K_Mac

I don't know exactly when it happened for me. I think somewhere in the 50 range is about right. At some point you come to understand that people will think what they think, and it really doesn't matter one way or the other. Those that love you will, and those that don't...It is kind of freeing to not worry about such things.

I think your post was funny, and hope my response was in the same spirit. The interweb is not always a good place for subtlety. Some, like me, are challenged by subtlety in any context.

I agree. You probably can do it manually, but I doubt it will cost but a few dollars to have someone blast it and then you have a nice clean finish ready for paint. I respect cheap BTW.

I have had remarkable action at times along steep rock bluffs over an old river/creek channel. Roger is right as usual that depth of the fish is more important, but bass will come from a long way off to get a nice meal-at a speed that will make your head spin. In crystal clear water you sometimes see a flash before the hit, other times not. Find a big school of nice fish and you can get a smile so big it will make your face hurt!

We old guys often wonder at what age the switch will flip that will allow some of you young guys to remove your heads from your backside. It is an age old dilemma!

I have eaten a lot of bass over the years. I still eat them from time to time. I enjoy them, and find their taste comparable to most freshwater fish. While it is true that there can be some variance in the taste of just about any species, I have never had bass that didn't taste good that was handled and prepared properly. By prepared properly I am not just talking about deep frying. Sauteed with a little olive oil or butter, and some onion is one of my favorite ways of eating them. Kevin22 I agree with you that there are many who can't taste the difference between Miracle Whip and Mayonnaise. I am not one of them. Taste is a very subjective thing though, and the mind is interesting. If am convinced the bass I catch out of heavy grass are going to taste bad, they probably will-to me.

Like everyone else, it depends on the day and who's with me. All of the lakes I fish are at least a 30 minute drive. Most are about an hour. I generally fish at least 6 hours, and often from first light until late in the afternoon. I will take a lunch break to relax in the shade come midday. I don't have a garage so loading and unloading the boat requires a bit of work. I only go once or twice a week, so I want to get my moneys worth.

Raider my insane friend, in what world are 800# leg presses considered light weight? If you are going anywhere near full range that is NOT light. Good luck buddy. Just an aside about pushing the envelope: I was doing leg work with a guy who is much stronger than me in his upper body. He is as strong as a bull, and 72 years old. He could pass for a very fit 50. I can hold my own with him on legs though because of all the walking I do. I let my ego cause me to show off a little on the toe lifts and may have cracked something in my left foot. That was three weeks ago and my foot still hurts like a !*$#@. I will make a doctors appointment this week...

I think this is very well said and great advice. I compare it to firearms; I can get by with a shotgun, but adding a rifle and handgun or two just gives me far more options. Enjoy the process...

I think 15-16" is about the "nice" level. 18" and above is my target on most lakes around here. I don't pay much attention to weight anymore, but I would say "nice" for me starts around 3#, good at about 4, and lunker over 7. Now I fish with people who will tell you their 4 pounder weighs 7.5...fishermen are notorious liers, except the members here of course.

That is the only right answer. I am right handed and use only lefty reels. They work best for me. Use what is most comfortable for you. That is the "way it should be."

Clayton I will offer my opinion. Keep in mind marital advice from me or any of the rest of us is worth about what you paid for it. We don't know all of the issues here. Based on all you've told us though the above quote is absolutely true. You can't fix her, but that does not mean that she can't be fixed. She has a truck load of baggage that she has to work through. So do you. If she is willing to talk to a professional and listen to wise counsel, by God's grace remarkable changes can, and do happen. I will keep you all in my prayers.

Speed and power is so different from one manufacturer to another , it is hard to know what a rod will do until you use it. I have a E21 Cranking rod that is rated 3/8-1 oz with a moderate action. It is a very poor cranking rod, but it is a great worm and jig rod. I have an older BPS Pro Qualifier MXF that is very fast, but the tip is soft enough to make pitching lighter baits very easy. My point is finding the right rod is a very subjective thing. Good luck.

