flyingmonkie

+1 for bananas on the boat!

I saw that! He went on to say that everyone would be selling their damiki gear on eBay next week - all you want for $1. Dude cracks me up.

I use a snap swivel on EVERYTHING!

Nothing wrong about that!

Being an Okie, I have a predisposition to be anti-Texas. Being an OU alumni/employee only makes it worse. My mom is a Texan and we always get into it. But it's hard to argue the prestige of the fisheries - and anglers - from the state. I will agree not to mess with Texas as it relates to bass fishing... but that's it!

Again, not a straightforward answer here. For me, an underspin is a variation of a swimbait... not a spinnerbait. I've been throwing an underspin EWG lately with a 4.5" Biwaa swimbait on it. The subtle flash gets the fish's attention in stained water, then the natural action of the swimbait closes the deal.

I have two of these rods and use them for moving baits. I can confirm what many before me have said - great rod for cranks, lipless, square bills, spinnerbaits, smaller swimbaits. I've used them for shakey heads, t-rigs and jigs. They'll work just fine for stuff under a 1/2oz... start to get a little mushy beyond that.

Several manufacturers sell them in the $100 range. I've seen these but have no experience with them: http://www.shop.coolwaterproducts.com/Shallow-Water-Anchors_c18.htm There are several DIY alternatives as well. Do a Google search for "DIY shallow water anchor pins"

Well done! I tried this for a while - it works well if you have the continued discipline to put things back where they came from.

I always carry finishing nails with me. A finishing nail through a 1/8 oz bullet sinker works great for Neko rigs. The nail itself can be inserted into any soft plastic to change the weight distribution.

Seriously now. I can see the similarities in the three, especially when you look across the broad spectrum of artificial baits, but I've never looked at any as substitutes or replacements for the others. Spinnerbaits are a confidence bait for me... especially on n shallow stained/stained water with mixed of cover. Windy days make it better. SBs were made for Okies! Swim jigs are definitely a more finesse alternative to this (clearer water, less wind). They also come through cover a little easier and can be pitched and skipped more effectively. For me, they are a go-to for big fall bass. I love to thread on a meaty swimbait and slow roll 'em. I don't have much confidence with chatterbaits. About the only time I'll throw one over a spinnerbait is in slick water or areas with thicker grass. They are fun to rip through grass.

It's true. They are old news and don't work. Especially in Oklahoma in the lakes I fish. STOP USING SPINNERBAITS!

I'd say you're doing better than most. I cut the tips off or stick the barbs into something, but mainly just to keep my kids from accidentally getting into them. Hooks will rust pretty quickly in a landfill... now, all the other crud we're putting in there?

Doh! Nope you're right, I misread his question.

6" PVC? I don't know that I've ever seen anyone recommend that. The consensus that I seem to recall is to opt for solid fiberglass push poles in the .75-1.25" diameter range. Welcome aboard!

Bait monkey is telling me to go expand my color selection...

SOOOO many great colors! Green Shad Chartreuse Sexy Shad Summer Sexy Shad Chili Craw 9 times out of 10, i'm fishing the 1/2. My favorite retrieve is "wind-wind-wind-pause". Like it on mono in open water or braid around veggies. Do it. Do it.

So you want to find a way to avoid the skunk... did I hear that right? You're in good company. I would argue that the abundance of information you mention is due to the fact that the answer to your simple question is not so simple. There are so many variables in the what-will-catch-me-a-fish-today equation, that many of us devote an ABSURD amount of time/energy/thought into cracking the code. That being said, you have a wonderful opportunity here: a consistent body of familiar water at your fingertips. I don't think there is a right answer to this question, but I would definitely start keeping a log if you're not already. At the very least, if you can keep track of what worked, where it worked, and what the conditions were, then over time you'll develop a "playbook" of sorts. Not going to be much help this year, but if you're there another 17 years, I promise that some simple data analysis will improve your catch rate.

I would not recommend buying a 5.x:1 reel unless you're buying it for a specific technique like cranking. Most people will agree that a 6.x:1 is a good versatile speed. Right in the middle of fast and slow. I'm seeing more and more competitive anglers opt for higher speed 7.x:1 reels as their "go-to" so that they have the speed if they need it. You can only crank a reel so fast, where as the only thing fishing slow takes is diligence. So for arguments sake, I would keep the 7.2:1 on the table, and personally, THAT would be my choice.

"RipRap is braid's kryptonite." NOT an alternative fact. Great vid.

+1 for the Curado 70 8.1:1. Have one on my SA 766Flip and love, Love, LOVE it!

Cold muddy water? Not many fishing conditions harder than that. Stay slow, tight to cover, and using something that the fish can hear, feel, or see. My suggestion is to not let it get to you and go back later when the water clears up some.

Complexity and anticipation. It's like trying to solve a puzzle with a million pieces, and you stay just as excited about putting your first piece down as you do your 100,000th.

Knowing what you were doing to get bit (and then being able to repeat it) will help you catch more fish now than a journal will. Maybe you should work on that first. Start simple: date, place, basic weather and water observations, lure. Considering you're pretty new, jotting down a quick summary of your outing will be more helpful than data. Eg. "2/5, East Pond, It was warmer and windy... couldn't get bit on a worm, but they were lovin' that lipless crank! Seemed to get hit anytime I was fishing around grass." Those quick narratives will go a long way.

You're not sure about how to go about finding water temp? Get a thermometer! If I'm bank fishing, I carry one in a metal casing that has a split ring in one end. I'll hook it onto my lure and toss it out a couple feet off the bank. No sense keeping track of things that mean nothing to you. What are the things that YOU pay attention to when you fish? Start there. As you learn more about fishing, you will likely pay attention to more things and your journal will grow.