tholmes

These are great choices^ Add a few Bomber Flat A and Squarebills to the mix. Tom

I generally don't use snap swivels, but I do attach a swivel (no snap) on spoons, especially when fishing in current. I helps prevent the dreaded line twist. Tom

Mitchell 301 and Garcia Conolon 6.5' light action rod. Ryobi AD 4000V Daiwa Millionaire 5H After these, It's been mostly Ambassadeur round reels. Tom

Culprit 7.5" ribbon-tail in Tequila Sunrise. Tom

6" Mann's Jelly Worm. Grape. Tom

Zara Spook. I've fished one 'til I wore my casting arm out. Many times. I can catch bass with other topwater baits, but nothing on a Spook. Tom

Prayers for her complete recovery. Amen. Tom

I have four round Ambassadeurs in my regular rotation. A Record 4600, Record 5600, 4600 CI and a 5600 CL Rocket. All have been modded with dual ball bearing worm gears and cog wheels. I have about 20 other 4600s,5000s,5500s and 5600s plus a 3600 Black Max and a 3600 ProMax. Tom

Praying for your recovery and for your family! Listen to your cardiologist! Tom

My first baitcasting set-up was a Shakespeare Model 1920 on a 5' steel rod. ***, no free spool but I learned to cast the dang thing anyway. That was about 1960. By the time I bought my first Ambassadeur 5000 (in '71) my thumb was pretty well educated? Tom

The Vendetta line is, IMHO, the best bang-for-your-buck rods out there. Tom

I usually start with a ribbon-tail and on the rare occasions when the bass don't hit it, I switch to a straight worm. I don't think I've ever fished a curly tail worm. Tom

They were all but impossible to cast in the wind which made them nearly useless here in Kansas.? I remember catching quite a few white bass with them though. Tom

I really don't know "why" this color works, I only know that it "does" work. At any time, in any location, a 7-1/2" ribbon-tail worm in Tequila Sunrise has been my go-to for years. Tom

I came here to post this same thing.^ Tom

Neither. It's all about location. Tom

Same here. I got one in a bunch of lures that I bought at a garage sale and I've never tied it on. Tom

I was born in 1952, started fishing with my Dad and Grandpa when I was ~4 yrs, old so that's about 66 years? That's a long time. Tom

I've found that I can do just fine with these colors. I've substituted watermelon/red flake for green pumpkin because I got a really good deal on a bunch of skirts and found that it works just as well. Tom

I have seven round reels rigged up and ready to go with a couple of dozen on standby. I started using ABU Ambassadeurs about 1968 and never found a compelling reason to change. Tom

About 10 minutes. Tom

You'll be fine. I routinely throw a 3/16 oz. bullet weight and a 7" worm on my MH rods with no problems. Ditto for a1/4 oz. jig with a trailer. Don't get hung up in the details, just go catch some fish. Tom

Which game and which century? They're have many games billed as the "Game of the Century" in my memory, and that sure doesn't cover a century. Tom

This^ I can make 'em walk like the "Best in Show". I've fished every size and in a dozen different colors, but I can't catch a bass on one to save my life. A couple of crappie and a bucketful of "snot rockets", but no bass.

This right here^^ The first two are FAR more important tthan the rest, IMHO. Tom