Marty

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/B2C935529160A78D862572D90015B9F8?OpenDocument

I use thin-walled tubes in 3.5" and 4". I use extra-wide-gap hooks, 3/0 for the former and 4/0 for the latter.

There is an alternative which I use and many others do as well. That is to take off just enough of the old line so there's room to put on 50-60 yards of new line. It's more economical and you generally don't need more line for bass fishing. The line that stays on the reel is called "backing." I tie the new line to the backing with a uni-to-uni knot.

As has been said, everybody loses fish on crankbaits. Double -check that your hooks are needle sharp.

I missed the private pond part, a type of water with which I have zero experience. Yes, I'd say the same thing about my beloved Jitterbug. They have been fish-free more times than I care to think about. Unfortunately, they can't manufacture fish. :'(

I don't know if you're referring to fishing ponds from shore or a boat, but it doesn't matter to me anyways. I use the same assortment of lures and techniques in a pond as in a large lake, regardless of whether I'm shore or boat fishing. I figure, just to cite one example, bass in a lily pad bed in a 50-acre pond don't behave that differently from pad bass in a 10,000-acre lake. Of course, that's just my gut feeling, not something that's fact-based.

I think a fish will hit with a few weeds on the lure if they don't affect the lure's action. I'll stick with the retrieve if the lure feels normal to me, otherwise, I'll get it in fast to clean it off.

You're asking for what we'd all love, but doesn't exist. His answer's not that good if you're fishing where they ain't. In fact, it's quite easy to skunk with a Senko (or anything else) if you haven't located them first.

A guy who posts on a few forums under the name "Fishing Elbow" did some stretch testing a year ago or so. I don't think it was extensive, scientific testing, but he's a knowledgeable guy and you can take his report for what it's worth. http://pages.videotron.com/fishing/estretch.htm

I use a trailer hook on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits. The majority are hooked on the main hook, but just enough are on the trailer hook for me to keep using them. Just today a two-pounder on a Chatterbait was hooked just inside the lip on the trailer hook. Things like that keep me using them.

Hey, you're entitled to vent after that historic spanking they gave the Mavs. Just hold off a little on getting fitted for the ring.

I've had 14# Fireline on a spinning reel for three years and never had a problem. Only thing I don't like is it doesn't cast as far as I'd like. The line just doesn't flow off the spool as smoothly as mono.

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=6449007&nav=8H3x

I'll try with the buzzbaits. First, my personal preference is to always use a trailer hook. Use them when conditions are good for topwater, in general, warm water and low light periods, which doesn't mean they won't work at other times. Pick your spot where you think the bass are located and start casting and retrieving. I start the retrieve before the lure hits the water so it doesn't sink and starts in with its action immediately. You can fish it just slowly enough to keep it on the surface or try faster retrieves. I like buzzbaits more than some other topwaters when there's a chop on the water or it's raining. It's one of my most productive topwaters and very good for covering a lot of water.

At times I've put rubber core sinkers (with rubber removed) on the hook shank and they still have good, erratic action as long as you don't overpower the lure with the sinker.

It sounds like you're talking about the Tornado and they're very much still in the picture. Just go to Bass Pro's site and type "Tornado" in the keyword box. I had one and it was a good lure, but I couldn't see where it was any more effective than other spinnerbaits.

I've been having a terrible time. This year I've caught 16 bass on the Boogee, but have failed to catch at least a dozen which struck. I don't know the reason why, but I've been thinking that the Leverage may be working against me. But for whatever reason, that ratio is unacceptable and I'll be trying others, since I have some issues with the Chatterbait. Next one up is Gambler's Swim Blade.

I've noticed that the action on the Chatterbait seemed considerably less enticing (to me) than the Boogee Bait. It took me too long to observe that the trailer packed with the Chatterbait is only about 3", whereas the Boogee's trailer and most spinnerbait trailers are about 4". So I replaced the provided trailer with a conventional spinnerbait trailer and the action looked much wilder. That extra 1" makes a difference. Now, over the course of a year, I don't know if this would make a difference of even one fish, but I like it better and it gives me more confidence.

In the lakes I've fished that have pickerel, it's impossible to target bass or pickerel. Every spot that produces one can and does produce the other. And both species will take virtually any lure that exists. I can't say that I enjoy the biteoffs, but my pickerel have always seemed to be better fighters than largemouth.

All other things being equal, larger diameter spools allow better performance with ALL lines.

Certainly the highest percentage time for topwaters is warm water and low light, which doesn't mean they won't hit in sunny weather. Choosing which topwater is no easier than choosing subsurface lures. If you're fishing where there are surface weeds, that narrows your choice considerably. Otherwise, a factor to consider is whether you're "searching", that is, covering a lot of water to locate fish. Some lures that are good for this are buzzbaits, walk-the-dog lures, Jitterbugs and others. If you're fishing targets in a relatively small area, lures like poppers, prop baits and Floating Rapalas can be moved a small distance and stay in the target area longer. Which actual lure can be personal preference, history of success, etc.

How often do you use your spinnerbaits? Do you just use them only after your confidence baits have failed to produce, which means you've already established that the fishing is bad? If yes, start out with the spinnerbait in the highest percentage spots at the best times. Catching some fish on spinnerbaits is not rocket science; if you fish them where there are fish, you'll catch some.

I'm not sure exactly what you're after, but if you go to the bottom of the forum index page, there's an option to mark all messages as read. Then on your next visit, whenever it is, all new posts since your last visit will have the "New" designation and will appear at the top of the page. Very handy.

Skillet, There really aren't any extra holes. After removing the hook hangers I just put the screws back in. Although I've always thought it wouldn't matter since the holes face downward and nothing would happen that I can think of. Good luck.

I have been a heavy crankbait user from the time I got started and have caught fish on countless brands, styles and colors. Basically, my most expensive baits are Rapala Shad Raps and I've never had any desire to try LC or other more expensive brands. I'm sure they're great baits, but my cranks are such good baits that I have full confidence that I can maximize my catch with them if I can learn better ways to locate fish and present my baits. Would I catch more on LCs? I'll never know, but I'd buy them if I thought that I could. It just doesn't compute for me. Besides, many of my waters have pike/pickerel and I'll be d*mned if I'm gonna have biteoffs on $25 baits!!