Mike L

Don’t do it!! If you can, buy the best you can afford even if that means buying a smaller spool of better line. Flouro is probably the one thing that quality over price and quantity should be considered most. You get what you pay for really applies to fluorocarbon Mike

Trokar TH Marine Strike King Mike

It really doesn’t matter. But I found if you rig the UV, especially the Magnums point down inline with the shaft, along the seem you’ll get maximum action and the tendency to roll weightless will be almost eliminated. Mike

Not me I don’t Ned, drop, shake or wack and have never felt the need too, and no desire to start now. Mike

Early winter to early summer has been my sweet spot, and has been for many years. Every 8+ bass I’ve caught has been between Dec and June with most from late February to mid May. (4 so far this year) Every DD came from early March to late April. (2 this year) So there’s some truth to it for me but not all. Mike

Another point if I may… Sunday at a tournament on The Lake, after approx 6” to 8” of rain the day before, we couldn’t find even “clean” water, let alone clear water to save our life. We stayed in an area all day that usually doesn’t muddy up but did drastically in no more than 3 ft of water. My boater kept switching from a trap, to a chatter bait early but couldn’t get bit. At the end of the day he took 4th with the 3rd single heaviest fish. I placed 10th doing exactly what I explained above. After giving up on vibration, he used a weightless 6” stick bait and I switched back and forth from the same stick bait early and a Magnum Speed Worm late for that little extra vibration when the water warmed, every bite we got was from pitching to obvious targets. Mike

Fipping/pitchin into any moderate or heavy cover can increase your hit rate in stained water. 90% of my heavier bags have come from exactly that. The darker and shallower the water the easier it is to pattern as they are usually more predictable in where and how they set up. Look for isolated areas of vegetation off any type off a hard line, especially if there is any light to moderate water movement. On Okeechobee my toughest days are blue sky’s with clear water. The only advantage is when sight fishing on beds which is my preferred method but that comes with its own rules. Bass behavior does change in ways @Captain Phil mentioned when water clarity drastically takes out a bass’s preferred method of feeding. Understanding how that effects a bass in conjunction on how and what they do to compensate will increase your hit rate. Swimming vibration generating hard or plastic baits can be key some days because of its shrunk strike zone, but don’t discount working over an area throughly padded or not, with a well placed and presented pitch and/or flip Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike

Well said Before my Ma passed she always made sure the family remembered her brother. My Uncle Jim Staff Sargent 101st Airborne Div Normandy France June 6 1944 Mike

Every time Mike

You have so many good suggestions that I can’t add anything of substance about what to use or not. How about the possibility real or not that they just may not be where you are, or in a frog state of mind… Yes, there is such a thing. If you catch a few on the baits you listed and that bite dies, just leave and come back an hour or so later and use nothing but the style of frogs suggested. You may be surprised. Mike

Well Done!! You said much better what I’ve been trying to get across on here for as long as I can remember! When the subject of knots come up….. Never mind. Mike

As I’ve said before, braid is a specialty line to be used for certain presentations or in certain conditions. I understand the reasoning some of you guys have for using leaders, some make sense but others don’t. If I lived in and fished the same waters a lot of you guys do, I may be of a different opinion, but the overall argument for them is lost on me. Use what makes you better. Mike

Same as most. The only time I go to big box store is if someone gives me a gift card or if I want to handle something before I buy it somewhere else. A @PhishLI mentioned most all local shops around here cater to the salt water crowd with a minimal amount of fresh water offerings. Mike

Love Ya Man!! Mike

I have a tournament on The Lake tomorrow that was postponed from yesterday because of the storm. Gonna be interesting Mike

Keep the faith Brother! She seems like one strong lady! Prayers continue Mike

Spinner baits are designed to attract and imitate a swimming bait fish. A dark color like purple is more effective for plastics worked in and through vegetation where more muted colors like june bug, and I guess purple to some degree are more consistent producers. However even in that instance compared to a black/blue or purple, a june bug colored anything is always my first choice. Mike

Ditto Those you mentioned are the only 2 blade and color combinations I use now. Over the years I’ve used every combo there is but the Willow/ Colorado and dual Willow are always my best producers. Mike

Probably, I don’t know of any other reason why they wouldn’t. The reel got a bad rap from the beginning having to give it that extra step, which in reality we really shouldn’t have to do. Mike

The E is the best Curado reel ever made for the reasons above. Of the other 3 I own it’s the K, I and G in that order. I use the E, K and I every outing and they each have their individual qualities. As far as oiling the drum on the I, it’s really no big deal and don’t care. It shouldn’t be a deal breaker for anyone wanting a smooth, consistent, well made casting reel that can do it all. Mike

Great Job!! Congratulations on your PB! Mike

Good Tip! Mike

Excellent post! Couldn’t agree more. Always try to Leave it better than you found it. Mike

Yes I have, I walk right by them. I buy rods and reels because of what I want/need it to do, not because its color coordinated or may clash with my hat! Mike