Scott F

Electrical tape leaves a black, sticky residue on whatever you stick it to. If that is not going to be an issue later when you remove the tape, go fot it.

Bass Pro has Plano make them for them. Plano has an outlet store next to their factory where they sell boxes with Bass Pro's name on them along with other names. I just picked up some of the 3700 boxes there for $3 a piece.

http://www.basspro.com/Plano-ProLatch-StowAway-Utility-Box-–-3700/product/1303011352/

No, I don't use the solunar tables, I have an astrologer and a psychic advisor to tell when the best times to fish are.

When I was in the 8th grade (1969) I did paper on trap and skeet shooting. For the oral presentation I brought a 12 gauge shotgun to school. Nobody flipped out and I got an A. If I did that today, there would be a swat team locking down the school. It's a different world alright.

I use Fireline on all my spinning reels. I buy it in 1,500 yd spools. It is made from the same material as most superlines so it does float. Instead of the strands of fibers being braided together, they are fused. Like all braided lines, it doesn't stretch. It's a liitle stiff when you first use it, but it softens up as some of the coating wears off. It will also look like it is fraying a little bit after it's used for a while but not to worry, it is still very strong. Again, like all superlines it will loose it's color. The fused lines work very well on spinning reels. It holds up very well I can get a couple of years out of the line. At some point I remove it from the spool and turn it around so the worn, discolored line is now at the bottom of the spool and the line is like brand new again. I absolutely hate the stretch of mono and fluoro lines so this does what I want it to. Not everybody likes Fireline, but it's my favorite on spinning reels.

Most of the guys I fish with do a lot of wading for smallies. Dunking spinning reels is a common occurance. Nobody I know cleans their reels right after they get wet and we use some nice gear. If it was laying in the bottom of the lake or river for a while, that would be different.

How cold is the water?

Where you fish for smallies may have effect the type of equipment you use. The river fishermen I hang around with usually use spinning gear and 10 pound test is as heavy as most will use. Smallies are aggressive and will hit lures of almost any size but for the most part, baits that are slightly smaller than what you might use for largemouth are normal. 4 and 5 inch senkos are the common sizes. Because smallies don't hang out in the shallow, lily pads, frogs are not commonly used. Skirted jigs pitched into cover is also not common, but swim jigs work well. I use the same spinnerbaits for smallmouth that I do for largemouth. I like slimmer crankbaits more that the wide body baits for bronzebacks. In lakes, during prespawn, the smallies I fish for like smaller jerkbaits as small as 65's which closely resemble the minnows they are feeding on. Smallies go deeper in summer in lakes so baits that probe the depths like drop shots and Carolina rigs are common.

There was one other variable that you did not consider. The guy holding the rod! I had a similar experience where I was outfishing a guy by a huge margin while we were fishing a large open water, shallow, weedy flat with spinnerbaits. I was using a single spin colorado blade and catching bass after bass, while my partner couldn't buy a fish with his twin willow leaf blades. We switched rods. I fished his baits, he fished mine. I continued to catch em', and he still couldn't get bit. Just something else to consider.

I use 20lb Power Pro and Suffix 832. I never have line digging in but I don't lock down my drag. I think line digs in when you get snagged, and pull on the line with the drag too tight. How tight is your drag?

Is that the technique specific model?

If you are, you should join a fishing club. It doesn't have to be a tournament club, almost any fishing club will help you catch more fish. Bass Resource is an excellent place to learn more about bass fishing but most of the posts are about presentation. Presentation is only one part of the puzzle. I think location is the most important factor in fishing. You can't catch a bass if they aren't where you are fishing. The members here are located all over the country and many are fishing different types of water than you may have access to. In a fishing club, the members are fishing the same waters you are. The old rule of thumb is 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. Hanging around other good fishermen will mean you will spend more time in the 10% where the fish are. There are probably several guys in the club that are excellent fishermen who will be glad to have someone to fish with even if you are new to fishing. If you participate in club meetings and outings, you'll make connections with people who will share their knowledge not just of what baits will work but of where in your lake they catch bass. You'll learn more in a shorter period of time than you ever could on your own. Join a club, it will be well worth your time.

It should be OK. I would not stretch fluoro line much if I could help it. Fluoro does not return to it's original shape after it has been stretched. Stretching it would cause more damage than letting it sit for a year.

Hey! I resemble that remark! Plus, I have an offset seat post that moves the seat back some to give me more room when I do stand.

Plastic hollow bodied swim baits. I haven't caught any bass on them. I got some huge drum with them but that's it.

I have back issues and cannot stand for long periods. I need the back support of a full seat when I sit down.

I wish that were true. I use nothing but braid on my spinning reels and I get wind knots. To keep them from happening, with any kind of line, after the bail is closed, you must be sure there is no loose line or loops at the spool. If there are and you don't straighten the line, on the next cast, the line coming off the spool will catch that loop, pull it off and make the wind knot.

If you keep your phone in a plastic zip lock bag and fall overboard, you'll probably learn another lesson. A zip lock bag will not protect your phone very well. Another lesson learned the hard way. Get a REAL waterproof container for your iPhone,

What are tiger bass?

Why would I have to choose one or the other? I fished for years casting with my right, cranking with the left. Now I use both and will continue to use both. Switching gives my hands a break.

I'm right handed, cast with my right arm, crank with left or right hand. I carry both left and right handed reels in the boat. No poll option for this.

In rocky, shallow, rivers, weightless is the way to go. If the current is strong, a small weight will keep it down but not enough to let it snag.

Relaxing, being on the water, enjoying nature I like that a lot but I can do that without spending thousands of dollars on fishing gear. The reason I FISH is to feel the strike. That's the part I like best. It means, for the moment, I figured it out. I guess that's why I'm a numbers guy. The more hits I get the better I like it!

Old docks with wood or rocks as the support.