Marty

I don't know the best, but I agree with the above that freezer bags are good. I've used them for years.

Hmm... Marty, It seems like you have been around here long enough to know better. : Maybe you could make your point (whatever it is) in a non-patronizing way? 8 1/2 years posting here. What am I supposed to know better? Not to offer up an opinion? Not to talk about forum practices? ???????

There are some general guidelines, but I don't know if they're based on valid test data or our opinions of what things ought to work when. The bass don't know these rules and hit a wide range of colors in various water clarities.

Ditto to flechero's post. FAQs on any site should be read but force-feeding them and locking threads just seems silly and unwarranted. (Note: that's just an opinion; I'm well aware that site operators can run their sites however they choose.)

I can say that I've always kept my toes away from treble hooks. Unfortunately, I haven't done so well in the fingers department, as several ER visits can attest to.

I've got one Quantum but other brands as well that are similar, i.e., medium power and fast action. I've used them as all-purpose rods and they've served me very well. I suppose it can be argued that they might not be the best rod for many applications, but they're close enough to do an excellent job on most, and I'm very pleased.

I've loved crankbaits ever since I took up fishing and I'll usually give them a try whenever the cover will allow their use. Use varying retrieves: fast, slow, steady, erratic and try ticking weeds or bouncing them off cover or the bottom if you have the opportunity. Crankbaits are terrific fish attractors.

Conventional wisdom says that after the storm is the worst time of the three you mentioned. Most lures that work will also work in the rain, although I'd be inclined to use lures that are a little noisier than real quiet stuff like soft plastics, although they'll work too. But I'd favor crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Chatterbait-style and topwaters, such as buzzbaits.

I don't use a leader with my braid and have caught numerous bass on slow-moving soft plastics in clear water. However, all that proves is that fish can be caught while using highly visible line. It doesn't say whether I could've caught more with a leader. If I fished with a leader I'd never catch enough fish over a long-enough period of time to draw a valid conclusion, so I guess I'll never know and continue to go with my gut feelings.

I can't tell you how the carp interact with the bass, but they can co-exist, since I know plenty of excellent bass fisheries, both small ponds and large lakes, that have a lot of carp in them.

Pradco owns both brands. Bomber is one of the zillion companies Pradco has bought over the years and I think they developed the Excalibur brand themselves. The Excalibur lures you see could be older or they could be part of a special assortment of specially priced lures. For example, the Image baits, Spit'n, Swim'n and Pop'n, were introduced under the Excalibur brand, but for whatever reasons the company wanted, were switched to the Heddon name, just as Fat Frees were switched to Bomber. But be assured, an Image bait or Fat Free Shad is the same lure regardless of which brand it's packaged under.

Sounds like you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. That rod should be more than adequate for the job, the EWG (well-sharpened) are good, so I wonder about the line. I know nothing about that line, but I wonder if maybe it has too much stretch for that technique. At this point, I'd try braid, just making that one change, and do what you're doing now and see if the line makes a difference.

Many fishermen, including me, have color far down the list of factors required to attract bites. Science has told us that fish are instinctively attracted to movement and that the concept of "natural" means nothing to them. A lure must appeal to their senses. So your questions and comments are based on an arguably false premise, namely, that lures must be imitative in order to work. If you're interested in the science of fish senses, you might try the book, Knowing Bass, by Dr. Keith A. Jones.

My general guideline is to match the hook to the bait. The hook gap should be at least double the diameter of the bait so there's enough room for the hook to get through the plastic and into the fish's jaw.

You mention #3 and #4 hooks. I assume you mean 3/0 and 4/0, but if not, then you need the larger hooks. I assume you use strong enough line and a rod with enough backbone for those hooksets.

I've used Daiwa spinners for perhaps 10 years or more, mostly Regal-Z, but a few Regal-X as well. I like everything about them except that Daiwa has never discovered the secret to making bail springs that last. They break on every reel I've had.

I don't know any other way except to catch them. And not catching them doesn't prove their absence. If this water is located near you and would be an important spot to you, then I'd certainly give it more of a chance than I would otherwise. I can't tell you how long to stick with it, you'll know when you find that you have no confidence anymore. If it is important to you, then I'd try some fishing in the spring and fall in addition to summer. Also, make sure you fish it during a few high-percentage times, like early morning, late evening, overcast days and the like.

I've also seen a number of people use bigger jigs under bobbers while trying for bass.

I agree that the midpoint would the theoretical ideal, but as has been mentioned, rods should handle the full range, as well as lures outside the range. With heavy lures, I just ease up on the backcast and do more of a lob rather than conventional cast.

There are general guidelines, as stated in the prior post. But bass don't know those guidelines, they take all colors in all water clarities. Color just isn't at the top of my list of factors to consider, but it's much more important to some other people. You need to do what feels right and gives you confidence.

Only you can answer that question. Last year I bought a very expensive canoe; an inexpensive one wasn't suitable for a variety of reasons. However, for years, many years, I have been frustrated by the inability to get out on the water independently, i.e., not depending on invitations from two boat-owning friends. In my second year of ownership I'm very pleased with the purchase and would buy the same boat if I had it to do over again, even though at this point the cost per bass caught is still very expensive. ;D But like I said earlier, our opinions don't count, only yours does. How important is it to you to be able to get out on the water?

I imagine it could be tough moving to a new area. You could Google Maryland bass fishing and see if that yields anything. Possibly taking to salesmen at tackle shops and sporting goods stores might help. Talk to the people at your nearest office of the DNR. Check out Google maps or other similar services. Drive around and look, after all, gas is only $4+. Good luck.

Both largemouth and smallmouth bass will take virtually any type of lure. I have no muskie experience, but pike will readily take anything in your tackle box. So I'd feel confident using any lure that you feel might be appropriate for the conditions.

I personally use those type of baits very much like I'd use a spinnerbait. But they can be jigged and fished other ways, just use your imagination. I always use trailer hooks on mine.

Certainly spool overfilling can cause problems. You didn't mention what kind of line you're using or what size reel, but the line should be spinning-friendly, i.e., reasonably limp and easy-handling, and the pound test should be proportionate to the size of the spool.