Mobasser

What's everyone's favorites? I still like to use my round Garcia casting reels. That's what I started out with. I think they have been losing favor for quite a while to low profile reels. Anyone still use ABU or other round reels for most fishing?

Its an old automatic. Usually have a small part you push to operate it.

scaleface, I'm not as far north as you, live down by Holt. Like you, I have my best luck fishing shallow water with dark colors

That's cool! I'm sure you had a great time! Jim

I'm 30 miles north of kc. Today caught 50 crappie in 2 hrs bank fishing a large farm pond. They are not right on the banks but staging in prespawn areas.It should only get better if the weather stays on track

Dorado, that's a whopper cat! I've had 2 cats hit a need rig, biggest was 3 pounds. I could only imagine that fight you had

Has anyone repaired a broken rod tip and improved the rod? I have 2 rods like this. Both broke at about 2 inches from the end. After I fixed them ,they turned out better. Has anyone else had this experience

When bank fishing, I like Muck Chore cool.

Team9nine, forgot to mention how much I've liked the info on your website. Really good stuff. Exactly what I'm into now. Thanks for putting that together

When I started out, I tried to copy all the teqniques used by pro tournament fisherman.If a new bait came out, I had to get one. Most of these things rarely worked for me. It was when I read some things by Buck Perry, and Charlie Brewer that I started to catch more fish.I've followed their lead now for years, and will continue to do so. Once I realized its not about the hot new bait, or the latest tackle trends, I could see part of the bigger picture.This explains why many of the best fisherman use only a few baits to catch all their fish, and have been successful for years.Charlie Brewer stated many times its not about the exact lure,but the understanding of bass, and how and why they strike.I'm still trying to understand all this. Now, I buy the same things that I've bought for years, simply because I'm learning what works best. Its a lot to take in. Really, a lifelong study. Anyone else agree?

Topwater baits for sure. Many guys prefer a moderate action for this.

I've closed the bail by hand for years. My Bailess reel is a Zebco Abu cardinal 4. Its a great old reel. One of my favorites. I've gotten used to the Bailess operation. Works great Also , I added some washers on the side with no line roller. Balanced it well with only 2 small metal washers. Looks like it was made that way.

Some companies still make spinning reels without bails. Most are for saltwater use. The bail on one of my older Garcia reels got bent badly years ago, so I removed it. I've been using it this way for years. Takes a little getting used to, but after a short time it becomes easy. Anyone else fish with a Bailess reel?

A super sharp hook is more important to me than head shape. There are so many on the market it can be confusing. Try 2 or 3 and see what works well for you.If I had to pick one jig for year around use, it would be an original arkie bucktail jig. Black, 1/4 oz. This has worked best overall in 30 + years.

Interesting on the topwater bite. I have tries scents in the past, and haven't noticed much of a difference.

Its a killer bait in most places. Slop moss or thick weeds are not good, but stay on the outer edges of this cover. And yes, works well over hard bottoms and rock bottoms too.

I think bass, when feeding heavily will take a pop at anything that looks like food. They are predators, always looking for an easy meal. Even if it doesn't resemble their normal food

No. Don't feel I need to.

Nice fish?!

Welcome Mark, and thanks for your service.

Braid with a flouro leader.Or good old mono

I think plastic lures look like the basic shape of bass foods. They don't need to resemble anything exactly.Bass are predators and eat anything that looks good to them. I've caught lots of fish on a bucktail jig with pork rind or plastic trailers. It resembles crayfish in length and size, but that's it. It doesn't look exactly like a crayfish. The ned rig is a great lure for bass, but doeasnt look exactly like anything. Bass hit plastic worms because the move slowly, look alive, and are an easy target for predator like bass.

I fish quite a lot of lightweight plastics. One thing that might help is keeping your rod between 10 and 12 o clock.After your cast, raise the rod up, pull the bait toward you and drop down to 10 o clock then take up slack. With more of your line out visible above the water you can see and feel light biting fish. Good luck

That's awesome Cat!

Do you loosen the drag on your spinning reels when your done fishing? I was told by a tackle repairman years ago to always do this. Or, is this a holdover from the days of leather drag washers on spinning reels? I still do it out of habit now. Any one else do this with spinning reels?