J Francho

I don't really make any correlations between lure size and bass size. Some of my biggest bass have come on small, finesse type lures. For me, location, depth control, and presentation are the keys to bigger bass. Some locations seems to be proving grounds for younger, smaller bass. They are often more aggressive, therefore it may feel like a numbers game with smaller bass. If you can think a little differently, discover what specific structural irregularities attract bigger bass, then you have unlocked the puzzle for that day on your lake.

For the 203, you'd have to look for used, or NOS. They are currently making the 253 and 300 sizes in both LH and RH.

I'm trying really hard to imagine how a knot results from that pic above, and how line of that spool in the pic later in the thread gets like the line in the original pic. What the heck are you doing?

Quoting 15 year old posts, trashing a dead guy, whose ideas about structure still hold true, refuting some dang good fisherman here, no proof of anything, just viscous dialog...We're done here. More of this, and so are you "JerryL." Why don't you man up, and start YOUR OWN thread about how to catch fish. I'd like pictures. I've caught a few bass; here's proof.

Defintiely reach out to both. Seaguar needs to know what went wrong, and Tacklewarehouse can make good on the credit/return. Sorry you didn't get to experience the line the way it's supposed to be.

Is that supposed to be grey? Man, that doesn't look the Smackdown I've used.

This, to me sounds like the real problem, and not simply going fast. You're not comfortable with what goes along with going fast, and the resulting effects. That's okay. If you told me (I had an 85 mph Bullet) you didn't want to go too fast, I would respect that and not run fast, and keep it around 40. Most of the places I fish, that will be fine. I want a happy partner. That said, If I go screaming by you and the other boats in the tournament to get to a spot, I think you know why: because I can.

That they use "outbreak" to describe the highest activity level... Stay safe!

That's a big fallfish! The only place I've caught them regularly is Upper Saranac. I was able to get out on Sodus Bay this weekend, but mostly chased the perch. Bass aren't awake yet, it seems, and it was too easy to catch a bunch of perch.

By mid summer, Lake O. smallies are puking up small white bass, small perch, and crayfish. On Erie it's all craws.

That's pretty cool. I've had people actually hit my prop in traffic or in a parking lot. The props were stainless, so the damage was always to their vehicle. This might prevent that difficult conversation afterward.

Not even close.

Temperature looks higher than medium, but it looks good. I was my steak bloody, mostly pink, with a thin strip of red in the middle. I've done the reverse sear on a charcoal grill, and the first time, I cooked it too long.

There really isn't a substitute, unless you include the Damiki Hydra. This is one that if you want in on the action, you have to pay up.

It doesn't bother mine - I have a tumor on my sciatic - but if it did, it's a complete deal breaker. Glad you figured out a partial solution to stay on the water.

What don't you like about the Compass seat? I'm sure Hobie would appreciate the feedback. I like mine just fine. I did have a problem in the beginning, but it was user error. It helps to read the manual, lol.

Or doesn't have a hull ID.

Try a Norman Fat Boy. You will be surprised at how well it works, and not just for smallies. https://www.lurenet.com/norman-fat-boy

He should have had them place the hook point to their fingertip, and do the demonstration again. I've hooked bony mouthed steelhead on super long drifts using 8# mono. It doesn't take much to get a hook through, even with the stretch. There's still pressure. This is why sharp hooks are so important. I believe the hook is more important, and line stretch is over played, when talking about lost fish.

I remember those reels, worked on a few back in the day. Good luck on the new stuff.

Come on up to NY. Heh...

Branching out into casting gear? How do you like it so far?

Get reading! https://www.bassresource.com/fishing-tournament-tips/ My main tip, is to have fun. Don't pressure yourself to do well.

Exactly! Community holes are often spots with some structural and cover element that is attractive to bass, and are often spots that "reload." The really tough part is finding these spots that aren't well known. That's where you can learn a ton following threads about structure, or off shore fishing.

Nope. We call it fishing pressure. It can have an effect on small waters.