K_Mac

Yup. A dark colored worm or jig fished as slow as you can stand. Some of my biggest fish have come this way. Just like fishing during the day, you have to figure out what the fish are looking for.

I've never been attacked. I had one do a low level, high speed fly-by, while squawking at full volume one time. When they are on a nest they are not very friendly. :-? I've never been whacked with a broom by an old lady either...a well placed shot might not be very pleasant, but probably not going to do any real damage. Good imagery. 8-) Resident geese are a nuisance. Wringing a neck or two might send a message...

Looks good to me. 8-) I always have a spinning rod rigged with a shakyhead/Trickworm or finesse worm at hand. Just a thought...good luck.

The C-rig would be my choice. You can cover a lot of water and there are times it will work when a jig or T-rig won't in my experience. Pegging your weight up the line on a T-rig is not the same as a slip weight, bead, and swivel IMHO. I like a heavier weight, and pegging it effects my ability to feel a subtle bite. I have had little experience with a dropshot. Having said all that, going with your strengths is usually the the way to go. Deep cranks, T- rigs, and jigs are proven deep water tactics. I would rather get beat going with my best, than using something I was not good with. Just my $.02.

Jigs are my favorite night fishing bait. They are also my favorite day fishing bait. I often use rattles at night, but sometimes I do better without them. Big worms are very effective, and can be worked in grass a little easier. A dark chatterbait or spinnerbait can be deadly on a steady retrieve or worked like a jig. RW wrote a few years ago that fishing at night was like fishing during the day, only darker. 8-) If it works during the day and you're comfortable throwing it, its all good. Good luck.

Get the PQ. Scratch that - get two. Excellent advise. 8-)

Looks like that would do a fine job. I use an old fashioned scissor jack, and it works well.

This is an interesting post. It does not surprise me that we can't agree on what success is when it comes to fishing. There are many different philosophies and worldviews represented on this site. Try to get complete agreement on any aspect of fishing At one time my only measure of a fishing trips success was the number of quality fish caught. In the past I have spent many days fishing in beautiful places with quality fish potential, great weather, nice lodging, good company, and been frustrated because the fishing wasn't as good as I thought it should be. I look back on most of those trips and realize how successful they were. I consider myself a successful bass fisherman. By KVD standards, not so much, but I do OK. I have spent a lot of time, on the water and off, carefully studying to become better. I love bass fishing and I take catching fish seriously. I expect to catch fish every time out. Some days I don't. On those days I am successful finding out what doesn't work on that lake, under those conditions. If I enjoyed the fishing, the company, the solitude, God's creation, etc. then I had a successful day. Based on my current health and condition you would not know it, but back in the day I was a distance runner. As a runner, success for me was to finish the race in my best time. I didn't have enough speed to compete at the highest levels, and never won a race, but I was a very successful runner. The marathon runner whose goal is to finish the race, is a success when he crosses the line, even if it is hours after the winner has gone to lunch. Success in running, fishing, or life, is in the doing IMO.

It seems to me the site is showing me as on-line long after I've left. I can be gone for a couple of hours, and when I return I am shown as if I had been on the entire time, rather the most recent one checking in. Maybe this is reflected by the higher numbers?

Glad you weren't hurt seriously. I used to work with a guy who is an avid bike rider. He and his wife were riding the Kady trail in Missouri early in the spring a few years ago. There was a break in the trail caused by the winter freeze, that caused his wife to crash. She received a head injury that took months of rehab, even though she was wearing a quality helmet. Without the helment...

Nice job. Glad your daughter caught some fish. It sounds like a good time.8-) It doesn't have to be too hot, to be too hot for us full figured guys.

Sound advise. Self discipline is important.

I have three that are the same (bb smooth) 8-). Take/send it back.

That heavy a rod is not going to give you much protection for 8# line. I would back way off on the drag and avoid gorilla hook sets. Good luck.

So, let's recap: 1. You had a transmission that was professionally replaced fail out of the box. It will be repaired under warranty I assume. 2. You dropped a full box of tools into the ocean, but you were able to finish the job and the tools were recovered with no loss. 3. Your co-worker fell off a boat while docking, and the only damage was to a cell phone. Sounds like your week could have been far worse. BTW you must really be hard on transmissions. ;D

I am curious about this theory. Longer rods cast a bit farther and have more line to "move" and shorter rods do not quite cast as far and have less line to "move". So this should be a wash. As far as leverage, with a shorter rod you are closer to the fish. Please correct me if I am wrong. I have been having this long rod, short rod thing bouncing around in my head also. Where is RoLo when you need him?! If where your hand holds the rod is the fulcrum (it is), the longer the rod the more leverage the fish has. That is not to say shorter is necessarily better when bass fishing. I use 7' rods most of the time because I like the amount of line I can move with the longer rod. I think balance has much to do with sensitivity. A longer, tip heavy rod will not be as sensitive as a shorter balanced rod of the same material IMO. Over all weight is another factor. With most quality rods the difference between 6'6" and 7' is not enough to make any consequential difference in sensitivity.

+1 This combo is one of my go-to baits. I use it most everywhere but thick grass. 1/8 oz is my favorite weight. In grass a T-rigged Trickworm can be good producer. Anything from unweighted over the grass to a heavy weight down in it... 8-) Good luck.

Well done. Lipless cranks are very versatile baits. Keep experimenting. 8-)

Rooster it looks like you have drank the Kool-aid... I do think the Curados in all versions are fine reels.

I am going to have to start looking at the dates when I read a post. I saw that the water was frozen and thought I must have had some kind of breakdown where I lost several months...

I must be getting old, I know nothing of this "Twilight" phenomena. I do want to go on record as not liking vampires.

None so far but I just got it this spring. What are the problems supposed to be? I have read some people are concerned the guides will not hold up to braid. I have not heard of that actually being a problem.

This article by Mike Iaconelli gives some helpful tips about crankbaits, some specifically about line diameter: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/iaconelli_crankbaits.html

Come together, right now...over bass. Ohoh darling, if you leave leave me, I'll never fi-ish alone...

Really good advise. Too shallow in the spool is aggravating.