Bazoo

Howdy and welcome. With no other information to go on, I'd say you need to focus on a small handful of lures. Those lures I think would perhaps change depending on location, but would be safe to say these are core lures everywhere. -Squarebill crankbaits that dive to about 5' in colors gold or shad -5" Senko worms with or without a bullet weight in colors green pumpkin and whatever else suits you -Zoom finesse worms and Trick worms in colors white, watermelon red, green pumpkin. I'd rig this weightless, or with a split shot rig. -Rebel pop R for a topwater -3/8oz white or white/chartreuse spinnerbait, double willow in spring/summer/fall For me, those would be solid go to lures for just about anywhere, and I think most here would be able to do well with them also. My secret lure, though, is a bit uncommon, but is widely available. Zoom fat albert grubs in green pumpkin. But instead of rigging it on a jig head that is common for grubs, I texas rig it. I usually use a 2/0 gamakasu extra wide gap hook with a 1/16 oz bullet weight. It is something the fish doesn't see a lot rigged this way, and I use it in place of the popular ned rig. I would limit my tackle selection to those, or no more than 1 more, and I would focus on shallow water areas where they would work. Master these, then move on to other lures, other depths, and new techniques.

Bible study isn't mandatory, but I do enjoy it, so I do try to attend. We usually have some sort of potluck as well. I appreciate everyone's insight.

Interesting replies, thanks all. Yeah, I do like to squeeze in time before bible study, this time of year, but during summer, I usually have an hour after bible study before it gets dark. Often I'll hit it an hour before, and an hour after. I do try to be rigged with what I want to use, but in yesterday's trip I was trying the new rod for the first time and didn't have it strung. I normally take 2 rods, one for hard lures and one for soft plastics. My go to plastics generally will use the same hook so I might change from a grub to a worm. I am pretty adept at stringing and tying lures though. I do try to limit myself on lure changes, with 1 change. So if I'm fishing a crankbait I will switch to topwater, which I did yesterday. I did have 1 little guy swipe at my topwater.

Today I had only a bout 30 minutes to fish before bible study. I almost decided to not even bother, but I figured 30 minutes is better than nothing. I was able to connect with a little guy: Having only such a short time, I know the odds are against me, but I planned my lure choices beforehand and I was basically ready to go when I got there. Save 2 minutes to put the line through the guides and tie on the hook. There have been other times in the past, especially before bible study or church, that I only have 30-45 minutes to fish. The fishing hole is right next door, but having such a short time means I have to fish right next to where I park, and not do a lot of lure swaps. So what does everyone else do in this situation?

Dang @Pat Brown , congratulations! --------------------- I just got my first of the season. I had fished a few times over the course of winter, but hadn't had any success. Then, I started having a bit less time, and I made a 3 week trip to California to visit a friend. I came back to nice weather! There was 6" of snow on the ground when I went to the airport. I had only about 30 minutes before bible study today, but I got this little guy with a Fat Albert grub. New Cherrywood rod I'm trying out, so far so good. It does much better than the $25 price tag would have you believe. I only wish it had about 3 more eyes down it's length.

I have been to 3 or 4 gun stores, and to 3 different ranges so far. I haven't seen the first rebel flag though. It's about like Kentucky as far as the guns and attitude. It is quite pretty. I was able to check out some fishing stuff at a local sporting goods store. Found an interesting crankbait. Brads wee wiggler. Looks like a copy of the wiggle wart. I've never seen one where I come from, though I checked and they can be had through the normal channels online.

I had not thought of that, thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Thanks.

I did learn some about how to replace tiptops. I was in need of a new tiptop (for a different rod than the Zebco) I mentioned. I removed a stainless tiptop from a cheap rod and put it on the other rod. It worked for a month and even though I was running mono, it grooved. Course I probably fished it 40 hours during that period. I got to get a better glue, the glue I got is Custom Rod Builders off ebay, and it's so soft when dry that I can force the tiptop to move. But It was suitable practice and I think I have it figured out. I'm still using the old Zebco, and it's still holding up. I sured up a loose guide with clear nail polish.

