Darren.

Used a bunch of different ones, like the Buckeye Flick-It the best. For some reason the football jighead just gives me a confidence Have also crimped lead on, but haven't liked the action as much as the jig head where the weight is a bit further out from the hook point.

Welcome aboard! Definitely need one for VA.

May he RIP, and his fingers on the fretboard live forever!

Welcome aboard! All the above! But beware the Bait Monkey who is particularly good at getting fishermen to "find new baits" every season.

Nice trip, man!

It'll pass. And then it'll happen again...and again. Tis part of fishing. Had this happen to me this past week on my first day of Ned Rigging.

Hard to say, does look a tad ragged on the butt end. Might be mange, but otherwise seems to be heading for cover...

Yeah, the old saying goes like this: "When you think you're going slow enough, slow down some more." Downsizing the bait can help, too. I love to rig a Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm via drop shot, wacky, and Texas. Little tail works its magic. Bluegill like it, too, but bass love it!

When you say senkos, are you TX rigging them, or wacky style? Either way, I've fished a few ponds here that sound like yours and I found that mostly slow presentations caught the fish. I'd suggest a drop shot rig with a small minnow or finesse worm. And be patient. You've tried a lot of power fishing techniques, might need to sloooow down and go with a more finesse approach.

Nice! We have foxes in our neighborhood, though my kids find the dens in the ravines, I mostly see them on the road...and not in good shape...

Welcome aboard! What other methods are you using for bass? Is there any structure, humps, downed trees or such in the pond? I suspect not if in a gated community. A spinnerbait, TX rig, even a Ned rig could all produce fish. There's a ton of material on the forums on each of those. Good luck!

Yep, that's the place! Loved it. Had a place about 5x the size down in VA Beach, but recently closed. Family owned...sad to see places like that go. I think Pets Plus had some of the best in-store displays...zoo-like. Great story. How'd they get silicone in the venom glands? My brother was bit by a canebrake (for real) in his basement in Lima back in, I think, '83. No silicone there. Had to fly in anti-venom from the State Police in PA....Strong Memorial saved his life.

Agree on the hook keepers. Hate 'em. I clipped one off, bent the other one in and replace with these:

There used to be (probably still is) a great store in Lockport that had a really nice reptile and fish section. Can't remember the name, but visited it several times in the mid-90s. Wasn't big into collecting then, just remember the nice displays. @J Francho may know of it?

Fluoro is kind of the "in thing" these last 5 years or so. But it isn't the "be-all-end-all" of lines. I do like using it as a leader, but not for an entire spool. But that's me. I think many of these videos on YouTube, at least ones I've seen, are either hawking products, or regurgitating stuff they heard a pro say because if the pro says it is the best, then of course it is the best.

Have to agree, CL rods are a great bang for the buck. I actually cut two of my spinning models down from 6'6" to 6'3" (butt end) so it's easier for kayaking. But they're tough, super-reasonable price esp. when on sale (which is several times/year). Just wish they came in more lengths like some of their other models. Would love some MF, MH 6' CL rods.

Used to have a few around the house, but not for past 6 or so years. Just got too busy, plus keeping snakes is enough of a cleanup that fish were just too tedious. Though I did love watching them. Had all fresh water and a pleco that grew to 20+"... Traded him to a local store for a bunch of fish. Used to have a bucket list item of a wall in my house that was an aquarium. If I won the lottery, I'd consider it and have a local crew take care of it

Yup, braid! Solves all issues on spinning gear except the occasional guide wrap and wind knot.

Can run one ring around entire spool, or cut off a piece the height of the spool. I have no tape on a couple reels and to wind it I had to start slowly then increase speed once it took. Using a few yards of mono is probably best, but the electrical tape should work just fine. There are spools that have some foam or rubber on them for this very purpose - no backing needed.

I find the quality of the JM series pretty good for the money. Went with the Carbonlite for my stuff though because they felt lighter in my hands - mostly due to the guides, I believe. The JM series uses better K guides as found on my Legend Tournament Walleye rod from St. Croix. Good stuff, methinks.

PowerPro 10# and PowerPro SuperSlick 8 in 15# on all my spinning gear. I'd have gone with PPSS8 in 10# if they had it for the deal I got. Otherwise, I like them both, the SS8 maybe a tad more. 10# braid is pretty darn strong, I believe breaks at higher than 10#, so it's a confidence line for me. 15 is perfectly fine on spinning gear, too. Downside is if your waters are rife with zebra mussels, they're like knives to braid. I used Spiderwire in the 90s, not so much this century (lol, that sounds funny). It's a decent line, but I like PowerPro much better. I know they sell it at Walmart, as well. Braid can be an expensive proposition if you find one you don't like....

Prefer more natural colors/variations: Watermelon magic Greenpumpkins June bug Trying out a YUM laminate gp/junebug that looks absolutely delish. No bass yet, but I have great expectations

I personally would not look at a sit inside for fishing, prefer a sit on top, but that said, it would be a fine fishing kayak to start your yak fishing adventures. Heck, if you love it, and it suits your needs, it could be more than a beginner yak. I started with a $300 Pelican, 10', we still have it and my boys use it in fresh/salt water to fish during the warmer months. Standing was important to me, so I did upgrade. If it weren't, I may still be fishing from it, who knows? Though I say I prefer a SOT, I actually have a hybrid which is a cross between canoe/kayak, but has an open design as opposed to a more closed in design of a sit-inside.

Imma gonna take it you haven't done a Google on Vanish? Got a lotta naysayers. Me? I had some in 10# test, but it's been gone for a while. Probably good as a leader, but brace yourself for the love! I kid...

Not just that show, but Larry Dahlberg's Hunt for Big Fish.