Steveo-1969

Thanks Glenn. Watching this video is actually what got me thinking about the existence of a thermocline in a reservoir like Kentucky Lake. If you mentioned this in the video I missed it?

Thanks for the replies guys. I can understand a thermocline developing in some of the deeper bays of KY Lake where the water isn't affected as much when they are generating current. We've swam in them before and there is definitely a layer of colder water as you swim down. But I've never thought about finding the thermocline with electronics and fishing above it. I think we are in for a tough week of fishing next week. We generally stick to secondary ledges out on the main lake but looking for a thermocline in the bays may give us something else to try.

You are Egall816?

I guess I'm asking specifically about Kentucky Lake as I'm headed there next week on vacation. Can/does a reservoir develop a thermocline in the summer? I was assuming there would be no thermocline (at least in the main lake) because of the frequent current running through the lake.

I have one custom rod, a casting rod by @Delaware Valley Tackle and I asked for spiral/acid wrapped guides. First reason is because I just think they look cool. Second reason (which may not be valid) is I always find a spinning rod more sensitive for bottom-contact than a baitcasting rod, so I wanted my custom bottom-contact casting rod to have guides similar to a spinning rod. Does it help with sensitivity? In my mind it does and that's all that matters..... Oh, and did I mention spiral/acid wrapped guides look really cool???

I'll give it a shot, but I'm terrible at guessing the weight of green bass and even worse with brown bass. And it's always very difficult with pictures, though you don't look to be long-arming it. 3.17 pounds

Welcome to Bass Resource. BEAR DOWN!!!!!!

Welcome to Bass Resource Ryan. BEAR DOWN!!!!

Very cool! And congrats on getting to fish with Steve Pennaz on Lake Commandos again. Looking forward to the episode next year.

I fish a lot of bottom contact baits as well and experience exactly the same thing. The elbow of the arm holding the rod gets very sore. Fortunately I usually have a week to rest between fishing trips and the soreness goes away. If I fish every day on a vacation I will switch between a baitcaster (hold with left arm) and a spinning rod (hold with right arm) to give each elbow a little rest.

That song contains my all-time favorite Jim Morrison lyric: "No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn"

My favorite too! I have the Doors logo tattooed on my right forearm. My 12-year old grandson heard "Hyacinth House" the other day and thought it sounded pretty weird. I think he's weird...... For something different sounding for your girlfriend how about Type O Negative's October Rust album?

Same for me. I wanted to turn the handle to close the bail just like I saw on the fishing shows I watched! But it was too hard so I learned to close it by hand. I was very disappointed that I couldn't close it the right way! Years later I saw someone give a tutorial on how to close the bail by hand, tug on the line to remove any possible loops, and let the line bounce off your extended index finger when you start the retrieve. Now all of these things are automatic.

I used to backreel in my teenage years because the couple spinning reels I had were so cheap the drags didn't work at all. I backreeled when fighting fish and got really good at it. Now-a-days I don't backreel when fighting fish, I set the drag and let it do it's job. But I still won't buy a reel without an AR switch. I want the ability to back the line up when my bait is too close to the rod tip or when I have weeds or something on my bait and I need to clean it off. I don't want to get used to not having an AR switch.

"IKE-Approved"

I use an appropriate-size Owner Twistlock Light hook and a pegged bullet weight.

Type O Negative is my favorite metal band. Would this be "Goth Metal"? RIP Peter...

I use the same rods/reels for LMB and SMB. I choose a rod/reel based on presentation and lure weight, not fish species. Are you fishing in a creek? A river? A lake? What size SMB can you expect to catch? Spinning - I don't see the need to spend a lot on the reel. I have a Shimano Stradic CI4+ that retails for $230 and it's nice, but I'm also using an Abu Garcia Elite Max that cost $70 on another rod and am very happy with it. Shimano and Daiwa are the most popular reel brands. Choose one in your budget and you should be happy. I always spend more on the rod. Lots of great choices in the mid-$100 range to keep your total combo at $200. Casting - for me it would be more difficult to keep a rod/reel combo under $200. But Shimano and Daiwa are also the most popular casting reel brands and they each have a casting reel option for about $100 which would leave you with $100 for a rod.

You joined Bass Resource on Tuesday (3 days ago), made the above post and didn't get any replies. So now you re-posted the exact same thing again? Well here's my reply: If you really have 40 years experience fishing with spinning rods you should have known by looking at a picture of the reel seat that it was going to be uncomfortable for you to fish with. I bought a spinning rod last year and any rods that had exposed threads above the reel were automatically rejected, including the BPS Patriot rod you are whining about. I was surprised to see your location as Chicago because you sound like a Packer fan.......

What's your budget for each combo?

We use swingheads a lot on the ledges. I really like the Strike King Jointed Structure Head with a Strike King Rage Bug on it (they were originally called Rage "Structure" Bugs and were made for this head). Another creature that does well for us is the 4.4" Keitech Crazy Flapper.

I do not own a boat or canoe or kayak and wade fishing is my jam! 12 months out of the year if the water level in my local river is safe for wading, then I'm wading. The rest of the time I'm shorefishing. In warmer water I wear shorts and tennis shoes. In colder water I have breathable stocking foot waders with wading boots. I only carry one rod, either a baitcaster or a spinning rod depending on my mood. I carry my tackle in a small over-the-shoulder tackle bag.

In a later post the OP mentioned he caught it in an Eastern Massachusetts reservoir. And he promised to learn how to take better pics and selfies in the future! ?

Good points Tom! With that being said, I agree with the guess of smallmouth.....

I get it! Eastern time zone here and I've already had 3 cups......