RoLo

Whenever we land a member of the pike family on monofilament line, it's usually not because the line held up to the teeth, it's usually because the line was either outside the mouth or it was nested between two teeth (They have more space than teeth). Roger

100 lb fluorocarbon??? That's as thick as a python, yet the teeth of a pike will sever it like a pair of scissors. A thin wire trace won't kill the action of the lure AND it will never be cut by a toothy fish. I've caught countless bass on wired lures meant for pike. I would only wish that wire discourages largemouth bass, because bass can be a nuisance when you're pike fishing. Roger

I was tempted to reply, "Watching TV in my recliner with my hands behind my head" ;D In really cold water the best approach I know of is Live Bait. Roger

I'm definitely not a spinnerbait person, and use them less-and-less. About the only time I might reach for a spinner is in muddy water during spring or fall. Since I only use them in muddy water I use nothing but a large single Colorado blade, either 1/4 oz or 1/2 oz in chartreuse & white with 6 features: > Single Gold Colorado > Long arm > Ball bearing swivel (no barrel-swivel) > R-Bend eyelet (no looped eye) > Silicone skirt > Bullet-nosed head The BPS Lazer Eye fills the bill Roger

You'd be very hard put to beat the price of a Shimano Symetre in my opinion, it's the best value in the Shimano House. Roger

With braided line I use a Uni-knot for 'everything'. My next knot problem will be my first. Roger

I'm using a lot of mono line these days, as backing for all my braided line : Well, at least I still have a use for it. Roger

Way to go Avid, glad to see you're on the comeback trail. Spinning gear is probably a good idea to keep your recovery on track. I hear you loud-and-clear about bank fishing, it has a charm all its own. By the way, that bass looks closer to 4 lbs, -OR- you have learned the correct way to hold a bass ;D Roger

I use "Terminator" titanium leader sold at Bass Pro Shops. 30-foot Coils: 20 lb x 0.012 Dia Smoke Black Learn the wire knots, then sleeves and crimping pliers are a thing of the past I use a two-twist Figure-8 Knot and a double-wrap End Loop. Roger

As already stated, you won't go far wrong with either one, Shimano and Daiwa are two names I've always trusted. However, if I were in the market for a state-of-the-art spinning reel, I too would probably give Steez the nod (I love light). Roger

Next to braid, it's monofilament that looks like winch cable: 30lb PowerPro = 0.011" <> 30lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid = 0.023" Roger

Yah, it's either a dysfunctional posse or a short-lived promotion ;D

"Crank" describes what the angler does. "Swim" describes what the lure does. The suffix "bait" means Absolutely Nothing! Roger

When it comes to any fish in the pike family, even a chain pickerel, forget all about fluorocarbon, they shear through that stuff like sewing thread. Use a small trace of titanium leader and no musky will ever cut you off again. We all want it both ways, but we can't have it. Roger

If there's a magic lure for catching pond bass, it has eluded me for a long time As Senile1 has stated, if you see them, they probably see you. Our seeing bass is about entertainment, but bass seeing us is about survival. No matter how many boats I've owned, my love for bank fishing has never waned, it's a beautiful hands-on experience. The key word as others have noted is STEALTH. Stay low, walk softly and rush nothing. When I make a bad step or some stupid mistake on my approach, I'll just move right past that spot and try to do a better job on my way back. Roger

My first reel in the 1950s was a Mitchell 300 Cap. Since that time I've owned Shakespeare, South Bend, Pflueger, Cardinal, Quantum, Garcia, Newell, Penn, Daiwa and Shimano reels (practically everything but Zebco). I've had a lot of good experiences but the bad experiences stay best in my memory. I have simply outgrown most of those brands and for my money, the best freshwater reels are Shimano and Daiwa. The many models available within the shimano and daiwa lines offer the angler a wide variety of choices. Roger

Oddly, the proof that motor sound "attracts" fish is greater than proof to the contrary. In saltwater, we used to keep the lures at the edge of whitewater on the second or third wave. Many bluewater species gravitate to propeller disturbance and propwash, just like whitetail deer that gravitate to the sound of a chainsaw. In freshwater as well, when trolling for northern pike I always keep one lure about 20 feet abaft, and this isn't an electric motor but a gasoline engine. As for depth sounders, mine goes on as soon as the motor is started and invariably stays on all day long. Every fish I ever caught has most likely passed through my transducer cone. Roger

Senile1, as an aside, My friend and neighbor left Lake Wales, Florida about two months ago. He and his wife moved back to Missouri to be closer to family. He's an elderly fellow and has been hospitalized three times in Missouri for "cold weather-induced" asthma! I have a hunch I'll be seeing Keith again, because his house in Florida hasn't been sold yet Roger

Well I know that Shimano makes rods....Do they make reels too?

Roadwarrior, I just want you to know that I'm taking notes According to your valuable input it's the Tennessee River just below Pickwick Lake, it's sometime during December & January and it's "Live Minnows". I just know that you'll be out there in force next month, looking to beat 8 pounds. Here's hoping that you pull it off Roger

With only a 24' center console, I was fishing the false canyon on the way to the Hudson Canyon (100 miles offshore). We were fishing for bluefin tuna, but always welcomed mako shark. Roger

The 60-fathom line. Roger No RW, not for freshwater bass but as an answer to the generic question: "deepest you have ever fished?" That's why I included the word "fathom", which is a saltwater metric. Back On Topic: Back in the early 70s I read Buck Perry's book called "Spoonplugging". Truthfully, I wasted literally years of bass fishing time plying deep water (over 25 ft). I find deep water fishing to be higly successful for pike, walleyes and sometimes smallmouth bass (not to mention a host of saltwater species). Contrary to popular belief, plying a broad shallow flat can be far more challenging than pinpointing a drop-off with electronics, which to me, is a walk-in-the-park. In spite of my deep water success with other species, if my livelihood depended on largemouth bass taken from water over 25' deep, I'd be pushing pencils at Grand Central Station. Roger

Because it does more things right and fewer things wrong, than any line material I've ever found. Whether you choose spectra braid or dyneema braid pales by comparison, to whether you use braid or monofilament. It's funny, but if I didn't have 2 grand sons who love fishing, I'd probably send you a few thousand yards of the stuff ;D Roger

I share avid's sentiment on this one, I own several LC Sammies, etc, etc but my favorite walker was and still is the Heddon Super Spook Jr. Very recently though I've discovered another topwater walker that I believe may "finally" usurp the super spook jr. My intent is to report fully on this lure (soft plastic & weedless), but first I want to pit it against the other walkers during Florida's topwater bite in April and May (I can't wait). Roger

As avid stated, natural pork rind has always been the coldwater favorite, due to its gentle unobtrusive motion. In theory at least, the double-tail curly grub trailer is too busy for a bass with a coldwater metabolism, and usually fares better in warm water. Needless to say, there are exceptions to every rule. Roger