BirdNestBen

yeah I had trouble with knots breaking....... used the double palamor knot today and no problems...... this knot will hold......... so I'd recommend you use this knot 100% the next time you go fishing....

I've fished this type of situation a lot..... I use 15 lb. p-line most of the time, but recently have switched to braid....... If you don't like braid, I'd be sure and use at least 15lb. test as you said there are big bass in there......... I'd start with senkos and flukes.....Watermelon.... especially on overcast days........ If it's bright and sunny- put on a real small sinker and texas rig a powerworm or a motoroil Culprit....... I've had good luck on a chatterbait, but you need a trailer hook as they miss the hook and bite off the dang skirt........ Go with a topwater chugger early and late......... A shallow running crankbait can produce well this time of year...... something that dives less than 5 feet...... This last one is a longshot....... but worked for me yesterday..... I rigged a Zoom finesse worm wacky rigged, but I just threw it out and reeled it in fairly fast.........just a few feet under the surface.... they wouldn't take anything else, but couldn't resist to hammer this lure......... Let me know if you have any luck catching the big one!!!!!!!!!! somedays you just never know..........

I had been tying a different knot and tried a double Palamor knot.... I haven't fished with it yet with this knot but it seems super strong now... Will post results of my next trip-

weightless fluke....... or Rattling Rapala where the cover breaks......

sounds like it works well for most of you guys....... I've had problems lately on my baitcaster with braid breaking at the knot..... So, guess I'm going to have to learn that Palamor knot and give it a shot.....

I have this problem on my baitcaster as well......... I just starting using Powerpro 30 lb. on the Revo Stx and have been broke off 3 times at the hookset because of a bad knot....... I've never had a problem before and to say the least it is very frustrating...... I am interested in hearing your suggestions as well.........

Just bought a Shimano Symetre 2500...... was thinking of putting braid on it....... Any of you guys try braid on a spinning reel??? and how did you like it??? I have powerpro 30 lb. on my baitcaster, and it has worked well thus far..........

DROPSHOT........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shakey head I've yet to get a strike............

you might check out the BROWNING AGGRESSOR........ it's been priced real low on EBAY lately........... 11BB

No doubt it is Kikstand 454........ I've only used it a couple of times but I'm sold on this line...... There are some BIG bass where I fish and I just can't take the chance of another break-off...... suprisingly it casts smoother and farther than I ever expected...... It was easy to spool on my Revo as I have a wiffle spool....... but I don't on my Symetre spinning rod........ I'm thinking of putting it on there as well, but I hear it may spin around on the spool when you hook a fish and not work well.... I looked at that uni to uni knot to connect lines, but looks too tough... Any other ideas on how to spool it on a spinning reel????????? Thanks.

Pflueger President spinning reel 6740....... or..... on sale at Dick's sporting goods is the Shimano Symetre 2500 FI......... Either one of these reels are terrific for a guy on a budget..... I have them both and do prefer the Symetre a little better, but I still love my Pflueger......

Bass Fear Me- glad you had a good trip.... water is really starting to clear in the pond....... skeered I may have to go back to mono from the braid I am now using.......

you know that is a good looking pond.... and a variety of lures would work..... I remember once in this situation my Dad swum a worm weightless on top thru the moss slowly and caught a 8.8 ounce hawg!!!!!! A topwater snake lure, like an Anaconda would work great in the thick parts...... now I'm not a frog fan but a Ribbit or Horny toad should illicit big strikes!!!!!!!! Where the moss is not thick on top, get your spinning reel with a very small split-shot or bullet weight and try it texas rigged........ I'd try a blue fleck powerworm, trick worm, or even a craw-worm... I fished in these situations many of times in the summer when the moss is REAL thick....... topwater chuggers do the trick, but even more effective is the BUZZ-Bait....... It's so funny---------- I'll work a worm so slow, or a spinnerbait...... and get frustrated and reel it in real fast to cast again....... and bang right at the bank WHAM one strikes it and scares me half to death..... A lot of these bass just can't RESIST that fleeing motion........ It's so true a baitfish or lure can be moving normally and a fish doesn't pay it much attention, but moved faster to resemble a fleeing baitfish, it triggers a response in the fish where it just can't resist to chase down your lure........ Good luck....

Yeah I had posted earlier about buying the Vanish line....... I really didn't like it at all........ I've had some problems getting my line broke a few times, and wanted something clear....... Well, I took the Vanish line back to Dick's Sporting Goods and they exchanged it...... Even though the water is clear where I fish, I decided to give Braid a try..... I bought Power Pro 30 lb. test for my baitcaster....... didn't have any problem not getting strikes, and it casted much farther and smoother than I expected...... and no break offs...... I am going to stick with mono or flurocarbon on my spinning reel.... but I can't tell you how pleased I am with the Powerpro line....... since this is the first time with the line, I can't speak of how durable the line may be........ I guess time will tell..........

