Big Stick Joe

Sorry, yes a bait caster is where I'm looking. I fished a tourney last week and realized just how important it is for a "utility" rod.

Hey guys, I need help trying to figure out a good rod for a lot of different uses. This is going to be my utility rod. I want to throw T-Rig soft plastics, Shakey Head, Spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Trap. Med/Hvy fast action rod? Also since i'm on the subject, Fluro or Mono? Thanks guys. Joe

Thank you Glenn for posting that link.

So i was fishing in a tourney today and caught a fish with a 1/8oz spot removal shakey head. The fish swallowed the hook and my partner told me to cut the line and leave it in there instead of trying to take it out. I was going to bring it up at the weight in and see if anyone was comfortable in removing the hook. Well i totally forgot and released the fish. Did i just doom the fish to death? It only swallowed the point of the hook and the rest was in his mouth, is there some way the fish will be able to dislodge it himself? Thanks Joe

Just got my package. 2/0 EWG worm hooks and a Trokar sticker. I never use 2/0 hooks but i'm not complaining, its free. Thanks Trokar! Joe

thanks everyone for you response. I'll look at that link endless posted. Thanks Joe

Hey guys, I'm fishing a tourney on Saturday but here in NC it is suppose to rain on and off again all day. What are some of your guys favorite fishing styles when it rains. I plan to pitch Sweet Beavers and Pit Boss in black/blue and California color. Thanks Joe

What lake were you at Fluke?

@CajunFlipper: I don't know why but when I read "Swing for the fences" I started to laugh I disagree off. Don't know why it was so funny but it was. Also, I agree that all the information seems to be the same from everyone's input. I will be picking up some Anaconda just because there seems to be a favorite within the community. @Packman: Since i fish from the shore 90% of the time, I stick to 1/4oz but when i fish tourneys i will try and remember 1/8oz in 6 and less feet of water and 1/4oz on everything else just about. And your not kidding about all the different choices there are for plastics. I can stand at Gander Mountain and just gaze at all of them and think to myself "Holy S***" lol How do people like Berkley's plastics? Even though they are a big name in fishing, I though nothing of them for bass. I always used their Power Bait products for Trout fishing.

just did it. hope i get it in a couple of weeks.

I've have fish this pond for a year straight and have never seen the bite just turn on. Idk if its because its in the middle of a trailer park and who knows whats in there (hell, i've caught a used diaper out of there) or if there just isn't alot of fish in there. What i have caught this year have been nice slot fish (between 1 and 3 lbs).

Hematoma is the only color i have caught fish off of. I have a few different colors. Magic Craw Red, Big Texan and Dirty Sanchez and haven't even gotten a bite of those colors. Oh well.

I love them. Hematoma is my go to color. T-Rig with a 1/4oz sinker.

@SmallJaw: Thank you for your post. Very informative. I will read and re-read because of the good information. @Bass Ninja: The ponds out here to my knowledge aren't completely stuffed with bass but the one i always fish has some and that is where i will be practicing. thank you for your response. @THolmes: That is one of my biggest problem. I swear my ADD kicks in sometimes and i start looking everywhere else except my line lol @Alyswim: I havent used a Senko in years. I have them and Yum Dingers and i never use them. I should try them again. @200Racing: Sweet dog picture. Thank you for your post. I only have 1 rod. 6'6 spinning med power light action spooled with 10 lb braid but from what i read from alot of the articles, i will probley put a fluor leader on it. Now a general question for everyone. If i perfect a certain plastic worm rig on my pond, should it work on other lakes? I know its a real noob question but just something i had to ask. Thanks everyone Joe

@ShakeyRage: I fish at a pond with nothing but grass and lilly pads. I've tried shaky head at this pond but no matter what weight i use, i always pull clumps of grass up with every cast and it seems anything T-Rig just glides right though it. @Lee.MD: Thank you @Vinny Chase: This might sound silly but how much grass would you consider as cover? I understand the open water part BUT when i fish a strip of bank with like isolated grass or alittle grass here and there, would you still fish it as open water or cover? lol. Sorry for the confusion. and what size weight would you use on a finesse t-rig worm?

@kikstand: It doesn't matter to the size of the worm but thank you for responding. Do you peg your sinker. What do you think of Zoom trick worms? I have a pack in okeechobee craw. What would you use in shallow waters? zoom finesse worms? is that too small to t-rig? Thanks

Hey guys, This year i want to improve my worm fishing. I've read alot from the websites articles about this matter but now that I've done that, i want some user input. I own a couple of packs of u-tales and ribbon worms and i know how to T-rig them but what i want to know is what are your guys favorite brand, presentation and situation when you use them. I can pretty much figure out color so i'm not to worry about that. Also, Do you use a lighter weight with worms as oppose sweet beavers/brush hogs or does that correspond with the situation you are fishing at the moment? Thanks again guys. Joe

Sorry guys but no crayfish lol but yesterday i did catch 2 fish on a netbait b bug (their version of a sweet beaver). caught them on isolated cover. they both hit it hard. I guess those fish along with you guys answered my question whether or not there are any crayfish/crawdads. Thanks to everyone who helped me.

@Fishin4AZ: My wife grad from ASU in 2007 lol, i know where your talking about lol @nwabass609: Very well put. Thank you This pond i fish is probably 250/300 yards in length and at the fat end of the lake is probably 70-80 yards and during the summer, the entire lake is ringed with lilly pads that extend 5 feet from the shore. The only problem with the lake is there are only a few spots to fish from the shore due to bushes and weeds blocking the shore...and not to mention those d**n cottonmouths that live around the pond. I've never caught a fish off a frog but cranks/spinnerbaits worked. I do plan this year to somehow fish the entire lake from the shore, i just need snake boots or a jon boat...which ever is cheaper to get lmao j/k. If you want to see where i fish. Googlemaps "Lake McKay Spring Lake NC" and look at bubble "C" and you will see what i'm talking about. I've caught all my fish on the southeast side walking the bank counter clockwise. Let me know what you guys think.

This pond DOESN'T have craw fish. This pond doesn't have any external outlet of water. This pond is in the middle of a trailer park, i found it on google maps about a year ago and have fished it ever since. This was kinda a loaded question because i've caught a 5 lber using a blk/blu sweet beaver but that has been the only time i've ever got a bite with a sweet beaver or chigger craw and was wondering if that could have been a fluke or something. As far as this pond goes, the only food that i could tell for the bass is small frogs, fish (but don't know what type of fish since all i've caught is bass out of there) and probably snakes. Thanks for everyone's input.

Hey guys, The little pond i fish at doesn't have any crawfish in it, i've fished it for almost year but it does have frogs. My question is if this pond doesn't have crawfish, will chigger craws, sweet beavers or anything that imitates crawfish work at the pond even though they have never seen it before?

i usually try to keep the fish out of the water under 1 minute. As soon as the hook is out and i admire it a little, it goes right back in the water. The only time it gets really hard is during a tourney when they are weighing it and the weigh station is not close to the water.

@Big-O: I think your last comment was right on the head. I really do not know much about handling fish but some basic rules but what you said sounds like the perfect checklist.

WOW thanks guys. What type of blade combination do you use with these baits? The 2 or 3 3/8oz i have both have tandom willowleafs silver on top and gold on the bottom.

I was wondering how many people throw a 3/8 oz Spinnerbait? i have 2 or 3 and do not know when and where to throw them. What's your guys input? Thanks Joe