A-Jay

I agree with @Fishes in trees. A couple of pairs at least is a solid plan. Long cold trips across big water sort of demand it but I hate actually fishing in gloves. Try to hold out as long as I can but after a while I usually end up caving in and put a pair on. Preference is for finger less models and I change them out when they get wet. Any of these should work well ~ https://www.cabelas.com/product/clothing/mens-casual-clothing/mens-casual-gloves/mens-fishing-gloves/pc/104797080/c/104746680/sc/105547680/i/104005080/cabelas-guidewear-half-finger-glove/2435080.uts?slotId=0 https://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=3108765&type=product&WT.z_btnclk=YMAL-3108765&WT.z_pg_ref=prd2435080 https://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=3169562&type=product&WT.z_btnclk=YMAL-3169562&WT.z_pg_ref=prd2435080 btw - I'd be willing to send you a pair of northern Michigan winter gloves in exchange for a Georgia Winter. A-Jay

Thank You and Nicely Done ~ While my reels are getting cleaned (DVT), My rod arsenal can certainly benefit for a cleaning & conditioning as well. The A-Jay process is very similar with a few minor variations but the goal remains the same; Clean, Check, & Prep. However, I haven't started on the stick work just just yet as I'm putting the finishing touches on a couple of veteran (insert old) spinning rods I re-did the guides on. Perhaps once February roll a round. Open water's getting closer by the day. A-Jay

No I do Not - Early & late season jerkbait presentations are sort of on the 'slow' side for me. Also I fish the bait with the rod and not the reel and there's almost always some type of pause in there somewhere too. This allow sufficient time to take up slack with most any reel regardless of the seasonal presentation required. I can not determine what you may or may not be able to adapt to. I will say the that the more tools you can use effectively, perhaps the more effective you can be. Below is a clip of the the last smb I caught last season. Got her on a jerkbait using spinning tackle. Water temps were in the 40's and the presentation is slow. A-Jay

I use both casting & spinning gear for jerkbaits. I prefer to use casting gear when I can but when wind is a factor, (as you mentioned) using spinning gear can help. Other than the casting, I see No advantage of one over the other. They both work well for me. My favorite casting rod is made by Alpha Rods - It's called The Slasher and it's a 6'10" Medium Fast - Jerkbait Topwater Rod. It's super light, sensitive with backbone, and is reasonably priced. https://www.alphaangler.com/products/jerkbait-fishing-rod My favorite spinning rod - well there's two. Both are older models of the Fenwick EliteTech smallmouth stick. One is a 6'10" M XF and the other is 7'4" M Fast blank that's better for casting distance. Finally, there's any number of both spinning & casting sticks that will work well for jerkbaits. And while there really may not be ONE rods that's the right rod for everyone, there may be ONE that's right for you. Just have to fish a few and find out which one that is. Good Luck A-Jay

So Very Sorry for your loss Tom. You & your family are in our thoughts. A-Jay

The 10 inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Bullworm is a beefy bait. Has plenty of action and is reasonably durable. (well, it's better than a Senko). We fish them deep on 3/4 oz size of these ~ https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-FIN.html?from=basres Big Bass eat them. A-Jay

It may not be all about how much a vehicle can tow but also how well it does it. When purchasing a tow vehicle, beside having the guts to move & stop a load, I look for features that can offer both the truck and me as the drive, the best chance to be safe & successful. Features like: HILL START ASSIST, TOW/HAUL MODE, TRAILER SWAY CONTROL, TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER, AUTO GRADE BRAKING, TAPSHIFT, TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGE Also being able to switch from TWO-WHEEL DRIVE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE gives the option of enjoying outstanding traction on demand. Where available, adding a Max Trailer Package can add valuable features like enhanced cooling radiator, revised shock tuning and heavier duty rear springs. Current rig is 6.2L and is a pleasure to tow with. Good Luck with your search & pending purchase. New Truck day is always a good time. A-Jay

We either get bitter or get better. It’s that simple. We either take what has been dealt to us and allow it to make us a better, or we allow it to tear us down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to us. A-Jay

Hello @Paolo Vera Diaz Although not exactly sure what your question is or if there is one. But Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Don't do a ton of 'frogging' but when I do . . . For close in target casting work - I like a 6'9" Heavy dock skipping rod. For fields of slop, where I want to reach out and touch someone - 7'6" H. A-Jay btw - the op lasted 3 whole days . .

