Bluebasser86

I've only ever had one say anything and he was so drunk he could hardly stand up. His dock sucks anyways so I just skip it.

I have the 7' 3" M/F "Worm/Jig" rod and like it really well so far, lightweight and sensitive. I do believe that it is rated a little heavier than it actually fishes though because the rating on it is closer to a MH but it does fish like a M.

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The Super Power is a lifesaver for me. I use it for myself and also on my guide rods. When you give someone who is inexperienced a spinning rod with a light bait to fish all day, knots are unavoidable. It hurts way less when I have to cut out some Super Power, even over original PowerPro, it saves me a lot of money by the end of they year. It doesn't fray and puff out like I was afraid it might either, just has been a great find all around.

Swinging football heads are one of my favorite ways to present a plastic bait. I make them from 1/8oz with a 2/0 EWG short shank up to a 7/0 monster worm hook. I've even made them with a straight shank hook and flipped with them. Dragging a beaver or brush hog on a 1/4oz head accounts for large number of fish for me each season.

Just like everything else, it's situational. I've had days where I can cast the same bait they missed back at them and they'll hit it again, some days the senko gets them every time they miss, some days that first strike was the only chance they'll give me. I think fish will come back for frog baits more often because they don't get as good of look at them due to the heavier cover they tend to be around. I've caught a bunch of fish throwing a follow up bait behind a plopping frog though so I haven't seen the same results that you're seeing.

That will work. I prefer something a touch longer and stouter to help steer fish around cover and make longer cast if needed but I've used a 6.5' rod before and it worked fine.

Fish both sides and the bottom of the ramp as well as the loading dock, if it's allowed.

Our fish usually take September off, then start eating again in October. Those first few trips when the weather is cooling off are usually pretty disappointing as you're filled with excited anticipation of a hot bite with the cooler temps only to be greeted by scattered, finicky fish.

Makes you wonder what she'll weigh in a couple months from now? Fish that size could really pack on some weight.

I don't honestly have enough experience with Daiwa to comment on what difference either would make. I've never fished a Steez and haven't upgraded the bearings in mine to know if it would make a difference. FWIW, my Zillion cast further than I can effectively set the hook with a 3/8oz jig (the same approximate weight as a weightless senko), so I'm not by any means saying it's a slouch in the casting department, just not my furthest casting reel.

The new Menace Jr should be in your arsenal for sure! Assuming you're going to one of the Ozark rivers?

I actually just ordered 2 of these rods tonight to replace too that fell victim to me not paying attention while backing out of the covered dock slip I had taken shelter under from a storm last week. Broke a Shock and Vendetta spinning rod, so I'm going to give those Heritage a try. I've heard good things about them and almost picked up the light action one for myself to replace one my son broke earlier this year. Nice thing is they have a deal going on right now if you spend $50 you get $15 off, so with the 2 rods and shipping I ended up only paying $54. Not bad considering they're normally $60 each.

I've fished my Assassin hard for a couple seasons now, put it through way more than most bass reels will ever have to deal with, no grinding as of yet. As of right now I'm at; Sharky II Sharky III X2 Kodiak Assassin Spartacus Plus Speed Demon X2 Speed Demon Pro All but 2 were paid for out of my pocket because my 2 test reels I was given impressed me enough to buy more. I've had one issue with a sluggish bail spring on one of the Sharky III's, but an email to KK and they swapped me out for a new one in no time.

I have a Zillion SV TW, it's a skipping machine but not the furthest casting reel I own at all. Long distance casting isn't something that's often an issue for me in bass fishing though.

I have 2 regular speed demons, 1 for frogs, 1 for buzzbaits. No complaints about either of them. I haven't used a Fuego but I'm sure they would work fine as well. The Speed Demon is a much larger bodied reel (think greenie Curado sized), so if that's an issue for you, then I wouldn't suggest it.

Not sure what it imitates, but there's several similar colors to the Table Rock shad in plastic baits. Sour apple by Zoom and Watermelon Jelly by Netbait are similar colors that I've had good success with, and not just in clear water. I can't actually remember catching a spotted bass on either color, but I have caught largemouth and smallmouth on both of them.

Jigs are one of my favorite baits to fish at night. Don't fall into the misconception that it has to be black and blue or black to work at night either. While it's a solid color choice, the same colors that work in the daytime will work at night.

I usually prefer a jig for bank fishing because of the fact I can fish it along the bottom, or I can swim it anywhere in the water column. I know it can be done with a T-rig as well, but I don't have near the confidence in it that I do with a jig.

Just read the story. I understand the desire to be by the water and nature, but I just don't understand how some people can't seem to realize that they're dragging a string past a cat when they're walking a dog near water with gators in it. To compound the issue, dogs are protective so when the big lizard comes out of the water, they'll stand their ground to protect their owner and end up needing rescued themselves, which sounds like what might have happened in this situation.

Some of the lakes I fish they'll eat a plopper and ignore a buzzbait, others they kill a buzzbait and the plopper goes untouched. No idea why, but I've seen it time and time again, it's not just that it happened once or twice. I love fishing a buzzbait through cover where a plopper would be a nightmare.

Welcome! Interesting first post.

Welcome!

It isn't hard to do, regular brush jig mold, screwlock in the weedguard hole with a spinnerbait skirt band to block the hole, pour away. I drag them through brush all winter.

I do ? But Siebert has the EnRAGED shakey that is designed just for fishing in cover. https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/EnRAGED-Shakey-1019.htm