islandbass

Sorry pal, you’re beyond help, and you seeking input from us is that last thing you need, because you’re preaching to the choir and we’re enablers, lol. And thanks to you, my monkey’s mind is stirring once again. ???

DS is not only for finesse although many use it for finesse. The DS rig is independent of the weight class you’re fishing. simply put, to me, DS is the rig — weight below the hook (as opposed to the c-rig, weight above the hook). Period. Done. Using a heavier weight because the conditions demand it? Simply use a rod in you arsenal that will meet it. DS is also independent of reel type.

It’s an old school round baitcaster.

I don’t like the idea of lures or weights banging on my rods during transport so I will tie on the lake.The thought of a loose t-rig weight sliding up the line banging near the rod tip makes me cringe and shudder. If you do this and your rod tip breaks, you no longer have need to wonder why. I hardly ever bring more than 4 rods so no time is wasted.

Ktulus would have been better, maybe even killer whales (orcas) lol

Thanks, Glenn. That really helped.

That python would make one heck of an arrow for James Earl Jones’ character in the Conan movie.

Longer rods also mean more line control.

How old is he? 5-6 and under - kiddie spin cast rod of the hero of his choice 7 spin cast like a zebco UNLESS he is already passionate. My daughter was 7 when she learned to use my old greenie curado.

Look up a lure called a wedding ring. They are very effective in my neck of the woods and should work for you too. Congrats on that catch!

I call them freshwater barracuda. Hope she recovers speedily.

Another pipe dream of mine smashed, lol. That is, of fishing in BC someday because the grass was “greener” up north and that the fishery management was better up there. I find it eye opening but perhaps I should not be surprised that just a few miles north of me the condition of the pacific salmon and steelhead fishery is similar. It has definitely been a pleasure chatting such that I’ll share a fear of mine... Fly fishing. I haven’t tried yet. I’m actually afraid to. Why? Because I fear I might like it so much that my conventional gear might start collecting dust, lol. J/J. I plan to try it soon.

Now that’s funny but just about true for me too, with the exception of a woman because I’m already married. Got family encouraging me to join them in Tucson. I made the mistake of visiting my sister for the first time in July. People don’t go out until about 9:30pm and it is still so hot. I also noticed that compared to Tucson, Phoenix was 10 degrees warmer. Dang! Don’t know if I can give up the temperate evergreen state for desert and saguaro, lol. I also imagine there aren’t too many lakes in the Tucson area either.

Glenn, That is incredible that the east side isn’t so hot for bass either. You raise a good question. Perhaps too many people are in denial and can’t or refuse to accept the reality of how bad it is. A moratorium on fishing for them for citizens and tribes should be agreed upon and implemented. I have pretty much given up on targeting kings or silvers and That only leaves for me to battle chum for sport. I reckon their numbers seem higher than the other species perhaps due to their reputation of not being good tablefare. They sure fight hard. One chum actually spooled my curado 201 DHSV. ?

That is sad to hear about the salmon. It is pretty much the same here in WA state. Steelhead is an even sadder case. There’s a joke about fishing for steelhead in the Green River. If you catch one in a five year period, you’re lucky. Yes, I think the fishing for bass fares better the farther east you go. Wishing you the best. Hope I get the chance to target chum in November.

I fish from the shore so I can only speak from that perspective. The closer fall gets to winter, my experience shows it becomes very tough to catch them. I think it’s more of an issue of not being able to get to them because they’re probably not within range to even have a chance. With a boat, I think that is a different story for the most part, but I’d tend to agree with that good bass angler’s sentiments. My experience is WA state from the shore is September can be really good but it finishes in October and I can forget it by November. As I mentioned, this is from the shore and I’ll add the lakes I have access to. Don’t let this discourage you. For me, it’s usually a sign to target other species like salmon.

You have to let it go IMHO. Yes it’s sad, it hurts and none of us like it when it happens. The one thought that helps me somewhat is that if the bass doesn’t survive, it would become food for other animals. It still sucks however.

