thinkingredneck

That is impressive. Sort of like a library file system.

A good, less expensive rod. IMHO, one of the best deals going. Certainly the best at that price point. I love mine, and I have much more expensive rods.

I prefer soft plastics and jigs and hate treble hooks. That being said, you have to find them and figure out what they will hit "in the moment." Makes you feel like a genius when you catch a bunch, and like a dumb*** when they have lockjaw. I really admire those Midwest finesse guys who have a system that they've mastered. Or the California Swimbait guys. When I wanted to learn to use a new type of bait, I would go to a small lake and just take that one type of lure. I think one of the big questions is whether it is better to master a single techique, or be a versitile angler. I think I AM A JACK OF SEVERAL TRADES AND MASTER OF NONE, LOL.

Mine are organized into planos and labeled by type (i.e., trickworm, large worm, finesse worm, terminal tackle, spinnerbaits, etc). I label with a sharpie on an address label and put on the edge and put them stacked flat on a shelf so that I can see the label. I have a kayak bag that holds three planos, labled top, bottom and middle. I fill these from my stored boxes according to what I want to use. I have a second travel box that is a double sided box, with a mixture of lures for guests, or my wife to use. Fly boxes are organized by species.

It seems reasonable that Bass have adapted to find forage in their environment, so forage colors should work. That doesn't explain my recent success with merthiolate.

Cool find!

If I have a short afternoon trip, I always take a plastic worm t rigged or a fly rod with a popper. Usually the worm. Love that feel.

Be sure the fly line has a taper, preferably weight forward. Some entry type combos have a level line which is virtually impossible to cast. Get some foam poppers, they always float. Get a few Wooly Buggers or lightly weighted Clouser minnows. A rabbit strip streamer works, but becomes heavy. You don't want heavy flies to start with. Totally different definition of weight. Check out flybass.com for some good, simple flies. Practice with a piece of yarn or clip the barb off of a hook. Unless you want to pierce an ear. Check out Mel Kieger on you tube for casting info. There are a ton of instructional vides on your tube. A class is better, though. Then comes fly tying, the other side of the addiction.

In hot weather, I think it helps.

I have been happy with hodgeman. Stockingfoot. They make an XXL short, I believe.

Get a small bubbler and run the air line through a small hole drilled in the top.

At this rate, we will be in a summer pattern until Christmas. 96 yesterday!

Both

Still trying to find the perfect kayak bag. I hate zippers. The new plano series is nice and no zippers. I also use a BPS feel fre.

I seem to always do better t rigged. I rarely peg and I fish in some gnarly stuff.

I am a big Zoom fan, Yum fan, Rage Tail fan, etc. Last count I had 12 colors of Trickworm. I caught 90% of my fish this year on Junebug or Candybug. Last week we had an epic day on yearling bass and they liked bright colors, especially fire tail in a hook tail Luck E Strike. Go figure. It was fun. A fish on almost every cast. Would not touch my crank baits or spinners. I was on a boat instead of a kayak so I took a large boat bag. On the kayak I only take three 3600 boxes, one for top, one middle and one bottom, unless I am in an experimental phase, trying something new. A kayak teaches you to simplify by necessity. On days when I have a limited amount of time, I will take a pack of Junebug and a bag of Candy bug Trickworms, some 3/16 & 1/4 bullet weights, and some hooks. Seems like I do just as well.

I wonder how often I look stupid.

An Arkie is a good all round choice, according to the gurus. I took their word for it and have kept it simple.

From what I have read, rivers are generally in decline, reservoirs are generally holding their own. There are more Bass than ever, because there is more holding water. You can get depressed about the effects of development on river systems.

Fish cover Be quiet, don't bang around the lure is the last thing you should change, but don't be afraid to try new colors fish a moving lure first, until you get it out of your system, then Slow. Way. Down. with a jig or plastics listen to old people Don't scrimp on terminal tackle. Tie good knots and re tie often Braid look around and enjoy nature clean up after yourself and the slobs that mess up our waters Take safety precautions and don't fish in thunderstorms try a fly rod some time for a different perspective Go fishing when you can, cause it's good fer ya---Richard Gene the Fishing Machine

I fish stained and muddy water. Reds are not consistent for me. Trying to find something as good as June Bug.

I generally start and end with a trickworm. If fish are hot, I go with something with more action like a U vibe worm or creature. If I'm catching dinks, I change sizes.

Similar to the line below the nose method, you can just put the line through one end of a swivel, tie the knot on the hook leaving the swivel free above it. Put you worm nose on the hook and get it in place, put the other end of the swivel on the hook and snug up to the bottom of the worm head. Attach the worm over the point Texas rigged. Works on any style hook.

Zoom trick worm, finesse worm, U vibe speed worm Creme scoundrel Zoom lizard Horny toad Lunker city salad spoon

I use a folding wade staff as a stake out poll in my anchor trolly. I use my paddle that stays across my lap to position. Often I sit on top of lilly pads.