S. Sass

cool I am a car junkie as my avatar indicates I know about HOK and PPG etc. that was why i asked if it was baked on or? But done right I can easily see $200 in one. Id probably cheap out and hydro dip one as i know mine aren't sitting on a shelf and would end up scratched.

No kidding I don't know how but I missed it as well. I missed it several years I guess i never saw the one prior to this year. The fun of researching someone else's lakes and their comments on what they like or dislike would be fun trying to get them a present they would like. Those gifts are awesome and from the looks of it everyone did a great job doing their homework. Setting a date in my phone to remind me to look for this thread next year. Merry Christmas everyone.

I have some of the H2O XPRESS Jointed 3-1/2" Swimbaits from Academy and have no issues casting them. They actually work quite well for me once you remove the rear hook. (It tangles in the joint sometimes) As for the Biwaa baits I have a trout of theirs I got in a LTB but have yet to try it.

I would not buy a New boat. You can get way more for your money used. And just because it's used doesn't mean it about to blow up geeez. Sure it can happen but so can cars and trucks etc but millions used cars trucks and I dare say boats sell that aren't about to explode. Man there are tons of boats just do some shopping and I am confident there is a decent used boat for 4k besides a jon boat. If you dont like it move on and keep looking. Its free to shop. Also once you find one you like do some research on the problem areas on that specific boat educate yourself on the exact motor and hull etc. I am guessing Florida from the county you listed and just looked on craigs list. 4k before negotiating. https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/5928446485.html or here $3500 https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/5897665285.html Here is a decent looking boat for $3700 before negotiating. https://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/5919191848.html Or here https://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/5925906910.html

Heck some fine looking and knowledgeable ladies work at some tackle shops as well. I'd be willing to say several here could probably out fish many of the locals. Awesome 40mph bass fishing. Ill have to research that one a little more before I give that a try. I'm not sure any of the bass in my local lakes are that fast. I guess the one thing that I really wish I had done better with was skin protection. I do remember my mom at some point when I was a kid discussing this with me. As I get on up in age it really would have been more proactive in this area. I'm not a nut about it even now but just simply rubbing some sunblock on is important and very helpful.

Would that be a baked on sealed job? Or someone hobbyist painting them in a garage? Just curious I personally wouldn't drop that coin on a paint job unless it had real 24k gold metal flake in it and a lot of it. But wondered how that was done.

at this entire thread.

I totally agree. But some people get all anal about their crankbaits paint job. So there is a need I presume for those anglers that are really anal about the looks. Some people just get all happy when everything matches the way they perceive it should look to the bass. I have never seen proof of it being necessary from the bass perspective. Personally I won't pay extra for painted weights but if it's the same $ for what I want I will take black, green pumpkin, and red ones for my t-rigged worms. Seems a lot of tungsten is colored these days too. I did however just paint myself some yesterday because I was bored and had some Black and Hot Rod Red paint, that is the actual color name.

Some people actually have a heart and do the right thing. Its getting pretty hard to find people like that these days. Glad the pics came back to you.

T Rigged Mann's jelly worm grape color for me. 1st artificial bait I ever used 40 years ago and still producing on the harshest days. The 8" and 12" version are always on my boat. I will say that the Mann's Baby 1- in baby bass color has become a new favorite to throw as well. Probably became my 3rd favorite behind a H&H 3/8oz white Colorado blade spinner bait. Which is my 2nd failsafe to keep a skunk at bay.

Pretty much any bait in a pond that is catching fish is a start. As has been said upsizing usually helps eliminate some dinks but ponds are more what the fish is in the mood for. The confined space of ponds means its equal opportunity eating. Large fish just as much as small fish see the baits its just a matter of does the bigger fish want that. At least that is my theory So imho your still going to get small fish even large baits catch small fish. Me personally I would try a 10" or 12" worm on the bottom. Or a nice size 1/2 oz jig with some 4 or 5" meaty trailer like a Pit Boss.

I love plastics but I fish plastics a lot. Even though its Wally they have name brand baits at least at mine they do. Not necessarily Megabass but Rapala, Mann's, Yamomoto , Strike King, Berkley, Yo-Zuri, ZMan, etc. Many other baits too like Rattle Traps and more. I would gladly add to my Rapala DT colection if someone got me one for Christmas. Some Mann's 12" worms, and numerous ZMan, Berkley, Yamomoto, and Strike King baits would work awesome too. ^^^ This

No prep necessary for me. Add trailer of choice and go. I have switched to using Siebert Outdoors as well. I haven't purchased a lot from Mike but I still have plenty of my old stock to lose first. I did fall in love with this one from Mike because the fish couldn't resist it this past year. And its still almost like new. Bluegill color.

