Bluebasser86

I have the model LTB you're talking about and I would not use it for T-rigging plastics except for small baits I was going to fish in open water. It's a great shakeyhead/wacky rig rod but I don't think you'd be very happy with it for T-rigged plastics. I'd have to agree with Hooligan, if you really want a spinning rod for texas rigs then go with a MH.

I don't mind the feeling of not "needing" anything from BPS or Cabelas. I've got so much tackle laying around and it seemed like everytime I'd go buy something I'd come home and be looking for something else and find that I already had what I just bought. So I decided I'm not buying anything, except maybe so line or hooks, for awhile. I've even spent some time fishing new baits that I wouldn't normally fish because I don't want to use up all my proven baits, had pretty good success doing it too.

X2! That would be a great color swimming grub for smallies and spots around here!

I've done really well in heavy current with swimbaits, mainly the cheaper ones by Storm and Berkley with the weight molded inside. They aren't as realistic as others but they fish don't get a good look at them anyways so it doesn't seem to matter. I've had my best luck with the 4" models of both brands. A plain grub on a jighead has done well along with a buzzbait or zara spook walked fast. The hits I get with the spook in fast water are so violent, it's awesome!

In my experience big bass may be close to where little bass are at, but they don't seem to school together at all. Big bass are going to pick the best spots to live, that's how the got big in the first place. You might try looking at a topo map if you can. This time of year something like a long mainlake point that drops off into deep water all around that has a channel swing nearby, or the edge of standing timber with a channel running through it. Baitfish are a big plus too. Most big bass seem to stay deeper this time of year. Upgrading lure size tends to help weed out the smaller ones, but you have to have the mindset that bites will be fewer and further between and that you have to stay focused because you may only get one chance. It seems like right when you start to lose your concentration and start daydreaming is when that big one thumps your bait and gets away because you weren't paying attention.

If you catch a fish and don't know what it is, it's probably best to hold onto it until you can get an ID on it. That way if it is an invasive species that could be harmful to native animals it might be able to be contained to that body of water before they spread.

You could always use some little thin wire offset worm hooks and t-rig your worm on the dropshot, it's what I have to do dropshotting around cover sometimes. You lose a little action but it keeps you from getting snagged and your baits last longer.

Congrats! I became an uncle this year for the first time and it's been a pretty cool experience. It's nice to be able to have a little one around when they're happy but give them back when they need changed or start crying The bad thing is I think my sister in law having a baby has given my wife baby fever and I'm not sure if I'm ready to grow up yet

I was looking at that same reel and will probably get it when I get some money saved up for it, sweet feeling reel for sure. Haven't fished that particular rod but I'm sure either one would work just fine for you. As for the line I have no doubt that you had trouble with Vanish or Vicious. Vanish just sucks and Vicious is really stiff and difficult to use on a spinning reel. Pop for some Seaguar InvisX and you'll be much happier. Just put some filler mono on the reel first and only use 30-50 yards of floro at a time to make the spool last a lot longer!

When I'm trying to make several jigs in a hurry I sometimes use super glue to anchor the weedguards and get that same residue. I've got plenty of pictures of big fish I've caught on my jigs if you don't believe they'll still eat a bait that has that stuff on it! If you're really worried about it put a little attractant on your bait to cover it up.

I've caught a ton of fish on the Havoc baits, mostly the pit boss and fattie craw. They are pretty durable baits but without being stiff or sacrificing action. Pitching the pit boss into weeds contributed to 2 weeknight tournaments wins for me this year along with bunches of bass while I was fun fishing. My biggest bass of the year so far hit a pit boss T-rigged and hopped on a rock ledge. I'd like to try the bottom hoppers but nobody around here carries them and I don't really want to order them and have to pay shipping.

But that would be "cruel and unusual punishment" making them work out in the heat like this! And oh if one of them fell and got hurt or bit by a snake or something the county would pay through the nose! I spend at least 40 hours a week with these "poor, misguided individuals" they'll do about anything they can if they see a chance to get some free money.

