stealthcaster

Thanks for the responses! I caught a small bass this morning off a minnow-sized suspending jerkbait in a pond that is stained brown. It was about 8:30am and he hit right by the bank. Do you guys catch more bass near the bank or in the deeper water? Can the time of day/water clarity (or even sunny vs overcast skies) be an indicator of where fish may be hanging out?

wow haha I usually fish 3/0 gamakatzu also with a 1/8oz tungsten weight. I just got some 8" lizards and 10" worms so I'll be fishing some 5/0 hooks as well.

I don't live near any lakes, so I'm mostly fishing in ponds. Most ponds are stained, a few murky, and one or two crystal clear. Some are the size of a large swimming pool, some the size of a football field or larger. I've got a feeling that in at least half the ponds the bass' main food source is bluegill, and in the others I'm not exactly sure. So far I've had good luck on fishing texas rigged culprit/zoom worms and zoom 6" lizards slowly. I fish junebug lizards/red shad worms close to sinrise/sunset and try colors like pumpkinseed, chartreuse, and green pumpkin during mid day, especially if the water isn't murky. What do you guys like to throw for specific ponds and what characteristics of ponds give you hints as to what lures might work on bass?

I'm gonna guess 8.5 pounds, but depending on various factors I could see it being as much as 12.

I have never used the PQ, but I have a Revo S, and I have used a Revo SX for a full day of fishing before. I can tell you that I absolutely love the Revos, and that 119.00 is a good price for the SX.

This is correct.

Wow, apparently I've been tying the jam knot for years and didn't even know it. It works great for mono, fluoro, and even braid in my experience. However I don't always put the slack end through the top loop; only if I feel it might slip out otherwise (not enough twists). I have tested this vs the palomar knot several times by tying 8 lb test mono to 2 eye rings screwed into pieces of wood. When I pulled the mono tight enough for it to break, the palomar was the knot that broke first every time. I do know how to properly and evenly tighten the palomar also, but this is just my experience with those knots.

One big thing I have worked on over the years is, when fishing is slow, don't let yourself lose focus. Keep working your lure the way you normally do and remember to switch it up. Be glad to be out on the water and keep trying your best.

Wow. I am new to braid and these numbers like 50 and 65lb test are just blowing my mind, haha! I've NEVER broken off a bass with 8lb mono, and my biggest bass was just over 7 pounds. The only times I have used braid (maybe 40 or 50 lb) were for offshore bottom fishing, so I could pack more line on the reel. More importantly, there is hardly any stretch in the line so I can feel a bite instantly in 250+ feet of water. Do you guys go overkill on braid simply for it's resistance to abrasion? or do you choose it so that you can catch other fish besides bass?

Do you think I should go with something like 10lb braid the diameter of 4lb mono, or will it not hurt to go heavier? I am about to purchase an Abu garcia revo S (my 4th abu yet, but my first low profile reel) which can hold 140 yards of 12lb test. I am usually really big on hiding my hooks/line from fishing in clear water, so I was wondering how light I should go on the braid. Thanks for the responses!

Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to post this in the wrong section. Any info on braid would be much appreciated.

I've always fished 6 or 8 lb test monofilament for bass. I have used braid for saltwater fishing but never in fresh. I have a friend who swears by it which has made me curious. Which kinds of braid do you guys prefer? The main pond I fish is very clear water (so stealth is key) but I also fish some that are stained/murky.

In my experience this helps a lot. Also, for very clear water I seem to do better on slightly cloudy days and just enough wind to ripple the surface. Is this true for any of you as well?

I love catching bass, especially big ones, but I'll almost always have fun fishing even if it is really slow that particular day. I actually enjoy the challenge of fishing for skittish bass that aren't easy to catch.