A-Jay

"How to find bass . . electronics or not What do you do ?" Whether you realize it or not, I'll be the first to tell you that as a new boater & bass fisherman or as an experienced angler, "how to find bass" IS the hardest part of this sport. And how & when to use one's electronics is probably running a very close second. Accordingly, there is no simple explanation or a flow chart to help answer either. Finding active bass and then figuring out how to catch them is the very essence of bass fishing. So while the hookset is a ton of fun, learning and understanding it all takes a life time and even then, we'll never know as much as we think or like to. It's 'this process' of locating fish that new anglers want to try and speed up, especially with the boom in derby fishing and now even more the newest MLF format where it's all about catching the most bass the fastest - it is certainly entertaining but unfortunately IMO may be offering newer bassheads an ineffective learning too. The anglers who participate in these event (and still often struggle) have YEARS ON THE WATER. A new angler may be setting unrealistic expectations for them selves expecting to duplicate the same results. So what does that all mean - you have much to learn and there are no short cuts. It takes time on the water. Time on the water to learn how to 'read water', to read correctly, understand and be able to apply what you see on your electronics effectively - meaning to catch bass. Time on the water to understand what structure looks like on a map & on your electronics and which ones bass use & prefer with the changing seasons, changing weather etc. So congratulations on your new boat purchase. It gives you every opportunity possible to effectively approach the challenges of bass fishing listed above. This is where you find out how much you actually love bass fishing, because bass fishing really only consists of about 10-20% of actual bass catching. The other 80-90 % of the time is spent looking & learning. For me personally, that's the part I have really come to love. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of net, scale & camera use too, but it's ALL the other stuff, that requires so much time, effort, commitment & determination, in all kinds of weather conditions, that makes those fish catches so special. Everyone's first few times out on the water are intimidating. But you do have the benefit of 'the information highway' to help you; and that may speed the process up a bit. But many of the bassheads here had NO such help. There was no internet - no answers on our phones (my phone was on the wall in the kitchen). And yet the humans who have many of the answers you seek, have them without the benefit of any of that. It's the time on the water that teaches us the way. Like so many of the BR forum membership, I've been at this a long time, and I feel fairly confident that if I were to break it all down, adding up all the hours, days, weeks, months & years on the water, really crunch the numbers, for every single fish pic I post here, there are easily 50 hours of on the water looking & learning. Let that sink in a bit. So keep at it - it will come, it always does. Just try not to be impatient, fishless trips & even weeks are part of the learning process - though lessons for sure, but still part of it. And I for one will totally understand, appreciate & be super happy & proud of you when you have that first success trip, when you put it all together - that smile feels like no other. Best of Luck A-Jay

@Largies4Life Congrats ~ I think you're going to like it. Yes, I do prefer braid & leader on ALL my spinning outfits. For drop shot specifically I run 10lb Sufix 832 braid with an 8 lb Seaguar AbrasX, InvisX or Tatsu fluorocarbon leader. If I have to go lighter than 8, say 4-6 lb, I use Maxima Ultrageen Mono - for the better knot strength. Works for me. A-Jay

Lucky Craft makes some good ones ~ A-Jay

Megabass Vision 110+1 in GP Perch. And second ain't even close. A-Jay

Today’s workout focused on Chest, Shoulders, Triceps & some Core at the end. Nailed it. A-Jay

A-Jay

The Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'1" Med Brent Ehrler stick with the AGS guide train is pretty sweet. A-Jay

