Deadeye-1

Well I did some researching and found out what it is. Seems to be some disagreement on how the line is retrived, but the concept is the same. Good Luck and keep posting!

Alright I gotta say that I find this thread interesting. However since I have not ever read the book, could you explain exactly what stiching a worm is?

I used to leave about 1/4" when tying an improved cinch knot. Then I had some fish lost and I noticed that the tag was slipping a little. Now on that knot I leave 3/8-1/2. On a palamor knot, which I've started using again almost for everything, I still leave about 3/8". Palamor is the simplest and easist knot to tie and one of the strongest knots known to man.

I got this as a Post from the FWC on Facebook. Overall they (the FWC) do a good job here when it comes to fishing.

If I remember correctly, I read an article awhile back that stated the average bass fisherman in the state of Florida catches 1 bass per hour. I've had days fishing on the St Johns River where that has held true, while others I have caught an average of 2 per hour. That being said in a 4-5 hour period I have never caught 40-50 bass. So for me I would rather catch 5 Good Ones VS 10 average ones. If I COULD catch 40-50 then maybe I'd reconsider. Maybe I need to start fishing some of the lakes that are known for better fishing!!!

Well like I had said before it has been hit or miss for me lately. Today it was HIT HIT HIT. My friend and I went out fishing on his boat today in the Lake Woodruff area. We put 45 Bass into the boat, including 9 that were real nice sized keepers. Two went 3 lbs and several were over 2 lbs. Today we set three records for us. My personal best for Most Bass Caught in a Day, Our Best Day fishing as a Team, and for my friend the most Bass ever landed in his boat in one day. Maybe things are starting to change back to normal after TS Debby.

It's not as popular color today as Junebug and Watermelon Seed is, but we still sell them. My boss swears by them on one of the lakes near us. Claims it outfishes every other color on that Lake. I've used them and have caught fish on them. I prefer Junebug or a Black with Blue tail, but I always have a bag of Fire & Ice on board.

This has surely had an effect. At least in two ways. 1) With the introduction of some much needed rain, the water levels have greatly gone up in Central Florida. In the past weeks I have been able to fish in places where there was no way that I would of been able to do before. If my boat is now able to get into these spots, you can bet that the Bass have moved into them as well. With the Bass moving into new areas it greatly spreads out the population and you may not be catching in spots where you used to. Higher water allows fish to feed in areas that offer a new/different food source. There are new weed beds now covered in water. One spot I fish I can hear fish splashing as they feed way back into the woods--- where there is no way I able to get to them. They have not left or stopped feeding just changed where they do it. It's up to you to find out where they have gone. 2) With the increase in water runoff due to the rains, there has been a new influx of Tannic Acid from the Cypress Trees introduced into the waterways. This causes the fish to feel "sick" and may not be feeding like normal until either they adjust to it or it gets diluted. Fishing for me has now been hit or miss. One week I caught 14 with 7 being of legal keeper size, had I chose to keep any. The following week I fished the same area and caught 2 small dinks. Two days later a friend fished the same waters and caught 13 with 5 keeper sized. Several days later fished it again and caught only 4, but two were 4 lbs and 6 lbs. The Bass are there. In Florida we don't have the deep drop offs and ledges that are talked about fishing this time of year, so what do we need to do? I'm finding that the Bass that are born in the shallow weedbeds and live their lives in them don't seem to move all that much when the weather gets hot. Fishing seems the best at first light and late afternoons. Another idea is to fish rivers where there is current, and most likely some dropoffs. Good Luck.

I use two products. One is called Kicking Bass, has a strong Galic smell and is made from/with natural fish oils. WARNING: Stuff sticks to everything and you will smell it for days if you get it on your clothes and such. I pour a small ammount into each bag of plastics as soon as I open them and allow it to absorb deeply into the plastic. It is availble as BPS. Second is from Berkley and simply called Bass Attractant. You can find it at BPS and Wal Mart. I squeeze a little onto the worm every so often. First time I used it I caught 12 bass. Used it while fishing with a friend, who was using the exact same bait as I was, and I had 7 in the boat before he even had a hit. I am convinced that both of these products have improved my catch ratio.

