Lasher

I'm actively looking for Costas on the web and seems like there is a 1000 styles and colors. Any recommendations for a tournament fisherman heading into the spring and summer season? Budget stops around 75 bucks for now.

Norman Deep Little N, as others have mentioned previously, this is my favorite 10- 15 ft crank, splatter bass and fire tiger works in my area, chartreuse in muddy water.

All you Carolina rig swivel guys, ever hear of a Carolina keeper? adjustable leaders and no extra knot, plus I use them to keep my trailer hooks on.

Just because there is money on the line does not mean you are fishing for money, prize money is a bonus but not the reason you go fishing.

Ding Ding Ding. 4 seasons, nice people, low cost of living, lots of water both lakes and streams, low taxes, beautiful scenery, easy drive to lakes. Send your wife to Asheville NC to the Biltmore House and you will have brownie points to fish for a year. I know we don't have the big lunkers of FL and TX but from a pure fisherman's prospective, east Tennessee is the best I know of. You can say what you want about TX but my friend lives there and he fighting like hell to get out citing 49 consecutive days over 100 degrees. If your moving from CT, the idea of warmer weather sounds good, until you get what you wish for. See Ott Defoe, David Walker, Brandon Card, and few other pros

These are great hooks, just takes a little getting used to. I was frustrated also until I worked out a system and now i love them. It's much easier tying the weighted side first. I use Palomar knots because I'm a creature of habit but whatever knot you like best. If you fish tournaments like me, I prepare 5-6 drop shot weights tied to cut lines and have them ready to go if I break off. Follow these steps and it will become very easy. 1. Measure out 18 inches(ish) of line and cut. 2. Tie the weighted side (bottom Side) of the swivel to the cut line and add desired weight to the end of the line. 3. Tie the top side of the swivel to the line from your reel. 4. Add bait to hook, (I almost always nose hook a drop shot) 5. Cast out and catch fish. I don't really set the hook on drop shot, mostly just lift the rod up above my head and reel em in seems to land them just fine

I'm in the back of the boat and have been my whole life. I fish in my local bass club in 9 tournaments a year and looking at doing some bigger co angler tournaments depending on my budget and time. Any suggestions for getting started in the co angler game?

I'l be there, Hartwell and the Savannah River lakes are my "home" lakes so I'm very excited that the Classic is coming to my neck of the woods.

Yeah I thought it was a marketing ploy also but lots of responses with positive feedback, especially with top water and senkos. If I find them for cheap, I will try a few and see if makes a difference.

I will have to give that a try, thanks guys for your suggestions.

I'm fishing a small tournament on Norman this Saturday, I'll try to report on water temps and clarity, etc. but a lot will change from now till end of March.

I have heard good things about Smithwick, but I don't have a lot of experience with them. I will probably try a suspending model and reel it down a few feet and then start twitching. Sound about right?

Thanks for the suggestions, looks like most good jerkbaits run around $15 each, anybody got a line a good buy? Trying to be thrifty as possible

Cold water fishing is my favorite time for jerkbaits and my next few fishing trips I plan to really focus on getting better with retrieve, cadence, presentation. Do you guys have any suggestions on ways to get better and do you have some favorite jerkbaits that you recommend?

Hate that I will be in Raleigh this weekend instead of next for the opening. NC needs about 3-4 more bass pros shops, good tackle shops are hard to find in the mountains.

Always looking for deals on tackle, no matter what time of year. Shakey heads, hooks, tungsten weights, jigs, flukes, twin tail grubs, drop shot minnows and weights, rat l traps, square bills, and jerkbaits are what I go through the most so I always keep an eye open for a discount.

Don't measure fishing by the amount or size of fish you catch, measure fishing by fun, excitement, relaxation, fresh air, attitude, freedom, connection with nature and ancestors and the basic primal instincts that most males and some females naturally possess and give in and commit to it and go do it

Lots of mixed answers, so im going to chalk it up to personal preference, but when faced with the decision to buy, I don't see myself reaching for red hooks over black or nickel.

So would this mean red hooks are a dying trend?

I'm seeing more and more red hooks in the terminal tackle at stores and websites. I've used them some, but can't say I've seen any real difference. Do you guys buy red hooks over the traditional? Maybe there is some data behind it, but is seems like a matter of opinion to me.

I am hoping to fish a few of these this year. The Norman, Murray and Douglas tournaments are all close to my home. Anyone have experience in these events and is there anything special that I would need to know before trying?

Don't rule out Raleigh NC. Falls Lake, Harris Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Jordan lake. Nice city with four season and stuff to do but not a big city. Good jobs and airport. Also the savannah river is Keowee, Hartwell, Russell, and Clarks Hills. All good lakes and some close enough to Murray and Santee Cooper with mild climates. Not alot of big towns around these lakes, but good fishing.

I use P Line for 95% of my fishing. Braid for the rest, the lakes I fish don't need braid that much.

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Thanks for your responses. Interesting data from your answers. Question #1 When worm/jig fishing, Do you place your index finger on the line to help feel the bite? 8 people replied No 6 people replied sometimes 4 people replied yes Rod and Reel set up, personal preference, and technique all seem to factor in. I will try it both ways and just decide for myself, but I do think touching the line has helped me feel the bite in the past, and is something i will probably keep doing, maybe a nice new setup down the road will change my habits. Question #2 Do you fish two anglers out of the front of the boat? Most responded with depends on the boat and the technique. This is the smart answer and my boater has a 17 foot Triton so I don't think we need to mess with it. If I'm ever on a large boat and bed fishing, I would like to try moving to the front with the boater to try it out.