SammyLee

Yep, it's fun to get new gear, especially the direct stuff like rods and reels. Is it just me but I don't like to hear someone who got a new "fishing pole". I mean, come on, it's not a cane stick with a bobber. I keep looking for the perfect rod and look at the G Loomis rods. I have a St. Croix Avid and love it. It is so sensitive I can feel just about anyting that touches the bait. I just can't afford to spend $350 on a rod. I was in Bass Pro a month or so ago when a guy asked for a Shimano Callis DC at $650 walked away for three minutes and came back with a rod that cost $250. The guy at BPS asked if he wanted them to spool some line on the reel. He told them, "Yeah, whatever you got, maybe 12 or 14 pound." He spends $990 bucks with tax and is thoughtless about what line. Geez. I'd have spent a half hour looking at line alone. Well, each to their own I suppose.

When I was shopping I looked at the Pflueger President and thought it seemed as good or better as any reel in the price range. The only thing that killed me on it was back a few months ago, I was looking for a spincaster for non-fishing guest and bought the best spin-caster Pflueger made. It stunk. On an average cast, the pins would slip out and catch the line, jerking the bait back in my face. Now I'll bet a c-note that if I had bought the President, I'd love it. It seems like a great reel. I realize that this is comparing apples to orange trees but anytime I have a problem with any company's product, it leaves a bad taste and with so many other great choices, I chose another brand. I wound up getting the Zebco Omega and was pleased with it, even after I dropped it to the bottom of the local lake at 18 feet. As an aside, is it not amazing the quality of the reels we can now get for under a hundred bucks? Smoother, stronger, longer lasting, just better built than most anything available 30 years ago. I do wonder what the Stella at 650$ has that the the Saraha does not, mostly in terms of function. I guess that a lot more hand work goes into it, along with the very best materials money can buy.

I just bought the Sahara 4000 (I wanted it handle 12# mono) and temporarily put it on a cheap 6'6" medium PBS spinning rod I had on hand. I am waiting for a couple of better rods from ebay in the next few days, Medium Heavy. Anyway, I love the reel. I put 12# YoZuri on it and it cast like a dream, drag seems smooth and solid. I really could not feel any difference between the Sahara and the Stradic so to save 20 bucks, bought the Sahara. No regrets with about 500 casts on it. I expect to fish some light salt water in the next 6 months or so, which is partly why the 4000 with the MH rods. I'll get another spool and put some braid on one for the salt and hopefully, some 5 to 10 pounders from around the bridges on the IC in West Palm. Or if I get lucky, on a boat from the reefs of the Breakers.

Man, was I surprised. I finally got an old Mitchell 300, made in France, just like Dads. I tried to put it on a house brand BPS spinning rod and the the foot is too big! It simply won't seat because the foot is too wide to slip into the the seat area. Is this going to be true for all rods?

You know Muddy, I somehow missed the obvious there. Take the darn thing with me and see how it feels and fits together. I had thought to just look around online, see what you guys thought and buy one online. Hmmm. Yours is a better idea. Thanks. Just as an aside, do you think that old 300 will hold up when I stick EWG hook into a 6 pounder's jaw? ;-)

I found and bought what looks like a working Mitchell 300 like my dad used to have. It was the only rod he wouldn't let me use when I was a kid. When I got older, I bought my own stuff. Now that he has passed, I wanted an outfit just like his but I don't remember what kind of rod he had so I am looking for a spinning rod that would be a good match for the 300 reel. I am willing to spend maybe a hundred bucks for one. I mostly bass fish. I worm fish more than anything else but sometimes throw crankbaits or top water popper/chuggers. I plan to put 10 or 12 # mono on it. I was kinda thinking to get a 6'6" medium power, fast action. If I could get a St. Croix Legend for around $100, that might be my choice. Other options? Thanks in advance.

