Mike L

Ditto Mike

That place can be special. Never be like it was but there still are monsters in there for sure!! Good Luck Mike

I love skipping a frog. There’s a knack to it for sure as it takes a lot of practice to get distance with accuracy if you like to spot skip. I started in a 30’ long pool just to get the basics down using a pool toy as a target. It’s different because I’m standing higher on the pool deck as I would be on shore or on a boat, but again I did it that way just to get the arm and wrist angles down. I had 1 reel with #50 braid that I kept changing on different rods to fine tune the right combo. I use the slowest action heavy rod I got because where I fish there’s not many lakes with docks. Almost all of my frog fishing is in pad or scatted grass area where the skipping action can be deadly with a fairly long skip Mike

As was said there is nothing wrong with your setup Certainly not the way your hook point is made or using flouro main line. And using a leader will not help what your describing especially working an oversized plastic though the grass. The difference you found by switching rods is telling I also don’t like a straight shank on fat worms. I’ve had my greatest success with an Ol Monster and an Anaconda by using a Trokar TK110 or TK120 EWG depending on how thick the grass is. (I use the TK120 only if conditions warrant heavy braid) If you feel your plastic is slipping doing what @WRB suggests is the way to go. In those instances I just use a Trokar TK125 with the hook keeper molded in with 20# Sniper or Shooter Mike

For me In Order… For 2 days after a cold front passes High muddy water 3ft or less 90+ deg water with no cover Flat calm under blue skies with no wind No vegetation anywhere in deeper water Full Moon Mike

There was a 30’+ Commander with 4 of those at a marina off Boca Grande Isl this morning. It looked like it was gonna do a backflip. Mike

I’ve been using Sunline’s flouro (Sniper and Shooter exclusively) since 2010 and can honestly say I have never had a break off that can be directly attributed to line. And have not experienced the horror stories that are frequently expressed here. Mike

Sniper is more manageable, casts farther better for all sizes on the lower end, and the more subtle of the 2 when fishing in weather extremes. I was told by an Elite Pro that it’s the better choice for spinning gear. I don’t use spinning gear but it’s makes sense. In my opinion it’s the best overall fishing line made for most all presentations Shooter will sink a little faster, has much more abrasion resistance, less stretch and personally think its a little more sensitive of the 2. I use it for heavy flipping and pitching over braid whenever I can. I never used the Sniper Invisible Mike

Scott If you’re wanting to go up in diameter solely for more abrasion resistance, give Shooter a try. You’ll lose only a minimum of workability Mike

Yep I tried InvisX one time but it’s stretch is too close to mono which I won’t even look at. Thats why fir me Sniper and for certain conditions Shooter is the best overall Mike

Except for #20 Shooter (soon to be 25#) I use Sniper exclusively from 12# to 20# on every combo I own except 2. Tatsu is touted as the best, and it probably is for certain things, but Sniper is too close to it overall to change. Mike

You are a lucky man!! Mike

I’ll grab a rod when I’m bored and make a milk run to a few local canals around the house. I always start with a bone Pop R and finish up with standard sized UV Speed Worm with 3/16. If I don’t get a hit after those 2 it’s not worth hanging around. Mike

The trick to fishing on the back end is to not be influenced by your boater. He’s casting straight out or to the front end of a hard line in virgin water while you’re left with what he missed or didn’t hit. First off don’t follow him with either his casting angle, depth or bait choice. Keep watch for any follow up opportunity especially if he’s getting short strikes or just missing fish. One of the best ways is if he’s fishing small cuts or indentations of a pad or grass line, then you target clumps or isolated patches. If he’s covering water quickly a slow methodical soft plastic finesse presentation isn’t gonna work. You won’t have time. In those instances it’s better to power fish with a swim worm, paddle tail swim bait, or a hard bait making long casts in and around the 3 open areas you have. Lastly be ready to Improvise and Adapt to the limited chances you’ll have to find and exploit any sweet spot. Pre rig every combo you’re bringing that will cover the water column with a variety of styles and colors. Sometimes it’s tough, but sometimes if you accept the situation and dial in you can out fish him more than you think. Good Luck Mike

I Agree Bud, that’s THE way to do it. It’s just that I’ve been pulling the main line first to recover almost all “waste” that it’s become second nature to me now that I don’t even think about. Mike

I just don’t get it. Some use a sharpie, some use hi-vis line, some pick a line solely on the color of the water, the sound it makes or even if the sun is out! This is the one area of the Bass fishing puzzle that I just don’t get. But Hey, I’m the guy who won’t use mono for anything, ever Just gotta do you Mike

I consider braid a specialty line. I only use it for top water, heavy cover flipping, pitching and punching. Every other presentation I use fluorocarbon exclusively. Mike

I used to use the Norman Speed Clips for jerk and traps but had to stop as my fingers got fatter and couldn’t hold em open long enough 😄 Mike

I don’t use mono for anything, but the knot I use more often is the San Diego Jam. I use a Palomar for all braid knots with the only exception for a bottom contact presentation. Personally I don’t use anymore line to tie it than any other as I pull the main line to tighten before cinching. Some on here have said in the past that is the wrong way to do it, but I’ve been doing it that way for years and have never had a problem or use an inordinate amount of line. You’ll have more of a problem with braid if you twist the loop before passing your hook through Mike

Ditto Kinda says it all for me too Mike

Excellent post! One thing that hasn’t been talked enough about is this time of the year is prime punching time. Don’t pass up the chance to get the big stick out. Mike

You’re right to think that way. Waters are different all over, I get it. But if more anglers especially those new to bass fishing understood this and acted accordingly, no matter where you live your catch rates can and most likely will increase. Mike

Okeechobee max’s out about 12ft with an average I guess around 10 depending on the season which is common for most of Florida’s natural freshwater lakes. There are a few spots and certain areas much deeper on The Lake but not easy to find if you don’t know where you’re going. The “rim canal” around about half of it is much deeper as it’s supports barges and larger boats going from the Gulf to the Atlantic Considering all that, I consider shallow 2’-5’ which for me is my sweet spot. Rarely will I fish the middle of the canal or even in deeper ares of Lake as I’ve never felt the need to. Mike

Yes Mike

I have 2 Lancers that I use every outing. For the money, they are probably the best all around rods I own. @T-Billy should be along soon. He’s the one who put me onto them as he knows thier line well Mike