BlaineFred

on wacky, I suggest a Zappu-inchi 1/8 jig head with a Jackall finesse worm...

Threw a Knocker one in the Potomac in the Mattawoman area in a tournament on Saturday. Partner was catching a lof of bass on a popper, but I didn't get any hits on the Knocker.

Lipless cranks need to brought into this discussion... The Strike King Red-Eye shad lures are popular, and I like the SPRO Aruku Shad. On crankbaits in general, there are some with cheap trebles that need replacing. For example, the Bass Pro XPS types have terrible trebles. used them for some time, and kept getting slip-offs. I put Owner trebles on them, and they work much better. The point is that don't try to go too cheap on the cranks...there's a reason why they are cheap!

Sometimes the color choice depends on WHERE you're fishing. Example, the Potomac bass and other tidal rivers in the area seem to like plastics with some blue in them. Here's a partial list of baits, some of which are already covered in other posts, but worth repeating to present my views. One must-have bait is the Zoom Baby Brush Hog creature bait. Green pumpkin and/or watermelon with flakes for clear or lightly stained water; and darker color for heavily stained or muddy water. I always have these colors and combinations in my tackle bag. Some Senkos are necessary, 5-inch in green pumpkin, and/or watermelon with red flake, and some darker colors. Consider 4-inch and 6-inch also. Can use the Cabela's and Bass Pro house brands, or Strike King to save some coins. Spinner baits: white skirt for clearer or lightly stained water; a combo white/chartreuse for more stained; and an all-chartreuse for heavily stained or muddy water. The Strike King Kevin Van Dam types with the trailer hooks installed are good lures. 3/8 and/or 1/2 oz are the most used. Zoom Finesse Worms. I use them with a 1/8 Slider Head. Colors are black, green pumpkin, and Red Bug. Always in my bag. Worms...for wacky worm fishing...various sizes and colors. You should also carry some Berkley Power Worms in various sizes and colors. Blue Fleck is a popular color. A variety of grubs and tubes. Consider something like the Mann's Sting Ray or the Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. Some tubes...can use Cabela's or Bass Pro house brands or Strike King. Crankbaits...for various depths. Most popular crank colors are 1) some variety of shad; 2) chartreuse with black or dark back; 3) fire tiger; and 4) other colors. I prefer cranks with rattles. I have used the Bass Pro XPS cranks, but the trebles are very cheap and need to be replaced with better quality. If you can afford it, go with the SPRO Little John; or the Bass Pro Rick Clunn Lucky Craft (the RC version), but wait until the annual Bass Pro sale called the "Classic" that's around the Bassmaster Classic time. And always have a Mann's Baby 1-Minus in a few colors. IMPORTANT ...don't forget a variety of lipless crankbaits...also referred to as Rat-L-Traps from the brand-name originator of the lure, or simply "traps." Have a variety of sizes and colors. I like the Spro Aruku Shad brand. Top-water Poppers: need a few of them in various colors. Try Rebel. Frogs: try the new SPRO popper frog. Craws: try the Berkley Power Bait "Crazy Legs Chigger Craw"...in various colors. But overall, there are many different lures that anglers prefer. Another angler may hate Zoom worms, preferring Berkley.

adding to my previous post... you didn't ask about fishing flea markets, but I have found some excellent deals there. They are usually held in the fishing "off-season" such as January and February, and usually held by local bass clubs. The big professional types of fishing Expos don't have many great deals, but the big dealers usually have a few "show specials." It's hard to describe what you can expect, because you can expect anything and everything. Best to take some cash, say at least $100, and maybe your checkbook just in case. Some vendors are former tackle shops who now work out of their house, selling off inventory at greatly reduced prices. Typical prices are $1 for a new bag of plastics like Zoom finesse worms. Rapala jerk baits, crankbaits, and various other crankbaits $1-3 new in the package. All sorts of spinner baits new in pack at $1. New and used rods and reels of all kinds. Line...I found 50-lb Power Pro green braid at $3. I have also bought maps, videos, and books. Excellent quality new jigs at $5 for about 15, including a Plano box. I once bought a Falcon FTO box, the terminal tackle type, full of hooks, weights, and other stuff, all for $9. You can't buy the empty FTO box for that. I could go on and on, but you're getting the picture.

