islandbass

If I told everyone, then it would no longer be a secret. Plugs: Rapala DTs, Floaters and Countdown, and Skitter Pops Soft Plastics Sniper Snubs and Bolts - True smallie killers. It's so "secret" I bet most of you have not heard of them. Other Inline Spinners and spoons - Ahhh, the "forgotten" lures. Can't count how many times, they've stopped me from going home skunked.

You got that right about potentially damaging the reel. x3. I guess great minds think alike. I will always free snagged hooks and lures by removing the rod and reel out of the lure/hook removal equation. Not worth the damage or heartbreak.

That is awesome, and what a benchmark! Hopefully those rods will make out to the Seattle area.

This line is not original but, "those bass you caught make the one I landed look like a swimbait!" Congratulations! 8-)

I'll have to check 'em out for sure. The Curado has gotten some good reviews, it seems like it'd be a pretty good option. What's the difference between the 200E and 300E, besides almost $100? The Core looks like a sweet reel too, but it might be just a tad out of my price range. I might have to give it a try anyway. The main differences are the reel size and gear ratio. The 300 has a larger line capacity and lower gear ration than the 200. For most bass fishing with the exception of tossing swimbaits, the 200 is perhaps the better choice.

You got that right, it sure looks much bigger than 6.1 lbs. Congrats on your pb.

Based on your description, I would definitely chalk it up to your backlashes. You know when you pull on the line to untangle it and the garbled line comes to a stop? Just about every time you do this you risk adding kinks to your line. Unfortunately, when you do the typical line check these kinks will be well before any section of line you inspect and therefore will be missed. The best thing you can do is strive to minimize backlashes and when you untangle them, do your best to undo them carefully enough to not kink the line.

Woh! That's a beautiful and HUGE-MUNGOUS bass. Yours makes mine look like a swimbait. Congrats on your pb. Let me know if you'd like some jelly. ;D

I concur with just about everything said and I really don't think I can add more. I'm definitely sold on the positive mental attitude, but in addition, I have learned you there are times that you have to grind through it. Pay your dues and you will be rewarded. As for a tip, I on my person what I call my "magic" bag. As you know carrying too much junk can be combersome from the shore. What I do to minimize walking back to my bag (if I don't feel like fishing with my bag on my shoulder) every time when I switch soft plastics. What I do is have a small plastic bag (like a zip lock or bag the lures came in) and have a couple of the plastics all in that bag and put it in my pocket. That way, when I feel the need to switch to something else, I don't have to walk back to my bag just to change baits. I just remove the old one and put on the new one. I will also have a variety of weights and hooks too. When I am done, I put the plastics back in their original bags. I think doing this has really saved time that is better expended on fishing. Everyone knows about my homemade rod carrier. It keeps my rods apart from each other and off the ground, thereby keeping them clean, and I can hold 3 rods in one hand easily. It is surprisingly easy to make. Great topic!

I might be a shorebound angler, but I'm in the same boat as you. I have only recently realized it's okay to switch it up. The key is knowing when to switch and when to stick with something. Not always easy. Insane in the membrane! ;D

First Big Largemouth of 2010 I decided to hit up my home lake on the way home at about 6:50 p.m. this evening and fortunately for me, there weren't that many swimmers on the dock. The crankbait produced for me yesterday evening (caught a nice 2 lb. bass at about 9:20 pm) and so I went with it again since the conditions were the same and the time frame relatively close. About ten minutes later I felt a light hit and instinctively went through the mechanics of the hook set. Immediately after that, my first thought was dear Lord; this is a really good one. The second thought was this battle is taking place on a dock amid wooden pilings and I only have 8# monofilament. The next thoughts that came to mind were that I had to be patient, maintain pressure and tension on the line and play this lovely fish out. I definitely got into the right mode, focusing on the task at hand and remained in the zone. Even with all of my attention given to battle, there was still some room for a silent prayer in the back of your mind, Dear Lord, please don't let me lose this one. Puh lease!!!!! She dove down under the dock multiple times, and tugging and pulling in different directions. I matched each of her points with an equal counterpoint and let my rod and reel do the work what they were designed to do. Eventually, the battled ended and I was able to lip her relatively safely. I hadn't noticed that people had gathered around staring at the fish until I looked up. A fellow bass angler was gracious enough to take some photos and strangely, other people broke out their phones and took shots. I went into my own version of what I call Iaconelli'ing it, embarrassing myself in front of the onlookers shouting things like, Yeah!! That's what it's all about!! Yeah!! Praise the Lord!! Can I get an amen? (hee hee) It is just too tough to contain this kind of elation. I released her after I removed the crankbait and to my relief, she didn't need reviving. She vigorously swam away. She leaves to hopefully battle another day, and I leave grateful for the encounter with a heart still beating rapidly and hands still shaking with excitement as I walk back to my car. I did not weigh her because I don't have a scale and truthfully, I could care less how much she really weighed. The battle rides high on my list while fish weight is left off. Conditions Partly Cloudy about 70 degrees Gear 7' 2-piece Med Powered, Fast Action Cabelas Mag-Touch casting Rod Shimano Curado 101D reel loaded with 8# Red Spiderwire Mono Cotton Cordell crankbait Don't recall name but it was brown on top with a yellow bottom.

