S. Sass

I agree most of the "pulling" I do is done with the rod. Taking up slack with the reel as I reel down to pull again. Obviously a solid reel with a aluminum or better frame and a decent drag is a plus but as Catt, DVT, and others have stated many reels will do just fine. I use Lews almost exclusively as well and have no problem with the LFS or Tournament MB series. I have no doubt the Tournament Lite you purchased will serve you well.

^^^ This and Stren have been fine for a inexpensive great line to use on a baitcaster. 12 to 17# I have no issues with.

Depends on the body of water and how well the fish are biting. Also if I am hunting a trophy or hunting numbers. Of course if I want numbers or the bite is slow i'm downsizing. Generally a 7 1/2" or 8" worm will catch fish any day they are biting, but a 6" worm is as small as I go. If they won't eat a 6" worm then I guess I just missed a opportunity. If the water is known to have nice size fish and or I want big fish only then probably not downsizing. I might drop from a 12" to a 10" depending on what's happening with the 12".

I agree I have some ponds that are almost solid covered with growth in the bottom and for me the texas rigged worm or almost any soft plastic works excellent. Small things like learning how to twitch the rod to keep the bait clean, how to rig the plastic, like making sure to keep the tip of the hook slightly buried into the bait, and patience will help a lot. You could also go with just about any swim style bait like a spinnerbait, crankbait, jerkbait, and just about any swim or glide bait that you could control depth. Yes that is a perfectly fine way to rig them up and fish them. Jigs are a great bass producer but soft bottoms or a lot of coverage sometimes does slow the production. A swim jig is a great option then.

Worms worms and more worms I am kind of a worm fanatic so I fish them year around but in the cold slow and deep works.

I picked up my 1st Academy Ethos rod to try as I had a cheap reel that had no rod and at $60 on Clearance the H2O ETHOSMG73H rod became mine. I do not like the EVA handle and I never owned micro guides on one of my rods so this is a new experiment for me. I really didn't think much before I bought it my daughter was with me and we were in a rush. But once I got it home I noticed it didn't have the action listed on the rod. I saw it was marked ETHOSMG73H a 7' 3" Heavy 15-30lb line and 1/2 - 1 1/2oz lure weights. In between the EVA handle it says Ethos Micro Hvy Action. But that is all it says on any of the rod except H2O Express. None of the 4 cards attached to the rod describing its parts give any description either on the Action. I did go here that gave me a Cork handle rod not a EVA, not Fuji micro guides, and many other parts are all not whats on this rod so I dont think its the same rod? I would assume its a Fast action but it actually seems a tad more limber than any Heavy rod with a Fast action I have used or held before. Is this normal for a H2O Heavy rod to have a little more (or less) tip? I kind of like the feel of it as I think it will help cast the frogs a little better. Of course its blowing 20+ gusts as a cold front is roaring in so it will be later this week before I get back to any kind of real world testing it out. Would love to hear what anyone who has used these rods thinks.

Coupon states:

Fish any time its Texas. But I do have truck and gun hobbies. So if its to cold or windy being single I can find plenty to do.

Almost exactly the same. Started a couple a years earlier but followed that type pattern.

I got my order in in the nick of time. And I didn't even realize the 10pm cutoff.

Pretty much the same. If I just have a day I want to try something different I will use the chatter bait instead of where I would normally use the spinnerbait. Not saying chatterbaits are worse or better I just personally have a much better history with the spinnerbait.

I don't know how many lift weights but I can say technology is nice. If you have held a rod and reel from the 80s compared to a somewhat comparable rod of now days its like night and day. The newer lighter rod and reels to me are very nice to hold on to and fish all day. Much more sensitive to feel with to me. Now as far as all the "balanced" talk goes I don't really guess I have the superb knowledge of the few elite who speak of a oz or fraction of an oz to balance a rod and reel. To me my old rod n reels feel heavy and crude kind a like me.