This is another one of those topics that never ends well. Fish have been caught for centuries using a cane pole. An Ugly Stik is much like a cane pole in my opinion-it's heavy and just about as able to transfer vibration. The Ugly Stik has the added advantage of being nearly indestructible, but that comes at a price in weight and performance that I am unwilling to pay. The OP asked if there was any love for the Ugly Stik here. I don't think there is much, but those who love them are passionate about it!

Congratulations Roger. I have only managed 38 years, but like you I married up and am a very lucky guy. I wish you many more!

Yes it is a question that comes up often. It is almost always the same; some who strongly prefer one or the other will get defensive and we get the divisive sort of replies that suggest anyone who disagree just doesn't really understand. Like J Franco and the vast majority of other bass anglers, I use both. Most of us prefer baitcasters for techniques that require heavier line and faster speeds and spinning for light line "finesse" fishing.That is a fact that some seem to find find disturbing. With a little skill and the right line and power either one will do, but most of us go with what is generally considered to be the right tool for the job. There are those who punch with spinning and those who dropshot on light line with baitcast, and while most of us don't, if that is what makes you happy good for you. Here is the real truth regarding spinning v. baitcasting: Most of us will tell you why we use one or the other, and don't really care what you use. It's all good.

I think this is true more often than not. I was waking a chatterbait over and through a weed bed the other day when one about 12" long hit and missed. What was cool was that he came completely out of the water about 6" and knocked the chatterbait a couple of inches higher yet. He must have hit at full velocity!

I have a break somewhere in the circuitry for my electronics that has caused my to be without for the last couple of trips. I haven't taken time to dig into it, but it is amazing to me how much more I'm focused on getting a mental image of the bottom in my head when I don't have the electronics to rely on. I'm not saying they are not an important tool, just that RoLo and Catt are right that circuitry in our heads is far more important.

I have found over the years that I often take things for granted and don't really count my blessings much when things are going well. It takes something negative for me to see how truly blessed I am. I think this is true for most of us. mrm I'm glad that there were folks there to help take care of things and that no one was hurt. Red Earth I'm sorry for your loss and will pray for your sister's family.

Because we're all wired differently.

I have had several times over the years that have changed my fishing: My first fish dragging a t-rigged worm. My first fish bouncing a jig and pig down a deep water shelf. My first fish at night on a jig. My first big fish on a spook over 60+ feet of water. My first time using a wacky rigged Senko (directly as a result of this site). The most recent was catching nice fish pitching a beaver into very shallow heavy cover with the air temperature over 100° and the water temp not too far from it. Who knows what's next?! One thing for sure is there will always be something new...

The Pflueger President spinning reel would be a great place to start. The Trion will do, but for the money the President is a better value. Making the jump from spincast to spinning will make fishing much more enjoyable after a bit of a learning curve. Avoiding line twist while spooling is a little challenging, but if you have twist pulling some off out in the yard or behind the idling boat and reeling it back in will eliminate it. Closing the bail by hand and lifting slightly as the bait touches down will also help keep the line from looping and twisting. Using your index finger ( on the hand holding the reel) to stop the bait will improve accuracy. Do not continue to reel when the fish is taking line-this will twist it. This sounds like a lot, but other than closing the bail these are all issues you had with spincast anyway. Good luck. Let us know how you're doing and if we can help.

This has been my experience as well. I am a recent fluorocarbon convert, and even using a more budget brand (Red Label) the advantages of fluoro over braid or copolymer lines is very apparent to me. On a semi-slack line there is no comparison in the amount of information transmitted by fluorocarbon. For me that makes any handling issues secondary. Use what you like. For my fishing style fluorocarbon is my choice.

Good advice. It is a three step process: 1. Have a lot of talent 2. Practice religiously 3. Be very lucky Good luck.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right! On topic, if you only had lost a few yards you only had a minor professional overrun. A real backlash runs deep!