Ratherbfishing

I do not particularly care for braided line with wacky-rigged sinko. I like the line to have enough stretch that the bass isn't as likely to "yank" the worm off the hook. And with the price of Gary Yamamoto Senko's, this is an important consideration.

Don't know about their rods but ALL of my baitcasting reels are Pro-qualifier (2) or carbon-lite (1) reels. They haven't let me down yet.

I haven't contemplated every possible technique or situation but here are two times I want line stretch: 1) When I am fishing crankbaits and I don't want to "******" the bait out of the fishes mouth, and 2) when I am fishing jerkbaits and the stretch tends to help the bait resume a better "position" on the pause. I do NOT like stretch when I am frog fishing as I want to be able to horse the fish out of the muck. Also, I prefer braided (non-stretchy) line when I need am soft plastic fishing and want to maintain better "feel" for what is happening on the other end (although I will use a mono or flourocarbon leader). I also do not like stretchy line around cover when I may need to pull/direct the fish away from hangups.

I don't think you mentioned crankbaits. They are terrific reaction strike baits.

I don't fret about losing a 1 dollar spinnerbait so I'm more inclined to bump them against stumps, submerged trees, etc.

Never fish for the fish you can see. Not ONLY can they see you but they are usually (99 times out of 100) in a negative mood. Fish for the bass you cannot see. But to answer your question, I'm with Tom on this one: A small original floating Rapala in silver is almost a sure bet. I've not caught any monsters with one but many average-sized bass and plenty of dinks. Try different retrieves from slow and steady to jerk, reel, long pause, repeat, etc. Even pressured bass will sucumb to a small Rapala.

Anytime I don't want my baits to stick or squeak. Otherwise, no.

It takes me an hour to wake up, get myself and the boat ready, and another 1.75 hours to drive to the lake. Another 15 minutes to prep and unload the boat at the ramp and head out. SO, if I want to be on the lake at sunrise (from mid may to mid July), I have to be up around 2 a.m. I don't often (and it's not my preferred timing) do this but it's not uncommon.

I say we stab 'em, then we tattoo 'em, then we hang 'em. THEN we kill 'em. (I say, we let 'em go....)

I like the Strike King Jokers quite a bit. And Berkley gulp minnows.

If I could ALSO go back in chronological years, I'd forgo almost all of my shiny equipment. I know enough now that with some pretty basic stuff, I could do at least...okay. Better than I did my first "time around."

I experience the "you should have been here the other day" phenomenon at all times of the year and not just very early spring. And I especially avoid dock talk. But I have a philosophy that if they aren't biting OR, more importantly, if I know I'm gonna freeze my gluteus maximus off, roast to death, or get blown all over the lake if I go out, I'm not going out. For me, fishing is supposed to be enjoyable.

Chump don't want de he'p, chump don't get de he'p

The trees have not formed any buds on them yet but it didn't stop me from going out twice last week. On the first attempt, I had one disinterested follow and on the second, not a thing. I didn't expect great things anyway.

I have some "tinsel" which was specifically marketed as spinnerbait and jig skirt material. It would work fine and probably, actually, better for Christmas tree icicles. It's pretty "stiff" and doesn't "undulate" so I think there are better options out there.

Probably a mushroom anchor. BUT a mushroom that doesn't grab up mud/vegetation, etc. is one that isn't gripping the bottom very well-defeating the purpose of an anchor in the first place. I usually just swing the anchor back and forth to loosen and wash off the mud. It's not perfect but what in life is?

I use my Pfleuger President spinning combo and 8 lb line with jerkbaits ALL the time. It has the perfect action for jerkbaits.

Not unless I'm around certain fishermen. I have fished with a very nice fellow who is modest and a decent sort BUT whenever we go out together, it's like I simply have never fished before at all and, worse yet (for me), he catches like mad. We ice fish. We are huddled in the same shack with holes drilled just a few feet apart (at most) and for all intense and purposes, we have the same baits on, line weight, etc. But his ice rod will go "doink" constantly while mine sits dormant. The other day he promised he can put me on some fish. WRONG! He put himself on some fish while I zeroed out. Zilch! Nada! It would be one thing if I stubbornly persisted in doing whatever I wanted to do but I tried everything I could to replicate his baits, technique, etc. Didn't matter. He caught, I didn't. To the tune of 9 crappie and 1 bass to my zero. It's occurred so often now I am unsure I want to go back with him anymore. Call it sour grapes but If I'm gonna suck as a fisherman, I want to do it ALONE.

Will use mostly in late fall and early spring. Probably insulated BUT if I can wear long johns (are they still called that?) underneath, I could get by with non-insulated.

SOMETIMES the adage "you get what you pay" for is more true than at other times. Am wondering if this is true with chest waders. I'm in the market for some chest waders which might actually stay dry for more than just a few uses. Any recommendations? Anything I should absolutely stay away from?

Die Harding!: Stan Laurel busts a cap on his partner, Oliver Hardy for hitting him one too many times with his bowler.

If you attempt to use one battery for your sonar AND your trolling motor, there's a good chance that whenever you turn on your trolling motor, the sudden draw of power will give your sonar fits. It did mine, anyway. You'll want a dedicated deep cycle battery for just your sonar. It does not have to be particularly large, however-just make sure you charge it back up at the end of the day. Your trolling motor will require more battery than your sonar.

Despite 2 weeks of near record low temperatures (and average winter temps before), the ice on one of the ponds I fish wasn't much more than 3 or 4 inches thick-which would have been fine except, in the holes I drilled, water came up through them and surrounded each in 2 or 3 inches of water an area about 5 or 7 feet wide. We did get about 8 inches of snow which helped to explain why the ice wasn't much thicker than it was and, I can only guess, the weight of the snow pushing DOWN on the ice, forced the water up through these pressure relief holes. It was both sloppy and unnerving. I've never experienced this before. Not like this. I did alright (5 or 6 small bass and 3 respectable bluegill) but it was just too unnerving to press my luck any further. This has been a weird year.

Speaking as a non-biologist, I have heard that bass are not a preferred food source for musky (not "caloric" enough) and, instead, will target large shad and other fish that are too large for most bass to readily eat anyway. If this is true, then the presence of musky (even really BIG ones) should not negatively affect bass populations.

Arrived at the ramp (nearly 2 hour drive) to realize I'd forgotten to put 2 stroke oil in the gas tank I'd filled earlier (Fortunately, I was able to buy some from another boater who had a spare bottle). Then, at the END of the same day, my pickup wouldn't start coming off the ramp because unbeknownst to me, a piece of carpet had slid between the clutch and the floor and wouldn't let the clutch travel far enough to allow the starter to crank. Eventually I discovered the culprit but not much before I was going to blow a gasket. At least I'd ultimately remembered the oil and the boat motor hadn't seized up and I hadn't called a tow truck to pull my truck and boat up the ramp. THAT would have ruined the day.