John J.

I've had a few instances. 1.) Same as you gouldsboro 2.) After changing my lure I placed my pliers in my lap (I was sitting down in my chair), and when I stood up, I heard a thunk and then a splash. I looked back at my buddy in the back of the boat and said "What the ---- was that?" (fill in the blank) he said "I dunno" I ignored it and kept fishing, later that evening (we fished all day), I was looking for my pliers to change my lure again and then it dawned on me :-X : 3.) I felt a thud and my line started swimming off so I set the hook hard and blasted a little bluegill so hard out the water it flew over my head and landed on a dock behind me when I was fishing in a cove. It was a small cove, the dock was like 20 yards behind me. It flopped a few times and then landed back in the water. My finesse worm twirled around and landed in the boat behind me.

Nope you didn't bore me. No matter the length of a post, information always helps So the one fishwhittler suggested is good?

oh ok, thanks! Yeah I'm new at this ;D :-[

For one thanks for the reply and two, a big thanks for the info! 72 bucks for both the airbrush and the compressor is a great deal! So with the paint bottles you just attach the head of the bottle to the feeder at the top of the airbrush?

Hey fellow tacklemakers, I have a question for those experienced with airbrushes. I am thinking about investing in an airbrush to paint my lures that I make, but I'm stumped on something. I am thinking about getting the paasche airbrush kit from barlowstackle.com http://www.barlowstackle.com/Paasche-Airbrush-Kit-P1013C134.aspx and I have a problem with understanding something. The kit comes with the 1oz and 3oz can with the airbrush adapter, does this mean I have to buy separate bottles of vinyl lure paint and pour them into the jars provided, and if I want more colors I have to buy more jars with the adapter AND the paint separately? Or are 1oz and 3oz bottles of paint available WITH the airbrush adapter? and where? and another thing, is it better to use the paasche airbush with the propellant can or with a compressor? And can any compressor (we have a pancake compressor; this exact model: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N5UHK0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00004U0SW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19X8KX7J71HT31VZ368Y) work with it? And when switching paints how do you guys clean out the hose and spray adapter from the old paint so that the two colors; the old paint in the gun and hose with the new color, don't mix? Thanks! Sorry that these are noobish questions :-/

Good luck! I thought about going yesterday when it was warm but i got caught up in some other stuff around the house. I think i'm just going to hit Lake Orange first with my jon boat and then anna later. Tell us how you do!

I work my wacky rigged lures on the fall. As a matter of fact 99.9% of my strikes are on the fall. I don't think i've had a bass yet, hit it while it's on bottom or when i'm moving it. I cast the wacky out and watch my line, once that line jumps, I set the hook!

The way I wacky rig my worms is weedless. So it's not often I use weightless t-rigs. The instances I do is when I want to use a weightless t-rig worm as a topwater, i'll twitch it along the surface kind of like a snake. Or if I don't get bit on my wacky (which is rare) and I want to change things up a bit. My weightless wacky rig is my go-to presentation. Regardless of pressure or temperature.

When I melt new or used plastic I use a single hot plate. This one is similar to the one I have from walmart for $20. And it gets hot enough to melt and if you are not careful scold the plastic. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11445754&findingMethod=rr I found that the pour pots from barlowstackle.com or other plastic pouring sites fits perfectly. And for $20 it's a cheap investment. It's effective and mobile!

No offense here. I have learned that there are many ways to do things and no particular way is 100% correct. Except for which end of the pole you should put the reel on of course! Haha exactly!

Well here in central virginia, the spawn usually doesn't hit us until April. It all depends though. So like right now most the waters around my areas (i've been looking up fishing reports) are in the mid 40s to lower 50s.

The double uni? I never have any problems with this knot. And it is one of my favorite knots to tie leaders with, it's strong and (at least for me) easy to tie.

Good thing about rain during the pre-spawn is that on a day that's semi-warm and raining, the rain is usually warmer than the water temp so it brings the temperature up a little. Two it does cause run offs into the lake/pond etc. but this run off excites a lot of baitfish and in turn bass. I am always fishing while it's raining or even immediately afterwards. But i've found my best fishing to be right before rain arrives. That change in Barometric pressure and atmospheric conditions really jump start the bite for me. Try it out! You never know! I would say you can't go wrong with a jig/pig or jig/craw combo, spinnerbaits, rattletraps (if the water is murky), or plastic worms. Find where run off is dumping into the pond/lake and pitch to it.

