J._Bricker

This is a question frequently asked @presta24 in the Forums. Without knowing the waters you plan to fish, budget, family needs, tournament, fun fishing or both, it would be difficult to answer. A good used boat would helps with the learning curve and soften some of the experiences that come with owning our first boat. IMHO, the ownership of a used boat also allows one to decide what you may want in the future. I’m sure other members with fill in the many blanks I left and provide additional insight. Good luck with your research and informed decision!

@Ik_47 good decision on replacing the questionable hooks, and a little file work on the others probably wouldn’t hurt. I’d liken your original question to those famous last words catching smaller fish “my line is nicked, I’ll retie after the next fish”. And I hate what happened next...

@FishOn!GetTheNet, I have the H2 unit which was a Christmas gift from Mrs B, which took me totally by surprise because I didn’t think she paid attention to fishing stuff. In my opinion, it definitely doesn’t hurt my fishing so it must help. And help is good. As @blongfishing mentioned in his post, I have also experienced a flurry of feeding activity on different occasions which I attributed to my Hydrowave. I will say TH Marine stands by their product and has excellent customer service. My original unit had a problem and I called TH Marine. I explained the problem and they sent me a new unit. I was told AFTER I RECEIVED THE NEW UNIT to return the defective unit prepaid to them. I missed no time on the water and the new unit continues to preform well. Good luck with your decision.

Sorry to hear about trip @GReb, last year fire season in the western states sucked big time on many levels. Definitely don’t want to see another Paradise or Santa Rosa fire any time soon...

That’s what “spring skiing” is like in Tahoe. Just not pretty when they “catch an edge” on the corn ice.

Congratulations @Osprey39 on your new PB and first tournament win! Just a phenomenal day that we ALL want to have and appreciate you sharing. Continued success in 2019

Hello @DocAuto from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Yesterday in California, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows announced they will be open until July 7th for skiing ?. Hang in there guys....

Thanks @Dwight Hottle! After seeing all the exceptional fish all of you Florida guys were posting, I was happy to contribute. The guys afflicted by hard water are going to unleash the arsenal they’ve been stockpiling, so looking forward to seeing some more really nice fish on this thread!

An optimist! ?

Well, I finally got out on the the water today with a break in the weather. After last week when the Mrs and I enjoyed some togetherness at home with the flu causing the last minute cancellation of our trip to Spring Training which we had been planning for over four months.... Sorry for drifting, anyway air and water temperature were around 52 degrees when I dropped in this morning on a outgoing tide. Made a short run and eventually ended up with a spinnerbait rod in my hand. Missed one strike, and a few casts later this big girl smoked my blades for my first bass of 2019! She pulled hard and after a short, but spirited battle I got her in the boat. That’s when I saw I had hooked her with the trailer hook! I caught a few more in the 2-3.5lb range and called it a day as the rain moved in. But what a way to start 2019!

In my experience, a dropshot will catch numbers as well as big fish. I believe this this one was over 8lbs on a Roboworm... My dropshot rig was a 7’3” MH baitcasting rod, with the reel spooled with 20lb braid, a 3/0 worm hook, and a 3/8oz weight... of course a spinning rod works too. Good fishing all and thanks @Dwbassin for bringing this topic up.

Ding, ding, ding ?, we have a winner?! Very well played @FishTank...

In there original package @Booneangler18, and then in a Ziplock gallon bag. I used to put worms in a tray and threw the bag in the garbage. Then one day I emptied the tray section on a good bite, threw all those dead soldiers away at the ramp thinking the tackle shop would have more. Long story short, I wasn’t able to find those same color Iovino worms. IMO, Ziplock bags are cheap and plentiful....

Well @GoneFishingLTN all the previous posts have a weath of sources with the information you are seeking. But I’m gonna be a homer and say Glenn May, who has provided all of us with this site. Bass Resource, as @WRB mentioned give one the ability to access every members collective knowledge, past, present, and in some cases the future.

Hello @928JLH from Northern California! Welcome Josh to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Hello @RingWorm from Northern California! Welcome Zach to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Hello @ElijahH from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums! Good luck to you and your friend on your upcoming club tournament season. I’m sure you’re going to learn a lot from this and from the Bass Resource members.

Hello @Wannabefisherman1, from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and all of the Forums! Regarding your question, nice hat but I didn’t take the time to figure out the exchange rate before posting this. Good luck in your search and good fishing, JB

3700 series are great for the numerous reasons previously stated and depicted in everyone’s photos. Which is why’s I think most of us like to use them. Now for the thoroughbreds, they got this exclusive double sided stable. It was spendy, but I think they’re worth it.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs @Ksam1234! May you have a long and happy life together! Cheers ?

I have a grill with IR @the reel ess, and that feature is good for searing, and does a great job. The benefit of using gas is you are better able to regulate heat regardless of what you’re cooking. You just have to find that sweet spot, and for me that was through cooking more on it. My only complaint is when using wood chips in a pan or smoke box is those frustrating little fires that flare up when I’m getting another beer. Or is it getting too many beers that cause the fires, I’m not sure at this point.....

5” Senkos wacky or Texas rigged as the K.I.S.S. method seems applicable in your scenario. As @A-Jay suggested, let them choose their favorite color. Granted some colors seem to work better than others, and this provides a process of elimination. If some are a little more accomplished, let ‘em throw whatever they want. And just for fun and make it interesting, maybe spend a couple of bucks on a couple of little plastic trophies for “biggest” and “most” fish. Good luck @thinkingredneck, we look forward to hearing about the First Annual Office Tournament results!

@Ksam1234, IMHO I don’t think it’ll matter much at the time of year you mentioned targeting. I use both the Sunline and InvizX in 10lb and 12lb test as my leader secured to a braid main line by an Alberto Knot. The 10lb test might allow me to impart a little better action to the lure. I’m not sure if there is a much of a difference later on when the water is clear and the fish are a little line shy. If I do get a bigger bite, rod action and use of the reels drag then come into play. It’s a just a little bit more sporty (fun) at that point.

Hello @Josh Sharp from Northern California! Welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!