I buy most of my gear at Tackle Warehouse...free shipping over $50. Here's another way you can get a super discount from TW...around holiday time, especially Thanksgiving to Christmas, there's a huge discount of 15 or 20 % off everything....even the price controlled Shimano and Daiwa brands. AND ...gift cards are also discounted but at 10 % ... You can see where this is headed...example: buy a $500 gift card for $450...then hold it long enough for a 20 % sale...you can then buy around $560 worth of gear for the original $450...actually comes out to $448...(20 % off of $560 is $112 for a net price of $448) I have bought gear off Craig's List, but it helps to live near major cities where there's a lot of bass fishing. Needs to be checked every day, and then to act quickly when a good deal pops up. Best deals are buying a package of gear when a bass angler gives up the hobby and sells it all. You also wind up with a lot of gear that way, more than you need. But hey, it's a lot of fun. Cabela's is okay...best to belong to the Cabela's Club where super discounts are sometimes available on the web. Recent example is the Quantum Superlite rods, normally at $229, going for $49; or the Quantum Tour Edition normally $149 going for $39. Then they often have a $20 discount certificate for purchases over $150. Sometimes they reduce shipping charges. I have bought gear from for-sale postings here and on Tackle Tour. Bought rods and reels...all sold and delivered as promised. When looking for good deals in reels...I found that about every four years or so, the major manufacturers will replace the current model with a so-clled new improved model. Then the existing models frequenctly co on super clearance sales. I bought a Quantum Tour Edition PT, with an original price of $259 for $85...a great deal. The Revos, especially the 2009 Premier, are being discounted like that now, going for $125. Good luck on your buys...

I use a small piece of scotch tape.

I suggest that you consider getting a reel super tuned to cast light lures. For a start, see: http://super-tuning.home.mindspring.com/i1.html If you have the $, you might also consider the Daiwa Pixy, and the Shimano Conquest 50 reels. Small reels where it's much easier to get the spool started with light lures.

suggest a guft card and then decide on the gear later... You might want to check the Cabela's website...the Cabela's Club or the Bargain Cave where there are lots of combos.

Agree with this assessment....for more info, there was a thread on another site on Yozuir Hybrid (not the soft version) that showed that it's strength was more than the test, by around 20%...thus 10 lb test broke at 12 lb, etc.

Most of the Quantums are sold out at Cabela's, except for a few M and MH models which may be too heavy for drop shotting.

I have used the Yozuri Hybrid without any problems... I have read bad reports on the soft hybrid. What hybrid were you using???

The '09 Revo Premier is on sale at Simmons Tackle for $125...not sure if both righties and lefties are available.

carrot sticks are on super clearance sales at $89 or $99 at several places... Cabela's Club has the XMLTiS69DS drop shot rod on sale for $99, normally $189. I have several of the baitcasting rods, and I'm very happy with them.

ditto on BigGame's post... Seaguar invented F/C and their InvizX is regarded as the limpest. I also use Trilene 100% and Bass Pro XPS. Furthermore, on another thread, I pointed out that the InvizX diameter is less than other lines, e.g, the InvizX 12-lb is about the same daiameter as 10-lb in other lines.

Welcome to bass fishing... Cabela's has a lot of rods on sale; and even better bargains are available via Cabela's Club, but membership is required. I recommend that you stretch your budget and buy two rods, one M and one ML. The M is for the heavier stuff, while the ML is for finesse worms, drops shots, etc. Cabela's has the Quantum Superlite on sale in Cabela's Club for $49.99, and this was a $229 rod that is apparently on clearance so maybe they are phasing them out. The Cabela's Prodigy rods are also $49.99 in Cabela's Club. I have four Prodigy rods, and they are a good value at $49.99. A solid rod that looks good. You will nee a second reel, and should consider an Daiwa Exceler, or Cabela's Prodigy, say a 3000-sized reel. Since your budget is limited, I suggest that you follow Craig's List for used gear in your local area; and try to hit a few fishing flea markets in your area. These are usually held in the winter when fishing slows down. Good luck.

