king fisher

No. Not your fault. In my boat it's always the rod and reels fault.

Any Denver fans want their draft picks back. Not sure if Russ can cook.

I set my reels as recommended in the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer. Then I play with the brakes until I can cast effortlessly far enough to catch any fish that I am targeting. After fishing with the reel, for awhile, and catching bass with absolutely zero difficulty, I always decide to start backing the break off in order to get a few more feet of distance. Even though I already know the few extra feet, wont help me catch more or bigger bass. I continue to back the breaks off until I get a grade 10 AA backlash. I then spend the next 20 minuets of prime fishing time practicing, my already highly perfected back lash removal skills. After once again proving my master angler untangling qualifications, I adjust the break back to a more conservative stetting's, and resume catching fish. Why I always think I need to back the breaks off to the very edge of the casting cliff, I can't say for sure. Maybe it is the thrill of feeling the line start to explode while I adjust my thumb pressure successfully avoiding disaster at the very last micro second. Most likely I just don't feel like I have had a complete day of fishing if I haven't had the pleasure of picking out a monster back lash. I'm not really sure, but it happens so often, I don't foresee any behavioral change on my part. Maybe a new reel will help?

Everyone is different. Whatever it takes for you to present the lure correctly to the bass. I have seen people hold spinning rods upside, down, that put the lure softly on target every time. Fishing is the best way to find what mechanics work best for you. Catching trees, is part of the learning experience, but so is landing bass. Having a fun time on the water, while perfecting your casting skills is a win win.

I will share my story of the fish I lost in 2022, as soon as the nightmares stop, and I can tell the story without crying. My wife say's I need to move on, but she doesn't believe letting the Bait Monkey move in the house is the best first step in the healing process.

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Chapala Jalisco Mexico. Perfect climate, highs in the summer are in the low 80's, with lows in the mid 60's, winter highs mid 70's, with lows around 60 degrees. 50 mile long lake full of bass, and on a busy day there may be 4 or 5 bass anglers on the water. There is a large US and Canadian retirement community. There are many hiking trails, bike trails, coffee shops, gyms, and yoga classes for my wife, and big bass for me. Drug violence in Mexico is over exaggerated. Yes drug gangs do shoot each other, just like they do in the states. The police and politicians are often in the cartels pockets, but that has nothing to do with the safety of retired people minding their own business. There are zero road rage shootings, and I haven't heard of any school kids getting shot in school. Most of the time when you hear about an American getting killed in Mexico by drug gangs, the press didn't bother to find out the whole story. A Canadian was murdered in PV a few years ago. It was all over the news in Canada. Head line read Canadian killed in dangerous Mexico. I new the man and was shocked. He was shot in the back of the head while getting a coffee at Starbucks. It ended up he was the head of a gang in BC. The hit was done by a Canadian mobster, and he had been hiding out in Mexico for years after they tried to blow him up in Vancouver. He wasn't even shot by a Mexican. Another time some college girls from Sweden were murdered in Acapulco. It was a terrible crime, and caused many tourists to quite going there. Again the news papers did not convey the whole story. The girls spent a week hanging out with some drug dealers snorting coke, and smoking meth. in the drug dealers condo. After a week, they got bored with the drug dealers, and decided to move in with some tourist men they met on the beach. When they moved out of the drug dealers condo, they decided to take some drugs and booze with them. When the dealers came back to their condo and saw the girls had moved out with their booze and drugs, they did exactly what a drug dealer in the states might do. Of course these women did not deserve to get murdered, and I assume the police made zero effort to apprehend the murderers, but if they had not spent a week taking drugs with obvious cartel members, they would have had a nice tropical vacation. Can you get killed by a stray bullet in Mexico? Yes, but the odds are about the same as getting shot in the US. If you want to take drugs, and party all night long, it is easy to find trouble. The attitude, what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico can get you in trouble. Catching giant bass that have never seen a spinnerbait will only get you sore arms, and a permanent smile. If you want to live somewhere that is inexpensive, has a large US retirement community, a fantastic climate, very little fishing pressure, is safe, and has giant bass, than Chapala is the place.

All my lures were practice plugs last time I went fishing.

Zoom- Trick worm, Magnum Trick worm, Ole monster. Green Pumkin, Watermelon candy, and Junebug. Gary Yamamoto -- 7 inch, and 5 inch Senko. Black blue flake, Junebug, Green pumkin. Reaction Innovations -- Skinny dipper, and little dipper. Purple smoke. Spicy Beaver- Hematoma, Sexy shad. Strike King-- Rage Bug and Rage Craw. Okeechobee Craw, Falcon Lake Craw

I don't worry about it. I use whatever handle is on the reel when I buy it. I retrieve the lure the speed that makes the bass strike. If they want it fast I turn the handle fast, and if the want it slow I turn the handle slow. If I can't retrieve the lure fast enough, I try another lure. If I get tired I take a break. If I don't catch any fish, I will not blame the lack of success on my fishing skill, because it has to be the result of my handle not being the right size, or maybe moon phase, depending on the day.