Forget it. A-Jay

Just don't ask them to take a polygraph. A-Jay

In the earliest stages of learning to cast revolving spool gear - it is often very beneficial to set the reel up so that there is very little on the way of human intervention needed to prevent an overrun. In other words, all you should need to do is hold the spool with your thumb, initiate the casting motion, and then release your thumb at the correct moment. This will send the bait out some ways and then the reel will also stop it with out allowing the spool to 'over run'. This type of set up usually include sufficient braking to restrict the bait to fall AT ALL - EVEN IN FREE SPOOL. You will not achieve the greatest distance with this set up but you won't need scissors either. Practice this - get the feel of this, practice your timing so that you can also synchronize your thumb to stop the spool at the same time or even a split second before the reel does. Then, EVER SO SLOWLY AND USING THE SMALLEST INCREMENTS Possible, release some of the 'braking' and repeat the process. In time you'll be a spool thumbing, distance casting fool. But for now - baby steps. So with all that said - your reel is not set up appropriately - other wise you would not be making this post. Good Luck A-Jay

Again - I am not concerned with what the 'trailer' feels like as I retrieve the bait. The properties I need in an effective spinnerbait trailer are as follows _ Must have the right profile. (size, shape, color) Must never change the action of the spinnerbait; meaning the spinnerbait still need to run true, track straight up & down and not have it's angle altered in any way as the bait comes through the water. I will often "Burn" my spinnerbaits and if the trailer is not dead nutz straight - the spinnerbait will run 'funny' which almost always results in Less Strikes. As for you using a different trailer, I can not answer that - only you can. If whatever you chose does not do what you want it to do - change it. This one works well for me. A-Jay

While there is certainly some 'action' with the trailer - most of it comes as a result of the blades spinning causing the wire to vibrate, I am using this trailer more for it's profile than the action. Seems to give the bass 'a target', which reduces their tendency to hit 'the blades' which they so often do. Eating the trailer with the hook get's me more solid hook ups and less 'missed strikes'. I've caught a ton of great fish with these combinations including my PB Smallie. A-Jay

Hello Ray and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

A little more than two weeks from today this time last year ~ Be nice if I could avoid most all of this mess until next Christmas. A-Jay

Just about time to bring this one back ~ Protect yourself. A-Jay

For swimming a worm in shallow & close to the top presentations, I like the Owner Weighted Twistlock Light with a number of different offerings. They include but are not limited to Swim Senko, Strike King Rage Cut R Worm, & a Lake Fork Hyper Worm. btw - perhaps you're casting too far. A-Jay

I have two (same trailer though) Megastrike Strikeback spinnerbait and the Biovex Stagun with a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow trailer A-Jay

Well Done Paul ~ Can't wait to see the edit. Congrats A-Jay

I hear ya ~ Retirement does allow some flexibility no doubt. But I'd trade with you in a New York second to add some length to the fuse, if you get my drift. Stay Safe & Good Luck this season. A-Jay

Hello Wes and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Don't let those water temps scare you off. Get out when you can. They will be there waiting for you. A-Jay

Man what a Pressure Cooker ~ ! Congrats to Jacob Powroznik winning it all with a wacky rigged stick bait & a Quantum spinning rod & reel. Seriously enjoyed this whole week of fishing. A-Jay

It's the Jacob vs Jacob deal with less than 20 minutes to go ! And Mr Wheeler is surging ! Love IT ! A-Jay

When discussing 'loading' the rod, it's often a tricky deal to explain, and just as challenging to 'show' some one. One reason may have to do with the rod blank. While they will all need to load & unload at least a little on every cast (pitching & flipping excluded for the most part) a graphite stick does so fairly quickly as compared to glass or composite. It's a 'feel' thing for each of us and once you 'get it' it becomes second nature, still doesn't make it any easier to explain to a new(er) caster. Below I've included a clip of me casting a spinnerbait on a composite stick. This blank is defined as Moderate - or slow. Perhaps you'll be able to see how the rod is truly doing the bulk of the casting here. btw - I love this stick. Good Luck A-Jay

Can you say Frog Magic ! Mr Wheeler certainly can ~ Wow ! Making it happen in the 2nd period today and launching himself to the top of the leader board with an 8-5 lb Go-Rilla with only seconds left in the middle stanza. Bet that felt good. A-Jay