SirSnookalot

No question in my mind that fish are attracted to scent, chumming for example. Whether I'd use an outside agent to attract fish is dependent strictly on the species, for bass..............not a chance in the world.

If you are snagging jigs that's a good thing, means you are putting in in the right place, losing jigs is just part of the game. First thing I would do with any lure is tighten the drag and snap the bow, good chance you just might get the lure back. I'd switch to the alberto, probably as good a knot as there is. If all that fails, switch to a mono leader.

I watch Bill Dance every now and then, I think it's a pretty decent show. I have to say I was impressed one day watching one of his shows, he flat out knows how to another site. He has a saltwater series, one episode he was catching tarpon in the keys, handled them with perfection. His guide suggested using one of his bass set ups for 100#+ tarpon, it's a tv show of course he landed it. He did show the correct way to land fish that size, he was text book exact. More impressive he was about 69 at the time, about my age now, so I could relate.

I agree with the above. More important to me is that I feel I'm cheating myself, it does reduce the challenge a bit. Of all the various fish I target I have the least problem catching bass.

If I paid attention to all of this conventional wisdom, I probably wouldn't catch any more fish. I use what I want to have fun with for that outing, I don't care about the weather. I think nothing of putting on a top water lure for a couple of hours in the middle of the day with bluebird skies, just because it's more fun............produces too.

Very true. The fish in my avatar is Jack Cravelle, arguably one of the hardest fighting fish there is. That fish was caught on med spinning rod, 4000 reel and 15# braid. The key is line capacity, the reel size isn't quite as important because the drag is set for the line. My supreme 30 has 9# max drag, a good sized saltwater fish can surpass that setting, as long as the fish is pulling out line your line and knots should not break, that said I still wouldn't lock it down. It boils down to line capacity and your ability.

Either the knot is tied wrong, your drag is too tight or you are setting the hook too hard for the set up you are using. Could be some lousy line, something I have never encountered but it's possible. I use an albright, loopknot, clinch and improved clinch, never concerned about any part of that chain breaking.

Despite going off in a different direction, this thread is about how many languages we can speak, read and write. I do feel knowing a second language is a great benefit in certain geographic areas of the country, and ones own occupation. Raider's comments pertain only to what he does and where he is doing it. I do believe the demographics in other areas of the country for people doing the same kind of work, may find a second language coming into play.

The amount of salt in brackish water varies, I wouldn't be overly concerned about rod or reel. Quite true about using a more gentler water spray, I like an open garden hose even better. The object is to not allow salt grit or sand particles forced inside the reel. Holding the reel on it's side and just let the water run over it, not a bad idea to rub you fingers on the reel at the same time. I fish saltwater everyday, just a quick rinse down is all ya need.

I'm happy as hell my wife has no interest in fishing, she's doing me a favor.

What lure parameter? In a ml there is only 1 rod that comes to my mind that may fit the bill. I might be looking at an inshore rod and Star rods are known for having stiff tips, I own 3 of them and it's true. A Star sg612ism, ml 7' 6/12 line 1/4 -5/8 lure, on paper it fits the bill, I don't own it so I can't specifically recommend model. I can say with confidence Star makes a really nice rod, they are popular with some of the peacock fishermen. I just bought another one West Marine free shipping.

You got the shaft on that dolphin, great fighting fish too, I actually think they give a better fight than sailfish.

When I lived in Michigan I always thought it was in the north, not even the mid-west. At one time all of Michigan was Central Time, that was changed many years ago due the logging and fur industries trading with eastern cities.

He was absolutely wrong, he wasn't the first person that thought "the mike was turned off". Given his ethnic background he knows what racism and discrimination is, he knows better but this is not his first off color remark. What makes his remarks even worse is he chooses to be a selective racist, his g/f is of mixed heritage. There are some that believe wealth allows a greater latitude in personal conduct, in reality these people need to be held to a higher standard. He deserves what he gets, but I'm not so sure Adam Silver has enough power alone to come down hard.

Flipping from a boat is more difficult than a sea wall or a 10' jettie, you have less room to spring them up. If I were bass fishing from a boat I'd have net with me. My boat fishing is in the ocean these days, sure we have a gaff and net with us, many times when we have smaller fish up to maybe 15# we grab the leader and lift them into the boat.

I do enjoy bass fishing, but once the weather gets hot and humid bass fishing is not where I want to be. With all this saltwater around me, how can I not take advantage of it. Nice reds, always love catching them.

I flip fish daily but there is a limit of course. I do a lot of fishing from sea walls and jetties, height varies up to about 10'. I can comfortable land a fish using the spring technique 8 or 9#, I know whether I can do it by the fish's head in the water. I'm using a mh rod, a 7'6 works a lot better than 7', more spring to it, not all rods are created the same, that said I don't this practice with all my med heavies. In 10 years I've never broken a rod springing. When I'm on the boat, any rod not being used is above in a rod holder out of the way.

I've caught more peacocks on crappie jigs than about anything. As of late the peas in my area have been very lethargic. I like clear water so I can spot them, I drag and shake the jig on the bottom, it does take a while to get a strike. Inline spinners or spinnerbaits can work well too.

I use regular 4/0 worm hooks, I prefer the thinner wire ones. I don't nose hook them, I'll use a jig head.

I pretty much agree. Many of us old timers have been catching fish for decades and using crap by today's standards. I think a technique specif rod may help if you already have the basics down, but if you have the basics down you don't really have a need for them. I fish only med fast and fast rods, if I miss a hookset or don't land a fish it's my own operator error, no fault of the rod. I care less what kind of hooks or baits I'm using with any rod. A technique specif rod is really made to hook you.

I'd be willing to bet FishChris has caught more larger bass than touring pros do, he specifically targets them and a pro does not. A pros goal is to catch as many fish as they can and weigh the 5 best. Can a professional catch super large bass, sure if they targeted them they would.

Most college athletes start developing their skills long before they get to college, it's a constant work in progress. There is NCCA talk about compensation other than scholarship, but with or without additional compensation the cost of education is expensive, IMO a scholarship is getting paid to perform. When and if they get to the pros, the activity is no longer a sport, it becomes a business. Athletes incorporate themselves, have agents, negotiate contracts and have outside endorsements. Professional fishermen are in business too, a journeyman pro may need outside income, top flight pros probably do not. KVD for example has become a brand, he doesn't ever have to throw a lure again to make a handsome living ever year, he is a business.

Radio will scare me away.

Same here. I have been contemplating buying in bulk myself, I think the spools are 1500 yds. More for convenience and availability than cost savings. I've been noticing my local DSG has reduced the amount of lines they stock, in the sizes I use the spools are 100-150 yds, that isn't enough for me.

Sure I've seen information that isn't 100% correct. Something I found quite intriguing, Google maps shows a pond (same pond on Bing maps too), for several years the pond wasn't there. About 8 months ago the pond was dug and the shape is exactly the same as it was on Google maps.