Paul Roberts

The MH and M are surprisingly close in power. The MH is a little "faster" meaning the power goes out a bit further into the tip. This is why I'd spent so much time at the store flexing those tips trying to decide which I wanted, the M or MH. For my purposes I chose the M to start with. The M spinning blank is rated 6-15lb, 1/4-3/4oz; the M casting 8-17lb, 1/4-3/4oz. The two blanks appear to be the same though (and literally interchange), and I'd rate both at 8-15lb; 1/8-3/4oz, which is into MH territory to me. The MH casting is rated 10-20lb; 1/4-1oz. That seems about right. I have thrown a 2.5oz swimbait with it though, throwing from back in the butt, and it handled it fine. If they make a lighter spinning model they'll have to rate it "ML", lol. I'm looking for 6-12lb; 1/16-3/8oz -a true "M" to me.

Not anymore; Not for quite some time: https://www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2016/04/lunkerclub_2016.pdf "Membership in the Bassmaster Lunker Club™ is open to BASS members who catch a largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more, or a smallmouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, and who meet the following requirements: ..."

Bingo! This provides a useful statistic, and a big essentially zero percent chance of a DD for over half the country. You can start running your fancy stats from there (essentially South). Still not sure why BASS "Lunker Club" starts at DD. No one seems to notice??

Ah, the ghost of Roger! Still contributing, even when taking some time away. I'll add something... Rattles or not, just the action of the jig shaking and thumping around can -no WILL- attract bass. They are curious critters and if you have the patience (and it's rarely all that much required), the bass will find your jig. Now, whether they'll put it in their mouth is another thing altogether. Sorta. Dead weeds can be good too -if it's the only cover in the vicinity. Little fish gotta hide from the big fish. Hot water, and heavy snow on ice, particularly, along with dead weeds are the really bad combinations.

No, not "soft". High quality high modulus graphite -very crisp. Enough flex to cast 1/8oz baits although 1/4 up is better. Nothing rubbery or noodly about them. Crisp all the way out. My previous comment above that the spinning and casting blanks may be the same holds; The pieces are in fact interchangeable. I am very much liking these Ardito rods; They are real "fishing" rods. Wish they had one for finesse spinning. I think then I'd be covered. Awful nice throwing a duffle with three short rod tubes into the back of the truck or car compared to threading one-piecers through a tangle of groceries, bikes, boys, and other such flotsam.

Recently added a M casting. Very nice. Again, powerful butt and fast to XF action.

I have the M and the MH (and a M spin). All are very nice and quite fast -powerful nearly all the way out. Both have very powerful butts. M is rated to 3/4oz the MH to 1oz. And they are not far from each other. The M has a lighter tip -nice for shorter casting but is very powerful in the butt.

Downsize -a lot.

Awesome.

I really like them. I only have the 1/4oz and they are light for the size (~2-1/2"). But they perform very well, even at slower retrieves -possibly bc they are light. Only used them on LM (in veges and wood), but the smallies should like them. Rip-rap can gobble anything, but they shouldn't be any worse than any other. The Timber Tiger does have extra design features in the bill that might help, but I haven't used them.

Sorry... Were the Senko's on bottom? T-rigged? Wacky?

No jig fish: Does this mean no bottom bouncing? I guess I'm asking, were you fishing shallower ares? Or...where in the water column were your strikes? Anywhere diff than your previous jig fish?

Maxilla on fingerlings does not extend past the eye on any species of bass. The bone grows as the fish matures. http://fishbio.com/field-notes/fish-biology-behavoir/one-and-the-same-right http://calfish.ucdavis.edu/species/?uid=84&ds=698

Thanks for the reports. Stay safe, young man.

I use them year round. I always have a rod dedicated to a jig-n-pig. Yeah, sad that they are gone. Although someone will pick it up again. I have a reasonable stash however and each one lasts a long time.

Ditto. I get some days that kick my butt -always extreme conditions, and I'm often relegated to the bank nowadays. Sometimes I choose those days, just to see if I can figure something out; Sometimes I have . This year I've already logged two skunkings. It happens, and it's a tough go, making us wonder just why it is we're out there. I've come to throw a fly rod in the car on bright sunny days as the stream trout fishing can be a better option than those shallow sun bleached bass ponds.

Perfectly good outfits. They are good quality mid-range outfits in their day. I have a GL3 1089, and a 904. I believe they were $200 in the 90's when I bought them new. Orvis stuff is all good quality. The "Battenkill" was made by Hardy Bros. a quality reel maker.

Nothing, and I repeat, nothing, moves in the water like properly prepared pork rind. I have a jealously guarded stash too.

I'm barbless (or micro-barbed) too, on everything but jigs, bladebaits, heavier lipless. Anything heavy and compact keeps at least some barb. Jerk suspension can be modified by hook weight and Suspend Strips.

There are things that describe bass habitat better or more fundamentally than "natural" and "reservoir". From your comment about flow I suspect you are thinking "river run reservoir" where fish activity is greatly influenced, even dictated, by flow. You'll have to assess current as you see it of course, but I doubt that enough water moves through that little forested res over short time periods to greatly influence the bite –on any regular basis anyway. The wind will likely also move those mats too, and this might affect a bite. Otherwise, look at clarity, depth, and cover. Factor in where prey species spend their time. After that it's about the conditions and circumstances at work (trends to hourly). Pick lures that fit. In the present image, I see shallow water and good clarity. Looks like bass could potentially use the whole place. At least they can explore it all and find the most advantageous places to feed. You and the bass are essentially looking for the same thing.

Looks like a tumor.

The one you know really well. Although I've strayed (a lot) for me that's been Trilene XT, since the early 80's, when I switched from XL.

That's what I suspected. He uses -or did- an Albright. Try the FG Knot -awesome, amazing, breakthrough knot for braid to leader. Hey, you're in MT. How cool is that. Not all that many bass fishers on here from MT. I'm in trout country too. Lotsa small bass waters here though in the form of snowmelt catchment/irrigation reservoirs. Good to have you aboard. It'll be interesting what you find out going to FC -in wind. It's not a simple fix. And I agree with the others that operator error and confidence are generally primary considerations. But once that's out of the way, I believe the line matters. Braid -at least the soft braids I've used- become essentially useless for (semi) slack-line detection in wind. Whether Copoly or FC, the effect of wind (and water too) on that long string of molecules is the most important factor -every stream/river fisher learns that pronto. I feel that FC's density has helped quite a bit in wind compared to mono. I think it's a similar discussion as with other types of ballistics from fly-lines to arrows to rifle bullets: velocity vs momentum. Some fly-fishers suggest going to a heavier line weight in wind. Others suggest the opposite, dropping a line weight (and accelerating) as there is a thinner string of molecules being acted on by wind. I wonder if power plays a role and in some cases, or some anglers, either way might be a better choice for them. If you have the rod and muscle to repeatedly fire a super-tight loop at high velocity with a 9wt line, the added mass might help. If you can't, maybe dropping to a 7wt will work better for that angler. With mono vs FC it may be the same argument (the velocity provided by the wind itself), with momentum playing a role. Best of both worlds would be a microbraid-thin FC line. I've always said that the greatest invention in angling ever will be when we can get rid of the tether between us and the fish -or more practically, minimize it to a single high density chain of molecules. It'll be interesting to hear what others experiences are. Brian, what say you?

That's part of it. But there is likely something ecological too. That's why I had asked the OP'er about the water body.

Curoius what Aaron Martens was saying. Couldn't find the vid.