SWMIBASSER

Oh yeah.. I forgot they ALL had to use Triton.

I'm curious what kind of boat is in the screen starting about 1:28, because that thing is smokin'! The pro's aren't normally using Allison, or Stroker, or any other small builder of speed oriented bass boats. Which makes me even more curious what that boat is. COOL VIDEO. If that doesn't get you pumped your probably dead.

What kind of jig fishing? I like a fast action rod, and usually a H is too heavy for me. I used a 7' MH Lowrider for about everything years ago and it was great. Would still make a great jig rod...It was the older Lowrider not the XG.

Watch videos. I'm starting to get a decent collection. Read. Clean reels. I clean and service reels for others which can keep you busy. Organize tackle. Been doing a bunch of work on my boat.

By leave alot to be desired what do you mean? Other than sesitivity they are close to the same. I wouldn't really call them un sensitive at all. Compared to GLX maybe, but otherwise no. I'm not just defending because I have one. I like the rod alot. Especially the action. But I also recognize the GLX would be a better rod. (and am contemplating getting one) EDIT: I looked up a T/T review of the 821S and it is .3oz heavier than the GLX DSR820S (similar length and power different action) and the balance point is the same at 8" from the butt. And the SHR is a blend of IMX and GL3. While I don't doubt the GLX is better, I can't see the regular SHR leaving a lot to be desired.

Renowski perch colored inline spinner/swimbait. About 2.5" overall length. Caught on a closed face Daiwa Spincast reel, and el-cheapo rod. After that the ones I used the most, and even used allowance money when I was 8-10 years old was Lindy Fuzzy Grubs and Little Fox foxy jigs. I'm going to buy a small assortment of fuzzy grubs this year. I quite using them because they weren't as 'cool' as some of the other stuff used bass fishing. But I caught a TON of fish using those things. Actually those were my first artificials but my first artificial just for bass fishing was a purple and white pre-rigged worm.

I'm not sure what kits are available. I will say that some soft plastics even in the same shapes produce better than others. I would avoid a "cheap" kit. A pack of watermelon red Zoom Trick worms, a pack of smoke, green pumpkin, or watermelon, senko type worms. (I actually prefer Snack Daddy Lures) and a pack of Poor Boys DS Darters. That covers the shakey head, and smaller worms rigged tx style weighted or slightly weighted (trick worms) Wacky, and tx rigged weightless (senko style worms) and drop shotting-DS Darter

My father taught me how to fish no doubt about that. But I taught myself to bass fish. Lots of reading fishing magazines, and watching fishing videos...then once my brother bought his boat, I learned more, by being able to go with my brother and bass fish. vs going with my dad and fishing in general. Once I got my own boat there was another level of learning. And after being without a boat a few years again, this year will be a year of catching back up with, and picking up on new boat control and positioning skills.

Is it ok to bring up tackle bags here or another thread?? Anyhow, what is acceptable to bring for a tackle bag. If you bring a box of tubes, box of stick worms and shakey worms, another box of misc plastics-beavers, soft jerks, drop shot etc, box of spinnerbaits, and box of cranks, as well as your tools, maybe an extra reel and next thing you know the tackle bag is huge.

I've got the In-Fisherman book, but got it a few years ago. Has any content been updated, or is it just the cover?

I've got the SHR 821S. I love it. I use it just for shakey heads, but I like it enough I may get another in the 822 to fish other plastics. It has the perfect action for fishing shakey heads. A really fast tip, and lots of back bone. Even in the 821, there is plenty of backbone for setting the hook. It's plenty light and sensitive. There may be others lighter and more sensitive (GLX, maybe IMX) but for me the action makes up for it. I have a Pflueger Supreme 8030 on it, which is VERY light compared to other spinning reels. And it still balances nearly perfect. I normally like to add weight to balance all my contact bait rods, and this combo is the only one I find needs nothing at all.

