craww

Don't see it get a great deal of discussion here, but how many of you guys fly fish for bass? What are your favorite techniques? Santa brought me a gift card for Christmas and I'm about to get a new outfit. I have an old hand me down st croix fiberglass rod from my grandfather Ive used to catch farm pond bluegill, but I'm going to upgrade soon (TFO BVK 7wt 9' ). I have some awesome shallow small mouth waters convenient to my home. I have other things in mind, but the thought of a brown fish inhaling a popper in the pools is quite tempting.

Any...Although Ive never tried a florescent.

One turn off for me on the lower end Shimanos has always been a weird feel they seem to have, hard to describe but it feels like it just takes more inertia to get the handle turning. It has nothing to do with the reel overall, but everyone of the $100ish or less Ive handled have felt this way.

Bucoo or carbonlite if it were me (I own both). Assuming your throwing the standard 3/8-1/2 spinners, start with a H in the bucoo line. The 6'9'' MH XF carbonlite or 7' MH F carbonlite will suit you well.

-Xwalk 13 in glass ghost, The smaller xwalks/skitter walks simply are nothing special to me. This bait however, is very, very special. A true big fish bait. The "glass ghost" pattern is the only "xwalk" style I finish I like. It looks remarkably like a big shad. Ive had the pleasure of seeing some monster bass react in a crazy way to this bait. -Lucky craft Sammy 85 in MS American Shad, THE NO 1 numbers Topwater bait I own, I keep 3 at all times. Catches big fish too, especially brown ones in rivers. -Damiki Dolphin- Nice and subtle, somewhat similar to a sammy. -Lucky craft gunfish- A great bait thats growing on me. Still reach for the sammy more out of confidence in them. -Spooks of all sizes. They work quite well at a good price.

Ive cut them on some lipless cranks before in areas choked with algae. Didn't seem to hurt the hook ups.

I also use 30lb braid with a leader of either 12lb Yozuri Hybrid or Seaguar leader material secured by a alberto knot. The leader starts life around 6', and I'll change if it gets roughed up or shortens down to about 2'. Ive noticed that while using conventional lines works fine, actual leader material is a bit different (in a good way). Ive noticed that the Seaguar is so clear its virtually invisible to my eyes in clear water. Other lines I've noticed I can spot in the water, whether than makes any difference I don't know. Abrasion resistance is also top notch with the leader material. The alberto knot is the way to go, plenty of videos out there on how to. Some of the videos gloss over the fact that the loops when you tighten the knot must seat evenly and not jump over one another.THIS IS THE KEY TO THIS KNOT. I like to finesse it into itself like a Chinese finger trap as I tighten to ensure it seats right.

Definetely a panfish magnet, but bass will crush em to. When fun fishing we used to hook the largest night crawlers we could find Texas rig style and pitch them into cover...Caught several big bass that way.

Thats what me and my buddies do in our mason jar tournaments. Take a cell phone pic of the fish with the tape on it.

Other than whats been said, one last thing to consider is the wind drag of a given bait. A worm with a long curly tail isn't very aerodynamic. If distance is a concern, stickbaits are the way to go. Heavy and aerodynamic. Weights vary a great deal by brand. The mister twister exudes weigh 1/2oz with no hook. Senkos hit close to 3/8 I believe, and tiki sticks are less than 1/4oz.

Generally I fish some shade of dirt on the bottom. Use lighter and sometimes chrome baits in the middle. And white,black, and frog colors on top. I'll use white anywhere...Love white baits.

Tail weighted with a nail weight. Fished SLOW. It has a unique action, actually falling backwards if you give it slack.. Milked about a dozen fish off a spot once on a bluebird post front day where nothing else worked.

I took a set of lineman's pliers I had in the garage and grinded a grove in the bottom jaw. This breaks it lose, I then just pull it out with pliers. Simple and cheap.

You can use it for larger top waters. I re-tipped a rod that got *ahem* closed in a electric controlled truck window. Going from 7' to about 6'5''. I throw a lot of 1 1/4oz X-walk 13's on it, and it does okay. Tip doesn't load as much as it used to on a bait that heavy and actually does decent casting.

Thats pretty crazy snook! Freshwater eel will move out to sea also.

I think your underestimating nature. Fish within 4-5lbs (several not even full of eggs mind you) of the WR are caught fairly often even in texas.There are fish shocked up of all species in bodies of water all over the world all the time that blow conventional wisdom out of the water. Its very possible theres several wr's swimming around who knows where. At the end of the day neither of us can say with certainty but I think its very possible. Now being in the right place and time and catching it is a different story.

I cant help but think at some point a FREAK is gonna show up somewhere unexpectedly like the New england state had with the 15 or 16lbr that came up through the ice.

I get so tired of hearing that myth about a smaller pond not being able to sustain even big fish, much less a record. Its gotten so bad manufacturers make "pond" baits in smaller sizes, lol. Biologists recommend harvesting several hundred pounds of bass, blue gill, etc, per acre each year. If there's shad, lack of other predators, or even a management program that much better. People act like their goldfish in a freaking bowl lol. My PB is .2lbs shy of 12lbs, and I have an 11.4n (Northern Strain).True giants in VA. Both out of small ponds.

Uncle Josh/Seizmic grass stalker. Does great in wood and vegetation. I lose so many jigs in rock and dont throw them there any more.

Convenient ponds like that are a great way to learn new things. Its not like you've pulled out all the stops to go on a legit all day fishing trip, so you can experiment. Alot of good techniques have been offered to you. Try alot of new things anutd dont be afraid to rig something outside of the box. Other than whats already suggested I'll add. Chatterbait. I dont know why, but these things are absolute crack for bass in some ponds. Not all (that I fish anyways). Use some type of twin tail trailer. Casting spoon. Bass Pro XPS lazer blade. At 5/8oz and 2 1/2" you can LAUNCH these baits. Most underated bait I know of. Cotton Cordell makes something called the "*** blade" but Ive never tried it. Hair Jig. Spro makes a good one. Luck E Strike RC stick...I know,I know, its a direct knock off of the Vision 110 before anybody gripes. But these things catch fish like crazy.

Im a topwater nut. Just enjoy it more than any other style of fishing. I can and will throw a TW all day (or night ). Ive caught my share of big fish and small fish. Its not about chasing big fish or even numbers anymore. Its the experience for me these days. Hearing the "bloop, bloop, BOOM of a nice bass exploding on a buzzbait is one of the finer things in life That said I catch more big fish on a jig. And ALWAYS have one rod with a 3/8-1/2 jig ready. Ive also got alot of confidence in rattlebaits and squarebills.

Berkley powerbait and gulp shakey worms. Yamamoto shad shape worm, Kut tail Powerbait beast Smallie beaver

Of the two, I'd say veritas rods all around are much better but feel like their missing a truely good shakey head rod in the line up. The 7' M is a bit too stout for the 1/16 giggy heads I throw, and the 6'9" ML is a MOD Fast I believe. Ive had a casting mojo for 3-4 years now and have regretted it since I bought it. Two guide inserts have fallen out. Its dead, not sensitive at all and actually hurts my wrists if I use it for tip up techs. Its the most uncomfortable and least sensitive rod I own. With all that said, I'd look at a carbonlight...

Cranks like that are usually the best ones. Comes from fighting fish rubbing one side of the trebles against it. I LOVE TO SEE THAT ON A PLUG

Agree they cast rather poorly..Anyone remember suspending rattletraps? They made em also.