RoLo

Yes, I use the Pro series "Rod Glove" which is made of neoprene. In conjunction with the Rod Glove, I use a lure protector at the butt end of the rod protector. My wife makes the lure protectors which incorporate Velcro and transparent latex windows. Installing & uninstalling the protectors is a Big Drag, but it's better than detached guide inserts rattling on the line Roger

Color 'does' matter, but only inasmuch as it lends to Lure Visibility. There's a large faction of anglers who do not buy into 'matching-the-hatch' (an ole fly-tying expression referring to size & shape). The thinking is that once a bass sees your lure, the importance of color falls through the cracks. To put it differently, once a bass is convinced that your lure is food, 'color' isn't likely to destroy his appetite. Roger

I can't say that I've ever encountered that, but a good defense would be to make sure that 'their' holes and 'your' holes are different places. Roger

Summer is a stable season, but it's also a mixed bag. One part of the population will move to deeper water, while another segment will remain shallow and cling to shallow vegetation. The metabolism of bass in summer is the highest of the year, therefore food intake is also at a peak annual level. With nature in full bloom, summer is a horn of plenty and forage is at peak levels. As a result, the high demand of summer is easily satisfied by a rich supply. So instead finding bass feeding wildly in summer, we're dealing with well-fed bass. During early and late summer, bass tend to respond to a faster retrieve and more action, times when frogs, spooks & buzzbaits do well. But during the highest water temps of midsummer bass tend to overheat and bass action generally slows down. One of the best defenses against the "dog days" of midsummer is to fish after dark. All that said, one of the best cold-plans in summer is to focus your game on the outer edge of weedbeds (deep weedline). Roger

Well...I don't use a leader for W-rigged stickworms, so I'm sure not using a leader for hollow frogs ;-)) BTW: If a northern pike grabs the frog, just manipulate the rod to place the line in the space between any two teeth, then you've got yourself a ceramic line guide Roger

A good dropshot hook is the "Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook" Any sinker is fine if it's the weight & material you desire. For T-rigging, a lead or steel 'Bullet Sinker' is preferred. So much for the unglamorous stuff; plenty of bait suggestions with be forthcoming ;-) Roger

Changing colors is bad business! If by chance you happen to catch a bass right after changing colors, you'll spend the rest of your life believing that color made the difference. I take great pain in selecting nice colors for the bass to enjoy. If a bass doesn't appreciate the pretty colors I choose for him, he can take his business elsewhere Roger

Depends on the seasonal period. Roger

St Croix Mojo [ 7' - med hvy - fast] $110 Roger

Does this come in any other patterns ?

I will tell you at the onset, I have no experience in this regard, and cannot personally recommend any guide service. That said, there is a guide service whose web page states that they make every effort to accommodate those with any disability. At the least, they may be able to provide you with a better recommendation. Captain Scott Taylor: http://orlandofloridabassfishing.com/adf If by chance you do chose Capt. Taylor, I would appreciate hearing your feedback. Roger

I'm sure to always use a titanium leader for northern pike & muskellunge

Looks like the bails are closed! It's hard not to picture a 20-lb carp versus a magazine rack. Roger

Sure of what ?

Yes, that is definitely the consensus opinion. Although most mid-Florida lakes are dingy, we have our share of gin-clear waters, for instance: Lake Elbert, Lake Winterset and Lake Easy. When the fishing is slow in these clear water gems, the solution will usually come from changes in delivery (depth, cadence, lure type, speed, size ~ ~ ~). Tying a leader to my braided mainline is an option that no longer enters my mind. It's not like I haven't been there, and done that Roger

T-rigged straight-tail hand-poured plastic worm Roger

FYI: "Illicit strikes" are against the law! Roger

Leader line is more wiry and more abrasion-resistant than standard line, and is also available in straight lengths. Provided it's only used as a leader, the strong memory of leader line is an asset rather than a negative. Unless you're already convinced you need a leader, give straight braid a try, you may never look back (one less knot). Roger

Looks like every other poll, the plastic worm is King. Roger

I've fished with nylon line for about 50 years, in both fresh and saltwater. Today I'm a braidoholic, and use braid on all my casting and spinning gear. There is no right or wrong, it's a personal choice that only you can make. Nice pike in your avatar Roger

WRB, my above post was singular in point, it questioned the notion that bass actively seek a “comfort zone”. In your reply you mention ‘fast temperature change greater than 10 degrees’, ‘Florida LMB normal temperature range’, ‘DO levels’ and ‘warm-blooded bluefin tuna’. I'm really not sure what we’re agreeing to disagree about, but still like the idea of moving on. Roger

That's exactly where my Triton pin-hole is located, which is always locked, hitched or unhitched. "Locks keep honest people honest" You're telling me. I've got my eye on that Bullet, fella Roger

This is not a reply to any one post, but questions the consensus opinion IMO, when we think of bass as animals that seek a “comfort zone”, we’re viewing a cold-blooded creature through the eyes of a warm-blooded animal. Humans “must” maintain a body temperature of 98.6 deg F, because a change in core body temperature in either direction can result in death. For this reason, Mother Nature provided us with a thermal warning system. Whenever our core temperature is threatened by cold or hot temperatures we experience discomfort. Fish are cold-blooded animals that have no body temperature to maintain. What purpose would it serve to provide a cold-blooded fish with a thermal warning system? From all appearances, fish are comfortable in all water temperatures. Whether they stay in place or run around the lake, all fish are exposed to the full annual temperature range of their lake, there's no escape. The annual thermal range in some lakes might span from 32 to 95 degrees, but has no ill-effect on comfort or longevity. The constant core temperature of a warm-blooded animal has its own merits. Although temperature swings cause discomfort in man, it doesn’t cause any change in man's behavior or metabolism. In sharp contrast, bass may not feel discomfort from temperature change, but it affects both their metabolism and disposition, but behavior shouldn’t be confused with comfort (just my 'too sentz'). Roger

Although I don't know anyone who experienced this tragedy, it's something that's always on my mind. I've never owned a trailered boat without installing a locking device for the coupler. This is especially important when you're on vacation and drop your trailer for a week. I've left trailers in insecure yards, behind cabins in Canada and hidden in the woods while chained to a tree. Still and all, if someone really wants it, it's vulnerable to theft. That said, I know how your buddy must feel Roger

If that were true, then store-bought fish that is not farm-raised, would be the same bags of mercury with cancer sores. Roger