Glaucus

I swear if that thing depletes this pond of its bass I'm going to curse whoever put it in here.

The Senko is probably my all time favorite bait. I've definitely noticed a difference in colors and how they produce. For example in one pond I fish, those bass will seldom touch a Green Pumpkin Senko but switch to Watermelon and it's game on, every single time, year after year. I've used many different colors of Senkos but never tried a white variety. I got it specifically for one pond where I see a ton of large minnows. Hoping it works out.

I picked up a pack of 4 inch Blue Pearl Silver Flake Senkos. They're basically white. I've never tried white Senkos before. I'm thinking they might mimic a dying minnow or something. At least that's what I'm going for. If you've used them, were they successful?

I reel into them. I slightly set the hook if I'm using a wacky hook with a weedguard.

I have a handful of favorites. 4 and 5 inch Senkos, finesse trick worms and original trick worms, KVD 1.5 squarebills, 1/4oz Rat-L-Trap, Ned Rig, 75/90/110 Whopper Plopper. I fish these more than anything because they work.

I saw a muskie today in a 2 acre bass pond. It was small, but unmistakable. Someone had to have put in there and I don't know why. It's like 10ft max depth. I'm 1.5 hours south of Chicago.

It aggressively slaps the blank between the reel and the first guide. Did it on both spinning rods with various lines. Even when there's little to no slack, slap slap slap slap slap as you reel. I don't think there's a performance issue per se but that is not right and is annoying to listen to. Of the 5 Furys I've kept 1 spinning and 1 casting. Put a 1000 size on the spinning for Ned's and Wacky and it's fine. Doesn't slap much at all, just when there's slack and it's only a couple times. Kept a 3 power casting rod and just designated it as a vehicle rod for all purpose stuff.

Don't need to build my own when it's a specific line that drives me nuts. Yeah, this.

Fish during low light conditions and keep your shadow off the water. Stay as far back as possible. If you're on the bank creep up and keep a healthy distance from the water. A lot of guys stand at the water's edge and this is a mistake. Pressured bass are a tough crowd. Try something new. Also a lot of times you want to bring your lure to them, not cast it on them. Many will bite if it's thrown on their head, but many also won't.

I don't think my complaints over these rods is going to stop, and I apologize to people who like them. Wether straight mono (6-10lb), straight Yo Zuri (6lb on 2500 reels), or 10-15lb braid, I'm getting a ton of line slap when reeling. If it's not braid, I treat it with KVD LL. I spool correctly. What I did was go down to 1000 size and that fixed the problem, so I'm thinking anything above 2500 is going to do the same thing. This has been on 2 different Furys, and I've never had the issue before. Why? What is the deal here? I'm now down to 2 Fury setups. I've sold 3 and went back to Fenwick. These last 2 setups are great for what I use them for. The whole Dobyns experience has been a nightmare since day 1.

Were the tails on those jacked up being packaged like that? Trying to find quality paddle tails like these that don't come with a half pack of garbage due to out of place tails from packaging.

No, but I do have a buddy who has slowed way down in recent years. He hasn't even gone out this year. I don't really know what's up. I could see a tournament angler quitting because they only did it for money and didn't find pleasure in it anymore. In fact, I watched some educational videos last year that were from like 5~ years ago, and it turns out he was a tournament angler who quit. I believe it was something about what the sport has become or something. I can't remember his name, but I guess he doesn't fish at all anymore. I personally can't see myself ever quitting as long as I remain able bodied. I literally love it and I'm literally addicted. The only thing that would stop me prematurely is the fact that every body of water is becoming freakin' private if it isn't already, and river access is becoming increasingly difficult because of construction and private land. Kickin' Their Bass TV is located in Georgia and that kid is always catching hogs in ponds and lakes there.

$250 just for the rod or $250 for the rod and the reel?

I've never used or owned either one because I don't see a need in a spinning reel that expensive. This is entirely unlike casting reels and rods, in my opinion. This isn't an opinion based solely on the price of a product in full context, and to each their own, buy what you like, and all that other stuff.

Just wanted to say we have bass on beds in my parts (an hour and a half south of downtown Chicago). Hadn't seen it yet until today.

Good advice here, and I'll add more: This shouldn't be happening that frequently. Not even close. Work on feeling and seeing bites. Braid helps feel, high visibility braid helps see. You'll get it down with other lines the more you fish as well. Sometimes it's unavoidable though.

You're not feeling or seeing the bites until it's too late.

No, and I also don't eat soup with a fork.

That bass is really skinny. I agree with the 4lb range.

Nothing about that fish says spotted bass. I once posted a smallmouth to Facebook and someone said, "wow, that's a big rock bass." People are ridiculous.

The Aird X and Fuego combo is great, but I don't think it's justifiable to get that if you can get an SLX combo for the same price. You can easily get the Daiwa setup for $120 at which point it's definitely worth it. I bought the Daiwa setup for my son and I have some Fuegos myself. Very good stuff.

I love to fish, and loving to fish means I love to catch fish, so I'll take numbers. Only time I would care about size is tournaments and for a PB.

If you wear polarized glasses and stand back you can see bass with their faces literally on the banks. They get that close. Standing back allows you to catch bank bass, hence bank fishing.

^ this Also air temp is irrelevant. Water temp matters.