the reel ess

The most rip-roaring deal in spinning reels I have ever come across is the Pfleuger Trion. $40 all day, every day, everywhere it's sold. It's a tad heavier than the next model up the line, but I believe all the running gear is the same. Smooth, doesn't twist, works well with braid, and great drag. I'll buy another when the old BPS Viper reel wears out (if it ever does).

Check your PMs

Almost forgot. I got a 7' MH Falcon LowRider rod from a co-worker who needed $ for a motorcycle build for $50. It's technically the "heavy crankbait" rod, but I use it for T-rigs and last season for frogs. It's by far the most sensitive rod I have and I have the $50 Johnny Morris reel on it. That's probably $250 worth of combo for $100. I use Lightning Rods, bought on sale for the lures that don't require sensitivity like lipless cranks spinnerbaits because they're light and durable. I have 3.

I probably would have gone to a T-rigged craw. But then, I would have already been using one since that's my go-to. It just seems they didn't want the whole BIG JIG presentation, just the trailer. BTW, isn't that Lobster a big ol' bait? I usually don't go bigger than 4" T-rigged. In winter, bass will crush craws with their lips before eating them, thus the red lips in cold water. For that, a T-rig might work better. May I suggest Berkley Chigger Craw? They'll hold that thing all day long and fight you for it.

Dude! You're a wealth of knowledge. I have one of the Rick Clunn baitcast reels from BPS, bought off the website on clearance. The drag WON'T lock down. It has the 7:1 ratio and only a magnetic cast control, but it casts a country mile. I use it for reaction baits with trebles and topwaters because that's an instance where you would want a little more free drag anyways. The thumb bar has never worked great on it either. I have wondered if RC was ashamed his name was on that reel. My local pawn shop wants newer-than-new prices for all its old beat up tackle. I wonder if I'm supposed to haggle with him, but the only time I tried with gun, he told me to go to Academy and buy it.

I'll freely admit I'm a cheapskate when it comes to fishing. I don't spend as much as I probably should on fishing tackle and I'm always on the lookout for ways to save money whenever possible. What are some of your money saving ideas? Here are a few of mine: I don't buy $100 rods for reaction baits or topwaters because sensitivity matters less than weight and durability. I've bought a Johnny Morris reel off Ebay for $50. Had to send to BPS for $18.95 to repair, but that's a JM reel for $68.95. I usually kayak fish. No electronics. Berkley Big Game 15# mono! Sold by the pound and cheap enough to change a couple times a year. I use cheap mono line for backing for reels that have braid (I don't skimp in braid, but you can reel it from one reel to another, then you're using the unused end of it) I started wire tying baits with cheaper skirts so I don't lose them often. When using a T-rigged soft plastic craw, after one side gets chewed up at the head, flip the bait over on the hook and catch another one.

I'm opposed to anything with the word extreme in it because it's so cliche.

Lunkerville is my favorite. Not because he's good. But because he's like me.

And welcome!

If can you see turtles swimming, it's warm enough to use a willow blade spinnerbait per Jimmy Houston. By the time the dogwoods are in bloom, bass spawn is full-swing. Not sure if that's universal or a SC thing. Fish that have been shallow long will be dark, those that have been deep will be very light. If you spook one you can pass it by and come back later. Their memory is only 15 min max. That's all I can think of right now.

Yeah, and usually on the first cast at that tree, ruining that tree for you. I fish one body of water that only has one good laydown on the entire reservoir. I'll always approach it with a T Rig for that very reason.

Man, had this been around when I was that age, I'd be a lot better angler now.

The smallest two sizes of Rebel Craw. It seems everything in a creek will bite that. Grubs, tube jigs, 1/16 or 1/8 Roadrunners, Rebel Miniatures like the Bumblebug.