Mashing down the barbs is definitely an option. When you said that you missed more with single hooks, what type were you using? If you can, you might want to look for Siwash hooks. These are the type that I use to replace trebles on my inline spinners and spoons when regulations prohibit the use of trebles. I too am a shore bound angler and from my experience I have learned for the bigger fish, playing them longer to tire them out definitely makes it easier to lip them when they're close enough, treble or not. I refrain from pulling them in from the line whenever possible, because that can be a recipe for a breakoff and a lost lure. So in short, if I were in that situation, I would mash the barbs. It will definitely help with hook removal. And I would play the fish a little longer to tire it a little more.

It really depends on what features you want. Performance wise, I can tell that the 100/101d is a totally awesome reel. However, while it weighs less than the new Es, the 101/100s do NOT: 1) have the HEGearing 2) have the 1/8 side plate turning. You actually have to twist the sideplate off completely as you had to on the BSFs. So if you want those features, you would need to go to the curado or citica actually for a gear ratio that is closer to what you are looking for. Also, if you are set on the 100d, fine, but don't pay more than $120, because that gets you a citica e.

Since you broke it, mention using the expeditor option and not warranty. No warranty is going to cover this. Sorry to hear that, but the expeditor deal will get you back on track soon enough.

I doubted it myself, but I was at a local outdoors show and the Lamiglas rep told me the excel line used the certified pro blank. If I had heard it from someone else, I would have called BS. I sure hope he wasn't pulling my leg. If I get the chance, I'll call them tomorrow. Yeah, I have them on my speed dial and they're only 2 hours from me. 8-)

Another vote for Invisx. Can't comment about the other line since I have not used it. What applications? Just curious, but because I use 6# invizx drop shotting rip rap and in the time I've used it, I have never ever lost a fish from abrasion. Granted, drop shotting keeps the line out of the rocks, so that might be the key.

I say excel as well if only because I don't have glasses dark enough to protect my eyes from that yellow. ;D

None for me too. So far, so good. The only time I swing for the fences is when I am batting. ;D

Defiitely the short answer is yes. Matter of fact, I use them to make the squiggle marks on my cranks and poppers because this is far easier to do than doing it with a paint brush. I then coat my lures with a top coat, so that the marks won't fade. I used sharpies on the two homemade baits in the pics below: Yeah, This one sure is ugly but it is a trout and smallie magnet, ugly as it is. Proof that it doesn't have to look pretty to catch fish.

I'll tell you what, get some 12# Yozuri hung in a brush pile and try to break it. I did, and 12# Yozuri to boot.... But with a pair of scissors. I couldn't break it off. It's tough to break. Sho 'nuff

I've done that, it's a clear sign of heating it too much. Instead of using a lighter, use a can of sterno. You will get heat more of the jig head surface area more evenly.

Nice work. Some people got it, and some people don't. You have it and I know I don't. You're way ahead of me. I can't paint worth a darn.

I just finished two popper bodies out of basswood. They will be about 2.5" long. Hope to get at least one of them done by next week.

Do you use your drag? I don't follow unless I have to. Sorry you lost her though. That's always a bummer. I think you need to give the line more credit. In pristine condition 8# is more than sufficient to handle even large bass. People in my neck of the woods are known to land 25 lb kings on as little as 6# test so I know 8# line can handle just about any bass. It probably is going to break at a higher rating than advertised as many lines do anyway. With that said, as the cover gets heavier, so should the line.

Bump up to 20#. That should alleviate your wind knot issues. There is a way to greatly reduce wind knots. After your cast, move your rod tip to either side of your line that is being pulled down by gravity before it settles. When you do, there is now zero chance the line will settle on the rod's tip. 8-)