Mike L

Nothing better than dropping on her nose. Most times if it did come crashing in she probably would have been spooked. Whatever you do you’re doin it right. It was just a suggestion because of personal experience Mike

Pat Don’t pigeon hole yourself like that. While it’s true that sometimes a quiet entry is best sometimes, don’t discount a long, noisy skip even in places that you might not be so inclined. Skipping isn’t just for overhanging anything. Anyplace that you think an in-line top water like a buzz bait, prop, popper or a walking bait would an obvious choice, skip something instead but in a random pattern. And Yes, even in open water especially during a tough day. You may be surprised Mike

I as well…Nothing scares me more. I don’t have a boat but doesn’t matter, I always make the smaller ones wear a PDF even walking around a pond. It’s bad enough if I slip and fall in and have to scramble out, not them! Plus, hopefully it’ll be second nature to wear one when they’re older. Mike

I don’t usually post pictures of catches on here but this time I had too. The boy was making his Ma and grandma a little nuts just being himself. I told them “we’re going fishin, see ya when we see ya” I called a friend who owns a golf course that’s being redesigned around 3 existing ponds that have been there longer than anyone knows. I took his spinning rod and I grabbed my new Okuma Cerros combo. First, The rod is a 7’0 rated as a M/XF coupled with the new Haikai DT reel. I own 2 rods that are also rated XF and both are nothing like this. The action ends more than a 1/4 way down which is more inline with almost every other fast action rod I have. Okuma has every rod in the Cerros lineup designated as a XF but in my experience it’s not. I spooled the Haikai reel with 12# Sniper. The Cerros, is as light as anything I have with the action being almost perfect for a Medium power rod. The XF rating not withstanding. The fit and finish is more than what I expected for a medium priced rod. Another thing I like is the first 4 guides are all double footed which is different from other rods I have in that price range and a more than comfortable molded grip. The Haikai DT reel which I’ve posted about a few times already on here continues to impress as it’s the only magnetic only brake reel I own. I’ve always refused to buy one as I much prefer a dual brake system or at least a centrifugal only, but this is so smooth being untouched out of the box it doesn’t matter. Anyway, we walked around a pond staying well off shore as there were beds with guarding males 2 ft in. I rigged a 4” Rage Cut R and handed it to him and told him where to cast which he did like pro. As he brought it to about a foot from the edge of the bed I told him to drop it as I saw a male turn and face out. I knew he would see it fall. Sure enough he did and hit that thing hard! He took a step forward to get his balance and yelled “PAPA”!!! I yelled back…“don’t look at me, you know what to do” His face says it all Mike

I guess it just comes down to what we feel more comfortable doing. Its hard to compare what one person does to another and expect the same results Mike

Tommy I don’t know what else to say or tell ya I really like the stuff for almost everything and I can’t believe I do anything different than most. Is it for everyone everywhere? Obviously not. But the majority of the problems I keep reading about on here is just not my overwhelming experience. It’s all relative I guess, I wouldn’t use mono to hang a picture on wall. I hope you’re feeling better. Mike

I worked for and retired from one of the largest mining and aggregate construction materials corporation in the world. Theres more to designing, forming, grading, pouring, finishing, stripping, curing and jointing the finished product than most realize. It’s not for the faint of heart. Mike

RI Skinny Dipper for wiggle Gambler Big EZ for thump Mike

Just did!! I wish him all best for a complete and successful procedure and recovery Mike

Good Job Chris!! Don’t cut yourself short, finishing in a spot higher than you ever have is telling you you’re doing things the right way and the time you put in paid off. BTW Mama knows Mike

Ditto!! Mike

This ^^^^^^ I use the Trokar line of hooks almost exclusively with TK130 being thier flipping hook. When punching I don’t tex pos tho, I insert the hook about 1/2 way into the plastic and go. Mike

Zoom Magnum UV Speed Worm every time. Rage Cut R is another periodically Mike

There isn’t anything that “kills it every time” All you can do is keep searching in areas that can likely hold bass and throw accordingly. I can make a list of lures that have been successful at certain times, places and conditions but only areas and spots that have produced. For me I have the best of luck using a UV Speed Worm, frog, trap, and of course t rigged plastics. When going to waters that I know nothing about it’s all about a successful search to find them then put the puzzle together to hook em. Mike

Every 2 weeks or so when the same discussion starts up again, I say the same things again as I’ve been saying for years. (See earlier reply) But @Glenn just says it better. 😜 I just don’t understand the problems so many of you keep posting about. Just don’t get it. Braid with all it’s faults is a specialty line, flouro with all it’s faults is overall the most effective line I’ve ever used. But that’s me. Carry On Mike

I’m not a pro anymore and don’t get free line or change it often either, never have. I use it for everything but 3 presentations and won’t change because it’s never given me a real reason too and I’m talking years. To me, the advantages more than outweigh the disadvantages compared to any other type of line. (Mono isn’t even in the discussion) All flouro will stretch, some more than others but the slack line sensitivity is one of it’s greatest selling point’s. The key is using the highest quality line you can afford. Mike Ditto, Mike

I use it for 95% of all my bass fishing. Stay with a quality line like Seaguar’s Tatsu or InvisX or Sunline’s Sniper and you’ll be fine. Weed through all the noise Mike

Think a jerk bait with 2 propeller’s I throw either the 2 hanger Devils Horse in scattered grasses which I modify, or the 3 hanger XRap with tail feathers and a stinger hook in more open water Mike

In our tannic, shallow, grass filled lakes It’s a well known fact from professionals to rookies that a swim worm, prop baits and a punching creature bait are 3 of the most popular and proven winners for all 3 levels of the water column. For the most part we fish all year long regardless of the season with intermittent down periods. Because of that we have time to learn the particular nuances of each… The where’s, how’s and when’s of each. Couple that with fine tuning the color choices, seasonal and retrieval patterns I give you.. “The Bass Capitol of the World” Mike

Point made… Live Long and Prosper Mike

I No not really, but that’s one of the reasons I only use a 3/16. And more times than not I want it separated enough to impede it some, then I’ll hit it like a trap. If there any followers that won’t commit that’ll do it. During a straight retrieve with a little stop and go (I never just swim it straight back) I want it separated, that’s when the true action comes. So it doesn’t matter to me if I get hung, it’s never enough to call it a consistent problem. Play with it awhile, you’ll find your comfort zone and soon enough thiers. Mike

You should! I hardly ever peg it. I’ve been using it so long and tried every way possible I seem to get more strikes keeping them separate especially fished vertically either pitching, dropping periodically or using a stop and go motion during a straight retrieve Mike

It’s a combination, but totally dependent on where I’m throwing it. The thing about the Magnum, more so than the standard size, is it’s more versatile as I don’t pigeon hole it the way most folks do with other “swim worms” you read about. My favorite way of all is through emergent or even topped out grasses of really any type. If it gets lighter or even heavier (yes, heavier) in pockets I’ll drop, hop twice, pull straight up HARD (where the unpegged weight shines) and then continue If I’m target shooting spots then yes, I’ll pitch it but that’s another presentation all together. And then you have skimming it on top. Mike

Almost always a 3/16” unpegged. Keeping in mind the vast majority of my waters is less than 6’. Mike

My first micro guide rod was one of the original Quantum Smoke rods from long ago. It’s a HF that I used as a dedicated punch rod and has served me well. I always felt that if I was ever gonna have a custom build it would have micro’s. I picked up the new St Croix 7’4” H/F GXR and decided after the first outing I didn’t need to. I don’t know the sized number of the guides but perform and match up perfectly. Mike