RoLo

Long casting distances depend mainly on the 'rod' and the 'line'. The reel shouldn't be a major player, unless the tension settings are improperly adjusted. Roger

More important than the jighead or worm, is your 'shaky worm' delivery. In my opinion, the most common tyro error is overworking the worm. It's usually best to use subtle 1 to 2-inch rod-tip movement, trying to keep the worm in place. FYI: (I see you're from California) Shaky worming is dynamite for spotted bass, excellent for smallmouth bass and very good for largemouth bass. Roger

Line failure with fluorocarbon line?? Hmmph, what could that be?

If you're experiencing a great fishing day while your boat-mate is struggling, reach into your tackle box and give him/her the same lure that you're using. That doesn't always solve the problem, but will always serve as a learning experience. Roger

In a word: 'Misappropriation'.

If you're just looking for maximum action, you won't beat a floating worm like a Strike King 3x, Z-Man 10x or Berkley Bottom Hopper. But shaky heads are generally used for inactive fish in a passive mood, fish that might be turned off by too much action. Neutrally buoyant worms move very well, because there's no upward or downward influence on the worm. Neutrally buoyant shaky worms include Roboworms and Brewers Slider Worms. Another shaky worm I've come to like is the Strike King 5.0” Fat Baby Finesse Worm Roger

Congratulations to Henry, and thank you for growing our sport Roger

I have several spools of fluorocarbon in my den drawer since the mid 1990s. They're still like brand new Roger

EXACTLY! It took me a while, but I finally figured out while my wife always outfishes me Roger

The best standup jig to use depends on the lakes you fish. In the weedy, natural lakes we mostly fish, I like the Mustad Stand Up Shaky Head. I'd hesitate to say that it's better than the Chompers jighead (which I happen to like) but it's worth your attention. Roger

Incidentally and not for nothing, a zoom fluke is a soft jerkbait Happily, there's a generous array of very effective paddle-tail minnows: > Gambler Big EZ > Reaction Innovation Big Dipper > Keitech Swing Impact Fat > Basstrix Paddle Tail Swimbait > Jackall Rhythm Wave And the list goes on Roger

Always try to match the braid color with the lure color. If they don't match, a bass might suspect that something's wrong! Roger

Darn it, I wish that held true when I step on a scale

The average weight of a 16.5" largemouth bass is 2lb 8oz Roger

2½ lbs Roger

The major difference between the two rigs is that the sinker on a Carolina rig lies in 'front' of the hook, while the sinker on a drop-shot rig lies 'below' the hook. With a Carolina rig, a taut line gives the angler direct contact to the sinker, but contact with the bait is indirect, as it depends on the tautness or slackness in the leader. For this reason, a heavy sinker can be used on a C-rig without the weight directly affecting the action of the bait. Carolina rigs are best suited for deep water, windy weather and for area coverage. With a drop-shot rig, a taut line gives the angler direct contact to the hook and bait, and movement at the hook is directly transmitted to the rod. Inversely, any rod-tip movement on a taut line is directly transmitted to the bait, unlike a C-rig. Drop-shotting is a highly versatile rig, and though it lacks the area coverage of a Carolina rig, it gives the angler greater control & sensitivity. In my case, I always have a paper route of waypoints that I fish on the way out, and again on the way in. So I have no use for the ball-and-chain search bait, as it were (C-rig). For me at least, the choice of bottom rigs is between a jig, drop-shot rig and shaky head. Roger

Immediately if not sooner

I fish hard jerkbaits and soft jerkbaits on straight braid, no leader, all the time. Braided line is a remarkable performer, and if my jerkbait is doing something I don't like, I always blame myself, never the line. Roger

On golf course ponds, retention ponds and farm ponds, my go-to lure is a T-rigged 6.0" ribbon-tail worm (e.g. Original Culprit) with a 3/16oz bullet sinker. Roger

The first thing I do is determine the ideal 'Overall Length' of the lure. In this way, the trailer will supplement the length of the lure to satisfy the overall length. Needless to say, overall length will hinge on the species and size of the fish being targeted. Roger

Crappies serve as prey for bass, which were probably in that pond before their presence was obvious. In small ponds though, when the crappie population explodes, it can seriously reduce the forage base. Bass and crappies coexist well together, but a pond that's chock-full of crappies will typically support a population of small bass, but should have little affect on bass abundance. Roger

Anyone can zigzag any walking lure with any rod and with any line. The key to dog-walking is having some slack line 'before' and 'after' each twitch and maintaining a timed rhythm. Roger

Man has a vivid imagination, and lure manufacturers exploit that vulnerability. Lure makers would have us believe that a bass mistakes a crawdad-colored Bomber for a crayfish. They'd also have us believe that a bass mistakes a bluegill-colored jig for a bluegill. This I know for sure, bass have a lot better perception than me, and I would never make those mistakes. In my opinion, bass are opportunistic predators who mistake our lures for something to eat...period. Roger

Thank you A-Jay Right you are Jacob, Huddlestons are soft swimbaits (I've owned a few). However, owing to their exposed hook and high price, I suppose the word "hard" permeated my soft skull. The point meant to be, if high-priced swimbaits disappoint, do not count out low priced swimbaits. That is to say, don't forget the Gambler Big EZ and the Reaction Innovation Big Dipper Roger

I used to have a great South Bend frogging reel....but then it croaked! Roger