own a few businesses. If one is fortunate enough to become the "top dawg", spelling not to worry, staff prepares correspondence.

I'd set the drag 1 or 2 clicks more, use braid and set the hook with a side motion. Hooksetting is a reflex action, once your muscle memory gets trained no thought is required.

I use top water lures on every rod I own except offshore rods. Just about all are fast rods from light power 6'6 rods to 8' mh inshore rods. 10-15-20# braided lines.

I like Strike King redfish jig heads. A little cheaper are mirrorlure heads and Walmart ball heads work just fine.

Any spoon catches fish, period ! Do I like the J-spoon, not one of my favorites. Why, it turns over too much to my liking and I'm not crazy for the hook, but it does catch fish. A similar style spoon is a Clark spoon (not weedless), it wobbles back and forth a little better and the hook is replaceable on some models. Yesterday I had a distasteful experience with a spoon. I order some cast champs that I really like, in the order I bought 2 3/4oz. Little Cleos, did not care for it at all. It turned over way too much for me, didn't like the movement in the water. Ya never know until you experiment, this one was a bust for me, I'm back to Cast champs and Kastmasters, crippled herrings and jig fish.

Either that or if there is a local tackle shop they can put a new on as you wait.

Me too, I like the way braid manages. Only 1 thing matters to me, put my lure where the fish are, most of the time I'll catch fish. Rods, reels, lines and lures are great talking points, it's all moot without finding the fish.

I have never seen a croaker even half that size. Very popular fish down here, I don't target them.

Happens from time to time, I log off then log back in, that usually works.

Good point. I have cousin that was a college football player in the 50's, tried out with Kansas City for baseball instead, didn't make it. He went into an entirely occupation, his degree didn't mean much but it was the networking. He hob nobbed with professional athletes and celebrities.

Jigs are one of my mainstay baits, from bluegill to sailfish they are one of the best producers. I make marabou jigs for peacocks, LMB bass don't seem to reject them. One of my favorites is a flats bonefish jig for bass fishing. There isn't a species I target in both fresh and salt that won't strike a bucktail, or any other material for that matter.

I fished with Bobby Layne, Lions QB quite a few times. Before the age multi million dollar contracts many athletes had jobs outside of their sport, Bobby Layne owned a collision shop down the street from my dad's business. They became friendly and both had a love of fishing. Non fishing I met Superman, Chris Reeves, while filming "Somewhere in Time" on Mackinac Island. My g/f and I had dinner with some of the cast and crew one night. I was Bob Lanier's real estate agent, our friendship lasted after he bought his home. I see this guy having breakfeast in our hotel in Cancun, I go up to him and asked if he was Joe Morton. He says how in the heck did you know that, said I recognized him from the movies he was in. Later that day he and his family were at the pool, as I was with my wife, we shot the bull for a couple of hours. One very cool dude.

Gotta say this is only a "legend" as I've never seen it done. Have been told many years ago billfish were caught trolling a white rag and a hook.

I can see some of these swimbaits costing quite a bit more to manufacture, but not so much when it comes a fairly standard jerkbait. I've had plenty of inexpensive lures that move great and caught lots of fish, granted the hooks and split rings aren't the best quality. My "better" lures get hook and split ring placement too. Some of my banged up, chipped and cracked lures are just as productive as NIB. From the manufacturing standpoint parts bought in volume from inexpensive to expensive lures isn't that great. I hope no one thinks a $15 lure costs 5 times as much to make as a $3.00 lure, but the fishing public seems to think the more spent the better the catch. I don't catch too many 10# bass, but I catch a ton of fish way larger than that. Most of them are caught on a $5.00 spoon, $3.00 bucktail or jerkshad (fluke) on a jig head. I happen to be one of those retired guys that can spend pretty much what I ever I want my equipment. Would I spend $20 or more to catch sub 10# fish, do I appear to be out of mind?

Yep. Never knew it had a name until I looked it up. Who is Ned?

The brand of line isn't the issue, it's how the knot is tied. Try some other knots until you find one that works for you, the best teacher is our own previous failures. As important as the knot is, it's a procedure that should require no thought, an automatic reflex action if you will.

Wetting braid isn't needed. Not a bad habit of wetting knots when using mono, but not needed for every knot. I never wet my loopknot, usually wet my clinch or improved clinch but not when it's real humid. Thicker lines don't always get wetted and I see charter captains tighten the knot with a pliers or attaching the hook to a fixed object, then pulling very tight. Burning may have an affect on lighter lines, doesn't seem to matter with 40# leaders and up.