J Francho

In cold water, you'll often get what is referred to as a "pressure bite." No line hop, no tick, just "mush" on the end of your line. Set the hook!

Cortland Toothy Critter in 10# size works great.

I think Lew's was actually restarted by a buyer from BPS. That would explain the similarities, if they're sourcing them from the same suppliers.

We used to do this with Culprits, and add a kink to get it to spin on a swimming retrieve. Without the kink, it doesn't twist? That's a cool tip.

Exactly. Anything that gets you off the bank will bring your fishing to a new level. There's a lot to be said about learning the shallows from the banks, but getting off shore will open new doors.

I actually won a partners tournament where both my boater and I had to make a "run" back to the porta potty at the launch, lol.

I'm using several Saint Croix Avids/CI4 combos. They are pretty light, and very nicely balanced.

Consider balancing your rods, and also try using a two handed cast, even when you don't need to chuck the bait. I had shoulder issues, and went to a two handed cast. the shoulder issues went away, but the two handed cast didn't. The only casts I make one handed now are pitches.

Early season, a chatter bait or a spinnerbait will be a good search method. If you find fish, a senko will get them.

An absolutely killer setup for smallies. Not at all what I'd consider a shaky head worm anymore. More like a stand up creature.

Powerbait scent works alone. I remember the difference side by side with Culprits with how long the fish held onto the baits. I still rub Powerbaits down with Megastrike. Something about the slime, and my confidence factor. I've never seen a bass repelled by the stuff. It's just one of those products I don't like to be without. It's become part of my fishing. I even use it steelhead fishing. Gets a little thick when temps are in the teens though.

That their pros wanted unscented baits, so they could use their own. That market research showed a gap in their line, and they filled it with a cheaper, unscented bait, or that same research revealed that consumers wanted unscented baits. That research showed sometimes bass show a preference for unscented baits. Who knows.

That's a slob. Nice work!

I wrap a hairband around the rear grip, and slip the sinker underneath.

Congrats!

I'm not sure I recall the place of manufacture, but I've been in a couple. They were both tanks, really well made, if not dated in design.

That's a great starter kayak.

I know more than one guy that carries a portable "potty training" chair in their boat.

No, I have to do some work to her first. Plus, it's gonna freeze again, and I hate putting her through the fogging process.

Senkos work, my issue with them is that they take too long if you aren't sure where the fish are. Once you know this, you can pick off many of the fish in the area, and they WILL be stacked up just after ice out.

For this, a 6/0 weighted swimbait hook would be perfect. The faster the retrieve you want, or greater the depth, use more weight.

I'l be doing the shore thing this weekend, and I'll be bringing nothing but but short stick and a box of jerkbaits. OK, I might bring a jig or ten, too.

I'm 41. I tried braid back in the 90s, Gorilla Braid, and it sucked. No one had a reel fill fluoro for bass fishing. I don't think it was until the early 2000's I tried something OTHER than Trilene. I think I started with a baitcaster around '85. Before that, all we used for bass were crankbaits, spoons, and jigs. All on mono, all with spinning gear.

Yes I am. I rank C-rigs just above sticking a fork into my eye.

There are anti corrosion bearings in some higher end Revos, but pretty much it's like for like across the board. FWIW, whatever bearings they are using, they clean up real nice, and there's a lot of speed in the stock bearings, if you clean the goop out.