lupe21, I think it is based on the number of post, which should be a reflection of some time spent reading and thinking about the forum. Once you've been around the forum for a few weeks and make a few posts, you can post pictures and move up to "Junior Member". Perhaps we could also have a Newbie pass as well. Clark, why just ten members? I know nothing about this other than it sounds like fun so there may be a really good reason to limit it to 10 folks. Also, from how I understand it, the lures we put in to replace the ones we take out should be new. Is that correct? Is it acceptable to try a lure from the pass bag, then put it back? Anyway, thanks Clark, for taking the lead on this and I have my fingers crossed that I am in the first ten. SammyLee (PM sent)

I'd sure go for it. The downside is that someone like me, a beginner to intermediate bass fisher, might pick lures that don't really appeal to those with better taste and skills. Then the "pack" becomes loaded with "Gee, who wants that silly thing?". But boy, wouldn't be like Christmas when the pack came in the mail! And I promise, if I got the pack, I'd take my pick, replace with equal or better value and send it on within three days.

Way to go! And yeah, from the email I got, JigNpig does get the trip with Hank. Hank seemed very cool at ICAST doing interviews about the Hobbie fishing boat. Paul, please give us a trip report with pics after you fish with hank.

Likely true but sometimes the biggest bait will catch the smallest fish!

I'm not as methodical or intellectual as you but I too, like to try things different. Like running a worm quickly on the surface or a SPRO frog in open water in the middle of the day. Or throwing a big, heavy surface popper with an ultra-lite rod. How about drop shotting lizards? I caught a small bass yesterday using a tiny grub because a bunch of tail tugging brim were aggravating me and I decided to catch em. Ever tried a wacky rig worm under a bobber? (not yet for me but I've thought about trying it!)

Yes Sir, those are some nice fish. When I have a good day, I become a legend in my own mind! Boy, my wife must love to hear (over and over) how this expert figured out what was gonna make them hit and how I managed fight him, with full details. I agree with the 4 pound range for the big boy. And I'll tell you what, I went to PBS last night and bought the Rapala 15 pound digital ($31). Today, I was weighing every fish we caught! Oh yeah, 14 ounces! What a nice fish! 7 pounds 14 ounces for nine fish. It's fun just to know. My best day/s were last weekend when I landed a 5.26 LMB and a 3.51 SMB (who fought like crazy!) at Pickwick. And I do belive I caught the smallest fish ever caught on a Sexy Swimmer. Is that little fish a bass fry?

I know, our big outing is nine months away but I had such a good time there last weekend, I really, really want to go back soon and often prior to our roadtrip. It's about a 2 hour drive from my house and I have lot's of vacation time on the books so I could go anytime anyone else wanted to, for the most part. I've read the postings regarding Pickwick but I can tell you from my limited perspective, it's a GREAT place to fish. I don't have a boat but their rental boats at 40 bucks a day is a great deal. Yes, with a 9.9 on a wide 14 foot jon, they're slow, about 10mph according to my gps but you can get where you need to be. Especially because there some great spots very close to the marina. Anyway, if any of the Bass Resources would be willing to join me for a couple of practise sessions, that'd be great. Just look at this nice small mouth. If a gumby like me can catch one like that, you guys ought to very, very well.

Well, I sure don't need another excuse for not catching them, I'm just not yet very good! But, about 4 weeks ago, I decided to do a little night fishing at the local lake. When I got to my favorite spot, I noticed shad were EVERY WHERE. I thought "Hot Dog! the bass will be here and active. Nope. Not a even a nibble. I really think they were just full. I thought the solution would be to go to a reaction lure like a spinner bait or a buzz bait but that didn't work out either, as least on that night.

Nice fish! Boy, do I love Jump fishing. The adrenaline just pours in when I see them tearing up the surface. The flip side of that, finesseing worms or other soft baits it fun too, but as you say, we have to "work" for them. But that's the kind of work I'll take any day. I caught 3, one pounders this morning and had to "work" for them. What was even more fun was that I took my coworker and her husband with me and he got 4 and she got two. This lake is too full of small ones and we have been told to keep anything under three pounds. It made a nice looking stringer and I'll bet they enjoy a good, fresh fish supper tonight.

