Team9nine

Just got around to getting all my casting setups for this year oiled/lubed and matched to particular rods for specific presentations. Actually had a "first" in quite some time - first time in over 10 years that I'll have a casting outfit with mono on it ...two, actually. Been a straight fluoro user for over a decade on my casting outfits, with the exception of a frog and punching setup of straight braid. I probably really only need one mono outfit, but since the spool was 600 yards, I figured I could live with a second one just so it doesn't go to waste - lol. I actually looked at the manufacturers date code on my last mono spools I still had, and those were from 2002 I think I might go buy a couple Pop-Rs and some Spooks to add to the tacklebox this year - lol.

You can still use it, just treat the entire lake as “the tributary” and apply your seasonal patterns, because that’s what it is in your smaller bodies of water. Actually makes your job a little easier only having to deal with a single tributary as opposed to dozens on larger reservoirs.

This ^^ ...but I will add, Rat-L-Traps and Carolina rigs are the two techniques that seem to get a lot of flack as “mindless” cast and wind approaches, but can obviously be much more nuanced than that.

This has been researched quite a bit. Very hard to make absolute calls, but in general, the shallower the bait normally runs, the less overall difference there is - which kind of makes sense. So a bait that usually runs 3'-8' might not change, or change just half a foot in depth every time you bump up or down a size in rating. Deeper divers may change anywhere from 1/2 a foot to 1.5 feet for every jump up or down. There are also a few neat YT videos where guys have started testing this stuff out now that Livescope has become more widespread. Look 'em up when you get a chance.

That's where I'm at. Given everything the same (model, rod/reel/line, etc.) as stated except length and power (only 1 step apart), shorter should be more sensitive. It sure seems to be the case with my spinning arsenal where I have similar sameness/differentness. I'd take shorter every time if sensitivity was the only deciding factor.

Who is saying it is getting better/easier to define who is a professional these days? So many jersied wannabes running around my local lakes posting their fish catches on social media along with their poorly edited videos, hawking their tungsten sinker deal - ?

Aten’t we already there with guys like Googan’s and Fish the Moment, etc., primarily social media based entities? The lines of what defines a professional angler have always been blurred, and only getting worse, it seems.

Just my opinion, but versatility was about consistency, points, and cashing a check. Sponsorships came from making the Classic, and making the Classic came from weighing limits every day no matter the size. Specialists were the guys going for the win at every event, but that could fall back and put a few fish in the boat if they had to doing something else. Wins got you a lot of attention, a lot of money, and a good bunch of points (or weight in the early days) that would offset the mediocre events where your specialty didn’t play. Sponsors like winners, too, so the best guys at both types of approaches ended up with good sponsor packages that would sustain a career.

Two alternating half hitches, cut the tag, two more alt. half hitches, then Rizutto finish (with 4 wraps). Seems to have eliminated all unraveling since going this route.

Never been a big fan of worms. Only threw them when I had to. That said, I’ve been around long enough that that time adds up after a while. 1. 5” Ditto Gatortail (black grape) 2. 6” Mann’s Augertail (blue shad/grape shad) 3. 10” Berkley Power Worm (junebug) 4. Zoom finesse worm (junebug) 5. Zman Finesse WormZ (junebug)

...but yes, it does. Has driven up the time and money necessary to compete without a resulting increase in payouts on the local and state level for the most part. Not worth the time or effort until you reach the National level these days, with a few rare exceptions. The rise in technology has really been a bad thing IMHO, also.

This ^^ Fished them for 30 years. Had thoughts of going pro for a while, but never took the leap. Won a lot of local stuff, cashed a lot of good checks in state level events, and won a boat when I won a regional tourney. Got tired of the crazy early mornings driving hours to an event, being gone all weekend, the degree that “pro-ness” started to permeate the lowest levels of competition, and finally just walked away about 15 years ago. Things have only got worse since then from what I see.

Not familiar with JWR line as I only own a few Loomis,’ but it works good with lighter end spinnerbaits (<1/2 oz) and blade baits. Also pretty decent with Spooks and jerkbaits, and I’ve even used it for finesse jigging and wormin’ in a pinch. It has too fast of an action for shallow cranking though. Nice lightweight rod with good balance that is fun to fish with.

For lighter baits at/under 1/4 oz., I use M or ML spinning gear. For heavier 3/8-1/2 oz. baits on casting gear, the G. Loomis SBR 812 C 6'9" Spinnerbait Series which is labeled as M-XF is killer.

Hate it! Have almost always just played the percentages and figured by covering a bit more water, I'm putting my bait in front of more fish, hopefully some of which will bite, and therefor offset the speed factor. In winter, using things like tiny blade baits sometimes pays off and allows me to fish at a much faster pace, relatively speaking.

Also from Mann’s - Craw George, I believe. I think I still have a couple.

Not what you posted. Watch Brent tie it in this video.,,

A doubled line uni is a single uni, but tied with two strands, not one. You end up with three tag ends, and, of course, double the line material used. Very strong, but a bit wasteful.

Interesting responses. I agree with those using the terms “learn” and “proficient” instead of “master,” because I think most people really only acquire the former, not the latter, level of knowledge and/or ability. Mastering a technique takes years, along with hundreds, if not thousands of hours of use and experimentation, more to the intuitive side of things as opposed to the practical or mechanical side.

Agreed, but I almost never carry them because I don’t worm fish (Texas rig)...

I customized a whole jon boat with them...I had a bunch in the boat to choose from. Just needed them the one trip I didn't have my finesse stuff in the boat with me Good DS swivel weights aren't cheap either...tungsten DS weights run $1-$4 a piece. Stainless nuts run $0.07-$0.75 a piece depending on size/wt..

Not sure if they're full or not for 2021 (think they accept 25 "teams"), but check with IBC. You can mention my name if you want. Josh knows me Josh Ray President- Indy Bass Club 317-771-1129 indybassclub.ibc@gmail.com

Be sure and refer to them as 'titanium' or 'tungsten' and you could probably get $12 a pack...

Several diet studies done show that fish make up a big part of the otters diet, at least seasonally, typically between 50-85%. Of those, fish in the bluegill family are usually the largest contributors, with various bluegill and sunfish typically accounting for more of that portion than largemouth. However, in a river scenario, where sunfish species can be more limited, smallmouth often comprise a larger portion of the diet. How this affects the overall bass population likely varies by specific waterbody. There has been some pretty good "fights" between sportsmen and environmentalists and F&G depts. when otter are reintroduced into popular fishing waters.

Still a thing, as in about all crank manufacturers have shad or baitfish patterns with dots in their lineup. Whether the fish care or not is up for debate, though.