ClackerBuzz

Just came across this old threat. Parasite clips are amazing but a cheap alternative is a #4 or 5 barrel swivel (I prefer the closed/welded eyes as opposed to old school wire twist b/c the wire ends pick up more grass). Also try threading a snip of rubber band above and below the fluke on hook shaft to keep them from sliding up or down. These techniques work with most soft plastics and save time/money. This guy uses silicone tubing but rubber band works just as well.

Can anyone recommend a small light-wire 1" hook, maybe #4 or #6? I'd prefer EWG but can round bend as long as it's off-set. I know it doesn't seem like bass gear but it's going on a 4.5" zoom finesse worm, 4 lb line in pressured waters. Thanks

I'll second Ned rig and Mepps spinners. Highly pressured water and/or stocked fish don't make for a great combination. A senko can cast a shadow like a bald eagle in those conditions so fish will be more spooked than aggressive. Also the weather can play a huge factor. Glassy/mirror calm surface is much harder to fish. Any wind chop on the surface will work to your advantage. Also hide behind trees/weed beds/points when casting. Use nature to your advantage to ambush them.

Ray Ban and Oakley's are on sale at Woot for approx 36 hrs. For those that don't know it's a retail/overflow site bought by Amazon a few years back. You can login and order with Prime and they have 30 day returns with free return shipping labels. Some are polarized and some not so be aware. https://www.woot.com/plus/ray-ban-oakley-sunglasses-1?ref=w_cnt_gw_dly_wobtn

Well said. Only thing I'll add is go cast in ur backyard at night. No house lights and preferably in the complete dark. You will instinctively do two things: Make short casts. Thumb spool the entire cast. Not being able to see ur lure/weight means you won't know when it's going to hit the ground. It will force you to thumb brake the entire time. Go crazy and over thumb brake. There is no consequence to stopping the lure mid air with a total spool thumb brake (something even us 'experienced anglers' should do during an aborted cast). You'll have a smart/educated thumb much faster and make shorter casts from muscle memory alone. Help a blind man see.

I used to be a glass guy but finally switched to composite. There are some extremely experienced guys in this forum so I respect their opinions. Many of them have made the switch to composite so I was willing to experiment and I'm glad I did. If I had to narrow it down to one reason: composite rods allow you to work a crankbait through timber. Glass isn't sensitive enough so the rod loads far more and fouls a crankbait in wood. Composite is slightly stiffer so CB deflect over timber. You also feel the bump sooner so you can give the rod/line back allowing the CB to float up/over the timber before you continue ur retrieve. Composite with fluoro is the best of all worlds. If it's too sensitive for you just spool up some monofilament and you'll be very close to a glass setup. I still have an old backup glass rod which I spooled braid with mono leader to overcome its lack of sensitivity. It's reaction time is still too slow to walk CB thru timber. It works okay for buzzbaits, chatterbaits, small swimbaits etc.

This. Not trying to cast a mile will allow you to open up ur brakes and cast much farther with far less force. I know when I cheat when casting b/c I'm punished with backlashes and a sore shoulder. Also get over the mental worry that ur going to hook the back of ur head if you keep a tight casting radius. We tend to swing our rod far away from our body so we don't hook ourselves in the back. It's nearly impossible to do even with ur elbows tucked tight against body.

This^ Fish shallow near those tight contour lines on map. Very easy to find and fish from a boat. Very difficult to find/fish from the bank. Still possible but shoreline real estate is much more restricted due to private property, thick brush etc.

No you can't use the gift card to pay for the same order. However IIRC they email the card within 24-48 hours. You can then immediately use it to shop. Order 1 is buy gift card. Order 2 a few days later...go crazy shopping.

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If you fish quality water, have a good ecosystem and/or aggressive fish you can absolutely use straight braid. If you fish poor water, have a poor ecosystem, and/or skiddish fish you absolutely will get more bites using a leader.

Thanks. Line is too cheap and too important for me to roll the dice.

we all fall victim to searching for the adrenaline rush of bass fishing. ultimately fishing is about enjoying the outdoors which is what you have to re-learn during slow times.

'Budget' rods have completely elevated their quality yet sell for the same price. 'High end' rods have stayed the same yet completely elevated their price.