I started by getting the Berkley Cherrywood spinning rod from walmart. It might just be an interim or it might be the end. The only thing I don't really like about it is that it's 7' - I prefer a 6'6". It was less than $30 with tax, so my expectations aren't super high. My major concern is that I've seen some bad reviews of Cherrywoods breaking/mechanical failure. But also some reviews were folks used them for many years. The Cherrywood is rated 1/8-3/4oz while the Lightning is rated 1/4-5/8oz. It feels softer in the tip, and while it's rated just 'Medium', the same as my Lightning rod, it is a bit lighter overall. We shall see how it casts and how it holds up. I'm still on the search for a breakdwon casting rod. They didn't have any Cherrywood casting rods in the store, and for that matter, the only breakdown casting rod they had was an Ozark trail and it wasn't suitable. First, it was M/H, but thats just personal preference. The guides were quite tall, as tall as a spinning rod's guides. And the overall quality just looked poor.

Thanks. I like the look of that Lews. It's a consideration. If I can't find one to handle before purchase though, I probably won't risk it.

I looked at Walmart this evening. They have a Berkley Cherrywood breakdown spinning that I liked. they only had a handful of sectional rods in the whole store, not counting the durangos and hotcasts. I've seen some bad reports on those though so I'm leery. I checked out an ozark trails 2 piece as well, in casting. It was a MH/F but not balanced in my opinion. I didn't like it. My Berkley Lightning rod in spinning casts light stuff without issue. The rod I was complaining about was a Berkley Lightning casting rod I had a while. The spinning reel I have on the Lightning rod is a Quantum Drive 30. I also may use the other spinning reel I have on the breakdown rod, which is a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 spinning. I think I like this reel better. I keep braid on one and 8lb mono on the other. There might have been a little confusion. I am shopping for both a new spinning rod and a new casting rod. I don't expect to cast anything lighter than 1/4oz on the casting rod, but I do cast 1/4oz lures, and I want the rod to not just be marginal, but to thrive with them. I do cast 3/8oz, but very rarely will cast 1/2oz lures. Make no mistake, this is a get by kind of deal while I drive a smaller vehicle, and then only when my family is with me. Whenever I can get away by myself or with just the boy, then I'll take my 1 piece rods as I don't care for sectional rods.

It'll certainly be fun. I don't know that I'll be able to get into any bass fishing yet. But I do have some cool gun stuff planned.

I don't know if I understand what you're saying. It sounds like to me, you're thinking that I said I'm having trouble casting a 3/8 lure on my Berkley Lightning rod. I routinely use a 1/16oz bullet sinker with a Zoom Fat Albert grub and whatever hook I have handy. I also will use a weightless Zoom finesse worm, normally with an Ozark Trail 2/0 offset worm hook. I keep the reel cleaned and oiled. I don't know about properly, but what I consider proper. I got into some water that had a lot of silt in it and I ended up having to take the bail all apart and clean it. I am not saying I have a problem at all. I am was merely saying what I have, and what I do with it, but that I need a breakdown rod because I have a smaller vehicle now. I would rate the Lightning rod as medium medium. I don't do ultralight stuff normally, but I have tried a few casts with some lighter lures and it is just is too heavy of an action. ------------------------- I haven't read through all the comments yet, but I'm working on it. I appreciate everyone's insight.

44" or less would be desireable, but I could go 55" or so if they are diagonal in the back of the Tracker. I have a spot devoted to the break down rod I currently have.

I'm not opposed to an off brand, if it is decent quality. Honestly, I didn't even consider looking at that brand. I won't be pulling 50 fish days or working a tourney trail, but I don't want to have mechanical failure due to poor quality. Living in the car though isn't the best thing for a fishing rod though.

