laus

Can't stand split grips. I'm a two handed caster, not to mention maneuvering the rod when landing a fish. I have a split grip that's well balanced( cost a lot sigh) and a pleasure though. I once asked what was the difference between the two here and got some terrific answers....the one I remember best is that the splits started during a cork shortage. Hm. Any of you fly fishermen wanna see em on your rods?

Ice out not quite over here in Maine.....some shallow fish waking up on sunny days! Wow.....sigh....wish I could fly to Florida for a week!

Welcome! Wish I was near you.....I too would love a fishing buddy! I think women often go without fishing companions who take them seriously and are willing to share knowledge and comradeship. I know for sure that men benefit enormously from fishing together, especially in terms of becoming much better fisherpeople (he!) In many ways this is where I go for virtual fishing buddies. So hang in there! Hope to hear your ideas soon.

I use a soft sebile magic swimmer on a C-rig in several of Maine's clear rocky lakes for smallies.....works great!

What exactly are slider heads? I've heard there are even poles made to fish them. I searched them on here but didn't find the basics.....I'm pretty in the dark on these so far! Thanks in advance

Why snell hook?

I agree ! Went one day out on Messalonskee Lake in Maine needing more poundage, put on a Creme worm pre-made with hooks and weed guards and pulled in several over 2 lb.

I love circle hooks. Has anybody seen any jigs made with them? Do you think they'd work?

To all here who live in Missouri: thinking of you and hoping your families are all right.

K. Savik's one of my favorites! I have to say I've given some thought to the whole advertising and women in fishing thing. Both men and women are ambivalent about depictions of women in traditionally male areas, I think. Advertisers know people have emotional responses below the level of their rational mind; for many a woman in a truck "sissifies" the truck. For many a woman holding a rod and reel makes the equipment look less professional, less serious. And forget it if the woman is unattractive or over 50. Sales would totally drop off. Sad but true. Of course, men affect sales of some things negatively too. Picture a guy holding a jar of wrinkle cream if he's unattractive. Guess what I'm saying is that it's not one sex or the other that's to blame, it's a cultural view that changes very slowly. Remember how there were no colored faces in advertising in the 50's? Now we barely think twice.

Deb, am so looking forward to your updates at Guntersville! I'm with Lund Explorer....what baits, set-ups, etc? Go get em!

I remember the first time I ever used a wacky rigged senko. I fiddled with it in the water a bit, watching it's action and trying to get a feel for it. Then I gently threw it out at a rock pile, wiggled my rod tip, focusing curiously, trying to imagine it's appearance underwater....and BAM! Needless to say, wacky-rigged senkos will always be a confidence bait for me because, like the guys here said, I've had success. Sounds like you're well on your way

Hi Vivien! Welcome!

RoLo, I know you said you defer judgement on chatterbaits, but I'm just curious about why you phased them out?

Anytime I read or hear "triggers geneticstrike response" I know it's bogus. There's no such thing. Instinct, yes. That's just a phrase to try to make it sound better. The only other place I ever heard it was in for the guitar shad.

Read Mike I. swears by darter head jigs....*** (no relation) has a great article about the fact that all darter jigs don't have the sought-after side to side action and balance. Can't find any reference here or otherwise on where to find the real deal. Cabela's, BP and tackleWHs don't have em. Anybody help?

I only use them when pike fishing right about now. The big pike will take the whole thing and get the hook, but forget using it again!

Hey basser22....I'm from Maine too and am having the same problem! Been out just about every day and only caught one 1 1/2 lb smallie in about 15' water 30' from shore. Rocky bottom, goopy bottom, stumps, shallow mostly though. Found empty smallie beds.Cranks,jignpig, T-rig CR,drop shot....worms, lizards etc! The only thing I can come up with is that the water is still pretty cold so their metabolism is slow...and if they've spawned (??) they're pooped and maybe moved deeper?! Guess you can tell I'm frustrated. I even tried worms. Nada.

I'd crawl a jig-and-pig (weedless) over as much wood as I could, taking time to cast from every angle.....maybe give anyone uncomfortable in the canoe a fishing rod and gently get them used to the joy of fishing

Okay maybe one

All my friends and I read the mags (most aimed at fishing south), follow the tournaments ( most, if not all in southern lakes). I salivate to imagine boating an eight pounder, much less a ten! Any other Northerners like me wonder how much of the stuff about bass behavior and forage is really different enough to change the game up here?

Me too. I find that the balance of the rod is disturbed....also less surface area should I need to maneuver during hookset. Never heard or read any pro opinion. Maybe bucks for cork makes the most sense as to why.

Hey! Who knows....maybe you've stumbled upon a way to actually replacehooks! "The world changes insomuch as we reimagine it".....

Right on about some SEAL having the mother of all stories lol! I served in USN with SEALS in San Diego, and I tell ya true that he may have, and probably was "buried with respect" as far as admin was concerned