Well Monday started off kinda cold wet and rainy...... Was sprinkling when I got there, but quickly started raining heavier, thought I'd try it a few minutes just to see if they were biting and wham strike after strilke on the fluke....... Caught about 9 fish on it, including a nice channel cat, and used up my package of flukes....... couldn't really find anything else in my tackle box they would hit, and it was starting to get real nice as far as conditions go...... it stopped raining altogether..... Real cloudy, calm, and cool around 75 degrees, and I moved over to a shallow flat but still nothing.... found an old Rapala rattlin' rap as I thought with these conditions the bass might be in a chasing mode... they were......... Granted most of the fish were small but they were sure slamming that lure......... caught 20 on this one lure....... went down to the lower end of the lake......... and hooked what felt like the Loch ness monster..... stripped drag...... wish I would have had my baitcaster at the time, as I couldn't get her turned and she swam under some thick hydrilla and I couldn't get her out as I was bank fishing.... I'm not sure what I had but kinda figure it may have been another catfish...... The big bass of the day came on a Zoom finesse worm... around 3 lbs... this one hit so hard it nearly took the rod out of my hands.... So, you might go with some of your shallow runners if your having trouble catching fish....... most of the fish I caught on the Rapala were real small but it sure was fun..........

Tried out the Shimano Symetre today... it is an awesome reel...... if your looking for a medium priced spinning reel check it out.... Fished it with flukes today, and it casted a mile, it's a very smooth reel..... and ended up catching one 3.5 lbs......

well had a trip today with the Vanish line 12 lb. test..... I hated it...... birdnests easy..... not smooth casting..... wish I would have never spooled it up.... Been using P line which isn't 100% flurocarbon.... it's a blend, but I like it much better........

I know your gonna love that combo....... that reel and rod is so smooth and light........ they were $199 for the combo when I was in the store a few months ago........

dang wish I would have read this post before I spooled up my new reel I just got....... the 12 lb. test for a Revo Stx.... Guess I will try it out since I've already spooled it........ will let you know how it works out..........

Hope you like your purchase....... it's a real quality combo--- I think you'll be real pleased with it....... Did u get the spinning or baitcasting???

thanks shorehugger for telling me of the offer........ just needing something to store plastic boxes in so this will work for that....

Well I haven't fished with it yet, but casted it in the yard... very smooth and casts a mile..... shorehugger--- thanks for the info. on the Quantum Insyte... that does look like an awesome reel.... mebbe when some funds come in I might buy one later on....... Kikstand 454- I do have a president reel as well... mebbe later I will put the Select on it, and buy another rod for the Symetre.... I haven't had a chance to fish with it yet, but seems to fit Ok on the reel seat... guess I'll find out when I fish with it Saturday...... THe only thing I was disappointed in was looking for a tackle bag, and thought I could kill two birds with one stone... this rod had a free tackle bag offer, then when I look at fine print offer had already expired........

A small cold front blew in just a few days ago.... temps are a little colder in the morning, but it has been warming up nicely......Water still pretty clear..... Winds now are light.... I had really been hammering them less than a week ago..... will get the pics up soon of the ones I caught and the one I mis-measured at 22" and 26 1/2 girth..... will try to take pics of the tank as well for yall to see...... Anyway, back to the last 2 trips there...... I thought I could no wrong for a while, but it's a struggle....... Had an hour on two yesterday evening and caught 2 super-small dinks...... Went this morning a few hours figuring they might feed more early and it was really tough fishing....... I managed to scrape together 5 dinks.... the biggest fish I caught all day was a perch........ There's a huge amount of hydrilla in the lake...... and deeper water towards the dam...... shallow flats on the lower end...... and an old tore up boat bock out in the middle I can reach...... and I fished it all........ frustrated as I can establish no pattern....... No one lure like before....... 1 on this one, 1 on that one..... and no size whatsoever...... I'm going Saturday taking a friend who is a pretty darn good fisherman...... Forecast for Sat. looking good...... So hopefully you guys may have some tips to help us catch some fish... He hasn't got to fish in a while so I really want us to catch em'... if we don't well that's just part of the game I know.... I have been using flukes, powerworms, and senkos..... and been striking out.......

Had a good sale at Dick's sporting goods... 20% off Shimano Spinning Reels..... was looking at the Quantum Escalade, but it was a bit pricey and not on sale.... so picked up this combo.... also had a $10 off coupon which helped.... was $49.99 for reel on sale and $49.99 for the rod......... The rod is medium action/fast tip... just wondering if anyone has this reel or rod and how they like it???? May want to use it for a dropshot fishing/ and for small lures......

I've got an Allstar Classic GT2 that is rated for 1/4 oz. to 1 1/2 oz. lures...... it's a great rod and cheap now....... back then think I paid $150 for the rod and have seen them for $49...... it's real sturdy and I can fish pretty much anything with it...... it really has taken a beating over the years and keeps going strong......