Thanks everyone for the input! Big help! Sorry FBL, didn't know exactly where it should be.

I agree. This time of year I think it's very important to be around the shad. Once the water temps warm to 50+, they'll break away from the shad and spread out a little more in a search for places to spawn. Until then, if there's no bait around, I dont have much confidence in a spot. Yeah that's a good idea! Gizzard shad are abundant in many of the lakes around my area.

The only thing I would be concerned about would be winter kill. But it doesn't hurt to try it! Our pond is 5 foot max and bass thrive in it! Course, me and my buddy stocked it. Give it a shot! Never hurts

Gotarheelz14 hit the nail on the head.

Well no what I was stating was that shallow waters tend to warm up faster, but then they also tend to cool off much faster during a cold front. Deeper water slowly rises in temperature, but when a cold front hits, there's minimal decrease in temperature. What I am asking is this: Is it better to run uplake and fish shallows, or better to run downlake into deeper water and fish shallow bays, pockets, coves etc?

Ok, on my older rods, my cork handles are becoming black and starting to crack, chip and look terrible. What's a simple solution to repair them? I've heard sanding them, but I kind of don't want to ruin them. I've read somewhere about some kind of foam handle wrap you can buy at the store. But I can't find it... How can I repair my cork handles? Any ideas? What do yall do?

Welcome to BR DWTaylor, like you I was hooked on bass fishing through my highschool's anglers club. I've learned a lot since 2006, and everyday I learn something new! I know you will! Ask a lot of questions, read the articles and read other's posts as well! There's a lot to learn on this here board

welcome to BR, good to see a fellow central virginian join the board!

Looking at a lake map and deciding what end would be productive is difficult. Each end all have their unique characteristics for holding bass. And being the early season many factors play in as to where bass will be. I know in the early season shallow, northly facing waters tend to warm up quicker, but according to lake reports around my area, the water tends to be warmer in deeper water areas. (For instance, Uplake 38, Midlake 43 and downlake 46). I know bass hit the shallows to spawn (which would be ideally uplake) but what about shallow pockets, bays and creeks in the mid to uplake regions? The good thing about these is they have quick access to deeper water. My question is what do you all fish? Do you spend time running up or downlake? or do you spend your time midlake? What is more productive to you and why? This year I'm challenging myself to fish colder water, I am usually a warm water fisherman, but I've found I've caught bigger fish the earlier I fish. (Last year I caught a 5 lber, the one in my avatar, in March), in the late pre-spawn. I just want some ideas of where I should be focusing. Thanks, John J.

My buddy Randy B. and his fishing mentor, Wayne P. Randy always outfishes me because of his lessons learned while with Wayne, and because he's been bass fishing longer than I have. I kind of would like to find a mentor to help me out, but I am doing good by myself as well, I am always challenging myself and learning.

I use the same method (double uni-knot) the problem with swivels is you have essentially three weak points. Main line to swivel, leader to swivel and leader to lure. With the double uni-knot (you could argue otherwise), you potentially have two weak spots. uni-knot and the leader to lure. I've never had any problems. It all depends on how well you tied the double uni. Lubricate (with saliva) the knot BEFORE drawing the two knots together this will provide a smoother slide and a stronger knot. No matter what if you tie a leader it's not as strong as just the main line. How you tie a leader on is just personal preference. Mudwalker: I'll use a swivel in the case of lures that cause line twists (for me often spoons). I'm not saying you're wrong or you shouldn't use a swivel, I am just stating my personal preference and my reasoning for it. Please don't get defensive, I didn't mean to be offensive.

If everyone is zigging you should zang. Meaning try techniques, lures and retrieves you don't see others using. Like others have said it's as simple as choosing a different lure, color, retrieve speed, technique or look. Also doing like you're doing (fishing spots others don't) will help. Like WRB said, try fishing at night. Good luck!