Jake P

Not as often as i would like. Sunday is my 1 faithful, untimed day. The other 6 depend on my kids, wifes work schedule, order flow at my job and the on call rotation. Some days i work 12-16 hours so there is no chance. Others i get done at 4 and hit the lake. This year though it has been about 2-3 times a week. Again, not as much as i would like but what can you do?

You're hook Set is not the problem if you're getting the fish to the boat. If you're losing fish that way more than likely its how you're playing the fish. Always keep a tight tension on the line and leave about 6 ft or so and when you lean down to grab her keep the rod away from you keeping tension on the line. If there is slack and she wiggles or jumps there is a chance you will lose her.

Never had a problem with a hook of any brand. From a 1.99$ pack of 4/0 eagle claws from walmart or a 4/0 gamakatsu. I use gamakatsu 99% of the time though.

20+ from 7 am to-1245 pm. All were holding pretty tight to the shore in small stickups and brush. All caught on 3/8 oz white and chartruese spinnerbaits and bleeding shad rattle traps. 2 biggest went about 3 and then 4. All the rest were in the 2lbs or under range :/. Had a few sandies and 1 drum thrown in the bag also. If memory serves me correct we are right on par with last year at this time. I dont feel like the moon made any difference.

What do you prefer? I drink Evan Williams just about excluseivley when it comes to bourbon. I know its not top shelf but i love it. Just had a drink and sneezed when it was half way down causing part of it to go out of my nose. My nose is still burning and my eyes are watering like no other!

Delicious.

Cavitron only. There is no other buzzbait.

I use the mh spinning rod 6'6” for senkos mainly. I love it. Also have a 7mh casting I throw T rigs on. If price is an issue, IMO these rods are the best choice for under 50$.

Put your time in on the water. Like it has been said, nothing teaches like trial and error. Something i have learned ALOT over the past year and a half.

I would get a couple 1/4 oz and a couple 3/8 oz. If your fishing ponds i cant imagine they would be deep enough to need more than 3/8 oz. I would recommend getting white and chartreuse to start with. Blades are a factor as well. Willow leaf blades are better for speed and colorado blades put off more vibration. I prefer a willow/colorado combo almost always. Trailers are an option but i do not use them. I always have a trailer hook though, it has benefited me alot having one. If you want to add a trailer there are single and twin tail grubs to name a couple. As for fishing a spinnerbait there are a number of different ways. I usually add a few pauses in my retrieve to "kill" it. You can work it with your rod as well or slow roll it on the bottom. Let the fish tell you what they want. Oh yeah, watch this. Should answer any other question you have! http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/spinnerbaits-bass-fishing.html

Just picked one off my ankle this morning when I got to work. I went out this morning before I had to be there. Anyone know the chances of catching anything from them? Ticks freak, me out. I have been checking myself all day!

Yo zuri. I keep it simple. 6-8# for spinning. 12-15# for casting.

I use a trailer hook 100% of the time. I tried plastic trailers late last year and early this year and had alot of short strikes and missed fish. Went back to the trailer hook and have never looked back since. I get alot of fish on the trailer hook which shows me all i need to see. I fish Spinnerbaits every time im on the lake, for me its a must to throw them no matter what the conditions are. I have one tied on 24/7. I use a 6'6" MH F rod. I like the 6'6" rod because i can get more accurate casts, especially when i roll cast. Although i know alot of people who prefer a 7'. Your crucial is a great rod for spinnerbaits though. I woldnt change a thing.

Gearing up this year for cranking. I am ready to give it a fair shot this year and see what happens. I have been doing alot of looking and there are so many to choose from its ridicolous. Rapalas line gives me headaches. I am also looking for an affordable price. I cant afford to spend 8 bucks a pop. I have been looking heavily at the academy H20 line and i am pretty interested in their lineup. The finish IMO is great, they have decent color selection, even though i like rapalas a little better bt the basic colors i would use are there. I like the eyes too. I think im going to pick a handful and check them out along with some of the rapala's they have on sale for 3.88 and see if i can tell a difference or see if i like one over the other. I know rapala is the favorite but does anyone use the h20 line? How are the hooks? Whats the durability like?

Epic

Crankbaits and jigs. I am nearly useless with a crankbait, unless its lipless which is one of my confidence lures. Jigs i have never given a fair shot at so i plan on doing so.

Where are you fishing at? Or is that a forbidden question? Nice fish!

I had my first round with a bedding bass that i could actually see from the shoreline on sunday and i lost. I gave up after 35 minutes. I even bumped a craw on her head and she didnt flinch.....

http://www.basspro.com/Abu-Garcia-Silver-Max-LowProfile-Reel/Bass-Pro-Shops-Graphite-Series-Trigger-Rod-Baitcast-Combos/product/11090205011917/241183 I think this is the best you can get for 100$. The reel is decent for the price and so is the rod. The reel is forgiving as far as backlashes once yo get it dialed in correctly to your standards. I wold recommend the 6'6" or 7' MH/F. You wont be dissapointed with this setp.

Went out today and banked it for 4 hours this morning. My father in law is in Boston for work so no boat until next week. First cast was a swimming super fluke on a gamakatsu 4/0 1/8 oz swimbait hook. nailed a solid 3 lber on my first cast into some weeds close to the shoreline. I got curious and started really searching and found what looked like a sloid 4 lber on a bed. first time i have ever seen a bass on a bed cause the water in the lower end of my lake is fairly clear at the moment. Leaned over to take a picture and dropped my phone into the lake...again...for the 3rd time in a year. Phone insurance was a good idea this time around so i can get a replacement for 49$. I tied a bama craw rage craw on a jig head so the claws would stand up in a defensive position when i tossed it on the bed. Now i know why everyone says sometimes bedding bass are stubborn. I tired for 35 minutes watching the bass stare down my lure without even a single movement. I even dropped it directly on top of her head and she didnt even budge. I finally gave up and moved to another spot down the shoreline to a spot with some nice cover. Tied on a Rage lizard which i picked up at bass pro for 2.48$ a pack, not sure why they were so cheap. Started throwing into the submerged bushes and after a few minutes hooked up with 3, all probably no more than 2 lbs. Nothing special bt better than a skunk. Also saw 6 snakes, which i believe were water moccosins? I never realized how many snakes there were until i was standing next to a heavily wooded area where they were swimming into and out of. One had to of been atleast 5 ft, pretty d**n big. All in all a decent day for bank fishing.

I wold say about 45 give or take a few. Nothing ove 5 lbs either. The bite has been tough here at the 2 lakes i frequent, especially my main lake. There have been numerous tourneys recently including the bps spring classic in feb and im almost certain no one has even caught a limit. I know there was a tounrey last sunday and i spoke with the organizer and he said no one caught a limit. I went this morning and caught 4. 3 dinks and 1 3 lber. We were catching 30 a day in the may-july and 30 a day again from sept-novemeber. Just a matter of time!!

The pro max is a great reel, i love it and would buy another if i needed to. Not trying to get off subject, but if you have an extra 20 bucks to add to that 80 i would deffinitely grab a BPS Pro Qualifier. If not, i can assure you you will be happy with the Pro Max.

I use a 6'6" MH/F spinning rod for senkos. I always have one T rigged weightless ready to go. It has become my senko rod cause its just about the only thing i throw on it.

I wouldnt worry about color as much as presentation. Certainly try both though.

Usually with my hands....