J Francho

If the conditions dictated it, yes. I caught my second largest LMB (7-1) on a similar setup. Fish were prespawn, up really shallow, super clear water. Long cast, flick shakes. Check out how these guys use the rod to move the fish. They ain't dinks, either. Pretty much. I've done actual knot tests at shows, where my speaking partner and I tie knots, and see where they break using a scale. He can't tie a good Palomar, but has a modded Eugene that comes close to my Palomar. I don't even know how tie his knot. Proves my theory on tying good knots.

I think they do it for dramatic effect. You would do this if the bass was bigger than your line rating? If it's a really big fish, and I'm fishing 10# or less, I'm careful. This pretty much what I do with dinks:

I don't fish fluorocarbon for invisibility, claimed lack of stretch, or the typical rhetoric pros spew. I fish it because it's superior in many regards to other lines. I find is much more reliable, more durable, consistent stretch wet or dry, takes a knot easy, more sensitive, and it sinks. I've never seen a baby fish attack line. I've seen them go after the dimple the line makes when entering the water. I bet it resembles a bug on the surface. That the line low viz could be a plus and a minus. Did it help anyone? Or was it just a joke? Hard to tell. Sounded like what I called it.

They should. Yes. If not, we're all here to help. I'm pretty confident in my gear. No praying is necessary, being agnostic. They should. They're doing it wrong. Watch different youtubers. BassResource.com is a one stop and shop. All the info you get up here is pretty solid. That's why they ask up here, you me, the OP, and others. Perpetuating some myth based anecdotes. We're here to teach average bass anglers how to be successful. @Bass_Fishing_Socal : Do you think this helped the OP get better? Did it answer the question? To be fair, I recommend this a lot. I don't have any lab confirmed testing, just my experience that this gives you quite a bit of wiggle room, even on a long cast. Think of it as a conservative recommendation. ************************ Separate thought Last bit: I have break offs occasionally. I like to blame them on pickerel or northerns. There have been a few times when I know I pushed the limit with something - to tight a drag, too long before retying, etc.

I didn't know owning an Estwing was a thing, until now. I was in Home Depot for some stuff, and looking at hammers, these seemed like the best quality, and it didn't seem that expensive. Good to know it will last. I threw out three bent hammers when I bought this one.

It was a condescending, sarcastic response, to which I debunked. I'm no "great fisherman." I take what's there. All those fish pull harder than any bass, including double digits. I take my time tying knots, give 'em a quick pull test, and the rest is up to the rod, drag, and my own luck in landing the fish. I think the whole knot thing is over played, in regards to fluorocarbon. Heck, I just use an improved cinch knot on some baits. I've even NOT wetted the line to see what happens. Works fine. I'll repeat, take your time, and tie a quality knot. Doesn't matter which on, just use a knot you can tie well.

I kind of like the design. It simplifies the clicking drag feature, reducing a lot of weight off to the side of the reel.

I got sick of bending cheaper hammers, and bought an Estwing. It wasn't that expensive, either. Around $20. Well worth it to me.

Or to shim it, if it's loose in the seat.

This has been a Shimano practice for at least 30 years. The drag nut floats inside the drag star knob. You can go all the bay back to the Curado Bantam A to see it.

Thanks, man. Not my biggest. I'd say that one went around 15 or so. Colors on spawn run males are incredible. Here's another nice brownie. That year, you couldn't not catch. I pinning 10-20 in an afternoon. https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xQN4kCp/0/X2/i-xQN4kCp-X2.jpg I had to chase that dang thing up and down that ditch to get him.

13-8 on 8#Invisx Unweighed on 6# Invisx Unweighed on 6# Invisx Unweighed on 6# Invisx Worked out fine for me?

I've noticed this too. It happens on a drop shot - I've actually seen it - where the sinker gets caught and you pull the line taught and jiggle it free. Once it snaps free, the bait shooting triggers a strike. Some guy take advantage of this by "stroking" a jig, which is adding short, hard jerks, straight up with the rod to get the same reaction.

I have so many crankbaits.... most are Lucky Craft, which are marked, but there's probably 50 or so that are various brands. Here's how I can tell running depth and weight, as much as I need to anyway. Tie the bait on and cast it out. If it feels too heavy or light for the rod, then I tie it to a different rod. If it hits bottom on the retrieve, then I know it will run at least that deep. That's really about as I need to know when I'm fishing.

There are hybrids. I have a Wilderness systems Commander 140 that was fast, easy to fish out of, super stable to stand and fish, and could haul a ton of gear if necessary. These days, I'm primarily fishing out of a Hobie Compass, which is a simple, well designed, pedal drive kayak.

No words.

People wait in line at the return counter at Walmart. Pretty sure this put $0 in their accounts. That's a funny closing argument.

The Compass is a fast, stable platform that really suits my style of fishing. I've added anchor trolley, but everything else attaches to the stock rails, including a Helix 5 or 7, transducer arm, rod holders, and a T-Reigns leash for holding fish I've caught in the water while I get the camera ready. You can see it in action in the video. Any questions, ask away.

That's a neat tool. Does it float?

Crankbaits, several depths. Then moved to Texas Rigged ribbon tail worms. Then jigs. Somewhere early on I learned spinnerbaits as well. Been drop shotting as long as I can remember, long before it had a name.

Yes.

I use an improved cinch for those baits. I'm generally using 15# line, so knot strength is plenty.

The last time I watched a BPT event live, all I saw was one pound 'score-able' bass after another. Most of the excitement was at the cut line.

Dude, cut the crap. We're just passing along info.

No, it's a fact that many in the industry are saying what Glenn said. Not sure why you can't accept that.