I read an article one time (don't remember where) that stated that the average Bass Fisherman in Florida catches 1 bass per 2 hrs of fishing. Last week I fished from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM. Caught 14 bass. Thats an average of 1.33333 bass per hr. Thing is I had 8 in the boat by 10:00. Then it was one here and one there for the rest of the day. Rarely is it that you will catch 20-30 in a 2-4 hr period. Those day are magic IF and WHEN they ever happen. I have had friends tell me of days when they happened upon a group of schooling bass where two of them boated 60 fish in 2-3 hrs of fishing. It does happen, but not often. Those are the days that will stick in your memory forever.

IMO there is nothing more vaulable than experience. I am learning to fish the St Johns River in central Florida. On the main river I've had days where I have caught 2-3 fish, while in some of the feeder runs I've had days where I've caught 10-15. For me those are good numbers, but for some of the guys I know that have grown up fishing the river those numbers mean nothing. These guys know where the fish are at any time of year and regularly put 20-50 bass in the boat per outing. The local weeknight tourney usually takes 15-25 lbs to win in 3-3 1/2 hrs of fishing. I could have the best equipment, but until I learn the water as good as they do it is doubtful that I would win. Same with the Pros. They are Pros for a reason, they are the best at what they do. They have learned how to look at a lake/river and know exactly where to go and what to do to catch fish.

My local Wal Mart has a Lews Combo for $99.00. It is their Laser Reel, with 8 bearings, and their Speed Stick Rod, 6' 6" MH with Micro-Guides. Not a bad deal for under $100.00 You can get a Lews Speed Spool at most shops for $99.00. It has 10 bearing and comes in 5.4, 6.5 & 7.1 ratios. Many good rods available for the $100 and under range now. Skeet Reese rods run $59-99, depending on where you buy. Lightning rods run around $60.00. Falcon Buco run around $130. Really up to you as to what you like.

Great ponits. I fished a spot this week where a friend of mine told me he always caught fish in the main river (St Johns). I set on what I thought looked like the best spot on the Navaonics Ap for 3+ hrs and never got a hit, although there were fish busting all around me. The next day I talked to my friend about it and showed him a picture of the spot on Google Maps. He pointed out that where I was sitting is where EVERYBODY that he see fishing the spot sits. He then showed me where he sits. Afterwards I looked up the spot again on Navaonics and found a slight, suttle difference on the spot where he was sitting. Suddenly it made sense. He has never used anything to look at areas, just has fished there his whole life and knows where he catches fish. By then looking at the river for other spots that offered the same things as his spot, I believe I have found at least 4-5 other spots that should produce as well. If I didn't have a friend offer me a little help I probably would of never realised the slight difference that seems to make all the difference in fishing the river. Can't wait to get back and check it out now!

Ok. Since we all seem to agree on New Water, what can we do to make learning new water easier/better? For one I like to look at Google Maps and study the terrain, In Florida we do not have much for ridges and valleys so I try to find where there are Oxbows in the river that form points. Also look for where feeder streams enter the main river. Another thing I did that has helped is to download the Navaonics Ap onto my I-Phone. This shows me the channel areas and where the flats should be. Best of all is get a friend to take you along that has been fishing the area for years and learn from them. Another option (one I haven't done) is if they hold a lot of tournyments on the area go fishing that night/day and spend most of your time just looking/studying where those entered are fishing. Go back later and see why they were there, then look for other areas that offer the same situation. What do you do that helps you with new water?

Thanks for all the info guys, this is one lure that I have determined to learn to use this summer. Lots of people say they use them but few will tell you how.

Learning to fish a new lure style on waters you know OR fishing with what you know on new waters? For me I'd say that it is learning new waters. On waters I already know, I know where the fish like to be so I am more likely to catch one on a new lure style than I seem to be trying things I know while trying to find where the fish like to be. What ya think?

According to research, Bass have a memory span of about 15 minutes. So if you catch or miss a fish you can go back after 15 minutes or so and have a good chance of re-catching the fish. I used to fish a pond back in PA where in one corner there lived a bass that weighed about 3 lbs. She would hit a purple worm almost every night that I fished the pond, that is until one of my cousins kept her one day.

It's hard to say "do this" and have it work perfectly everytime, at least it is for me. How I set the hook depends on what the bass have been telling me. Sometimes with a quick hard smack I'll set it right then. Others I might let it run. Totally depends. One day after a hard cold front moved through I had to let them nibble on the worm for what seemed like forever until them moved off in order to get a solid hookset. Even then it was just in the edge of the lip. I guess my answer is feel out the bass for what they are doing that day, but usually after I feel the bite I lower the rod, take up slack, feel the weight, then set the hook.