I'm considering getting 2 breakdown rods to keep in my Tracker. My van bit the dust so now my handful of solid rods don't get to go much because I often fish a few hours when I am in town with my family and there isn't room for my rods too. I primarily fish from the bank. Preferably I'd like something I can find at basspro/cabelas, walmart, or academy to so I can get an idea of the action in person. ----------------- For baitcasting rods, I have an Abu Garcia Black Max 6'6" Med rod. I like its size, weight, action, and softness for an all around rod. This is my favorite rod. I can cast 1/4 oz lures on it with ease, but it will also handle crankbaits and spinnerbaits okay. I normally run 12 pound big game with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 I like a Bass Pro Crankin' stick but it's 7'3" for crankbaits and similar things, again with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2. Lately however, I've mostly been using a cheap zebco 5'6" rod with an Abu Black Max reel since it's my only breakdown casting rod. I do like it for some stuff and because it has a softish tip and does well with lighter lures. I can throw a weightless texas rigged lizard easily, with a weightless zoom finesse worm being the limit of what I can throw. This rod doesn't have enough backbone, but it's light and manageable. I tried a Berkley Lightning rod in medium 7' and I didn't like it. It was way too stiff in the tip to cast anything lighter than 3/8 and preferred 1/2 oz lures. Like casting with a broomstick. I rarely fish heavy lures, and rarely heavy cover. So what I'd like is something that will take the place of the Abu rod, in the $120 or less range. ----------------- For spinning I have, Berkley Lightning rod 7' in medium with a Quantum drive 30 reel. I like the cork grip. Bass Pro qualifier 7' rod in medium with a Pro Qual 2 spinning reel. Both are medium action. I dislike this rod doesn't have a forward grip area. I like the action good though. I like them both just fine and about equal and I use them about the same amounts and for the same things. The Quantum has braid on it currently and the Pro Qual has 8 pound big game mono. So basically I would use them depending on which type of line I want to use. I use a spinning rod for light lures. I throw a zoom grub with a 1/16 oz bullet weight or weightless plastics. I also use a spinning rod in brush when I can't cast a baitcaster. Sometimes I'll shoot the lure to where I want it to go. I rarely will use a spinning rod with stuff like crankbaits or spinnerbaits, but occasionally. I do have a breakdown spinning rod, but it's heavy and not suitable for lightish lures. It's a Rhino Tough 6'6" medium. I don't care for it, though it did save my bacon once. I had it in the car and I'd forgotten my other rods. Whichever rod I get, I'll be using one of the above reels on it. Again, $120 or less is my range. ----------------- Suggestions please.

I want to get some more experience with flukes. And I'll be working with jerkbaits and Rapala's more I think. I also want to get into tubes.

Thanks for sharing. I lost my mom to cancer. I remember when I took her to the cancer treatment center, there were a couple of hand made toboggans someone made and left for those that needed them.

My other hobbies take over, guns, casting, reloading, and working on my cast bullet website. I read a lot about those subjects too. I like to whittle next to the wood stove. Mostly Christmas ornaments and spoons. That goes right along with my knife hobby. I also do a lot of chopping wood when it's cold. I enjoy splitting with an axe.

Very interesting, thanks for taking us along.

Interesting thread. I have undoubtedly caught the same fish multiple times from a pond I fish. Who knows from the city lake a I fish. I was fishing down at the river one day and a guy there described catching a small mouth with a bump on his lip. I had caught the same fish a couple days prior and happened to have a photograph on the phone. I showed him and he confirmed it was the same fish.

I used to want to go into tournaments. I grew up watching Bill Dance, Roland Maring, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, which gave me the itch. But I never had the money to get started, and I ended up getting married and having other interests such as guns and reloading, even going through a pretty long spell where I didn't fish. But through it all, I realized I didn't really want to be a pro bass fisherman, I just wanted to be a bass fisherman with a pro skillset. I like the learning aspect of it. I like trying new stuff.

Thanks Goby. Well, that's why I ask, I don't know anything about the place. Guns, reloading, knives, and fishing are my only interests. My wife wants to see some interesting stuff. I'm interested in seeing my buddy's guns and going to the range with him. My buddy chose to move there because of its beauty. I am thankful to live in a place that is more friendly to guns, and aligns more with my values.

Tagging with interest.