basser89

I'd say it really depends on what you're planning on throwing. I use line from 10# up to 20# on my baitcasters. Here's a quick run down of a few of my set ups. 10# small crankbaits 14# worms and top water baits 17# spinnerbaits 20# tubes and jigs (flippin stick)

I t-rig the Brush Hogs the majority of the time I use them. Like skillet, I also like them on lighter weight but I have thrown them with 1oz to get down in thick grass beds. My top two producing colors are watermelon/red flake and red shad.

Congrats! They are scrappy little stinkers aren't they! ;D

Thanks!I only have two spinnerbaits so far and I got them for a couple of the clear lakes that I fish. I'm planning on getting a couple more to try out in other water conditions.

Got to fish again at lunch today (rain started as I was heading back to the truck). I opted for the 3/4oz spinnerbait today. The water had a little bit of color to it but I could still see down around 3'. Since it was overcast, I deceided to give the clear skirted spinnerbait a little bit of color, so I added a small chartruese twin tailed grub. Fished it for about 20 minutes and managed a small one today (about 12") running it just over the top of the hydrilla bed I was fishing.

When I'm fishing a crawfish bite, I try to match the bottom as close as I can. Like Jig Man said, try different shades of browns/greens and red.

That's a good question. I didn't notice it the last time I was there either. But then, with "Megan" being in the tank, it's hard to focus on the other bass when that one is just so big!

Hey Wayne, No worries! I know it wasn't directed at me, just thought I'd throw that one out there for reference. ptomacbass, Good deal on the 8! The majority of my bigger bass have come on a spinnerbait.

Excluding the tidal record that was previously broken a while back, here is the last 10lb largemouth that I know of to be caught in MD. It was caught in a private pond. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1194059067/10#10

Hey Marty, The leaders I use when I'm musky fishing are 45lb steel leaders (bucktails only), 65lb fluro leaders, 80lb hard mono leaders and a braid leader (can't remember what pound test they are). I've actually lost more muskies on steel leaders than I have fluro or mono leaders. The 45" musky in my signature was caught using an 80lb hard mono leader. One of my friends I fish with ties them for me and I have a ton of confidence in them. Everyone is different though, what works for one person may not work for another.

I guess I type too slow! LOL!

Yeah, a multiple vote would have been good for me too. I'm all over the place as far as waters I fish. Its a toss up as far as what water I hit the most. Lunch time (almost daily) I hit a 505 acre lake by work, on the way home from work I might either fish a small public pond or the upper Potomac.

Another palomar fan here for fluro! As the others have said, just make sure you wet the knot before cinching it down!

This one is definitely a toss up for me. On one hand, I would like the recognition of catchin a largemouth in MD over 11lbs 2oz for sure! And it would be cool to walk into Bass Pro, go up to the tank and say "that's my bass"! BUT.......... one of my friends has a state record in MD and the harrassment that he received (on a less popular sport fish) would really make me think twice. Obviously, loosing the gene pool that big girl would have would be tragic too! By the way, DNR does have a 10lb plus club. To the best of my knowledge, there are only 4 or 5 anglers currently in the club for MD.

A few years back, I was getting a good bit of action on the muskies on Ledgebuster spinnerbaits. I started using leaders with them to keep them from cutting me off. Since the Ledgebusters are the R bend style, I put a split ring over the R bend and then added the steel leader. The split ring kept the leader in postion. To help keep the visibilty down, you may want to give a hard mono or fluro leader a shot. Just my $.02.

X2 This is an awesome tool and the scissors will cut braid like its butter too! Lifetime warranty too!

I've used the Rattle Head spinnerbaits a little over 25 hours total now, I chose two of the clear spinnerbaits (1/2oz & 3/4oz) with the blue/green flakes (the weather hasn't worked in my favor as much as I hoped it would so my crystal clear lakes haven't been as crystal clear as I had hoped). I've only managed two small keepers so far, but I really like the profile the spinnerbait offers (especially the 3/4oz), which I found out is Dow's own design! They have a great skirt too! Both the 1/2 and 3/4oz baits come through the hydrilla I've been fishing VERY well (even with a trailer hook attached)! The 3/4oz feels great coming through the water, even at slow speeds! I did have a couple concerns with the spinnerbait (had some problems with the 1/2oz model) but Dow was kind enough to take some time to talk to me thursday evening! Thanks for your time Dow and thanks for setting it up Bekki! You two are class acts in my book!!!!!! Dow gave me a couple of tips to help me improve my catches which I'm planning on trying next week (as long as the weather cooperates with me)! Here are the pictures of the two bass I've caught so far. This one was caught burning the 1/2oz model along the outside edge of a weedbed. This one was caught ticking the tops of hydrilla on a bigger weedbed. I'm far from being down testing these baits out! And I hope to soon post a new PB thread using one of Dow and Bekki's Rattle Head spinnerbaits!

I've had to take two back. The first one was I wasn't satisfied with the action (only had it a week and didn't take the plastic off the cork), handed them the receipt and said no problem! The second one actually was broken. Same deal though, took it in with the receipt and I was good to go!

I've heard of using tooth paste but never ketchup! Welcome to the boards bumfish!

I was jumpin for joy last weekend when I paid $3.73 when I was up in PA visiting my family. Best price I've found in my neck of the woods is $3.77 (had to fill up this morning).

Nice toothy critter! Congrats! If you wouldn't have mentioned the size, I would have guessed low to mid 40's (but I do tend to judge them a little on the low side :-/ ). Kinda stinks though that you caught it in a tournament, it's harder to appreciate a fish like that when your under the gun on time!

All you need is one of these rods! http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0048584122242a.shtml Get the 8' Monster Heavy and you're good to up to 40oz!!! ;D

At least the Baby Wake is ONLY $45! LOL! They do look sweet though!

Awesome outing and great pictures!!! With the size of those toothy critters, one would think, it would be hard to beat that trip! Congrats!

My majority of my action with muskies on bass tackle has come late in the year. I landed two late last year on jerkbaits. The only other one I've had on, on the Potomac, came on a Norman Mad N crank (that one was about 30"). The rest of mine on the river have come on my typical musky gear (although, one of my go to baits has been a 6" jointed Rebel minnow). Most of mine come on top water musky baits! What fun that is!!!! ;D I have had limited luck swimming a bucktail jig (that I tied) as well. The rest of my MD muskies (tigers) have come at Black Hills and all have been caught on my bass gear (mostly spinnerbaits). I've had a couple on there over 40" but they've thrown the baits one way or another. > The last bigger one I had on there, hit a 1/2oz Rattle Trap and cut my line after a short fight. :'(