I don't drink alcohol when I am in my float. I would hate for something to happen, especially harm to others while I was drinking and fin kicking. :-X Truth of the matter, is that I quit drinking this spring and won't drink at anytime, or at least not today. I'll let tomorrow bring what it will. Having said that, I have no problem with folks who drink responsibly. Bill W is my fishing buddy. Stone cold sober at 70mph running on the pad scares the crap out of me anyway.

Thanks guys, that's very helpful. I had planned to tent camp (12 bucks a day) over in the Bruton Branch campgound as it is actually on the water. (That's where that big LMB in the picture came from!) I guess if I can share a room the cost wouldn't be that much more. If anyone is looking for someone to share a room, (or boat costs) just PM me. I am quiet, neat, do not snore and mind my own business. I do smoke a cigar from time to time but outside. Time is not really an issue as I have tons of vacation time on the books and if I request it soon enough, I'll get it approved. After last weekend's two PB LMB and SMB at Pickwick, I will be going back there several times prior our get together, which I am much looking forward to.

I'd love to be there the whole week but I doubt I can afford that. What two days would be the best to fish and meet up with everyone? Thursday and Friday at the end? I have a friend with a Basscat boat who is not (yet) part of Bassresource, and I'd like for him to come along (with his boat and expertise) That wouldn't be a problem would it?

I've caught a good percentage of my bass on topwater. As others have said, early morning, late in the afternoon and whenever they are schoooling and hitting shad on the surface. Yesterday, I saw a bunch tearing up the surface in an area as big as a living room from about 800 feet away. I hurried on over there and cast a gold/silver topwater popper into the fray. Bang! I had one on in seconds.

Michelle, Crank baits in shallow water with wood are going to get hung up, especially from the bank. Get a 6 inch plastic worm, about the same color as the water. Texas rig it, weedless. [bullet sinker on line first, screw-ins work best for me, tie on a wide gap worm hook, about 2/0 to start, nose hook the worm then bring the hook point back into the worm so it hangs straight, then just lightly "skin" the hook point on the back of the worm.] Cast from the bank, near any visible structure. Let the worm sit still for about a minute, take up any loose slack. Retrieve about a foot or two of line until you feel pressure from the worm. Give it three or four little jiggles. Wait a few seconds and retrieve another couple of feet and repeat jiggles until the worm is at your feet. When the bass picks it up, you will feel some additional pressure and most likely, some (two or three) 'taps' and maybe a bit of vibration. Give him another one to two seconds or so, make sure you don't have slack, and set the hook to the moon. If there are bass there, you will get one doing this. Fan cast the area, taking your time, stay focused and really fish it. If you've fan casted carefully, twice without getting bit, move and repeat. Be patient and if you get hung up, jiggle it gently, move to the right or left, giggle again and if that doesn't free the worm, grab the line above the rod and pull with pressure until it comes free or breaks off. Running weedless worms will reduce hang ups but you will get them. It's part of fishing. I always say, "If you can't afford to loose it, don't throw it." Use stout enough line and rod to handle average fish. Say 10 to 12 # line on at least a medium power rod with a medium sized spinner reel or an average bait caster that is rated for 12 pound line. Set your drag pretty tight so that you can set the hook without slippage but light enough to not break the line. The rod will take a lot of the shock out of the system. (be PERFECT with your knots, the improved cinch knot "fisherman's knot" works just fine and is easy to tie.) Once the fish is on, guide him away from structure, keep pressure on him, if it looks like he going to jump, hold the rod tip down. If he is taking drag, don't reel. Pretty much, fish should be either taking drag or coming to you. Bass, especially the big ones, may seem like college prior to high school but it's really not so true. Just present them the right stuff and they will hit it like brim on a cricket. They are such beautiful fish and such fighters! A 3/4 pound healthy bass will make you think you've got a trophy on the line. The rush you feel when you stick em, fight em and finally get your thumb into their mouth, is beyond description. Go for it. ps, Brim "tail tuggers" will often pick up the tail of the worm and run with it. What they plan to do with it, I can't imagine. If you're getting the pressure and taps (light ones) and set the hook with no fish on, it's likely tail tuggers. Just ignore them and keep on fishing. Tail tuggers are bass food and a good sign.

