bman310

I use a Laser Infrared Thermometer when I feel like checking my local lake when bank fishing. Looks something like this,

Great advice so far. I think that is super awesome what you want to do for your father! Please keep us posted! I lost my father over 20 years ago when I was young and wish I was able to repay him back on a nice rod. b

I had terrible luck too. Now I run Yo-Zuri Hybrid with a Seagar Leader Flouro top shot (uni to uni). No more breakage! I'm doing this on a BC for Senkos. b

Just wondering why you are wanting to go so light with your crankbait setup? I think the ML will be light enough for you. The guys I know who fish crankbaits will play around with different lines (lower test) when they are wanting more depths with certain lures, but those are guys on boats using depth finders. If you plan on going with the 6 lb on a crankbait, you might try using a line like Yo-Zuri Hybrid 6 lb as it should help you with the stretch you are needing when you set the hook. -b

Check out Lake Davis in California. They have had a Pike problem for many years. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news08/08009.html brian

Are you fishing for pleasure or tourney's like lynrdsky1 mentioned?? I imagine you are fishing tourney's since you mentioned you carry a net. If you aren't fishing tourney's the net is not needed as it's not good for catching and releasing and you should always be able to lip your bass. I'm a bank fisherman and have a couple of high pressure city lake lakes very close to home. That being said, I'm very familiar with the lakes and have lots of confidence at the lakes too. Depending on the weather and time of year, I always have a strategy on what bait I'm going to use before I get to the lake. Most of the time I bring two rods with me and leave the second rod in the car and just fish with one rod. I carry a very small soft tackle bag. I also carry my iphone/camera in one pocket and a Kodak waterproof mini cam in my other pocket. That's all I carry. I do see lots of the other local fisherman carrying 2 to 3 rods when they are fishing. Some fisherman even more. I guess it comes down too what you want to fish and how much you want to carry with you. I like to work the entire shoreline of my lake and move after so many casts. Brian

Voted

Does anyone here speak Japanese? I need to understand this video. LOL http://lurecult.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/abu-revo-mgx-hs/

Did someone say New Revo?

Great post, congrats!

Great deal, thanks for the heads up! I can't get one yet, but that will be my next reel! I'm loving my new Revo STX and can't wait to add the Premier! -brian

Any recent reports guys? I was there a few weeks ago and caught 5 in a couple of hours. All close to 2 lbs and on plastics. Was hoping for some larger models, but it was the first time I fished there this year. brian

I agree. You will find out it can be your go to as you learn it. I'm a bank fisherman and I like to use it when I'm throwing my smaller finesse plastics. It allows me to cast out farther where the bass are at times, keep it in a certain target area longer, and I can fish it in windy/breezy conditions. Great for sight fishing too. Keep in my the dropshot can be a vertical or horizontal presentation and you can fish it many ways as the others have stated. My lake is 3 to 8 feet deep and the drop shot is deadly everywhere. I've found that flouro (6 to 8 lb) is key, using a special drop shot weight & hook, and having an actual drop shot rod. I actually prefer using a 7.0 ft ML drop shot rod because I like having a very sensitive rod and I feel the length helps too. brian

Great question. It greatly depends on what you plan on throwing? drop shot, Plastics,Crankbaits,Jibs, Spinnerbaits, etc. ? Give us an idea of what u have for lures or what u want to use and u will get some great input. Being your lake has little vegetation, it gives u a lot of ways to go. Brian

Hi, where is So Cal do u live? A friend of mine joined a So CAL club this year and really likes it. I can give u there contact info if u are interested. -B

Great reply!! B

Thanks everyone for the welcomes! brian

I'm using a Revo STX with a 7.1:1 ratio fishing with plastics and I think its working great. Most people go with the lower ratio for plastics, but I'm really liking the higher ratio so far. I had read on line on other forums saying its always easier to slow down your retrieve with a higher ratio than the other way around. I had recently sold my Revo S's so I could upgrade and decided on the higher ratio STX. If I didn't like it, I could buy a lower ratio and switch rods. I'm noticing the higher ratio picks up the line faster when the line is slacked and I feel I'm getting more hookups now. Keep in mind that I'm fishing a very slow/finesse presentation and it seems to work great for me. Brian

I fish plastics the majority of the time and I also have a hard time seeing the line. How bout going with a line color u can see very well and use a Flouro top shot so u don't have to worry about the color? That's what I do, but I'm also fishing a couple of lakes that are less than 8 foot deep and are very clear. That way I don't have to have any doubt with the color disappearing and I'm able to fish with confidence. Brian

I've been using the Hybrid 8 lb (green) on my Revo STX baitcaster and I'm really liking it so far. I'm using it for throwing Senko's and Creature baits in case it matters. I've also been using the KVD line conditioner after after usage too and I'm not seeing memory issues so far. brian

Looks like some good suggestions so far. \ Have you thought about checking into getting a used rod? I've been able to pick up several barely or slightly used rods in my local area for great deals. Never a bad thing getting into a better rod if u can afford it. Who knows, maybe u can get into a $175 dollar rod for less than the $100?? If not, I'd like to throw out the St. Croix Mojo Bass Spinning Rods. I haven't tried their worm rods, but I know 2 guys who are killing it with the St. Croix Mojo Bass Drop Shot Rods, and they are doing it at a very tough hi pressured city lake. You should also go to a local shop and see how the rods feel. Good luck to you. Brian

That's what I'm using and I'm able to use the same Ika for several bass. Last week I caught 7 bass with the same Ika. I'm also saving my Ika's until I place an order for Mend It. brian

I fish a few very high pressured & small city lakes and I love fishing the one with the weed growth best. I used to always fish the senkos and other plastics weedless. Now I've been going Tex-Exposed and working my plastics on the outside weed edges and on top of them too. It really allows me to work at different depths in the water column too. I've learned to use the weed growth to my advantage. Keep an open mind and keep trying different techniques and presentations and remember it takes time. You don't want to know how much time I've had to put in at my lakes. Brian

I just wanted to add that I'm in Southern CA and fish a couple of smaller city lakes are we are in post spawn too. The advice posted in this thread is very accurate and good advice. Keep in mind that this phase of post spawn right now is a little tougher. Its even tougher at my lake because the water level is a couple feet lower than it was during spawn and the lake just received a water treatment last week . Now the water is very clear. You can clearly see the empty beds, and all of the various fish. I'm seeing lots of trout holdovers and bluegills getting chased away from the bass fry's. It seems the bass are just chasing them and not trying to run them down like they were last week. I'm still having good success right now with Senco's , Fat Ika's and Yamamoto DT Grubs. I'm fishing them slower than ever....I think most of my strikes are coming when the plastics are very still or hung up on the outside of the weed lines. Brian

Thanks for mentioning Lake Sherwood. I grew up fishing there before it became private. I caught my first bass there back in the early 80's. I believe they used to have some smallies there too, didn't they? brian