Certified Public Angler

as soon as I saw muddy created the topic and all caps for a title I called shens.

it refers to the retrieve.

solid, only problem is the backorder. I purchased something from *** a long time ago and I am still waiting on it to arrive, they did ship the ones that were in stock, but it has almost been 3 weeks and they still haven't shipped my buzzbait or spacemonkeys.

Do you ever use a chunk/trailer on your buzzbaits? Just curious bc I started trying to fish them more often, and I always see pics of you with buzzbait fish.

I too gave up the improved clinch after losing fish to failed knots. I only tie the arbor and palomar knots now and they have worked flawlessly.

That^ or a six pack of empty busch beer cans on the ground.

I recently found a small drainage pond that looked like it had some decent bass habitat. So one day after work I just walked the shoreline with my polarized lenses on, I saw a good number of bass just hanging out beneath the cover and returned later for some fishing action. All I know to tell you is take a walk around it.

is that an E5 on the bottom?

Looks like a cactuar...

It is always tough to learn a new bait/technique. You find those precious hours of free/fishing time in a week and you want to catch fish so you end up reaching for your most comfortable/confident baits. Not only are you learning a new technique but the bait is designed to attract bigger bass, and those far and few between even when fishing your go to bait.(at least for me) hang in there, eventually it will pay off.

lol, I just did some of this fishing gear advising for my cousin's girlfriend. Great gift idea, he'll be pumped. What I told her: (her budget was about 100-150) Shimano Sedona2500 spinning reel($60)/ shimano clarus 7'0 MH/XF($60) But like they said above, there are many factors to consider. Most importantly: -Spinning or Casting reel -current gear (probably wouldn't want a downgrade ) -and budget Secondary: -most common baits used? (plastic worms, hardbaits, etc.) -fish from boat or shore most often? -brand loyalty? or not partial? If you can get the answers to those questions the people here will be able to help you get the most value from your purchase.

Suffix Elite is quality line. I feel like it doesn't stretch as much as other monos.

For shore fishing braid is a good option. Especially if you have heavy cover like lillies, hydrilla, weeds, etc. I once accidentally cast a rat-l-trap into a huge patch of lillies, the bait was like $5 and practically brand new. So I cranked down my drag to max and ended up ripping 3 lilly pads out of the ground and getting my crank back. Just had to replace the bent trebles and it was good as new. I use 30lbs. PowerPro or Suffix. You will have to deal with some windknots, but if you are losing fish or lures to the cover in the lake braid will help you.

love the 50 gallon black bags, they keep you warm enough in florida too. Nice fish btw.

good lookin bass there.

dang, room for 2 and a dog must be a good set up. ;D nice fish man.

Fishing, rain, beer, and an 8 lbs. beast! Couldn't ask for a better day. ;D Nice fish. (plural)

That is a beautiful fish.

hmm agree to disagree...

After work today I pulled off on the side of the road where I have seen cars stopped from time to time with people fishing a drainage pond. I had my rod & reel and my shorefishing bag in the back of the truck so I wanted to take a look at this thing. It is maybe a 2 acre pond and it has a ton of hydrilla in it. At the north and south ends the hydrilla was thick and formed matts on top of the water, but throughout the pond it comes up from the bottom. I threw all kinds of plastics, senkos, floaters, lizards, a buzz frog and I only landed one. But as I am walking around the shore I keep seeing these bass right next to the shoreline in about 3 feet, they are sitting right under the hyrilla matts on the shoreline. I saw about 7 or 8 fish real close like this that were approximately 20 inchers. I tried flipping the baits a few feet over them but I couldn't get any to commit. It was about noon so I am hoping to return for the morning bite soon. So anyways my question is what to throw when fishing this thick hydrilla? Does it force you to fish topwater? or is there a bait/technique the would allow me to go deep? It was pretty frustrating seeing these bass that could rival my PB just sitting there watching me... I tried to take a video of the pond for you guys, but it is poor quality. You can still kinda see how the hydrilla engulfs the water. When I zoom in on the water at the very end it is because just a few feet in front of me were 2 of those large bass I was talking about. You can't see for the glare, but my costas revealed em. 8-)

yes, I believe there is.

I haven't seen any lefty curados. But I hope you get a hold of it.

I wore a garbage bag this summer for a rain jacket. That might leave you a little cold up there. Shouldn't you have some killer performance rain gear? Doesn't sound very comfortable for fishing up there, reminds me why I won't move North of NC. ;D Just get out there and enjoy what time you have left!

2 baitcast (Heavy and MH) 2 spinning (ML and M/F)

what in the world is a snotrocket? Your husband is a lucky guy Congrats on 20!