I too would like to see more shows based on instruction and less on "buy lure X". Back in the day when I was trying to learn how to hunt Spring Gobblers there were few vidoes available. The ones that were were all about call in and shoot, much like the throw and catch fishing shows today. I found a guy named Denny Gulvas that did videos where he called in the birds, but didn't kill them. He explained what he did and why, what to look for and how to adjust your calling to the gobbler's mood. Taught me a ton and made be a better hunter. Wish there was a fishing show that did the same. Explain how to read your fish finder, not only the $3000 ones but ones like the Hummingird 150 & 170 that so many guys use. What rod weight/action to use for different lures and why. How to rig different baits and how/when to use them. How to select line, the properties of each and why this one is better for this situation. When to fish a type of lure and why. How to select colors for different situations and why. In other words, try to teach the viewer how to be a better fisherman and not just a "look at me catch fish" type of show. Recently I've found a show called Lost Lake where they do some of this. Put a guy on a lake, let him figure it out, and explain what he did and why.

If your fishing a lake or river that has a soft mucky bottom, the worm can get lost or loaded up with junk. If this happens try swimming the worm. Cast out using as light of a weight as you can, let it start to sink then slowly reel back in. This creates a "swimming" action with a ribbon tail worm that sometimes a bass just can't resist. Vary the speed of your retrieve until you find what they want.

Same as any other worm. Let the line get tight, reel down and set the hook.

I haven't gone to the covering of my face and hands...yet, but I have gone from a simple ball cap to a large brim hat. I find that wearing the hat along with the long sleeved shirt does make a big difference. Not to many weeks ago I made the mistake of wearing shorts on the boat for the first time this year. Why was it a mistake? because I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs. After sitting on the deck seat fishing for 8-9 hrs my thighs were fried. Even though it was not a summer hot day, the sun beating on you from every direction, due to water reflection, you can get burnt quickly.

Hey gang. Been away for a weekend get-away with my wife. Having read through all the posts thought I'd answer/clear a few things up. First off, if you noticed, the threads title was in the form of a question--- not a statement. I currently own at least 5 Shamano Reels and have used them since I first discovered them in the heck I don't know late 70's early 80's. They are all spinning, as that was what I was into at the time.and still use some today. So I don't know if I am bold or not doing research by asking members of this forum, several that I know of that do reel repair, for their opinons on the newest version of Shamano Reels. The Plastic Drag Gear was brought to my attention by a customer that wanted to look at each one before he purchased. I did feel as though for myself the newer reels did not have as smooth of a turn as the older version did on the baitcasters. As someone posted different is not nessasarily as bad thing. In time what seems worse may turn out to be much better. In any case, thanks for the replies and your opinons.

Have you got them in the last 2-3 months, or have you had them for awhile? Seems like the ones that I've seen stamped Maylasia have all shown up over the last 2-3 months.

Back in February I was in the market for a new reel. I had found a place that dealt in new,used, & Trade fishing equipment. So I took some of my old gear that I never used anymore to trade in for a new reel/rod. I intended to get a Shamano Citica. After we agreed on a trade price I went with the owner to look at the reels he had. I picked up a Citica and was checking it out. That 's when he asked me if I was set on getting a Shamano. I told him I was open to suggestions and why not the Citica? He then told me that back when Shamano built the Canaen they had it outsource to Maylasisa instead of being built in Japan. Because of the success of the Canaen Reel, Shamano decided to transfer all of their manufacturing to Maylasia. In the process the quality appears to have went downhill. He showed me a used older Japan built Citica to compair to the new Maylasia built one. What a difference! Fit and finish was not as good, smoothness in turning the handle was not the same. He also told me that his Shamano Rep told him that they (Shamano) were loosing so much of their marketshare to Lew's Reels that they were going to start to offer a $50.00 Cash Back Offer the first of March. (by the way the new Curado's are $40.00 less than they used to be at our location) If you look at the newer reels you will see Maylasia stamped into the baseplate. Even the newest Curado I just got in says it, and the reel does not feel smooth at all when you turn the handle. If you take the spool off of a Stradic spinning reel the Drag Gear is no longer Stainless Steel, it is now made of Plastic. Has anyone noticed this difference as well? I always loved Shamano and have several of their reels and rods that I have had no problems with. By the way, that day back in February I ended up with a new Lew's Speedspool Reel with 10 BB and love it.