G_Clark

When all else fails, go to finesse. Try a T-Rigged worm or shakey head.

Yeah, that was my boat from Lewisville. I took that pic sitting up in the parking lot of the Isle De Bois Ramp at Lake Ray Roberts, which is about 30 to 45 minutes from the Texas/OK border. I am about 2 hours from Norman here in Lewiville. Maybe those are pics from the previous owner. I have one of those trees that has those purple blooms on it, and it typically blooms in early spring like that, but the blooms don't stay long before the leaves take over. I would say that pic was taken in early spring only because I have never seen mine bloom any other time of year. It is common for this tree to bloom like that before any of the others even bud. I know I have some pics of my boat from the previous owner, that may be the case here. Nice boat though. I love mine.

Sweet. That is the same boat I have.

I would think in the next month or so if they aren't already out.

If you trim down and drain first, you will probably not get more water out by starting it. I have shut my kill switch off and just cranked the engine without starting and I never have gotten more water to come out after trimming down and draining.

Is a BMW worth more than a Chevy. You could compare reels in the same way. The difference is obvious with every cast. The higher cost reels have more bearings which make them cast farther and retrieve smoother. They have a wider range of spool tension and drag settings which make them more usable over a wider range. Find someone that has a nice Shimano Curado and ask them if you can cast it a few times. If you have been fishing a 80.00 or below reel, you will find out why on the first cast.

BPS, Cabelas, whatever, they sometimes take these rods back without much questioning because they just send them back to the manufacturer and they get credit for it. The rod manufacturer has a ton of a markup so it is just a drop in the bucket to them. At some point it would get to be too much and this is when you see tougher return policies and the like. Someone mentioned on this thread that they broke a rod pulling in a load of moss. If this rod was a good quality rod, they should replace it. A good quality rod should be able to take considerable flex without breaking. I don't see anything wrong with returning a rod that broke while using it under like circumstances for which it was designed. Pulling in moss is no different than pulling in a big 40 LB Catfish. I had a 40 LB Cat on my medium power Falcon rod 2 weeks ago, it was a fluke, but it happened. The rod was bowed over like a horseshoe and it did not break. With that said, even the best of rods have their limit. The point is if a rod breaks while you are using it under like fishing conditions, loads, etc. they should replace it. If you slam the tailgate on it, that is not like fishing conditions. It was not made to be a tailgate wedge.

This is the exact pattern I have been finding as well up here in north Texas for the last several weeks. Your right on the money for our area.

Try fishing 6 to 8 feet of water for the larger ones. Off points is good. Also, you should be able to find balls of bait fish, not necessarily Shad, but smaller minnows schooled up in deeper water. The larger Bass will be under them, along with Sandies. Shad colored cranks, and even chrome spoons free falling through the bait ball will get you bit.

Oh, he had to go and start calling our Bass names. I got my feelings hurt. :'(

Fishing is always better on overcast and rainy days. Too much rain can muddy the water. When it does, stage your boat where water is running in. Bass like all the goodies washing into the lake and they will be there.

In what terms are you speaking? Sounds as though temps is your main concern. The air temp will have no affect on the fishing. It will however have an affect on water temp and the water temp is what you want to watch. We can have 2 or 3 cooler days of air temp without much change at all in water temp. However, as little as just a few degrees in water temp can turn the bite on when coming out of our hot Texas summers. Right now is the time to be fishing in north Texas. The water temps are down in the 80's for the most part and I have seen high 70's in the early morning hours. Where you are, the changes may take a little more time, or not. As far as fronts are concerned, there are 3 types of fronts and it is believed by many that they all effect the bite differently. For this time of year we are concerned with the cold front. Immediately before the front and a day after the front passes should prove to be good fishing. To answer your question, the cold fronts along with cooler nights and milder days have already started bringing water temps down. Start watching for the shad and other bait fish to start heading into creeks and coves. The Bass will be following. I have already been catching them in 2 feet of water in the early morning hours, and out a bit deeper as the sun gets up higher as in late morning. Use lures that will mimic the shad. Don't be afraid to use a T-Rigged brush hog if you like soft plastics. Keep in mind that the water temps will not change as fast as the air temps. A lot of people get on the water on a relatively cold morning assuming they need to slow down their presentation or start finesse fishing patterns. Not necessarily, check the water temps. Depending on how cold the air temp is, it could take several days of cold air temps for the water temps to fall significantly. I hope this helps. Good fishing.

I have two. I bought one new and one used. I have not had any problems with the one I bought new but many other people have. I have seen many posts on other boards of folks saying that the reel would start making a screeching noise or the thumb bar would get stuck half way down. The thumb bar did stick on the used one I bought and the gears started skipping when it did this, like it was caught between free spool for cast, and engaged for retrieve. I have seen many posts concerning these reels and people seem to be split down the middle on the ones that like them and ones that have had trouble. It would seem you either get a good one, or you get a bad one with these reels. A friend of mine bought his after I did and he is who I bought my used one from. I told him about the thumb bar release hanging up and he said it did it off and on since it was new. My opinion is it is a cheap made reel that is not worth the 80.00. For the same money, I would probably get the Accurists PT.

Falcon Cara T7 starts at 150.00. A Lowrider is about 115.00. Both good rods.

Lots of good lakes around DFW. On the Ft Worth side you have Eagle Mountain, Benbrook, Lake Worth. In between there is Joe Pool, and Arlington Lake which is small but a good fishery. On the Dallas side there is Lavon, and south of Dallas is Cedar Creek. North of Dallas Grapevine, Lewisville as you mentioned, and a little further north is Ray Roberts a good bass fishery. Fork is 1.5 hours from Dallas.