Awesome! Great minds think alike.?

One cast last is exactly that. However, allow me to shed some light ?. Messed up casts as you described don’t count so they could not possibly be your last cast. ? I have been known to “last cast” 15 minutes past the first last cast.

Thanks, I kind of figured that but since you’ll mostly find on threads with higher end gear and or rattle bait monkey cages, I must have missed those. I too have run into folks like that and if they knew how much time paying my dues to make mental and physical notes, experimenting with techniques, tweaking this and tweaking that, and on many occasions, despite the knowledge gained large or small, and still going home without even a blue gill nibble, they might even be shocked that I chose to persevere and never gave up, like many of you here. Others have already chimed with decades of experience under their belt they still realize there is still so much to learn and that is so true! I appreciate that you gave them the pep talk and encouragement because many of these young guns could easily give up and turn toward immediate gratification on the social media platform of their choice and let go in that cyber world. I am not even close to being an expert but more often than not, if folks are open, I’d share what I know with them. I recall once when I was fishing a father and young son started fishing close to me. As they got close enough for me to see his gear I noticed he had an ugly stick tiger type rod and probably 20-30# maybe even higher up line. I asked what he was targeting and he said whatever is biting. From the looks of it, you could tell the dad was a newbie and to add more pressure, the gills were super active. I showed him how to tie the palomar knot, prepare a DS rig (all my stuff) and he set up my UL rod for his son. I showed him how to put on the night crawler and his son was into the action in no time flat. The little boy was very excited and happy catching those gills. When all was said and done he mentioned to me, “Thanks for helping me look like a hero to my son.” That said it all and made my day. Lastly to those you might encounter who get discouraged about going days or weeks without catching fish. Tell them about my brother. The ideal story of persistence. For nearly 14 years I had been trying to get him to catch his first bass. It took him that long. So tell them they have nothing to cry about, lol.

Great advice and very true. I know I put in my time, from the bank to boot and concur 100% Just curious. What prompted you hold this mini pep rally?

I’m speaking from experience and trying to save you the surprise discovery of finding out a RH reel felt awkward. Then it dawned on me. It is called a RH or LH reel because that hand, regardless of the angler’s hand dominance will turn the handle. The first casting reel I bought was an RH because I was right handed and therefore should use a “right-handed” reel, lol. if you played baseball in your youth, you most likely used your dominant hand to throw the ball and the other to catch. So, if we use our right hand to throw the bait, it makes sense that we should choose a LH casting reel because our throwing/casting hand is our right. with that said, there are exceptions however bass akward our angling breathren here who actually take the take to switch hands while the lure is in mid-air (just rubbing some, said lovingly and jokingly). And, I will bet a rapala dt6 you won’t be one of them, lol. There once was a guy driving to the airport to catch a flight ✈️. He saw a sign that read “Airport Left,” so he turned around and went home.

I am willing to bet a floating rapala Minnow that you will feel 1000 times better with a bc reel with its handle on the same side as your spinning reel(s). I guarantee it and because you’re somewhat in my neck of the woods we have traditionally gone against the “traditional” RH casting as is done/standard practice in other parts of the country. You will find most silver torpedo hunting anglers using casting gear that are RH dominant use LH reels. we (the Pacific Northwest) probably account for 85% of Shimano’s LH sales, lol if you retrieve with your LH, then get a bc reel in the same fashion. Sure, try both LH and RH. I will repeat my guarantee. You will instantly choose the former. If not, send me your address. The Minnow will be on its way. Ending this debate/discussion now and in the words mentioned at the end of every iron chef battle, “It’s ovah!” ’nuff said ??

Sounds like you might live in south king county, lol.

I’d just get some thin, malleable wire. Insert it through that body and bend the end like a v shape or whatever so that the wire doesn’t come out. Then tie a loop on the other end. I would then tie my tag end to the loop with a very loose improved clinch knot with only 3 wraps. Why? So that if I had to break it off, it will be easy to do.