deep

You need a new spool tension knob (plus spacers, shims, spring etc). I hope you haven't managed to lose the bearing in there (if there was one). Check the schematics and order the parts.

A hook keeper on a reel? Now I've seen everything!

Dude's sharp! (Not a sarcasm). Look for edges/ spots on spots on the dropoff. Or maybe a part of the dropoff that drops off faster (confused enough yet). A structure that breaks in more than one direction concentrates fish better. Weeds are not structure. Neither are weededges. Although a weed-edge may point your way to a soft or a hard break, which would be considered (soft or hard) structures.

I drive a Ford. Does that count?

Should have bought round bends. But who listens to me anyway?

Probably not. Sorry I forgot the deal about spinning gear. Jerkbaits: One shallow, one medium, one deep. Flashminnow, Pointer SP/ Pointer MR, Staysee (don't buy the slow-sinking one) in whatever colors catch your fancy (respectively). They all work. Jigs: Arkie head, light wire casting style hook, will work for a wide variety of cover. Brown-green. Rage craw. Swim jigs: 1/4 oz northern style. whatever color you like. Little dipper/ Skinny dipper/ 3.8 inch Keitech. T-rig: 1/4 oz brass and glass, no pegging. 2/0 to 3/0 light wire hook. your favorite worm. C-rig: same weights, hooks, and worms, except you put a bobber stop a foot to a foot and a half above your hook.

You need jerkbaits and jigs and swim jigs. No really, you do. Medium and DD cranks, T and C-rig supplies as well. How about punching some of those pads instead of just fishing frogs on top of them?

You should be able to feel a crankbait, lipless or otherwise, on any rod.

You need a 5 power rod for the 68. An 8 footer or longer, rated upto 4 or 5 ozs.

"knowledge is the key to fishing success" This is the best advice I can give you. Structure, depth, speed; in that order.

So many baits, and so little time to fish them. I bought an RM negotiator the other day, because- you know- they were in stock at last chance, and frankly, you don't get a chance to buy them at retail all the time. A triple trout is on the way too. Maybe I need another big bait rod and a reel too, and like 12 more hours in a day. We'll see.

If you go on to the lucky craft usa site, you can find a list of what hooks are on each bait. Pointer 100SP has two size 5s. Apparently the gamakatsu size 5s are heavier than the Daichi size 5s (I weighed them). Slender pointer 112MRs have the same size 5s (all three). I bought a bunch of lucky craft size 5 hooks from Ebay- those are my two favorite jerkbaits. P.S. Funny thing is my slender pointers like to sink in warmer water (but not the 100SP, go figure), so I currently have some size 6 gammys on one of them. Will switch back as and when needed.

Do you mean Aaron's magic, or maybe you mean morning dawn? You should try at least a few of these: swim and pitching jigs RI skinny dippers Rage Tail DB craws Yamamoto DT grubs Scroungers Flukes Lake fork magic shad Upton customs straight tail worms DT hula grub Try some hardbaits too Flashminnow Regular Pointer Staysees Aruku shads Xcalibur rattletraps Arashi squarebills Maybe some topwaters as well? I love the Sammy and the Gunfish. Cavitron buzzbaits too. That should keep the bass busy for a while.

Only if the lb test of the leader is same as that of the mainline.

That might be one way to do it. No absolute wrong or right of course. I'd rather have a three-tone pattern on the skirt with some highlights though.

Curado I.

Are you trying to cast too hard?

“Yo tinner, I’m really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but the I is the best Curado of all time. OF ALL TIME.”

What rod, reel, line and bait?

I recall older Ospreys had a rigging similar to that. (Go to calfishing and look at the reviews. Pretty good pics of the rigging system anyway.)

I don't think you were on fish. License, polarized glasses (I wear sunglasses *only* when I'm fishing), nail clippers (my line cutter), lucky hat (which stays in my car anyway when I'm not wearing it), water. Rod(s), reel(s), 2 or 3 baits per setup max. For casual fishing whether from the shore or from a boat, if it doesn't fit in one of my many pockets, I won't be needing it. For more serious kind of fishing, I'll sometimes bring along a small backpack. 8 to 12 inch swimbaits are kinda hard to fit in my pockets. Plus my 15 feet Mike Long Stringer, and a scale.

It's cool that they acknowledged that. I hope they weren't talking about hollow bellies. If you want to see a real pattern emerge, a better question might be: Did you catch 75% or more of your top 10 bass on one particular lure/ class of lures? Or something along that vein. Anyone can luck into one really big fish or two, especially folks who have been fishing for decades. Now, if you consider a true big bass fisherman like Tom (WRB), I bet most of his really big bass have come from outside structure on his hair jigs with pork trailers. Now that IS a pattern. Just my 0.02. -Deep.

IMO, the takeaway message is that there aren't enough swimbaits being thrown. Suits me fine.

Researching about putting together a sort-of-BFS setup just because I have a little extra $$ burning a hole. Requirements: Under $400, but I'm looking to buy used. (Is it possible?) 3/16 to 3/8 oz baits. There's a little catch though. I like my rods to be slightly overloaded while casting and fishing. So what most folks will fish on a heavy rod will be fished by me on a MH, and so on. 7'3" or longer rod. I just like longer rods. Preferably a Shimano reel, but a Daiwa will do too. Thanks,

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