A-Jay

This should help ~ A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/hollow-belly-swimbait.html http://www.ragetail.com/news/rage-toad-rigging/ http://www.bassresource.com/fish/plasticworms.html

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Good Luck with your project and you're already finding out that there's no such think as a free boat. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Perhap you could spend a day or two with a local Guide. Reading about what to do is one thing - having someone with skill & experience show you How & Where is another. Good Luck A-Jay

Maxima Ultragreen premium copolymer monofilament and Stren Magnaflex ~ A-Jay

I do fish mono for several applications - most of them involve treble hook baits but not all. Something to keep in mind when discussing line stretch - it's directly related to the length of your cast. So if you bomb it out there you're going to have more stretch then if you make say half that same cast. So I had to learn that if I am using mono - especially on single hook bait applications, I'm trying to get bit with the shortest cast I can get away with. I've learned to dial it back or deal with the stretch - that I essentially caused. A-Jay

Had 7 over the winter - got 5 now with a "work in progress" on the way. A-Jay

Nope - I was hoping to convey that with the term fool proof. A-Jay

The way we go though dogs here at the Pawz Pack Inn - I might have a little Canine Monkey thing going on . . . Fostering another one starting tomorrow. A-Jay

That's a little bogus ~ And I thought you were going to tell us you got it on a Drop Sh@T rig . . . . A-Jay

As great a sport as bass fishing is, and as fun & rewarding as it can be - like so many aspect of our existence - you'll get out of it exactly what you put into it. You can most definitely learn exactly how, where, when & what to fish to become an avid bass angler. The vast majority of this information is available free right on this site. Between the BR article sections and the Forums there's a ton of info. So I'd encourage you to get into it as far as you need to and then apply it on the water - you're only limited by you're own efforts. Sometimes the Harder you work the Luckier you'll get . . Good Luck A-Jay

During the mid-summer period, the drop shot is an important & effective part of my arsenal and I use it quite a bit. A 10 lb braid main line & a 6 lb mono leader have been the standard for the past three or four seasons. Allows for long casts, (a must in the very clear water), great bite detection & solid hook ups from a distance, especially with a small Tex-posed presentation. I consider this set-up as fool proof & reliable as any technique I fish. A-Jay

Hello Jeremy and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello Dude and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Flat calm is desirable for a decent topwater bite but that's where it ends for me - I Want some Wind; every trip out ! The Years of bailing out of the wind and heading to "The Calm" side trip after trip, mainly because it was "Easier" to fish in, only to pick a fish here and there are long gone & over with. After putting the time in and finally figuring it out, I now search out the breezy spots; points, surface & sub-surface weedlines, a line of wind blown lily pads have all been to productive to ignore. Fishing from a canoe in the wind mean Anchoring, there's just no way around it. But it's totally worth it. Additionally, I like fishing moving baits so a good wind often allows me to Chunk & Wind until my arms fall off . . . .and usually catch some good ones in the process. A-Jay

I use Sufix 832 Braid Lo-Vis Green and Power Pro is OK too. The 30 lb size would be my choice for the application we are discussing in here. If I were doing it on spinning gear I'd be going with a 20 lb product. A Monofilament leader may also come into play at times on this one as well; something in the 12 - 15 lb range for casting gear & 8 - 10 lb on the spinning set up. Good Luck A-Jay

There are a TON of different opinions on that very subject but I'll give you as quick & easy a response as I can here now. When fishing a Texas rigged bait, regardless if it's and 1/8 oz or 1.5 ounces, there needs to be some contact between you & the bait in order to detect strikes. You will have a lot less success fishing your bait on a totally slack line. Now there are always brief points in the presentation where you may loose contact with the bait but they should be brief. You can believe what you want about the properties of Fluorocarbon, but from my experience - it's not worth the money or the weak knot strength. Now If you've never used braided line - then you haven't felt what a solid strike feels like with this line. The first time you experience it - especially with a Texas rigged bait, you'll understand what I'm talking about - it's TOTALLY different from any nylon line. Since braid has very little stretch the bites seem really amplified through the rod and in my opinion are actually easier to detect than when fishing nylon. If you have used it - then you know exactly what I'm referring to. So if you're having trouble staying in contact with your bait and detecting strikes and you've never tried braided line, then my advice is to get some and fish with it. What have you got to lose ? A-Jay

You can always fish that light rig on a spinning outfit. I'd recommend an out fit that suits the situation and a good braided line as well. A-Jay

I'm a fan of tungsten and use it almost exclusively. However when faced with the OP's situation, and if were still talking about keeping the presentation on top of the sub-surface weed canopy and not plunging through it, I find that going back to a light lead bullet sinker works better. A-Jay

During the Mid-summer period for me the smallies will eat top water early, late & at night. After that it's almost all deep drop shot fishing. The LMB can be taken shallow but you have to be willing to go DEEP into the cover - It's real hand to hand combat fishing. Jigs, punch rigs & big worms work well. A-Jay

Glad you're OK ~ And those Strike King Baits just get it done . . . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Do you think they should question Casey Ashley ? A-Jay

Nicely Put ~ While heading into these precious places and especially while I'm there - the rest of the world melts away. Always makes me feel like a boy again - and that was such a special time too. A-Jay