Thanks, RW. That's almost exactly what I did. I spoke to Bob, the harbor master and he told me to fish the marina then go left to the rip/rap. I camped out over in the Bunton primitive sites, which are on the water. About 2pm on Friday, I put my float in and started finesse fishing worms in the hydrillia near the boat ramp. Bang! My new PB LMB! At 21 inches, the calculator goes 5.26. I have attached the photo of that one. Today (Saturday) I got the 14' 9.9 jon boat from the marina and just went to the end of the docks and around to the right. I picked up a 14" LMB on a silver lipless and then noticed fish tearing up the surface for shad. I cast a topwater plug, silver and gold, and caught another nice LMB. After a bit of a slow spell, I was still casting that topwater near the opening of the marina into the cove and an aggressive fish hit the plug, missed it and I kept it moving, and he hit it again, hard. I set the hook with the 8# test on a medium lite 6'6" St. Croix. What a fight I had going! Man, I figured I had an eight pound LMB. When I got him to the surface, it was a Small Mouth Bass! What a beauty! 18 inches long and perfect body in every way. This was my very first Smallie and what a nice one to start a trend. Anyway, Pickwich was GREAT fun. I can't wait until May to go back.

I'm gong to Pickwick to practice for our big get together tomorrow and Saturday. I bought the topo map but I wondered if you good folks have any suggestions about where to start and what baits to use. I plan on getting one of the 16' 9.9 hp rental boats but they may not have one. Otherwise, I'll just be in my float, starting from the State Park landing. My plan is to find drop offs and rocks and run deeper diving crankbaits and if that doesn't get em going, go to a carolina rig worm. After that then finesse worms from the bank to the boat. I am thinking surface baits will not be so good except for early or late, when I most likely will not have the boat. This may need to be posted on a different section but regardless, any help you folks can provide will certainly be appreciated. Hey, I might catch my first smallie!

I'm like Nitro and Estaban, I throw out into the open on my first cast, to get it over and tune the head and hand a bit. I did get my pb on the second cast of a topwater popper. Came darn close to beating that today with a nice one that I had to really, really work for. (dropped rod into the lake and had to retrieve it, go home, get a backup and go back. I float fish so two rods can be a pain to deal with on the float, though I do that more often than a single.)

Sometimes the bite just stops, regardless of rain or no rain. I fished the other night in rain that varied from light to pourning down and did well. When I didn't get a bite in about 40 minutes, I went home. I might have tried changing baits. I was fishing 7 inch RageTail Anacondas (my favorite right now, caught a 16 incher this morning) and gone to a crank bait or buzz bait. Perhaps as the water cooled, they changed depth? Really, it's about the same as if you had just started fishing a particuliar spot. Where are they? What do they want? Will they reacton strike? I have no real daily goals, so if I've had a pretty good day and they stop, I just figure I wore out my welcome and go home. They'll be there tomorrow.

Different things for different folks. Still, if you buy a 50 dollar combo, it "might" last you a year. Times four years, you've spent the 200 bucks. Or $12.50 per use. (and ignore the aggravations) Buy a quality outfit, which could easily last 20 years for 250 bucks or 3.13 per use. With higher quality stuff, you'll have more fun and be more likely to fish more than once a quarter, reducing the per event even more. Live frogs? Don't know about that at all. SPRO and StrikeKing/RageTail both make nice frog baits. Edit to add, other peoples experience with low cost equipment seems different from mine and a few others I've been with. I've never had a combo under a hundred bucks that held up under my fishing conditions for more than a few weeks. I have had and have seen low end stuff break the first day out. Maybe I am just hard on equipment and have very high expectations of its performance. Read some of the customer reviews of any gear you plan to buy.