I guess that only water soluble scents can work. According to Keith A. Jones, the Dr who wrote 'Knowing Bass'. It made sense, but can't remember exactly why other than oil based products don't mix with other chemical contents in water, and therefore they aren't filtered through chemoreceptors in bass.

Some of the vast bodies of water have plenty of fish that have seen lures....Guys on St Clair aren't going to fish in the middle of nowhere. Isolated weedbeds and rock piles are getting the fishing pressure, and those are areas other anglers will find and utilize. Proper management, and abundance of forage. That grows trophy smallmouth. Reduced competition from largemouth helps also. I think smallmouth compete with largemouth more than any other fish. Including lakes with large predators like Pike and Musky. Make no mistake that trophy smallmouth are being caught by fisherman and not just dying of old age. Some places folks already know of, and some less known are producing sub 10lb fish......but just barely. And in places a 7-9 is the typical trophy.

KVD would be OK to talk to but I wouldn't want to fish with him. Same with some of the other guys. They are wired to be to intense on the water.... I still vote to sit down and talk, I would want to talk to Al Lindner. Really great guy, great in person, catches lots of fish of all types. I'd talk faith (which honestly isn't my type of subject), and bass fishing small and largemouth, and musky fishing.

Apparently the rod isn't worth much. : Tried selling it for awhile but decided to keep it. I could measure the handle later but it's probably around 13" It is a BPS J/M Elite 7'6 MH XF, $200 fishing rod. Worth all of that. I just want the handle to be shorter. I use it for pitching jigs, and find the handle just a little to long.

Most people say that the Fuego is better suited to heavier baits. So I would team it with a little heavier power rod. You can't beat a 7' MH F or XF rod. The most versatile BC rod you can get IMO.

This is just IMO, but if I had $150 to spend on a reel, and $100 to spend on a rod, for the combo you are looking for, I would probably spend $150-200 on the rod, and put whatever reel I could afford on it. Maybe buy used, or watch sales at BPS. I think the rod is more important than the reel most times, and especially this time. Or pick up a Pflueger Supreme 8030-usually at $100, and then a $150 rod which should open quite a few options up (vs at or below $100 for the rod)

Fish a few new lakes. Focus on smallmouth more. Fish a lake over 5000 acres. (this will probably be Burt and Mullet lakes-18,000, and 17,000 acres-HUGE for me)

I would choose the rod. Based on sensitivity, length, action, and weight....Then choose what handle I wanted. But I prefer cork

Will custom rod builders bother with altering an existing rod? I've got a rod I would like the butt end shortened. Basically removing about 3" of the handle. And possibly have some type of nice looking balancing butt cap. Something that looks better than the crappy BPS slip on balancer. This rod is strictly for function, but I don't want to botch it up either.

I agree they are a little wide. Something for the OP to think of. Maybe try to get one in hand before the purchase.

It's hard to beat the new carbonlite for the price. I hope they didn't put crappy bearings in it to save money. There is a distinct difference in the bearings of their lower reels compared to the nicer ones. I guess it wasn't popular, but I would have liked to see a 7.1 Pro Lite. That would have been the perfect reel to me. (probably because I haven't used other reels that cast light stuff-sol, CoreMG50, Pixy)

Welcome! Do you own your own boat? I've discussed this alot over the last couple years with folks. I think the ONLY thing that can and does hold women back is not being in command of their own boat. My sis in law is a serious bass fisherman. She needs to step up and take control of the boat from my brother.

You will be happy with that purchase. I've had an XG for years now, and had the Low Riders series before the XG's, and that rod is still working great for my sister in law.

Maybe sounds a bit goofy but I feel I've been able to learn a bunch about bass fishing in my backyard. We have a clear stream running through it loaded with bass. One of the things I've noticed after all these years of quite entry presentations....Smack the water on entry. It DOES get there attention IMO. Even fish uninterested in a bait that made no commotion and landed nice and quite, are more interested in the bait that smacks the surface.