senile1

@Catt You are definitely in a world of hurt if a boat coming your way on that path doesn't slow down and try to avoid you. There are some narrow boat trails on Smithville Lake in the treed portions but there is always room and then some for boats driven properly to pass each other port side to port side. Still, I have had a couple of occasions where I had to pull over into the trees to avoid an oncoming boat speeding right down the middle.

Me too. Meeting someone head-on, both boats should veer to starboard to avoid each other, but I don't know how many times I have seen the other boat turn the wrong way. I will completely take a 90 degree starboard turn well ahead of time just to avoid a boat whose driver doesn't seem to know right-of-way etiquette on the water. Meeting a boat coming from your starboard side, you are the port side boat and the one who is supposed to yield, but I don't know how many times I have seen this violated either by people who aren't aware, or who just don't care. I make a habit of avoiding getting too close to these boats because one never knows which way they will choose to go.

This says it all. As for skill or luck, the more skilled one becomes the more often his or her location, timing, presentation, and persistence will be optimum for catching a big bass. As you develop your skills, luck should play less of a part in the big bass equation, though now and then it is nice to have luck on your side. 🙂

I have no superpower. Combining many of the traits mentioned so far such as persistence, patience, determination, casting skill, awareness of bass behavior, etc., I am able to catch bass on a regular basis and sometimes catch some big ones in the process. It took me a few years of honing my skills and the plan for the future is continuous improvement. It has taken work, though working to be a better angler is work I love. There is no superpower involved.

@islandbass We are very similar in that regard. I am using the following: One Chronarch 200 E7, Four Curado 200 E7s Two Citica 200 Es One Revo STX that I bought around 2014 One Stradic 2500 One Symetre 2500 I clean all of my reels on a regular basis and I have had to replace some minor parts on rare occasions. I will be replacing the Symetre soon as it is starting to feel worn. Additionally, I have a couple of Citica Ds but only one of them, the DPV with the 5:1 gear ratio, gets much use and that is for slower cranking. Other than the Symetre, all of these reels function like new, which is why I see no reason to replace them until needed. Of course, some of them do have a worn and scratched finish but that doesn't bother me.

The following verges on TMI but I thought it might be helpful to some. From approximately 2008 to 2014, I began experiencing issues with my digestive tract with extreme pain that would double me over for 4 to 8 hours at a time. It occurred about every 5 or 6 months. I had a number of colonoscopies and endoscopies and the doctors could find nothing. They diagnosed me with IBS, but they really didn't help me. I pretty much had to figure it out on my own. I discovered through trial and error that I was having tremendous gas pains but nothing would come out either through burping, flatulence, or bowel movement. The gases were trapped in my digestive tract. Also, when this would occur I would have a lack of motility. Nothing would move. I would have loose bowels like diarrhea but nothing would come out. As a short term fix, I learned how I was feeling the hours before this would occur and I would take a laxative to clear myself out, thus avoiding the trapped gas. Long term, I have experimented with a number of diets and it seems that the removal of chips, most pasta, sugary items like cookies and cakes, and most processed foods has helped a great deal. Also, avoiding overeating, even at holidays, has helped as well. I have also looked into and experimented with the FODMAP diet. (An explanation for this is too long for this post. Do a search if you want to know what it is.) That has helped too. Since making these changes, I have had only one or two episodes since 2014, and I was able to head those off at the pass, so to speak. I still have digestive tract issues but the pain is much less acute and more along the lines of normal IBS than it was before.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I am fine with the understated look as long as the rod performs its stated function. I don't dislike more beautiful rods either, but functionality always rules.

Do an internet search for "basics of running a bassboat." The search will provide videos and reading material that should answer your questions. The Idiot's Guide to Boating and Sailing, or Powerboating For Dummies are good books for beginners, although if you have been running a boat for a year you may be looking for something more inline with the internet search I mentioned.

I second @Jig Man's recommendations. Stockton Lake is simply awesome. At approximately 24,900 acres it isn't small, but to me it fishes like a smaller lake. Maybe it just fits the way I fish, but I have not had a bad day there in a long time. Having said that, it could just be luck of the draw because I am only able to get down there a couple of times a year. During week days traffic on the lake is minimal. Pomme De Terre is fun too. Although, I only fish it now and then the bass seem to cooperate there as well.

Very, very sorry to hear this. I hope the further testing discovers something positive for you. Best thoughts and wishes for a turnaround.

@Glenn As a Chief's fan, I agree that the referees blew it on those calls. But then again, when I watch NFL games objectively I see bad calls on all teams, including the Chiefs, and unfortunately sometimes they affect the outcome of games. And it is more irritating when it is your team that is hurt by the bad calls. I do wish the referees would do better. Of course, those 8 sacks of Stroud had nothing to do with the Chiefs win, right? 😉

These are both good rods but I am in the Kistler camp as well.

Very important on slow days, IMO.

To the OP, there are no rules. There are only tendencies that have resulted in "rules of thumb" that may or may not apply. The winter tendencies you read about are created by water temperatures in the 30s and 40s. If your waters don't cool below 50 or 55 degrees, the behavior of your bass will tend to be different from these rules of thumb. Use temperature as your guide.

I break down, clean, and service all of my reels once a year. The last time I had someone else clean them I sent them to The Reel Mechanic in Park City, KS. David, The Reel Mechanic (username .RM.), was a member here and my reels were smooth as butter when he took care of them. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2014.