I wouldn't just because I always root for my home team good or bad. Cowboys Texas Rangers Mavericks Stars win or loose

For the same reasons I mentioned I do not "bet" on athletes. Also I would not bet on any group of whiny, sniveling, childish "adults", taking a knee during the national anthem, while being paid more money than a hard working American will make in an entire lifetime. The Lions are leading their division and have a way better chance of being in the playoff than Cleveland since they were eliminated already from any playoffs.

You know the Lions aren't a horrible team and the fact that in the NFL it can be anyone's day or not. For those reasons it's always best to respect your opponent. That doesn't necessarily mean you have less faith in your team.

I understand it has a gear ratio advantage for power. How much torque do you really gain? Has anyone ever measured it so it's comparable?

Pretty much the way it feels here in the house is what I see you guys are responding. Thanks for the input.

I guess I don't see how the reel speed being slower helps. I never use the reel itself to bring a big bass out of a ton of slop. I turn the fish and move the fish with the heavy rated rod. I use the reel to take up the slack as I reel down to get another pull. A low gear reel just takes a split second longer so its not a issue to me that should be a huge concern. A great rod would be more important keeping the fish hooked, turning the fish, and bringing it out of its cover. But this is just my opinion not saying I am right just a opinion. I just don't understand why anyone would try and crank on a little bitty reel, with little bitty gears, to try and move a fighting fish heavily covered in slop when you have all that leverage with the rod in your hands unless they are doing a torture test on their equipment.

If your gonna have a disease that would be a good one to have.

I have a daughter she turned 23 last Friday. I wouldn't trade her for anything. God knew exactly what I needed. Considering Jaderose story I had one similar. I too am failry large as Jaderose put it some fat but Im 6ft2" 250lb full beard and keep my head shaved. I am a grave digger by trade. Well I drive a solid white 1 ton cargo van like the one in the scary movies. When my daughter was oh 7 or 8 roughly I would pick her up from school. I noticed one day all the kids backing away as I come near the curb. More so than any normal person would. I mean it was obvious 50ft space was created upon my arrival. Eventually my daughter came to get in and I asked her what was up with the kids. She said one day the kids asked her why I looked so mean. I had heard this all my adult life from people who didn't know me. Apparently my German heritage makes me look scary to some. Anyway my daughter proceeded to tell them that I buried dead people. She said the van scares them as some think I have bodies in it. From that day forward I was the guy none of the kids wanted anything to do with. When she got old enough to date I came home one day to find one young man that did not know me had went into her bedroom. I just looked in the room, nothing was up but he ran, and he found the door on his own. To this day I've never seen that kid again. Geez 16yr olds. She played fast pitch softball since she was little and all the girls as they grew up still feared my van. The ones that played for me and were friends with my daughter loved me and my family, but still feared my van. A lot of good times we had with it spooking the kids.

Im 2hrs NE of Dallas and we just got slammed with a cold front Saturday night. I was wearing a T Shirt all day Saturday but that afternoon it was 20+ gusts and temp dropped out the bottom to single digit. Tuesday Wed and Thursday it's a little more steady lows mid 30s and highs around 50s. I haven't got to go recently (last 2 weeks) due to work or really unfriendly weather. Before that I was doing OK using lipless cranks chrome with blue back, squarebill in sexy shad, 8" and 10" ribbon tail worms medium brown colors t-rigged, white 3/8oz spinnerbaits, and some other random crankbaits in the 8 to 12 ft range. I know the water temps and the weather have drastically changed in the last 2 weeks though so take it for what its worth. But If they are biting I have rarely ever not caught fish using a t-rigged worm. Oh I forgot Jigs! Jigs 1/2oz are great I use dark browns or darker greens and usually have a 4" Pit Boss or Devils Spear somewhat complimenting in color.

I picked this 7'3" Heavy H2O XPRESS™ Ethos Nano Casting Rod up yesterday. It was on clearance and I had a lonesome reel that matched the blue so well it was like it was meant to be.

Hes OK just stutters a little. In mostly open water or light vegetation I use 12lb Big Game. I use it on T rigged plastics, deep and shallow crankbaits, some smaller 3 1/2" - 4" jointed swimbaits, and even up to 1/2 oz spinnerbaits and have yet to have a issue I could blame as the lines fault. I also use 15 lb Big Game and have great results as well. I believe having the right rod for the right line and presentation along with a properly tied knot can make a big difference in what someone believes to be true about any given line. That doesn't even take into account how long, where, or under what conditions the line was stored before it was purchased much less after it was in the owner's hands. One thing that to me I found to be critical is making sure to wet the knot before ever pulling it down. If you watch very close I have found I can see if the line was stressed as it was cinched most always. If It looks like it didn't make a nice knot I cut it and retie. But I am not one of those who thinks I need to tie again after every 2-3 fish.