On the CRC silicone, do you put it on the night before and let it dry...like the KVD stuff?? Or do you put on during fishing like the Reel Magic???

adding to my previous post... Seaguar invented fluorocarbon, so they must know what they are doing. Looked up the Tatsu prices, and it's more than twice as expensive as the InvizX. I also compared the diameters of InvizX, Tatsu, and Sufix monofilament. I was a little surprised that the InvizX and Tatsu 12-lb test diameter is .285 mm, whereas the Sufix mono (and I expect most other monos) 10-lb line diamter is .305 mm. Thus these two 12-lb test Seaguar F/C's are actually thinner than 10-lb mono!! Just another check...Gamma Edge F/C 10lb-test diameter is .300 mm, about the same as the mono.

It took me a few years to find the best F/C for me, and from my personal experiences and from web research, I have found that MY best lines are Seaguar InvizX and Bass Pro XPS. F/C lines range from limp to very stiff, and I prefer the more limp InvizX. Seaguar also makes AbrazX, and some angler prefer it because it's more abrasion resistant than the InvizX, but the AbrazX is a stiffer line. Some anglers spool AbrazX on their baitcasters, and the more limp InvizX on their spinning reels. I don't use F/C on spinning gear. I also use Trilene 100%, but it's a little stiff for me. I will likely respool with Seaguar InvizX. The Bass Pro XPS is excellent. The scuttlebut is that the Japanese compnay Toray actually makes the XPS line for Bass Pro, and Toray makes great line for their own brand. The Toray brand is very expensive. I don't like Gamma because it's too stiff, and also more expensive. I used some Berkley Vanish three years ago, and gave up on it because it was mush too "coily" and unmanagable. Others have had the same experiences. I usually avoid the cheaper F/C lines out there. I haven't heard or read very many good things about the cheap lines. I figure that there's a reason why they are so cheap. The TackleTour reviews usually go into things like line strength, but they don't cover limpness and castability. Good luck.

I have several Prodigy rods...very nice... AND if you're a Cabela's Club member, you can get them for $49...a sweeter deal. They also have great deals on the XML and XMLTi rods...solid rods and a good value. Since you need it this weekend, if you're near a Cabela's, the retail store will usually match the web price.

The current Carrot Stix rods are apparently being discontnued and replaced by other models. The current rods are being discounted to $79-89 at Tackle Warehouse and Cabela's. The Vendetta has a good reputation in my bass club.

Isn't an M power a little light for walleyes? Maybe an MH would be a better choice. Cabela's has all sorts of rods on sale...includign combos, if you're interested in that. I like the Prodigy rods at $59, normally $99. Good solid gear... Other choice is the BPS Extreme, but they are not on sale now...usually around Feb/March.

I fished a federation tournament as a back-of-the-boat angler. I got matched with a boater who used spinning gear only....all reels were spooled with 20 lb Fireline. He caught a lot of fish. Another tourney, I got paired with a guy who used spincasters. My point: To each his own...it's whatever you are comfortable with, and what catches fish for you.

Suggest that you seriously consider a good high quality used reel. There are usually a number for sale in the Flea Market board here. The Abu Revo series of reels are excellent buys, especially the STX and Premiers that have been replaced by the company this year. Thus the discontinued "2009" models are excellent bargains. A side note...it seems that some manufacturers are repalcing their reels with so-called "upgraded" models every four years or so. One reason is to stimulate sales. But the "older" discontinued models are excellent reels, adn can be bought are reasonable prices.

I bought spare spools from Shimano.