I didn't see northeast, Massachusetts in the thread title. I was on my phone killing time and didn't see the section it was posted under my mistake.

Congrats nice looking PB

I've seen no change in plastic worms. Year around it is the one bait I can Texas rig and know if there is any chance of getting bit I will. Just last Sunday I was on Lake Fork and it was a extremely slow bite. I over heard 2 different guides at lunch that same day speaking of how the bite had turned off. So I went to a old 8" ribbon tail worm and I was in business. I use the pit boss quite a bit but mainly as trailers. Not very often just in place of a worm or as a craw. I mainly use Paca Craws when just tx rigged or c rigged alone.

Lew's® Tournament MB or the Daiwa Tatula and the Fenwick® AETOS have been excellent combinations for me. Of course you will have to catch one or both on sale to get in under the $200 most likely. For something a little easier to find under $200 I also use the Lew's® Speed Spool and Fenwick® HMG rods with no issues what so ever. All 3 reels above have aluminum frames and well documented history of being quality products from quality companies. As for the Fenwick rods I started using them a while back and with the sales they had it just made them a easier choice. To date I haven't had any issues or complaints with any of them.

Mine is a obvious tip but hey ya never know. Tip: If your by yourself using the boat ramp make sure to set the emergency brake before you exit the vehicle to unload or load.

Dang nice fish. Pretty awesome but but but what about the leader? The way I read it he was strait 65LB Braid I cant believe a 19-pound monster would have ever touched it. Just giving you guys that swear about leaders s**t. Not personal just teasing.

Absolutely not a laughing matter when you have them but I did find the timing of this thread funny. I just had a episode of them that lasted almost 2 weeks. Last Wednesday I got back to normal. I started 2 Fridays earlier and I went fishing was on the lake 2 hrs and I had to quit. It hurt to cast. It hurt to reel. It hurt to drive. Well I just hurt all over. I did not go to the hospital either. After the first 3 years in a row I had them and they did the same as what crypt described when to the ER got pumped full of morphine,fluids etc. and received a nice $4000 bill the first time, a $8000 bill the second time and a $4800 bill the last time. I have no insurance being self employed and these happened before the ACA (that isn't affordable) was mandated. Needless to say they are correct when they say people are getting less medical help even with the mandated ACA because its so expensive to get past the deductible (last I checked my deductible is $8900) its worthless. So yes I stayed at home in pain drinking as much water as I could hoping no jobs came in that I had to take. Amazingly it was very slow the whole time I was down. If you haven't had kidney stones put the carbonated drink down and step away from it. And drink plenty of water. Well that is what advise I got for my $16800.00 in Dr bills. Hope you get through them soon I can definitely vouch for you they suck.

I bought a 2000 18' SeaArk ZX180 earlier this year with a 115 Johnson and couldnt be more pleased. Very stable runs 49mph on GPS loaded with 2 anglers and all their tackle. Seems to handle good to me and the ride is as good as any other similar aluminum boat I have been on.

Oh it will be $50 for one. They are $45.99 ea at tacklewarehouse.com. I think the 200 size is what I want. I'm not buying, my kid is for me otherwise I wouldn't be getting one. I cant tie my $50 to the end of my line and throw it out there. My kids $50 is a whole different situation though.

I figure go big or go home right? I mean the idea is to catch a big fish I'm going to try big bait. Seriously I kind of watch the bassresource youtube channel and really wasn't ever into swimbaits and still not, but I'm going to try a little. Party Crasher is the one I told her I liked but then I second guessed my decision and came here.

I am looking at picking up a S-Waver my lakes are usually moderately stained water in N.E. Texas any suggestions on a color? I am just starting using a few swimbaits and would never spend $50 on a lure but my daughter wants to get me one for Christmas. I didnt know if anyone might have some input on color.

Wild Turkey, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Crown all work. Aww heck I admit Im not really picky.

NetBait Paca Craws and Havoc Pit Boss are my mainstay. I've used others but I like the KISS method.