thinkingredneck

There are a ton of threads about this. you have your binder guys , your original packaging in plastic ziplock guys, and your plano guys for soft plastics. Plano vs generic vs Flambeau vs Bass mafia guys. Backpack vs soft side, vs tackle box. Don't forget specialty boxes for spinner baits, etc! Some carry a mix in a small bag they refill (kayak) while others carry a tackle shop. I think that sums it up. I have tried them all except Bass Mafia, and they all seem to be a compromise of some sort.

sounds like you figured it out.

I tie a jig with rubber legs and a red marabou tail. 1/80 oz with #10 or 12 hooks (not sure). Simple and effective. You can tart them up, but no need. I am convinced that red works best for Bream, and you need some rubber legs. Those are key strike inducers. You can also soak them in Gulp juice, once your kids use up the bait! Hang them under a small bobber or slip bobber.

I Ave severe arthritis in my right thumb. Some days a BC reel is out of the question. I fish mostly stained to muddy water. What finesse baits do you recommend? Or, would you just fish with a stiff spinning rod with what I would use on a BC? (I.e., t rig, jig, spinner,etc)

All I know is on most days on the rez, either Junebug or Candybug work better than Green pumpkin, watermelon red flake or black. Same bait or retrieve. I generally start with one in trick worm, when it works, I then change worm shapes to see which shape they like, such as ribbon, u vibe etc. Probably BS and I should just throw trickworms. I dunno. Keeps me entertained. I think flakes matter in dingy water.

Weightless is generally a sight fishing, line watching deal.

I have a painted lead bullet weight that is beat up and I think it does better, too. Who knows why?

Lessons will definitely help. Also, read Ellis' book, Bassin with a Fly Rod, and Dave Whitlock 's Orvis guide to Bass fishing. Also books by Terry and Roxane Wilson and Lefty Kreh are excellent. The low end Orvis combo is a great deal. Bass pro low end Combos are okay. I think you should start with top water like a foam popper or hopper. Get a "Bass" leader and good tippet. I like Maxon tippet. I like furled leaders and a WF line. Feather Craft has a good furled leader system. In my opinion, you need an 8 wt for LMB and a 4 or 5 for blue gill. If you are going to try to straddle it, use a 6 wt. With a 6, stick to smaller poppers, size 4 or so. As stated, Wooly Buggers work. The more heavily weighted the fly, the harder to handle. Heavily weighted flies kind of defeat the purpose of fly fishing, too me. In general, the more air resistant or heavy the fly, the heavier rod and more dramatic your line taper will need to be. Wear sun glasses for eye protection. Don't get a junky rod. You will have a difficult time learning on those. That being said, a fiberglass Eagle Claw is fun and might serve your needs. It is slow and forgiving. Don't start with an ultra fast tip rod. IMHO the faster the rod, the harder to learn on. Reel doesn't matter as you strip line in. You might want ro wrap you index finger with tape to prevent line burn from stripping line, or get a finger guard. The advantage to fly fishing is to cast small, lightweight stuff that you can't cast on other rods. Deep water fly fishing with a sink tip or heavily weighted flies is a pain to me. It wears thin quickly. If I am fishing over 4 ft deep, I go with BC or Spinning rod. But nothing is as much fun to me as catching a Big bass on a popper! Next you will be tying flies. Another sickness. Good luck!

This

Trickworms. Different colors. T rigged. Green pumpkin, Junebug, watermelon redflake, Candybug, Scuppernong Candy are my favorites.

I have caught a couple dinks on Senkos. Not much. None on Ned Rig, or finesse in general,- and I keep trying toads yes, frogs no maybe because I fIsh dark to muddy water.

Reel just fast enough to feel vibrations, and adjust speed to get the most vibration. Works for me.

This. I fly fish for gills and love it. You can use a small float and spinning rod with flies, too. I suspend them under a popperI am looking into the finesse side right now, and the Ned rig and slider are good to try.. Trick worms t rigged for bass almost always works for me. Another way to think of it is to fish a pond like a cove of a reservoir, and fish a cove like a pond. d**n, I am Zen today.

I am having the opposite problem, getting bad arthritis in my thumb and some days using my BC becomes difficult. Hurts and sometimes just won't "act right." My boss uses a spinning rod for everything from finesse to tarpon, so I may try that.

Pretty much like everyone said, jig t rig worm t or c rig creature/lizard spinnerbait or swimbait toad The first 3 are my primary techniques. I like plastics and jigs!

You can buy an 8 inch directly from Creme. They still work.

Dark plastics like Junebug and Candybug.. Try different shapes and sizes. Jigs in black with blue

Rapala?

I just found your post. Glad you are recovering and still here. I would add to get your heart checked, too. Found out I had 90% blockage in the "widow maker" with only a back ache. Routine screen led to surgery the next morning. I would have likely been dead in 6 months without that screening. Get heart, prostate, skin, routine labs, and metabolic panel checked. Eat like you have some sense (cut the grease , sugar and fast food, sodas, and refined carbohydrates), drink moderately, don't drink or text and drive, exercise, use a seat belt, don't smoke, don't run around with married women... lot's of advice I got that cut down on life's enjoyment, in order to live longer. Take vitamins, fish oil, vit D, and baby aspirin. Getting old sucks, but I still have fun. Good luck.

Sometimes I set the hook before I think about it. Reflex.

Pfluger President

Trickworm in the holes in the pads.

There are some good articles on fishing for bigger bass on this site.

An old guy with a bunch of wall hangers in his den told me to focus on technique until I got the hang of it. He said to use braid and t-rig a zoom trick worm. That is all I did for a summer. Worked for me. Then branch out.

You may be trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. Try weightless or lighly weighted, weedless soft plastics. Nothing wrong with a spinning reel. A BC has to be matched to your bait. Yours may be made/ set for heavier baits. When kayak or bank fishing I carry both.