cabullwinkle

I've never caught a fish on my first cast. That is pretty darn cool though.

Man, I haven't caught anything on senkos. i have gone through 3/4 of a bag and nada. I think the fish are talking.

Boy that is odd. I would consider throwing something else if that were happening to me. Does that pattern hold true all over the water, or just one spot? There is a lake near me that has that similar pattern, where perch are in one location in tons of numbers. But there are bass also.

Thanks for the input. I try to throw them every chance I get, I will try to work that erratic action in more. Do you just stop, start, jerk the rod kind of thing to impart action onto it? I fish at Lake Casitas.

Bandit, strike king and bass pro shops.

Bass fishing is such a "reading" game that I really think practice here is how you get good. You need to be taught how and what matters in reading your environment. Therefore, talent in bass fishing is really in my opinion a mute point. Get that line wet!

I would say that pros are the face of the advertising market. Without them, who is there really to get you excited about the product? I will say though that these guys are the best in the world and they do know what they are talking about, but be wary of when they say something is their "favorite." Based on their words, they have a million "favorites." Also, a lot of the equipment we buy is researched by other companies, meaning that the makers of Daiwa, Shimano, Pfueger, etc have sure as hell ripped apart the competitors equipment to see how to make theirs better. They are all using similar methods of construction and materials.

If you are establishing your lifetime goal, I would go with what a trophy class really is. It is half the world record. So for a largemouth it is about 11 pounds. Not sure what it is for a smallmouth. Sometimes you don't hit your goal. But that is what creates your motivation. If you have an easy goal, then when you reach it, you can lose a little bit of motivation. Go for the glory.

Do what JFrancho just said. I really agree that pulling the hook out is the best thing to do. Just remember to bring your dang pliers!!!!

Have you guys been getting hit more on the shallow or deep diving cranks?

I would have to say that 9+ is BIG

I think you are fine with having them in different containers. I haven't noticed a difference. However, with the salted ones, if you put them in a box, you are going to lose a bunch of salt that way. I like to keep those in their original bags, almost like a salt marinade.

None here. Bass fishing is such a "condition reading" activity, don't think there is luck. The only luck I think there is if there are a few fish around and that the bigger one gets to it first.

try smaller plastics, maybe 4" or so. You could also make sure you really slow down. A lot of tournament guys seem to lack the patience required for really slowing down. carolina rig might be a good choice also.

X2

I usually go to a carolina rig with a brush hog. That seems to work just nice. Interesting about speeding up? Never thought about that one. Thanks for the input guys.

You are about to embark on an obsession for which there is no turning back. Once bass fishing has you, it will never let go. The best thing I can tell you is to immediately check out the fishing articles tab in the upper left hand corner. You will find more information there than you could imagine. Enjoy!

I do not have a favorite jig. I go to the store, select by color first and then check out the price tag. I sure as heck ain't gonna pay anything over 3.50 for a jig. Also make sure to check that the weedguard does not have a funky angle. Don't forget that trailer either.

Welcome back to the great pasttime. Have fun learning, I sure do.

I agree with all the other anglers here. Don't need better rods, you need to learn to lip them or net them. That is a big fish to flip.

i like the YUM tubes. Nice price, nice action

No doubt you can definitely huck a 3/4 ounce weight about a mile. Do the cranks have the same diving depth? This might have something to do with it. I personally go for the 3/8 to 1/4 crankbaits, and then the 3/4 ounce lipless cranks.

Bombers are great crankbaits. I typically use bass colored cranks during the summer. You could also use shad, but I have had the best luck on bass.

I typically will go with a dark color in muddy water, with a flash of a chartreuse. I also try to pick cranks that would have a wide wobble to get those fish movin towards it.

I usually use a tube or a roboworm on it.