James Yalem

All my baitcasting rods are 5'6". Of course, they are not new, but I have lots of them in heavy and medium heavy. My two bass spinning rods are 6'. I really don't like rods longer than 6' because I sit down when I fish. You can get pistol grip 5'6" rods from Custom Angle Rods.

Given the success of the A-rig on clear water lakes like Table Rock, IMO line visibility does not matter if you are using a moving bait. OTOH, IMO, it might for bottom bouncing baits like jigs and soft plastics on c-rig, drop shot or t-rig.

For many years I used the improved clinck knot. I could tie it in seconds in the dark. But then in the early 1990's, I switched to braid line. The improved clinch does not work with braid line, but the palomar does. So for the last 20 years, I have used the palomar knot. Now without my reading glasses, I can't see the loops to tie knots like the improved clinch in low light. So I use the palomar knot.

5' 6" I'm old fashioned and sit to fish.

Try spinnerbaits especially chartreuse.

Oh Please, why take seriously anything the UN says. Besides bass are found in all the 48 lower states and in almost any body of water. They will be the last fish to go extinct anytime soon. They could outlast **** sapiens. Don't worry you will have plenty of bass to catch your entire lifetime.

Bass Pro and others sell braid sissors for cutting high tech braid lines. They work, but do wear out over time. Fortunately, they are not expensive.

It depends on the topwater. Walking baits like the Spook or even Pop-R, I put a split ring on the lure and tie to it. But for all other topwaters, I tie direct to the lure with no split ring. Recently, I am using oval split rings.

Excellent video of a largemouth bass under a dock. You can tell it's a largemouth because its jaw extends past its eye. Loved how the bass ate the first and third worms, but not the second.

I have owned a house on Truman Lake since 1981. Since 2001, I have noticed a major decline in bass fishing on Truman Lake. It always had its quirks. It is a tough lake to fish with any real wind and the lake level changes could be challenging. Due to its muddy water base, the bass live in shallow water so they are more prone to fronts. Also, I never did any good at night in the total dark. But during the 1980's and 90's, I caught plenty of bass from the lake. During the 21st century, the bass fishing turned really tough and slow. I don't know the cause. It may be more rapid changes in lake level. I am in the process of moving to LOZ since I no longer need to confine my fishing to the weekends. Truman's biggest asset was always lack of boat traffic, even on the weekends.

Given the success of the Alabama Rig on clear water lakes like Table Rock in MO, does line visibility really matter to bass?

I have no idea what these lures are worth. OTOH, I can tell you that I used most of them earlier in my life. I have no idea how many bass I caught on a Heddon Sonic. Then I caught many on a Cordell Spot which is still made. I never caught much on a flatfish, but did catch quite a few on a bomber and some on a Hellbender. Jitterbugs are still made, but I caught more on black than yellow. Devilshorse is still made and I caught lots on that lure in the Spring. In 1971, I caught my first 4lb bass using baitcasting reel (Abu Garcia 5000) on a LIttle George. So these lures are now vintage antiques. I guess at 57, I'm getting up there, but these lures worked very well in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I have fairly recently used some like the Devilshorse and Spot.

Totally agree which is why I tie direct to braid, usually 20-30 lb test green.

I just keep my rod tip high and line tight. I like to see bass jump. Of course, I'm 57. I have caught many bass and don't fish tournaments, so losing one even a big one doesn't matter.

IMO, each fisherman has to decide for him or herself what is, and what is not, sporting to use in bass fishing. Someday, modern technology will likely invent some lure or tool that catches bass and other fish every time its used where fish live. Some just want to catch fish and will use the best lure, bait or tool to do so. Others will want it to be a challenge. I thought that tournaments were supposed to be a challenge. Since the umbrella rig seems to take much of the challenge out of bass fishing, I agree with tournament directors banning it from their tournaments. I, also, agree that since most bass fishermen practice catch and release, the use of an umbrella rig will not adversely affect bass populations. I am not against people using it, but I won't due to personal preference. Although in Missouri, it might be illegal to use with more than three hooks (treble hooks are one hook) at one time on one rod; not that anyone's odds of being caught are very high. OTOH, a court might consider one hook, like a rogue because it is only attached by one knot to the line; unlike a spider rig for crappie fishing.

It is catching lots of bass at Table Rock Lake in my home state of Missouri. Usually when you read about bass fishing at Table Rock in the winter, it is extremely deep for Kentuckies and Smallmouth. This winter I have read about catching largemouths on chunk rock shorelines with the rig. And Table Rock is a very clear lake in which most reports are about fishing very light line with grubs or drop shot rigs. The effectiveness of the rig at Table Rock sure makes me doubt that bass are really line shy.

I completely agree with you. I'm not a tournament fisherman, but I don't intend to use the umbrella rig because it takes the challenge out of bass fishing. I wish that I knew why this rig is so effective. I don't use live bait for the same reason.

I'm not a tournament fisherman. OTOH, the reason that I love bass fishing is the challenge. Thus, I don't have some equipment because I consider it cheating. An example is the large, depthfinder that enables you to see the fish. I have the smallest depthfinder which I use to find the depth. The Alabama Rig is another tool that I won't use because it eliminates the challenge. Maybe this is why B.A.S.S. banned it in their tournaments.

Would you believe that I still use 5' 6" rods for all my bass fishing. I'm 57 and got used to that length rod when I was a teenager. I sit while I fish so using a rod longer than 6' is difficult. Besides I do not like to flip, pitch or carolina rig (use texas rig) so I don't like real long rods. I can use and have tried 6' rods, but I prefer my 5' 6" rods which are not new. I use heavy and medium-heavy action.

I use braid, no leader, on everything except one rod for soft jerkbaits which has flouro because it sinks. If the Alabama rig catches bass in clear water lakes like Table Rock and LOZ in MO, then how can line visibility be an issue? Line diameter might be since it affects lure action, so I use 20-30 lb braid.

Zara Spook, I just love walking the dog. But I have caught more bass on a devil's horse.

I have been using braid since the early 1990's when the first Spectra braid lines hit the market. I used to have to dye them, but I never used a leader. I always use 5'6" psitol grip rods in heavy action for bottom baits and medium-heavy for the rest. I have never had a problem with rod breakage or even excessive hook pull-outs of fish. I have caught bass in Florida, LOZ, MO and mostly Truman Lake admittedly a muddy water lake without a leader. Mostly I have used about 30lb. test which is the diameter of about 10-12 lb mono. IMO, the diameter of the line matters more to getting strikes than line visibility. Just look at the Alabama rig. The lines on it are thick, yet people are fishing it in clear water lakes.

Utility boxes, Plano or Bass Pro organized by type.

This is why I either lift the bass into the boat or use a net.

I use the Palomar knot for everything. However, the reason that I use the Palomar knot is because I am 56 and farsighted. Thus, without reading glasses (which I do not want to bring on the boat), I can't see the open bottom loop(s) well enough to finish knots like the San Diego, Berkley Braid or Triple Loop, especially when tying 20-40lb test braid line. It's hard enough to get the line through the split ring or hook eye to start the Palomar, but I can finish it even in low light. Fortunately, the Palomar knot holds up with both braid and fluorocarbon. Something to look forward to for you younger bassers.