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Stunted bass, pickerel, sauger, crappie, white bass, trout and large sunfish (e.g. redears) Roger

White & Chartreuse skirt Silver, Chrome or Nickel blade (I no longer throw spinnerbaits in clear water) Roger

No

Although I've mounted transducers three different ways, there's only one way that I'd recommend. Screw the transducer bracket to the outboard side of the transom. If possible, choose a place with a horizontal surface (such as a lifting strake). Otherwise choose a spot on the deadrise that's midway between the keel and chine, but well away from the speedometer sensor, rivet heads or any protrusion that might cause a low-pressure cavity underway. Position the transducer so the face is 1/16 to 1/8" below the bottom of the hull, which is not enough to dislodge the transducer when cutting mud. Last but not least, tighten the locknut on the transducer pivot so the leading edge of the transducer face is a couple degrees higher than the trailing edge. This will assure water contact on the transducer face without venturi underway. In this manner you should get reliable signals even at full throttle. Roger

Well of course I can't tell you what YOU would like, but if I were in the market for a middle-of-the-road outfit for pitching super flukes, frogs and W-rigged stick worms, this is what I'd purchase: ROD Team Daiwa Light & Tough Spinning Rod TL-601-4FS 6-ft One-piece IM-6 Graphite Medium Heavy 10 to 17-lb Line 1/8 to 1 oz Lure REEL Shimano Symetre 2500 Front-Drag 9.5 oz <> Bearings: 4 + 1 BB Spooled with PowerPro Braid Roger

Culprit Worm - 7.5" Black Shad (especially in summer) Cane Toad - 3.5" White (topwater killer) Roger

I don't fish a paca craw, but I've had that happen innumerable times with a zoom big critter craw. Maybe I'm just a miser, but I continue to fish the craw with one claw, and have actually caught some of my best fish (bass & pickerel) with a one-clawed critter craw That doesn't tell me that one-claw is better than two, but mitigates the importance of two claws. Roger

Again, I think that this hinges primarily on the "current disposition" of bass, rather than on the current lure being used. When bass are in a neutral to negative disposition, I believe they're more apt to be frightened by excess noise and vibration, than when they're in a positively active mood. This is especially true in clear water (where all bass are well-fed) and in shallow water (where their fear of air predators runs high). On the flipside, there are times when you can't make too much noise, for instance during a hot post-spawn topwater bite. In these situations a loud splash only raises the hackles of an already aggressive bass that's ready to pounce on just about anything that moves across the surface. Sadly for us, these periods represent the small minority Roger

I couldn't even guess at the number of times that I've cut-off my lure on the way to the marina only to tie on an imposter...Sorry about that :-[ Roger

Well...it is not summer yet (summer solstice = June 21), and late spring is normally a great time for bass fishing. Though I haven't been able to do much fishing of late, my neighbors here in Florida are finally doing better now than they have all year. There are two reasons for this: Water temperatures are higher, which makes bass more active (higher metabolism), and the persistent winds are finally subsiding. So you being in Texas, excellent bass fishing should still be in the offing. Then of course there is summer, which in my opinion is another great season for bass fishing, "all day long". As for stick baits (senko-type worms), in my experience, "curly-tail" worms are equally or more effective in mid-summer than stick worms like tiki sticks, senkos, dingers & zeros. Roger

If your state condones the use of goldfish for bait (that's a big IF), I see no reason why goldfish would not make excellent baitfish. It goes without saying, bass aren't into the taxonomy of forage species, and that might explain why a bass would actually chase the likes of a "spinnerbait" :-? So a goldfish on a hook that's an appropriate size, and moves real nice is probably living on borrowed time. Roger

