flippin and pitchin

I tried the Fatty Craw and Pit Boss last week. Caught fish on both of them. The Pit Boss was the most suprising and actually has some good features that make it a good F and P bait. For 2.69 a bag it was worth the test.

At 4.49 to 4.99 each, Normans are the best value I have found. Luhr Jensen Hot Lips are my second choice. I have a half dozen SK baits but find myself going back to my tried and trues. Confidence is a good thing.

Find a bass club and visit it. See if there are memebers in your age range. You will find out quickly if the club offers what you need. The guys I routinely fish with are 11 to 31 years younger than I am. Consider a mentor who is willing to invest in your interest and commitment to be a better angler.

I spoke to my local tackle dealer today. Factory in Malaysia ? Yes. Close out of up to 7 reel types ? Yes. Lower prices on new cosmetically changed reels? NO. Retails expected to increase ? Oh yes. Reps asking for retailers to mark down current stocks with incentives? Yes. Hearsay generally is not admissable in a criminal action but is in a civil action. Hearsay carries less weight than first party statements.

I'm with Catt, especially with smallmouth. Some of the time a small depth change or even a change in wind direction will spark the bite. Be persistent and fish your strengths but change areas and depth. Stay optomistic you will get on some active fish. I fished one day for 8 hours with three largemouth. I changed areas the last hour of the day and spanked the smallies with my best 5 well over 23 pounds. I forgot about the 8 hours and relished the last hour. The next day we fished the same largemouth area and moved out deeper after the sun got up and spanked them good. Just keep and open mind and fish through slump.

It sounds like your gut choices listed are pretty much right on. I have both the Soros and the Symetre. I could not happier with both models. The Symetre is on my DS rod, a 7' Lamiglas model, no longer in production. I too am a fan of Yozuri in 6 or 8 test. My son-in-law has a Crucial and it is a very nice stick. I found my Symetre 2500 for 59.99 on an in store special. Find a deal like that and you can money up for the Crucial and have yourself dialed in.

Now that was a heck of a post !! Island Bass, you did this guy right. Well written and great pics. Big Bite Baits makes a goby lure. Try it with a wide gap finesse hook some time for smallies. It gets attention from the larger fish.

Clear Lake California

I have the Lews Tournament Pro (2) and recently bought 2 Tournament series to replace my Revo SX's. The Lews reels have been great performers and I would strongly consider them. For what it's worth, the T series casts equally as well as the T-pro if you want to spend 40.00 less.

I hope Strike King adds an Earl Grey tea flavored tube.

May I suggest you get on Tackle Warehouse's website, click on spinning reels and browse away.

One bit of advice. Go slow. You can very well be overwhelmed with suggestions that end up in you purchasing items that are not suited for the waters you fish or the techniques you want to learn first. It will be a tremendous help to describe the waters you will fish, size, depths, type of cover, temperature, type of forage and so on. If you fish spinning gear only, that will help define what tackle you might want to use. Knowing your money is spent wisely and the tackle you do buy is the right stuff will only build your confidence, catch more fish and increase the satisfaction you already enjoy. Knowledge is not only power, it saves you money and frustration.

Somewhere between Hood River and The Dalles on the Columbia. The Columbia River Gorge is an amazing region and the smallmouth fishing can be special. Obviously it would be on the Washington side. The state of Oregon's rules and regs on building anywhere in the Gorge rule out the idea altogether.

When I get a new rod, the first thing I do is seal the " fills " with liquid crazy glue. I run a very thin bead over the fill and let the glue soak into the fill material. If you don't, the material is subject to washing out during use. I take 400 grit sandpaper and lightly smooth the handle. After that, it only takes routine cleaning with a Magic Eraser to keep nice. I have rods over 15 years old and the cork has held up like new.

Check You Tube under " skipping jigs " for videos. If you want to see someone skip a jig, watch Bryan Thrift on FLW TV. Amazing skill.

Check You Tube under " skipping jigs " for videos. If you want to see someone skip a jig, watch Bryan Thrift on FLW TV. Amazing skill.

I can let you know next week after I get the two T series reels I ordered yesterday. I do love the T-Pro for sure. Are you guys paying full retail ??

Wind blown flats for sure. You can cover water exceptionally fast and they cast well in the wind to boot.

Any crawfish colored crankbait that makes bottom contact. Some times the faster moving baits will garner reaction strikes. Try to match the coloration of the dads that were being spit up. When they quit biting cranks slow down and fish a Hula Grub or Tube. The difference between the two? Twonnnggggg verses Kadunk.

You heard wrong. Pure Fishing does not manufacture reels.

I have chosen to selectively acquire those items that will, or may at some time, afford me the opportunity to apply them in the pursuit of angling. Each and every lure, rod, reel and or accessory I purchase is done so with careful thought and planning and the expense can be fully justified. I am in total control crankbait and lack all impulse spinnerbait to just buy buzzbait an item without a purpose brushhog and know i'm always jerkbait in control.

Other. I love to flip and pitch, duh. I also love to crank deep or shallow. When the smallmouth are in 25 feet and a tube or dropshot is the deal, I like that bite also. I love it all and fish em' all.

You will get some varying opinions when it comes to combos for cranking. Some are graphite die-hards and some glass. The KVD series is a composite rod. The fact you are eyeing a softer action rod tells me a glass rod may be an option. Lamiglas has four great CB rods, three glass and one composite. Check their website. The SR705R would be my first choice. A good quality 5 something to 1 reel is the way to go. I like the Revo Winch. You have several options.

Good solid, dependable reels. They are a little heavy. The drags are not as smooth as some slightly more expensive reels. I have the 09' models which are 602 and 604 Albi's. I would at least look at the Shimano Symetre IF you can find them 69.99 on sale. I found them as cheap as 59.99.

I went out last Tuesday morning after working a 12 hour graveyard shift. We targeted smallmouth. Both of us were picking up some nice fish here and there but the bite was not quite on. Lots of stumps. " Stick" ties on a 200 series American shad pattern square bill with the loud rattles. The water temp is barely over 50 degrees. I smirked at his choice and offered him one of my Speed Traps when he he got a TWOOONNNNGGGGGG and landed a four pound plus female. She CHOKED it ! Three more three plus females in a row and I had to eat crow. Where were my square bills ? At home in my largemouth bag of course. I felt like saying, " Please sir may I have another " because I just got spanked.