tholmes

I guess I've never really had a favorite. I've used Culprit, Zoom, Berkley and others. They all catch bass. The last couple of seasons, I've been using these: http://www.barlowsta...ntail--P67.aspx They've worked very well, and the price is definitely right. Tom

Hildebrandt's Snagless Sally. I think they might still be in production, but I rarely see them anymore. Flat out deadly. Another oldie that really caught fish was the Shannon's Twin Spin. It was a double armed spinner with a bucktail skirt. Tom

Lure parts online has 'em too. http://lurepartsonli...category.475/.f Tom

Plastics, that's a broad category. Worms - Tequila sunrise, red shad, black, junebug, green pumpkin and watermelon. Craws - Black/blue flake, green pumpkin and brown/orange. Grubs - White, black, watermelon/red glitter, smoke/silver gglitter, black, chartreuse Spinnerbaits - White, white/chartreuse, black. Crankbaits - Shad colors, crawdad colors and bluegill. Lipless crankbaits - Chrome w/blue or black, shad, red craw, and solid black. Jigs - Black/blue, green pumpkin, and browns. Topwaters and frogs - Black, brown or green frog patterns. Tom

I weigh them if there over the length of my forearm, about 18 inches. It's pretty rare, at least on the lake that I fish the most, to catch 5 bass that size. I really couldn't tell you what my "best 5" weighed. Tom

From the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website: "Each angler is limited to two lines with not more than two baited hooks (single or treble) or artificial lures per line." Tom

I own one reel with a flippin' switch and I couldn't tell you whether it works or not because I've never used it. Most of the waters that I fish don't have the kind of cover that requires flippin'. Tom

It could be that tungsten weights are the best invention since the zipper, but I'm not gonna pony up $3 per sinker when I can get 25 lead weights for about the same money. Tom

I use a toaster oven (that I picked up at a yard sale for a couple of bucks) to both heat the jigheads and to cure the paint. I set it at 375 degrees and put the jigheads in for around 15 - 20 min., dip them in the paint and hang them on a wire. After I've painted about 20 or so, I hang them on the wire rack in the oven and cure them for another 15 min. Keeping the paint out of the hook eyes is a problem, though. I just remove the paint from the eyes before curing using a hot needle. Maybe I'll put together a fluid bed this winter and see if that solves the problem. Tom

I fish a lot in an abandoned sand pit that has been turned into a community lake. The water clarity can vary from clear/slightly stained to murky, after a good ol' Kansas thunderstorm. Over the years, I've narrowed my bass jig color selection considerably. Mostly I carry black/blue, my first choice in murky water, and green pumpkin/brown, my clearer water preference. in both rubber legged and bucktail jigs. Although I always have a few white bucktails stashed in my box, most of my jig-caught LMB come on either black/blue or green/brown. None of these color selections are hard and fast rules. There are some days when you have to just keep trying different things (color, presentation, etc) 'til you hit on the right formula. Tom

I watched the game last night. The Buckeyes do look formidable. Tom

As others have stated, I'd go with a slightly larger reel on that rod. Shimano Sahara or Symetre in the 2500 size, Abu Orra S or SX in the 30 size. The Daiwa Tournament SS would be a good choice as well, but I'd go with the 1300 size over the 700. On a side note...Could you talk your parents into putting me on their Christmas list? Tom

Geez.. you'd think that, for $1400, they'd throw some grips on it. All I really need is a decent 7' crankbait rod, Tom

I once hooked an osprey on a Zara Spook Had a pretty good aerial battle goin' on for a few seconds but, thankfully, he threw the lure. I wasn't looking forward to trying to unhook a large, angry raptor. Tom

^^This. I'm sportin' a little purple spot on my left thumbnail where one point of a treble hook poked right through the nail while I was unhooking a bass. Tom

I voted for jerkbaits, but there are others that produce for me. Blade baits, lipless crankbaits and jigs are the other contenders. Tom

I agree with Wayne P. I've carried a Gerber Compact Sport for 10 years or more, and even with nearly daily use on my job, it's still going strong (I did have to replace the sheath). Highly recommended! Tom

Honestly, any of those reels would do what you need. They are all high-quality products, backed by a solid manufacturer's warranty and (with proper maintenance) should give you years of service. BUT, what works for me (or anyone else on the forum) might not be the best for you. The best way to decide is to go to a store and handle the reels yourself. Mount them on your rod and see how each one balances, how they feel in your hand, etc., and decide which one feels the best to YOU. Tom

Probably 90% of the bass that I catch on plastics are on either a 7.5" ribbontail worm (Culprit, Barlow's, Zoom or Berkeley) or a Yum Crawbug, both sizes. Tom

Great lookin' baits! my favorite is the Tennessee Shad. I KNOW that one would be a killer in the waters around here! Tom

Two incidents come to mind...One, my old fishing partner and I were chasing schools of white bass on a local reservoir and his wife was onboard this trip. He back cast with a 1/2 oz. Kastmaster and heaved it for a long cast, burying two of the points on the treble hook deep into her scalp. That fishing trip was over. Chilly ride home, too. The second was when I was fishing with the same guy, trolling Big Mac plugs for stripers. I had brought my line in and had the plug laying on the floor of the boat next to my seat when some **** in a glitter barge came zooming by. The wake caused me to lise my balance (which ain't real good anyway)and I fell with my knee right on the rear treble. Two f the points went in way past the barb. I had to push them out and cut off the barbs to remove the hook. Tom

I've always stored my stuff in an unheated shed. No problems so far. Tom

I Agree with Alpster re: the tried and true Rapala fillet knives. I have a couple (4" and 6") that have served me well for over 30 years. They'll take and hold a razor edge, which is about all I ask from a fillet knife. Tom

Another vote for Trilene XL. I mostly use 4 lb., but on occasion, I'll go to 2 lb. Tom

Welcome aboard! Tom