Probably wouldn't help if I said I was more of a Himalayan Salt Guy. A-Jay

See that, being 50 came in real handy right there. Nicely Done. A-Jay

I might not be concerning myself so much with what happens this week, or next week or even next month, weather wise. But come the beginning of March and then straight on through it, I'll be doing The Best No Snow and Plenty of RAIN Dance, I can come up with ! A-Jay

Seems the older ones are available but that particular year is a bit rare. I did find this ~ https://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/281804902-2010-mercury-repair-manual-75-90-115 A-Jay

Presenting your bait at (or perhaps a little above) the depth where you believe the bass are holding is important. When you're unsure - try systematically fishing the entire water column by allowing your bait to sink (or not) so that it travels near the bottom, in the middle and finally near the surface. Then a slow constant retrieve the includes random & intermittent quick turns of the reel handle (to make the bait suddenly shoot forward a very short distance) followed by a very brief pause (one second or less) and the resume the slow constant retrieve all the way back to the boat. Be conscious as the bait approaches close to the boat because often times as the bait starts to swim 'up' in effect changing the baits posture (perhaps looking like it's getting away for any bass that may be following it) that's when some strike can & do occur. Good Luck and be careful - don't get your arm broke A-Jay

This doesn't happen very often: 8 AM temperatures (January 22): Traverse City, MI : 32° Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 33° Ocala, FL (~60 mi NW of Orlando): 30° 84 Days to go. That sounds pretty Close A-Jay

This doesn't happen very often: 8 AM temperatures (January 22): Traverse City, MI : 32° Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 33° Ocala, FL (~60 mi NW of Orlando): 30° A-Jay

Pack on the light side - My glove box doesn't hold that much A-Jay

I believe either of these two offerings from Owner could accomplish what you're looking for. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Block_Head_Offset_Jighead_4pk/descpage-BLO.html https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Ultrahead_Bullet_Rig_4pk/descpage-OUHBUL.html A-Jay

I actually just picked up a M-Mod stick last week. I like it. Been a MH-Mod man for a while and just made due when throwing 3/8 ounce baits. But the MH really didn't load the best on the cast. The new Med-Mod is much better - shouldn't really be a surprise I guess. Sometimes I'm not that quick on the up take . . . A-Jay

Rear treble switch out is simply to upgrade to a higher quality hook. But Check out that ST-35. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Short_Shank_Treble_Hook_ST-35/descpage-OSSF.html It's not your Dad's treble hook. Two of the hook points are spread to 150 degrees vs the standard 120 degrees. This allows the hook points to extend beyond the body of the bait. Accomplishes two things; 1. Reduces the possibility of the bait itself impeding a hook up - especially important during a topwater strike many of which are hard and fast. 2. On bait that we 'work' (like walking baits) having the hook point off the bait really reduces that wide arching hook rash that's so common on many of the lures we use a lot. So on wide body baits the ST-35 is a great hook for the front (and sometimes middle on three hook baits, depending on the baits girth). I use it as a front treble on bait's like 1.5's & 2.5's, medium & deep diving cranks and of course Topwaters. Just wish they offered it in RED Note: Owner Stinger ST-35 Short Shank Treble Hooks are designed to be used with baits that have the hook hanger in line with the length of the bait. These will not hang correctly on lures that feature any hook hanger that is perpendicular to the length of the lure – some of the offerings from Megabass for instance. Had to include that because as great as these trebles are – they do not work in the situation described. A-Jay

Yea - Sorry about. Never intended to have that happen. Hope you can understand. A-Jay

Having read about what was happening at that time and in that area in bass fishing, that must have been an amazing and inconceivably heartbreaking deal. I can't even begin to imagine how that felt. Thanks for sharing. A-Jay

I never have to drive more than 90 minutes for Brown Bass ~ Couple of the best Lake Menderchucks are about half that. The closest Lake Menderchuck and the one I'm on the most, is perhaps a 4 minute drive. And there are 'several' Lake Minichucks very close by (5-10 minutes) that I'll frequent often to fish from in the Old Town Canoe. Now my favorite Green Bass waters require a whole different level of commitment & a passport. A-Jay