J Francho

Any soft plastic can be used, just match the hook to the bait size.

Looking closer, that reel actually does bring them in, adjusting tension for the fight. Sounds more like a commercial device than anything else. There are others that work like I described, Daiwa Tanacom are one.

They are for deep drop fishing, over 500 feet down. They reel the bait up automatically. No sense wasting your energy to check the bait set. Save it for when a fish is on.

Ragtime jazz singers used this inflection quite a bit. Squirrel Nut Zippers vocalist used it as well:

You realize they were speaking of much larger game, where the fight is much more prolonged, and chances of the fish gaining leverage on a hook is greater. For bass, its mostly unnecessary.

Beautiful!

Well, guys.....sports are not always played by athletes, and not all fisherman are athletic. You're all going to have to accept some gray area here. As far as calling others' opinions stupid, well that pretty much kills the thread.

These are $7. Pretty cheap, compared to the price of a decent rod: http://www.therodglove.com

So much for offering thorough advice. :

If all is in order, that's a better than fair deal. Boats like that are going for $1400+ around here. Lots of demand for something less expensive to run as a 2nd boat.

Very nice!

Can you even tune a T-1? They always spring back in shape for me.

It shouldn't be that hard.....just go back to where you left off, right? I'd think that would be a slam dunk. Perhaps they were there, and I just didn't have the right presentation or bait.... But really, this has to be the earliest I can recall catching a green fish.

Me too. This fish came on a my wimpy light cranking rod: Invest in some Cortland Toothy Critter in 10 and 15# size, and some titanium snap swivel leaders in 20#. Toss 'em your box, and when you getting bit off, tie them on. The Toothy Critter is tieble, and good for T-rigs, whereas the snap leaders are for hardbaits. 8-12" is plenty for the typical pike around here.

No pics, just dinks. When I caught the smallie, I really figured I was going to catch more. Either they wanted the bait still in one place, or I just don't have a clue. I always struggle at ice out.

One fish Two Fish Brown Fish Green Fish Today was actually a double shot, kayak on the dump in the AM, and ditches in the afternoon. Neither were very productive. Both my LMB and SMB didn't come until afternoon, basically at the base of steep bluff in a cove. Drop shot. Nice to get a pull on a new combo, my second AVC63MXF/CI4/6# Invisx rig. Love that thing so much, I bought another, and the ML/XF, LOL. I really have no clue what I'm doing this time of year. Water temps were FREEZING, air temps 40-42, dropping as it turned from clear to overcast. At least I wasn't the only kook out there, I counted at least three other boats. The afternoon/evening ditch run netted only a few creek chub. I hit two tribs, should have gone to the 1st one I thought of, but never did. Flows were way down, and any pools with fish had lots of guys working them. So, I didn't fall on my butt, and caught my 1st bass of the season, much earlier than I think I ever have. Not sure that learned anything today, but it was good to knock the rust off.

Interesting stuff, but let's stick to fishing. This is too close to political for comfort.

Nice work!

The 5% nation of AUTOTUNE!

Micro, that sweet reel needs some bling

Bass are able to switch from mainly cones for daytime vision to rods for better nighttime vision faster than most prey fish. They can revert just quick as well. Hence, advantage = predator. 1. No idea on that, though I do think some fish probably have some tendencies. Big fish (and I mean bigger or biggest) tendencies are usually somewhat different than what we label "the norm." The richest men didn't get rich doing the same thing as everyone else. neither did the biggest fish. 2. Those rhythms baffle me. Just when I think I predict a trout run, or when bass will be on beds, fish throw me a curve ball. 3. Some trout are crazy picky. I often fish for "pressured" fish. One thing guys don't take advantage of is FORAGE. Match the forage, even somewhat, and you get bit. Guys marvel that I scrape up a steelhead in a pool they were just fishing. These fish that are running, spend most of their time pelagic, eating fish. Just because they are in a creek that doesn't have any fish in it doesn't mean they switch to only eating bugs or roe..... Something fishy gets bit because they are conditioned to eating fish. Yeah, some are up there for bugs and roe, or simply to spawn, but they can be tricked. For bass, that jig and pig? I think that more of a proximity thing. You cover quite a bit of productive structure, closely and slowly with a jig. I think slow fished baits increase the strike zone in neutral to almost inactive fish.

Braid + Topwater = fouled baits. If you're going to use braid, add a mono (not fluoro) leader, and a somewhat softer, slower rod. I use an Avid 6'2" M/XF rod with 10# CXX line.

Get a Mattlures Hard Gill Floater, and you'll prove it to yourself in slobs.

I used to wonder about the blowups that miss. I'm talking the ones that off by a foot or more. I figured out that they weren't misses at all, but direct hits.....on little sunnies and gill following my frog, LOL.

Your guy is wrong.