Mike L

This is one of the best top water tips you'll get all year! Mike

Just because you have a blow up on a top water..popper, spook, frog etc. doesn't mean they hit it to eat it and you have a problem with anything. A Bass will come up just to stun it. That's why sometimes they will come back after a hit and crush it or something else as a follow up. How they can not get hooked hitting a 2 or 3 trebled hard bait is a question that can't be answered. Mike

Don't take my response as anything but more information as it was told to me. Its been a rough morning Mike

There is no cover on Okeechobee. No docks, few marinas, and even less shorelines that they could have beached the boat and run. They were in open water. The ramp area they launched from was the closest place to seek shelter and get help for his unbeknownst to him, deceased partner that was laying across the seat's next to him.

Last summer some time I posted what happened to a boater and co angler on Okeechobee during a tournament. To make a long and sad story short..... They were fishing under blue sky's but kept watching a building thunderstorm that didn't seem like it was moving. After fishing hard for a while one of them happened to look back and saw that it was bigger, darker and moving faster. They packed up and started to head back when a lightening bolt struck the co angler and knocked them both out. When the boater finally regained consciousness he tried to revive him but being disoriented himself he couldn't. He screamed and tryed to get the attention of other passing boat's. When they got to weigh-in the co angler had died.. Weird fact...The fish in the co angler's live well were dead, but the fish in the boater's well were not. ALL prize money awarded that day was donated back to the co anglers family. Iv'e said before..Leave, it's just fishing Mike

I wouldn't. If you're not useing your fingers to wrap the tag end, just let your lure hang and wrap it around holding the tag end with one hand watching closely than each wrap doesn't overlap the previous one. If your line is twisted and you wrap on it, that's why you can't cinch it down without having to force it. Mike

If a thunderstorm is approaching, Leave!! It's just fishing Mike

You're useing "main" line for your leaders. Pick up flouro that is sold as leader line, which is more abrasion resistant. Someone will be along to give you the scientific reasons why. After passing the tag end through the loop by the hook eye, pass it again through the big loop you just made. Thats called the improved clinch knot. Its a very good knot to use. I used to use that but I found the San Diego Jam to be a better knot for flouro. The reason you're having to use your thumb to slide the knot down is you are overlapping the twists. Each turn should be next to each other and not ony for that knot, all of them. It's a common mistake that a lot of people make on almost all knots. Just take your time and pay attention to how you're tying it. Mike

Palomar for braid San Diego Jam for flouro I don't use mono or leaders Mike

7' MH/F Fenwick Techna AV. ...For all things on the bottom except punching. Mike

Ditto Mike

Ditto Mike

Last week on the Big O it was 74 at 6:00 in the morning! By weigh in at 2:00, the air temp was 91 and the water was 88! C' mon down! Mike

Why? Because it hasn't been cleaned or serviced in 8 yrs. There's no telling what's going on, a "funny sound" could be anything. Absolutely service your reel and change the line while you're at it. Mike

No, I don't think it does. Matter of fact in heavy surface vegetation I've seen the bite get better when boats come by and tear it up a little. Bugs and other critters get dislodged and the feed is on. I've had boater's purposely do donuts, back off a little while then come back and we'd tear em up. The bite doesn't last long and doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes it helps. Mike

I don't use leaders, but when I did it was never for anything on top.. That said, why do you want to use a leader for topwater? Mike

The only Fenwick rod I have and the only rod I use every outing is their Techna AV. It's discontinued but when new it was their top of the line, and in my opinion the best rod Fenwick ever made. That opinion is shared by many. You can find them on e bay if you look. Do yourself a favor and do some research on them. Mike

Without specific questions, the links that were posted were intended to answer any questions you may have in both specific and general areas. They have help hundreds of folks including my self who have been bass fishing for 50+ years, to start or get better. I wouldn't discount them. Now, I started my kids and grandkids off with simple techniques that will catch them fish. I.e. t rigged ribbon tail worms, wacky rig's, worms on a bobber etc. When it's cold the slower the better if casting and working a plastic. If its hot use a reaction type bait...small cranks, spinnerbaits etc. If its weedy throw a plastic right in to it and work it out There dozens of different variables for each and in all conditions. If you need specific advise ask, If not use the links and start there. Mike

Congratulations!! That's Great! Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike

Hello and Welcome! Mike

As I've been saying on here for years, I've been useing the TK 130 probably since they first came out. Yes, they will tear up a plastic when trying to tex pose and that is where they get the bad rap. Solution... Don't do it. When you bring the hook point up, stop before you penetrate the top. No need to tex pose a Trokar Mike

I can see that happening with the 130. I tried to rig a Cut R one time because I was too lazy to re-tie and had to toss it. Mike

Mmmm Iv'e been using these for years and never had that problem. Granted, I only use Rage Craws, Bugs, Pit Boss' or Sweet Beavers with the hook. Mike

Know your waters... Down here in the summer when the water temp is in the high 80's low 90's fishing in open, or scattered cover more times than not will get you the smaller fish in any given area. The big girls undoubtedly will be in the heaviest, thickest cover within a short burst to more open areas. You gotta go where they live and that means buried up. You won't be catching 10 8+ lb'ers in any given outing, but knowing where they have a better chance to be, is where you need to be. When making any given flip or punch you better be ready because you can hook up with a few that will make you learn real quick that knowing where to go, is more important than what you're doing. Mike Mike