the reel ess

I'll be sure to only use on private waters. It's longer than it appears (not what she said). It measures almost 5". That's a pretty big bait. I'm afraid it might be too big. But there are some big fish in my favorite spot.

I'm very fond of the Bandit Flat Maxx. Buy a few of whatever because you'll get hung up eventually if you're doing it right. I use mine from a kayak so I'll go get 'em.

I don't know about the line length. I don't think Palm Beach Pete had done enough research to know either. That's kinda where the hook ended up after I tied my variation on the improved clinch knot to the box end. Here's the video. His is shorter as are most jigging spoons. After re-watching his videos, mine is probably too large. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjsj6J_E7Es

It's a metric, BTW. I knew someone would ask. 10mm. Hopefully, it won't catch invasive fish from other countries.

What do you think? I'll try it next time out and give a report. It ain't the tiniest wrench in the tool box. But I'm not going to buy one for this experiment. I think it calls for a day with full sun to get the most out of the finish. It's not chrome either. That's 20# Big Game and a Gama 3/0 Octopus hook. So the hooksets ought to be pretty easy.

I don't know about all brands, but bass will bite and hold Berkley Powerbait for days. I've caught a few really nice fish when they "weren't biting" that I probably shouldn't have. One I thought was a tree branch. It pulled, I pulled, it pulled, then I set the hook, still thinking it was probably a branch. The fish didn't want to give up that meal. Funny how bites from the big gals just feel different. Big gals need love too!

Whatever I see that I like. But I'll usually buy Berkley PB or Zoom Craws, Zoom worms & flukes. Just like with beer, I like a variety and have no brand loyalties. My business can be earned.

Instinctive reflex. He probably doesn't know why. I have a friend who claims a bass jumped into the boat with him. Why would a bass do such a thing? His tiny pea brain's neurons told him to.

I stick with the mono because my crankin' and my topwater baitcast rods are one in the same. But, honestly, where I fish, big cranks are rarely used-too weedy. I have another 7' M-mod-fast spinning combo that I use for small treble lures like jerkbaits that's spooled with 20# Power Pro braid. Its action is forgiving enough for subduing a bass trying to throw trebles at the boat. I landed a 5lb 3oz on a Rat L Trap with it, no problem.

Here too man. In SC if you take a striper out of season where seasons are in effect or even try to catch one, they fine you. Take a boatload the wrong size, you'd likely get arrested and at least have your privileges revoked and maybe lose a boat. The size limit and season in rivers/lakes where stripers naturally spawn are set up so that you're a lot less likely to catch an adult in-season. There are lakes here that are put-and-take fisheries where you can keep 10/person of any size. It's encouraged! Hit the limit and start catch & release. My livewell usually kills them.

Yes. My dad and I. Just a T rigged worm and a small but hungry bass.

As a kid, I caught a bluegill and dropped the bare hook back in the water while I was taking it off the hook. I caught another on the bare hook. I'm going to try the Gummy Worm one of these days. There's the video on YouTube of the guy, Palm Beach Pete I think, catching them on a small wrench with a hook, rigged like a jigging spoon.

Show up and puke on her shoes. Let her see you. If it's food service she won't keep you long.

The braid will certainly help in setting the hook.

Hell, bass eat bass and walleye. Bass would eat a baby musky.

Jimmy Houston has a video catching three on the Bama rig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvOZNM3DwbA

That right there explains why I fish when others are hunting. I can release a trophy bass but not a trophy buck. I see no wrong in keeping fish, but I do like to catch the big ones. If I catch a 5 pounder this year and the same fish next year at 6 pounds, that's two trophies to me. If I killed the 5 pounder another has to grow up to take its place and that might take 4-5 years. People who keep EVERYTHING don't realize what a miracle a 6 lb bass is compared to the average dink. 99.6% of those hatched don't have a birthday. So I'm going to protect and release the big ones. My family's not starving.

That's like telling hunters to stop shooting wildlife and go buy some steaks. Harvesting some of earth's bounty is how nature intended it. It's usually healthier, cheaper and environmentally friendlier. A lot of that fish in the grocery store was caught with a net by people who were "keeping everything" on a huge scale. If it wasn't wild caught, it's farm raised and probably lacking in nutritional value. Some lakes that are designed and managed for trophies, the owner will pay someone to shock up fish and kill a portion of the smaller ones to maintain trophy size. If you're a bass fisherman, you need to see this video. It's the besat video I've ever seen about fact/myth regarding the largemouth. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=facts+and+myths+about+bass&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=648612463D2D8FA8DECA648612463D2D8FA8DECA

I always wonder about this. Why makes a bass's life more valuable than the crappie's? Just because we think it is and we want to catch more. I like the taste of bass from clean ponds and they do need to be managed by thinning the herd of dinks to improve size. The C/R at all cost mentality doesn't apply to ponds. This isn't an opinion, it's documented by fisheries biologists. They say to remove 20 lbs/acre/year of bass min. even if you just turn them into fertilizer. If you don't, you run the risk of overpopulating the bass and stunting their growth. Most owners need help to accomplish that. I know my buddy does and I help him whenever I can. I take half of my catch and leave him half in a wire basket. http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/slot.html

Not mad, but it does resolve me to be responsible. But I'll keep some fish from private places if I'm in my buddy's boat. I can clearly see it's not harming the fishery and I always let anything over a three pounds go. Plus it's very healthy meat. I'm keeping a small slot from 1-2 lbs. only when I'm not in the kayak. It makes me madder to see people abuse one dragging it on the bank, carrying it around for 10 min. and let it go. And don't keep it in the livewell for hours for the video and then release it. Take the pic, weigh and release it. Act like you've caught a good fish before.

Rebel Wee Craw This thread should have been a poll

There you have it: No consensus whatsoever. That's a very common question that I've asked on here before. It seems to boil down to personal preference. If you feel you need one or it gets more bites, that's your decision. It seems to me (just a personal observation) the dividing line is very clear water. We don't have that so I direct tie. If I really thought it made a difference I'd use straight fluorocarbon except around slop.

Now you need him to take you on a peacock bass trip in on the Amazon. That's a dream of mine. Maybe one day before I'm too old to enjoy it.

I do. But talk to others that fish where you do and you'll get a list of things to buy. Look at the videos on this site and YouTube and you'll get a feel for the seasons to use them in.

Me either. There is a video about how to rig assist hooks for jigging spoons. I imagine it's the same but a smaller hook.