Based on your very helpful diagrams, you've displayed a "rocket cast" and a "lob cast". It's interesting you should ask, because I've heard diametrically opposed views on this seemingly trivial matter. In bulrushes, some fishermen prefer the lob cast, but I usually (but not always) opt for a rocket cast. I'm typically targeting the "thickest" growth, in the "backmost" pockets of the emergent vegetation. If the rocket cast penetrates an extra 6 inches into the weed bed, that may be all I need. The splash made by a feeding bass is unmistakable, and when bass are actively feeding I lean to the "lob cast" which usually produces a better sound on splashdown. When bass are feeding actively on top, the same loud noise that might frighten them, is more apt to interest them. It's safe to say that bass are more familiar with the sound of feeding bass than we are. For this reason I believe that a noisy splashdown "during a topwater bite" triggers a competitive reaction in nearby bass. I'm sure that bass are aware that a lot of prey siezed by other bass ultimately gets away. So bass within earshot of a surface splash, will likely be on the lookout for a crippled escapee. Needless to say, loud entries may not be appropriate when bass are in a passive mood or when you're pitching close-range, where loud noise may be associated with your presence. Roger

Muddy, I live and fish on a 7,500-acre lake, and immediately after firing up I switch on my Sounder and GPS together, They remain on all day long, and never go off until I'm on the trailer. Whenever I'm underway, even on my home lake, I'm peering at the sounder screen every chance I get, because it's a greatest way to locate uncharted hotspots and bait. Even when I take my little 10-ft rowboat, I never go without my portable Lowrance, and it runs all day (I always take along two spare 6-volt batteries). Roger

Thank you, I wasn't aware of that. Oh well, first we lose Harnell, and now Kunnan > Roger

After all is said and done, it really boils down to a matter of personal feel. Both companies use quality components, but I personally would opt for the St Croix Avid before the Johnny Morris, but you may feel differently. Roger

Throughout the years I have used baitcasting outfits on countless occasions, but I always go back to spinning gear. I enjoy spinning far more, I'm happier and more comfortable with spinning gear and far more accurate with it. The reel doesn't fight the fish, but can make the angler's job much easier. Baitcasting reels use the "revolving drum" principle, so whenever I need the winching ability of a revolving drum I'll break out my conventional outfits. That said, about the only time I resort to conventional tackle is when live-bait fishing and for some saltwater fishing, but whenever casting is involved, it's spinning tackle all the way. It goes without saying, if I enjoyed baitcasting gear more than spinning gear, then my baitcasters would be in the boat with me, instead of collecting dust at home. It also goes without saying, to each his own Roger

"Light weight" means a lot to me, so I guess I'm tipping my hand. Roger

> Zoom Fat Albert > Strike King 4-inch 3x Finesse Worm > Zoom Little Critter Craw Roger

That's why I haven't gone fishing in quite a while, I just can't bring myself to getting them wet. Roger

Gosh, I'm really not sure if my inshore outfits are still available. Anyway, for slammer blues (high teens) and big cow stripers (30 & up) I really like the Kunnan Hot Rail (graphite) - 5ft, 6-in Med Hvy (20 to 50lb). I've used many reels, but one of my favorites was the Penn 321 GTi (left-hand) Roger

It would appear that the intent of this thread is to find some "legal loophole". I have nothing whatsoever to offer. Roger

Senile1, you are always the gentleman, and sure know your way around Sour Grapes ;D Roger

Rather than recite convention I'll just tell you what I personally use: 6-ft Medium Heavy Spinning Rod (14-lb class) with a Fast Taper With a short rod it's easier to make short, slow jerks (if so desired) while giving you the power to rip the head off the body Roger

Perhaps I'm turning to the next page, but I view these fluorocarbon studies as yet another vote for polyethylene braid. The reason I personally would never use fluorocarbon line is its lack of manageability and wiry behavior (I use spinning gear). Now we are being told that the stretch-resistance of fluorocarbon is not clearly superior to nylon! Well, that only leaves "visibility", and the importance of line visibility is debatable at best (fine-diameter is a whole other matter). It strikes me very odd that fishermen who think nothing of tossing a plug with Three Gaudy Treble Hooks would anguish over line-visibility :-/ : Roger

I used to own an Eagle Fishmark 320, and also agree that it's a great unit. I've never stopped to count all the Lowrance/Eagle sounders that I've owned, but have never been disappointed by any of their products, which I can't say about Humminbird. (I'm currently using the "Lowrance x135"). Roger