SeanW

Perfect reason to buy a couple Abu Garcia Verdict rods. Check em out.

Beautiful fish Rhino, Ive always enjoyed the simpler fishing days.

Wanna get bit? Try a split shot with a baby brush hog or a senko.

Beautiful fish. Congrats on the new PB.

Topwater is a pretty broad spectrum, and jerkbaits? I use a glass cranking rod for both, except the bigger baits. Super Spooks are as big as I go but I like the 703 Powell CB glass rod. For the bigger baits I prefer the 5 power. I guess they would be considered moderate or medium. I want the fish to have a chance to get the bait good, and the tip allow them to do so. The Skeet Reese CB rod also has a great action for these baits.

Im thinking its in the 6lb class. The way you are holding the fish makes it difficult to really be sure. For instance take a look at my avatar. Then just use the belly hand to balance the fish a bit closer to the meaty part of her tail. This will display the fish's natural build better. Nice fish, very healthy.

Yes. If not you might want to find a new rod company.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter. Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo. Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner. That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter. Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo. Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner. That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter. Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo. Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner. That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

Yes use fender washers. Ive always done this myself and my current boat came that way from the dealer. It really helps to spread that shock around.

I find it to be at its best in the winter time.

There seems to be alot of lost sensitivity in this thread, or a dependency on braid to be able to feel a bite. I dont quite understand not being able to feel a bite easily on mono. I use alot of Berkley Big Game and have no issues, even at 45 to 50ft deep. Several things come to mind as to why, well perhaps. The first and a major is concentration. I have fished with many people who just are not one with their rod. You need to be a line watcher when fishing. The other thing Ive seen people do is not matching the rod and line for the technique. I personally like my line in the middle or lower end of the rod rating. If it says 10-17lb test, I would use 10 or12lb test. The weight of the bait can also make a difference, but its not the biggest thing. A senko on a spinning rod with 8lb test is very sensitive, and a better choice since braid wants to float. Of course if Im throwing into heavy cover I will use 20lb fluorocarbon on a baitcaster, 7-8ft mh. I change my line alot when using Big Game, its inexpensive, and its always a good idea to keep fresh line on the reel. Fluorocarbon I will use a bit longer, but I will often cut off 10ft when I retie. To each their own, but braid and rocks can spell disaster. I do use braid the majority of time when punching and throwing frogs, neither are for sensitivity reasons. I dont know about other parts of the country, but around here in California, if I fished braid on my spinning reels Id get destroyed in tournaments. The fish just dont bite it as well in clear to slightly stained water.

There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

Wake board boats and jet ski's. The weather is the same for everyone.

Wake board boats and jet ski's. The weather is the same for everyone.

Wake board boats and jet ski's. The weather is the same for everyone.

Try to contact a Pro Staff member. Ask them and Im sure they can point ya in the right direction.

Chris, Fireline has several options these days.

I had an Aqua Vu and they work great. Yes even in dirtier water. Problem is all it does is frustrate me when I see how many fish are there, and none will bite.

Gonna have to agree with David. Ive never used that brand, but I agree that softer hand pours are much better. They cast better to because they are heavier.

If it was me and I wasnt taking my own boat, it would be Mexico. If ya really wanna have a good time catching alot of big fish Mexico is perfect. Other wise those Peacocks have been calling me for years.

If it was me and I wasnt taking my own boat, it would be Mexico. If ya really wanna have a good time catching alot of big fish Mexico is perfect. Other wise those Peacocks have been calling me for years.