My Alaskan truck. My Alaskan Truck

I am the worlds worst knife sharpener. It was very embarrassing making my living as a big game guide in Alaska, and not being able to sharpen a knife. I would start capping and butchering a moose, with one of doze sharp knifes, and by the time I was done, their would be dull knives and whatever latest knife sharpener I bought from the guy at the last years sportsman's show littered all over the tundra by the kill. I would go in to a sportsman's show with a bag full of knives, and keep coming back to the booth with a guy hawking a new knife sharpening tool, until they were all sharp. Then I would buy what ever sharpener he was selling and would leave with high hopes. Hunters would feel sorry for me, and leave me their knives and sharpeners as tips. I have owned them all. In order to save weight in my pack I started buying light Victornox paring knives, which I would give away at the end of the season. I even did all the hide work on a large brown bear once with a scalpel and a whole pack of disposable blades As luck would have it. After my guiding days were through, I discovered a knife sharpener that works great for me. When I told my friends I discovered a sharpener that I could get a knife razor sharp with, the first reaction was shock, then uncontrol able laughter, and finally they purchase the sharpener. If I can get a knife sharp with this tool, than I'm am sure anyone with a pulse can do it too. Only problem is you have to be where there is power. It would be nice if they made one that ran on batteries. Maybe they do, It's been a few years since I bought mine.

I lost two spinnerbaits a few weeks ago, and the Bait Monkey talked me in to making 9 to replace the two. I fall for the same trick every time, I must be a slow learner.

I went on the Academy website, to see if I could get some good deals on H2O crankbaits. They show only two hard baits, and they are the regular price. I looked at other of brands hard baits, on their site, and was surprised to see the same thing. Normal soft bait selection, but hard baits are no where to be found. Strange that Rapala, and Strike King crankbaits were also being eliminated. I hope this is a temporary situation. H2O square bills are as good as any plastic crankbaits made.

Problem is in the Descriptions on TW and other sites don't say what the platform is, and they use different line sizes on their capacity ratings, making it difficult to compare models. Do you know what platform the Coastal 200 is? I preferred it over the Coastal 150. I don't remember it being larger than the coastal 150. What do they do different besides paint them blue for the coastal classification? Thanks Tim.

I lost two combos overboard a month ago, and have finally replaced the equipment. One of the reels I lost was a Diawa coastal 200. I replaced the Coastal with a Tatula 150. I saved $100, but think I might have been better off spending the extra money. I was surprised to find the Tatula 150 was significantly larger than the Coastal 150 I have. I don't have a 200 to compare it to, but I think it is larger than the 200 too. I have only been able to cast around the marina and haven't been fishing, but with the little casting I have done, the 150 feels more like my used Tat CT than my old Coastal 200. The 200 was smoother, and had a more solid feel. They both hold the same amount of line, and the Coastal is saltwater rated, although I don't really know what they do to give it that classification. I only have minor regrets, the Tatula 150 is far better than my old Ambassador's and I am sure I it will be reeling in bass for many years to come. I wish I would have learned by now, once I find something I like I should stick with it, even if it costs a little more. The other reel I lost was a Tatula CT. I replaced it with a JDM Zillion SV. There is no real comparison between these two. The Zillion is the smoothest best casting reel I have ever held in my hands. I was expecting a big jump in performance, but I wasn't prepared for the night and day difference. I may find myself changing baits and techniques only because I want to use the rod with the Zillion on it. Only one day after getting my new gear, The Monkey was limping down the street crying from getting severely beaten up by my wife. He looked at me, smiled and mouthed the word Zillion. I don't think I will throw any more combos overboard, but I may find a way to justify getting another Zillion. I wish I would have had the option to actually hold the reels in my hand before ordering. Living in Mexico does have it's disadvantages. Descriptions on the internet are good for getting specs, and comparing price, but being able to actually hold a reel is a big plus. Now that I have my new gear, I need to go fishing. I sure hope the kid with the soda bottle for a rod and reel isn't at the launch when I get there. Watching him catch more bass than me, after all the money I spent would not be fun. I wont mind it so much after the credit card is paid and the sting has wore off, but getting embarrassed on my first day back, could really hurt.

Diawa Ardito. I recently lost a medium, and a medium heavy Ardito over board. I upgraded reels, but replaced the rods with the same same ones I lost. Difficulty with getting full length rods to Mexico was one reason, but I would probably use them even if I had a boat and lived in the States.

My daughter in-law, just flew in today, and brought my new rods, reels, and tackle with her. The Bait Monkey will not be back until April 2023 for my birthday.

A good fastball, and the ability to go Nine innings if needed.

I have multiple rods and reels, because the Bait Monkey twisted my arm.

Great. A bass breaks me off, steals my hook, then gives it to another angler.

I sure hope the Bait Monkey is off by back by then. I'm sure he is already planning on getting my Social Security check directly deposited to his account.

I wish I had a neighbor that would do my yard work, while I bass fish. Just saying, if I'm going to make a wish, I might as well wish big.

I use a snap swivel when fishing inline spinners for any species. Line twist isn't always a problem, but is a possibility. As others have said, you don't have to use a swivel, but as far as I am concerned it sure doesn't hurt to use one.

The lake I fish the most takes me 3 hrs. to drive there, I fish for 12 hours, then a 4 hour drive to get home. My friends think I am crazy, especially since I can launch my kayak and go saltwater fishing, right from the dock I where I keep my kayak. They can laugh all they want, it doesn't bother me. None of my laughing friends have ever landed a bass over 10 pounds. I have a chance at hooking a DD. on every cast 12 months a year at this lake. For me, a chance at a big bass is worth a long drive.