When I was little I wondered how many fish I caught repeatedly because I fished a small, semi-private lake 7 days a week all year long. So I started using twist ties to mark my bass and flatheads by putting them through the bottom lip of a bass or the fleshy back fin of the flathead. I caught one 3lb bass 3 times in the same week on 3 different lures and several of the bass would be caught at opposite ends of the lake (we used different colors for different parts of the lake where they were originally caught.) I caught one mid 20lb flathead 5 times that year, not as impressive since I was fishing live bait and that's what they're supposed to eat right? I caught one deformed bass from a pond twice the same day but on opposite ends on the same bait. So I guess you could say it's pretty likely that it will happen to you if you fish enough.

I have seen lots of pictures of that little guy on different sites with some really nice bass! He seems to have a real passion for catching the big ones!

I picked up a 2500 Symetre FJ for free because it was damaged in shipping. One piece that the bail is molded into is broken from the reel and the handle is bent also. Reel seems to function fine otherwise so I just need a couple new parts, problem is I can't seem to find them anywhere! I've found plenty of smaller, internal parts but when I find handles or larger pieces they are for baitcasters. Thanks in advance!

I have enough friends that fish that I could borrow something if I really needed to. Basically if I don't have money for it and it isn't something that I have to have to survive, then I don't need it that badly. I'd say the worst I've done was buy fishing gear with my credit card knowing I couldn't pay it off the next time a payment was due, nothing like paying extra for something because I have to have it now!

For $45 I don't think you could go wrong. If you decide you don't like it you can use it until you have money for something you will like and then you'll have a pretty good backup rod. Just make sure to check the guides out real well to make sure they aren't chipped or damaged or you'll have to put money into it before you can even fish it.

I don't understand why you would spend that kind of money on a car? I've never been a big fan of sports cars or fancy cars but that's a nice house around here, not the price tag on a car.

Eakins flipping jig in missouri craw with a trimmed down YUM craw on the back. I don't know of a situation I couldn't catch a fish on that combo.

Fishing has always been my passion and I suspect it always will be. It's not an addiction, addictions are bad things people try to quit, I'm not going to even attempt to quit fishing because I couldn't do it. I love the challenge it brings. The excitment when I figure them out that day or learn something new. The fun I have with my family and my friends or teaching someone new to the sport. I love how there are almost no boundaries in what you can do to be successful from day to day.

It's part of fishing, you're not going to land all of them and the big ones seem to be the best at tossing the bait. I think what is missing most here is a description of the tackle you were using. Deep water and a heavy jig you should be using at least a 7' MH rod with a high speed reel and floro or braid to help with hooksets. Anything less and you're going to have a hard time getting any penetration on the hookset and a simple underwater headshake like that would be enough to toss your bait.

It's possible that like deep said you may just be feeling the bites sooner and the stiffer rod is going to move the bait faster than the light action rod you had. It is possible you may be feeling sunfish/small bass pecking at your bait that you didn't feel before with your other rod. Still I would probably try a different style plastic or color of tube. The fish may want the tube enough to peck at it but not enough to actually pick it up, something a slight tweak may solve.

It looks great and I really want to find one of those "Fish" emblems for my F-150!

I'd give anything to go back and save all that money I wasted on fishing tackle that never even got used. So many dumb decisions because "I'll start saving next week." Then I bought a truck, made payments, moved out, made payments, truck broke down, bought a new one, made payments. All the sudden my extra money I was going to save disappeared . Start putting money away now while you have nothing to pay for. It is hard to do when all you want to do is have fun and have stuff but you will be so happy you did later!

Haven't been for a couple weeks but I would be fishing off mainlake points in probably at least 15 foot of water with a shakeyhead or dropshot. C-rigging might not be a bad option either. I've never tried night fishing out there but I think I'd seriously consider it if that is an option.