Oh, Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I'm a better angler because I keep a journal. My wife gave me one for Christmas last year. I started first time out in 2015. I was late getting going because i had foot surgery. But I'm looking back in it now and seeing what worked and didn't work from March on. It's like an almanac. I was out Saturday fishing with a buddy who likes to bet college football. We've been fishing a long time and he told me I'd gotten a lot better. and asked how. I said time on the water and keeping a journal. He said that sounds stupid. I asked him if he wrote down his betting history and everything about the games and he said no. But that sounds like a good idea, might cut the losses. I said "Yeah."

What channel?

How does this work? Are these strictly college kids spending their own (family's) cash to compete under their school's name? Are they officially sponsored by their schools? Is there any credit from college for it? I'm guessing some have a major that's connected, but have no idea. A quick Google of the subject doesn't give much info. It seems not too many people are really interested in it right now.

.nm

Why I'm not better: Because I fish a few places I know really well. If I do catch a PB I've stacked the deck in my favor.

Kudos! I never fished a craw before I was 35. Always a worm.

Why I'm a better bass fisherman than you: Because I'll fish for 4 hours for one bite. The fact that fish aren't biting well just makes me try harder. 3 times in 2015 the only bite I got was a bass over 5 lbs.I won't get sidetracked to other species unless they're what I was targeting when I went or I'm in the back of my buddy's boat-he's a crappie trolling expert. I won't get too drunk to fish. I fish from the kayak and advance very slowly. Oh, and I fish smallish private waters with some bigger bass. PS: I don't really think I'm better than any of you.

I give myself a B. I'm fishing private smaller waters almost exclusively because I'm getting old and don't want or need any competition.That means a lot of small fish, but in a couple places there are opportunities to catch 5-plus class fish. It's not very hard to learn three bodies of water, but my goal is to continue beating my personal best and I know there are 10 lb fish in one place. You can't catch a 10 pounder by fishing places that don't have any. I only got skunked once in all of 2015 and that was because a storm blew up. Even caught two in an hour in some pretty cold water Saturday. One 3.86 lbs. Goal for 2016. Learn to rely on the jig. I know that'll raise the average size fish.

Honey Hole Outdoors was the one supposedly shot in the same day and guarantees to only show what they catch in one day. BD and Jimmy usually are fishing private, trophy managed, waters or club ponds. Not knocking them for that because who wants to watch pros striking out? You can see plenty of that in B.A.S.S. or FLW coverage or YouTube.

I look at BD, Jimmy Housotn and Roland as info-tainment and learn more from MLF. Since recently reading an article about how fake these shows are. I'm watching them very closely to see how many of the fish look like they were really caught and not plants from the livewell. That's the reason I like MLF best. When they're worried about the weight of the smallest fish, you know it's not fake. I have WFN channel so I have a lot to choose from. There's one I can't think of right now, set in TX, and the host swears you only see what he and his guests can catch in a single outing. He fishes public lakes, but you don't see a lot of other boats. He probably fishes prime times and has to delete a lot of footage. But there are a lot of smaller bass in the show. That's how to know it's not just a 30 min commercial, chock full of other commercials. Some of these show hosts have to wear the same clothes for three days to make one episode. The topwater episodes are pretty hard to fake and are the most exciting. Watch a YouTube of a pro on a public lake in the middle of winter and you'll get a feel for real bass fishing. They fish all day for a bite (sometimes).

I just saw something on Lindner's Angling Edge that has never occurred to me before but I subconsciously used it to my advantage. Highest humidity times are the best times for topwaters. This worked for me all summer this year and I didn't know why. My buddy kept telling me they weren't biting at the reservoir but I kept catching 3 to 5 nice bass every evening I'd go out in the kayak in the evening. Several over 5 lbs. Chug'n Spook, Chug Bug and hollow body frog. It got to the point I'd carry three rods: One T rig, one frog and one topwater hard bait.

I tried to salvage an old 5-6 pistol grip rod that was losing the cork handle for that purpose. I wanted to remove all the cork handle and replace with a linger straight grip, but I just butchered it and threw away.