gulfcaptain

13's Black ***, Falcon's Bucco, and several of the BPS line of rods (Bionic, Carbonlite, Extreme...although I personally don't like that line).I would also look at Quantum's new Accurist line up.

Well most of my rods are EVA Foam(at least the small back grip). The ***'s are cork and some of my BPS rods are as well. I am not a big fan of fore grips on rods though. Only rods I have that have these are my 2 swimbait rods and one cranking rod. All are cork though. But to me it doesn't matter much as long as it's done nicely.

I caught a lot of them when I worked out of Cameron LA. Summer they loved spook style topwaters as did the trout. Anywhere up and down where you can find some riprap along the Sabine ship channel you should be able to catch them from shore. From a boat I'd look in the lake and around oyster reefs and harder bottom areas, the Sabine Jetties would be a good as well.. 4" grubs, swimbaits, Norton Lures Sand Eel Jr worked really well for me with a 1/4oz round lead head and also caught a lot of flounder on them as well just slowly working it down the banks.

Very true, noticed the same thing when I purchased "wild" fish for aquariums. It took them time to settle down once moved opposed to tank raised fish who didn't really care. Drop them out of the bag and feed them they were fine. But that is quite the butterball of a bass you have there. Nice football. I'd stay away from goldfish though and give him those ruby red feeder fish or better known as fathead minnows. Goldfish have nasty diseases that can be transmitted to your little buddy there.

Here's the deal with tides, fish move in/up into cover when the tide go's up. They pull back when the tide go's out. They pull out to deeper areas and the mouths of feeder creeks since the water is flowing out and dropping so they position themselves take advantage of any bits of food coming out as well. You're gonna have to put time in to figure out areas and what the fish are doing and where they position themselves. Example....have a big flat that is 1-2ft and scattered grass with a deeper area running through it at about 5ft. When the tide drops those fish will pull off that flat and into the deeper area. When it comes back in they will venture back up onto the flat and into the scattered grass.....They follow the food.

I have a 7'MH Falcon Bucco Micro with a TourMG100 on it. This combo is a feather. Haven't weighted it but I know it is close to being under 7.6oz total. One of my Kinetic's feel heavier by itself and it comes in at 7.5oz. Not a high priced rod, but I'm sure their new Lowrider 20 would be just as light if not lighter and in the $160-180 mark then the Bucco which runs about $130.

I've met the father and son, both really nice guys. I'm sure they will help you find what you're looking for.

If it were me back when I was 19 with the options now, this is what I would do. I would look into a college with a fishing team. I'd start there, represent my school, get a "marketing degree" while fishing my way through college. This will get you to the next steps below. Once in college and on the fishing team in the pursuit of your fishing career, look for businesses to sponsor your team. This will get you in the door. Good team results would lend to possibly helping you in some other events as an individual. Build those relationships and partnerships with those companies. If you're successful in the college tour, this could get you in the door to the Forest Wood Cup and national attention on a big stage to show your stuff. You finish in the top 10 there, then the bigger guys are going to find you. And then not only will you have the fishing skills but also the college degree and marketing skills those bigger companies will be looking for. One more bit of advice, be HUMBLE....confidence is great, cocky is not. At 19 it's though to tell the difference at that age. I learned the hard way in the charter fishing business. Being young and knowing what was going on didn't always translate to the passengers. I had to learn how to be more of a people person and do it in a teaching way. Guys that are in their 40's and 50's who have been fishing longer then I had been alive didn't want to hear a cocky 19 yr old kid tell them what to do. I had to humble myself down and approach it differently which then helped me become more professional and successful. Good luck on your path. I hope you hit the goal you are wanting. But you have A LOT of hard work in front of you first.

Why don't you call Dobyns and ask them for their imput and suggestion on what you're looking for? They may be able to give you a better suggestion. Just a thought.

I've used both PP Slick and 832. Moved to 832 as it seems to hold up a lot better. The 8 will always be quieter, but once you get any 4 strand broke in it all seems to fish the same. Have regular 20lb PP on a few of my crankbait rod set ups and once it limps up and you get that waxy layer off the braid. Still use regular PP just not the Super Slick. That Flouro braid I've never fished. Have fished the Stealth Braid, but that's only in 10lb on my dropshot rods.

Catt would be the man to know quite a bit about the area you're interested in fishing for sure.

I did, and if I miss read it since it sounded like it might have been scrapped but if I'm wrong I have no problem admitting it. I know you guys have a great fishery up there and to be able to CR bass year round (other then when you can drive your truck on the lake) that is awesome as I'm sure some winters end earlier then others. I didn't say it wasn't a great place to visit, but I don't do cold. Did it growing up in the mid west, just choose not to deal with that white stuff when I don't have to. I wouldn't live in CA if I had my choice but my children come first so I am stuck here for now. Yes, we live in a coastal desert. I know this. I'm not in denial about it. We get a 1/2" of rain and it's STORM WATCH. And I agree it would be dangerous, not for the shower part.....I've seen these people drive their cars in the rain......it's not good. And we have speed limits on most lakes.....because most don't operate boats very safely either.

Well that is one state I'll check off my list of places NOT to move. Not only do you get froze out and iced over, when it does thaw you can't fish bass.

Daiwa make good products, have good service as their service center is about 6 miles away. But some of their equipment is way overpriced for sure. Then when it's marked down to where most of us would consider buying it, we think it's a great deal when there are other reels in that price range that some may feel are better. A discontinued model is a great buy when it's marked down 60% or more. But it's marked down to clear inventory for newer models. Sucks you have to hide your reel purchase from your wife when she has so many great scarfs that she got for a great price.

And I would also concentrate and fish North of the ICW. That should keep you in more fresh then salt also.

TIde plays a big role in that area. Working in the South and navigating up and down those bayou's I would look into areas that have feeder creeks that drain into the back of the cuts, cleaner water that isn't so muddy, and green vegetation such as lilies or other freshwater plants, NOT Salt Grass. Fresh water vegetation will brown and die in saltier areas so that will help you see area's that are more fresh then salt. Be aware, YOU WILL catch Redfish in the same areas as well as possibly some big black drums. Black and Blue would be a good color to start with.

Rage Menace grubs, Trigger X Flappin Craw in 3-4", Slop Hopper in 3.5". Just have to find what works good for you. But have used PC as well will okay success, but they don't have a lot of action which at times is what they seem to want.

With flames and chrome hooks.

Here are two of nice fish I happened to get today on the topwater.

Grass first and foremost. Deep or shallow, emergent or submerged, followed by wood. And I'll include shade into this list as well as sometimes it's the only cover available and can be quickly overlooked by many.

It's really nice. Casts great, smooth, and the set up I have it on is ultra light. I have picked up a reel I retired this year and then that combo, the reel I'm retiring weights more then both together (less then 7.5oz). I got it for a great deal and wish I could find another one for the same price as it was $160 on Ebay. That was a steal for that reel. I wouldn't hesitate if you're thinking of getting one, it's a great reel.

Almost all of the highly pressured LA/OC area city park fish since my fishing time is restricted between the hrs of 8-3 Monday through Friday when my son is in school. Area lakes are too far for me to travel in such short time.

Saltwater, I'd get away from all the "spinshot" style hooks, and fish a traditional setup with a bass casting sinker. I've used the VMC's with no problems when used for what they are made for....6-8lb dropshotting. I have used the dropshot in salt, but wouldn't use any of these kind of hooks for that.