J Francho

There's no exact science, but most of the time, you feel them dropping the bait. I did have a day where they were literally just grabbing the skirts on frogs, and pulling them under. It was weird. Bass on beds will just lip the ends as well. But if their eating, it's a gulp.

Keep it simple, cast upstream parallel to the shore at bassy targets.

Hopefully he obeys the laws! I know it only took once for me to learn this lesson. Apparently a speeding ticket is a speeding ticket. Affects insurance on two vehicles. That was a long time ago, way before I had this or my Xpress. I wait until a calm day, and head from the bay to Lake Ontario where it's wide open, and safe to run wide out.

Even better. Sounds like fun. Performance boats aren't everyone's cup of tea, I get it. Time and a place. Thanks for the info on the weight. Sounds scary fast. The bay by my house is 25 mph limit. It's painful when your the only one on the lake. And yes, the sheriff runs speed traps on the water.

You have dark and light covered then. Anything else, I think is just if you like it.

I like top waters with some contrast on their back, so I can see them. You have a black belly, a white belly, so maybe the yellow frog with a chart. belly is a good addition. Color, is pretty low on my list of things I feel like matter, though. But, I do like to have a selection.

I always felt like the bigger spooks and sammies were the easiest to walk.

Holy cow! Nice fish!

Given that some of these new boats weigh in excess of 3500 lbs., I don't see it as excessive, for the enthusiast driver. The same argument can be said for high performance cars. My hull may be close to 22' (21' 10" to be exact), but it only weighs 1280 lbs. That's one of the heavier versions, with a dual console. 400 hp would be silly on my boat, never mind that they perform better using the small block 2.5L plant. I can get 85+ mph with a certain prop and set up, though I prefer my current setup that sacrifices top end for hole shot and plane speed. Driving is always a matter of incremental increases. I started and couldn't get over 65. I've driven a 20' Bullet over 90, a competition hull, set up for top end speed. Obviously, no one goes out and buys a Porsche 911 GT3, and expects to run it at the edge in traffic first time out. Same goes bass boats.

Wipe it off, or run it under a gentle running water.

They should be the same part number, across each of the gear ratios. You can easily check the schematics for this by downloading them from the Shimano website.

Those nibblers probably aren't bass. Bass rarely nibble:

My only caveat with super high end spinning reels, is they can be difficult to work on, if you like to do your own maintenance. While the Stella needs very little maintenance, it requires some specialized tools (at least the last several I worked on, roadwarrior's to be specific) to completely disassemble. Though, if you buy the USDM version, I'm pretty sure Shimano takes care of that for you at very minimal cost. Personally, I've been satisfied with my three copies of original Stradic CI4. They've held up to tons of smallies and even some trout over 10 lbs.

No comment - y'all can see my avatar, lol.

What makes you think they aren't taking the worm all the way on the initial strike? It's pretty unusual they do not, outside protecting bedding areas. Feel a tap, set the hook. All you're waiting for is the fish to determine whether it's edible or not, and reject the bait.

If I was using it this way, I'd use 15# braid, and a 8-12# mono leader. A senko is heavy enough that leader material won't matter, but you'll be able to toss little top waters without issue. In fact, I have a rig set up just like this. I also use it for little jerk baits and wacky jigs.

Then rig it with a zip tie break away. Then if it's snagged, yank hard enough to break the zip tie, and pull the anchor up by the bottom.

BTW, I only point out our disagreement over this, simply out of the respect myself and many have for you. You're right, not a wrong/right, but maybe/maybe not. Thanks for understanding.

Not that I would know anything about that, lol

Sounds like you got it in there backwards?

What kind of fish? Schooling fish will do that.

Not unlike when I'm out in Lake Ontario. Place is like an ocean. I actually have the VisiCarbon product. The 4-bulb upgrade is worth the $15 as well.

All I'll do on my lakes is catch zebra mussels, and fray the line. Really, you're just tossing out deeper than guy fishing the shore. You can feel what is down there pretty well. I guess maybe my perspective is a little different, since I've been using what we now call a drop shot since I was a kid. We called the rig "off the bottom." A split shot rig was called "on the bottom." Sounds backwards, but we meant where the bait was. These aren't any kind of official terms, either. Just how kids talked before the internet was there to show us all this stuff.

All true, except I use this when kayaking: http://www.yakattack.us/visipole-ii-geartrac-ready-includes-flag-and-mighty-mount/

Not sure I agree with this statement. What makes you think it isn't a good choice? I can't tell you how many nice kicker fish I've caught off the back of the boat in team tournaments dragging this around while the front man was concentrating on some small area..