K_Mac

I agree with Jeff. Sometimes something a little different is a good thing. I do have some color combinations that work for me. A red trailer on a black or green jig is a favorite.

Excellent post. The more skilled you are in being able to put your bait where you want it, the more versatile and effective you wil be. Pitching is a very useful skill that should be learned by all serious bass fishermen in my opinion.

My prayers are with you all Slone.

Once I figured out that like shooting a shotgun or throwing darts, by focusing on my target I could hit my point of aim, my accuracy improved dramatically. Proper equipment is important and casting/pitching mechanics take practice to master, but, "The lure will go where you're looking" is where accuracy starts.

There is no question that selective harvest is the right answer to maintaining a healthy fishery, whether on your local pond or the deep blue sea. The lakes with slot limits clearly clearly show how effective this practice is.

Not a lot of love for the Saints here! If teams were judged by the conduct of the most stupid fans there is not a team in sports that would look very good. I think stadium security should have given the ball to its rightful owner, handcuffed the thug, and charged him with a variety of crimes including assault. A public caning seems like an appropriate punishment...maybe on the 50 yard line at halftime of a Bengals game!

I use a 6'8" MXF or a 7'2" HM depending on cover most of the time. Occasionally I will use a 7' MHF. I am also 5'11". I like the longer rods better for setting the hook and handling the fish. I am still a little better with the shorter rod, but with practice the difference is slight.

Daniel I believe keeping your rod tip low while fighting a bass near the surface is good practice. As Catt mentioned, there will be times when the fish will cause you to modify that position to maintain pressure. Maintaining pressure is fundamental to consistently landing fish. A 14-18" fish is more than big enough to allow you to use the flex of a MH rod to accomplish this. Keeping the rod loaded is easier with a slower action rod, and using braid makes that more important. Whether learning to use and exert control over nature or keep pressure on a fish, experience is the key. Knowledge and skill are acquired by doing the research and the clinical work. Relax and enjoy the process.

Stratos that is a great answer. Yes, there are many that only use braid, braid and leader, FC, copoly, or mono. Most of us use all of the above.

I think your rod holder is a great way of storing your combos. Like Glenn, I don't think it matters much whether they are stored vertically or horizontally, and do not separate the reels from the rods during storage. My boat is not in a garage, just covered. Tackle and gear are stored inside the house. If I had a secure, dry garage for the boat my gear would be stored there.

I use 8# FC on my spinning gear. There are times when I will use it to pitch finesse baits to shallow cover or work wood/brush in deeper water. Using good technique, keeping maximum pressure on the fish is critical. Being able to accept that light line in cover will occasionally result in a lost fish is also important. For some this is a deal breaker...

1. 12# 2. Even though it is relatively cheap, I always use backing. There is no reason to use twice as much good line as needed IMO. 3. Any of the widely accepted knots will work fine. I am currently using the San Diego Jam knot.

I agree. I am not sure about a different occupation, but it would sure have saved me a lot of time, effort, and money. Thank you Glenn, and crew (past and present).

Any one album, over time, would wear thin. There are many great ones, but just one would not work for me. It just really depends on my mood and activity-Emmylou's Red Dirt Girl would not work for working out at the gym...

I use it on my medium power rods for light/medium cover all of the time. Heavier power and cover get 15 or greater. As camo said you have turn her head immediately or she will break your heart.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130634-rod-selection-the-basics/ Roadwarrior's 3 combo setup will do everything you want to do without any real compromise. Most of us have more, but it is a matter of convenience and desire rather than need.

Raul I guess you are technically correct that a Tennessee rod does not have a seat. Whatever mechanical means you use to attach a reel is "seating" it though...

A fishing pole does not have a reel seat IMO.

If there is a simple answer, this is it! Some are more important than others on any given day, and I think that varies from day to day. I like Catt's pattern approach: Find the pattern and you now hold trump. The more you define the pattern, the more you hold.

I agree that a 7 game series would give more advantage to the divisional winner. I am good with that.

That would increase my percentage, although still not quite 100%. Cables, docks, rocks, and a variety of other objects sometimes manage to mess up an otherwise perfect pitch!

J, I would like to say I'm accurate enough to hit the water on every cast or pitch. Unfortunately that would not be completely true...

I think the wild card structure as it is now is great for the game. If a team can make the wild card, win the play-in game, and then beat the #1 seed in a best of 5 series they have nothing to apologize for in my opinion. Winning 100 or more games with nothing left at the end does not define a champion. SF and KC earned the right to play for the title. The Angels and Nationals may have had the best records, but the right teams were the ones standing at the end. Just my opinion...

I enjoyed the Series very much. I am mostly a hometown (Cardinals) fan, but anyone who loves the game had to appreciate both of these teams. They played with passion and really seemed to enjoy the moment. I was hoping KC would win it, only because it has been a long time coming for them. The big lefty put on quite a show though, and SF earned the win. Congratulations to both teams. They represented baseball at its best.

I won't thrash, but I do think accuracy is an important part of the equation. Sure there are times when just hitting the water will do, especially when fish are actively feeding. When they aren't, it can make all the difference IMO. I have been out-fished more than once in the past when the only difference was my inability to consistently put my bait in the strike zone.