Everything posted by A-Jay
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Think in terms of the line's diameter itself when compared to Mono. Most braided lines in the 20lb class have a diameter similar to 6lb mono. That's pretty thin and not routinely used on a casting reel. Combine that with the braids tendency to dig in / bury itself into the spool when not spun on under sufficient tension, and you have a formula for back lashes. Learning to use (and especially cast) revolving spool reels is challenging. Additionally, when first using braided line, there is a learning curve here as well. Seems to me you're try two new things at once. I'd recommend spinning off the braid, spooling up with some 15lb mono and learn to cast & fish the reel with that. Then, once you've got it down and feel confident & comfortable with the equipment, consider going back to the braid. I will tell you from experience that 40 pound braid is a very nice mix of size, manageability & strength for a casting reel. 30 lb is good too, but it's just a little more challenging in the management department. Good Luck A-Jay
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Every Boy does indeed need a puppy ~ My son & Kodi were best buddies and rack mates for most of his childhood. A-Jay
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Congratulations Kevin ~ That's a great Way to kick off a new technique. A-Jay
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Out-Standing Name ! I can hear it now - Biscuit - get off the bed Biscuit - stop chewing the sofa Biscuit - stop eating that Biscuit Ah, the Good Times . . . . A-Jay
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Congrats on the new stud of a Puppy ! What's the little knucklehead's name ? A-Jay
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So your a zoo keeper in your spare time. Nice job Dr Doolittle . A-Jay
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To some ~ to others, an Epiphany. A-Jay
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I should have been more specific, my apologies. In your initial post you mentioned the "cover with all the timber and lily pads". I recommended a frog (More specifically a hollow body bait like the Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog) for a couple of reasons. First and fore most, these baits are easily worked through and very effective in heavy cover. Secondly, where ever there are pads, there are usually at least a few frogs - and bass count on it. Good Luck A-Jay
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Often times the surrounding terrain can you an idea of how deep a body of water might be - especially a small one. If the immediate area is hills and valleys that slope down into the water, that could indicate some depth. But if the whole area is flat, with little to no elevation change - the lake bottom is more than likely similar; little more than a puddle. Before I hauled a yak in there, I'd fish it from shore once and see what's up ~ Bring a frog bait. Good Luck A-Jay
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"The Johnny Cash" A 10 inch Black Berkley Power Worm & a Black Bullet weight. A-Jay
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When I fish swim baits in the fall - it's almost always a Berkley hollow belly or a Flat Back Swim Shad on a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce Owner Saltwater Bullet jig head. Covers water well. I'll use the 1/2 ounce down to 15 feet or so on big flats and over / around mid-lake humps. Love working the 3/4 ounce off moderate to steep drops. Working up the drop is almost always better than working down. A slow constant retrieve with an occasion stop to re-contact the bottom is the deal. I'll position the boat up shallow, often times right on the bank, make a long cast into deep water well over the edge of the drop and work it back. If it's windy, as fall often is, I use medium heavy spinning gear and braid on this technique - long bomb casts are nice. Besides Fat Green & Brown Bass, I'll often get big pike & walleye doing this as well. I wrote about it in another thread, but the Freedom Hydra head is also a great option here. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143394-ever-use-swim-jigs-without-skirts/?p=1596651 A-Jay
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Nice Job - you know they say the memory is the first thing to go . . . . A-Jay
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Feeling a little like Autumn over this way too - but I'm in denial August can some times be tough sledding here. But this year the first two weeks were very good and so far the last two have been just the opposite - dink fest. Seems like the fish are a in negative or neutral mood at best. Once the days start to get noticeably shorter and the frost is on the pumpkin - these lakes often Explode. Timing is everything. I've had a few outrageous nights in September and even October here; but routinely the days are very good too. Swimbaits, big spinner baits, jerk baits and jigs do a lot of damage for me in the fall. I essentially fish the same places I fish in the spring. A-Jay
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X2 ~ Raul - I am the same way. What I have found is that I actually like to retrieve rather quickly. - meaning I like to turn the reel handle fast. So by using the a specific gear ratio (or IPT reel) I can maintain the same (or something very close) retrieve cadence and get the bait speed I'm actually looking for. That said, when burning a bait (lipless, spinner bait or even a crank bait) and using a fast reel, I still have to remind myself to slow down - especially once the bite come on. I guess I might get a little amped up. A-Jay
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Cool Picture - I'd call that one the Mickey Munch . . . . . A-Jay
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Once I started actually weighing fish, the "Trophy" threshold for me was always a 10 plus largemouth & a 6 pound plus smallmouth. I'd have been hard pressed to do here. Thanks to this forum, and a couple of fairly decent dudes, I'm at an 11-11 largemouth & a 6-6 smallmouth. Thank You Dwight & Jeff. A-Jay
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Glad to hear it's working out for you. A-Jay
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Freedom Tackle makes an interchangeable jig head design that works as a swim jig (without a skirt). I used them a little at the end of the season last year and they showed real potential. Fall is a big swim jig season for me especially with a swim bait trailer so I'm really looking forward to fishing this bait more. The rig comes with a hook that's not bad but I've been pleased to find that just about any hook will work. The Hydra head works well deep in open water or over cover.(I use an exposed Laser Trokar Flipping hook) The Stealth head is at it's best a little shallower and the design comes through cover well. (I use a tex-posed EWG, either a Laser Trokar Mag Worm hook or an Owner wide Gap Plus). Check them out. http://freedomlures.com/Freedom_Tackle/Products/Entries/2014/4/15_Hydra.html A-Jay
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For me, each new season is it's own deal. There really is nothing to gain by comparing them. I fish several lakes each year and each season they change. One might be better one year and then no so much the next. I like to look at my fishing in 3 different ways ~ 1- I want to catch fish - doesn't matter the size - just want to catch. It's about numbers. 2- I want catch bigger fish, numbers are not a factor, but it's all about size here. 3- And this one is often the most challenging; I want to catch bass the way I want to catch them. Meaning a certain lure or technique - often this is attempted when learning something new - but not always. A-Jay
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Interesting question. There are many portions of this "hobby" that I would certainly benefit from improving on. The short list would include: Learning more about the local bass populations situational & seasonal movements. Knowing more about what the bass here eat, specifically where & when would be good. My deep cranking skills are only basic at best. I'm betting that there are some important nuances of that technique that I don't know or am brushing over which is reducing my success. I need improve my ability to skip a bait into & under cover (dock & trees). My swim bait experience (the 2 ounce plus jobs) is minimal and something else I should step up. As for the Umbrella (A-Rig) deal, though I have several, I'm a total Noob. I love to fly fish for bass but my fly casting skills could use some Big Time work; especially with larger flies. Despite these short comings (and I'm betting there are several more I just don't know about), some how I've managed to do OK. So I'm not sure where that puts me on any scale. Either way, with the exception of some very special personal relationships, there's nothing else on this planet I enjoy more. A-Jay
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Catt, we're gonna need a bigger boat . . . . A-Jay
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Hello Joey and Welcome to BR ~ Good Luck with the new Yaks A-Jay
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I'd like to reunite the Scounga Club south of the border. A-Jay
