StinkyBass

i use medium heavy fast action rods because they have the backbone to drill a bass and cross its eyes from far out and deep in cover. i swear by the fast action (even "extra fast" action). i can feel the tiniest bump on the end of my line. i primarily use my shimano compre with a fast action for jigs, worming and for spinner baits. i have a medium heavy rod (abu garcia vendetta) that doesnt have a fast action that i use for crankin. with a crank bait, i feel that i dont need such a fast action because if a bass even so much as smells my crankbait, the treble hooks finish it off and the fight is on. good example of why i use meduim heavy: last year i was fishing off a dock at my hometown reservoir and the bass were especially deep that day. i forgot my MH rod and only had my Meduim rod. well as luck would have it, i got into a big bass. maybe 5-6 lbs, hard to say really. she was deep and she was far out. when i went to set the hook, the rod just wobbled and i never got a good hook set. despite repeated jerks (trying to get a good hook set) she jumped out of the water and spit the bait out. lost her! the next day i returned hoping for another big bass, sure enough, another deep far out bass. this one weighted 6.5lbs! i know this because i brought her in. i had the same type line on, and even the same lure as the day before. the difference was the medium heavy rod! i hope i didnt type too much here, but i reeeeeeeeeeeally like the medium heavy fast action rods. go 7ft if you can, give you more leverage when you rear back to set the hook!

i know you posted to the wrong forum, but good advice. this shore fisherman agrees!

welcome! largemouth got me hooked too... you said you live in "hickory" NC? is that near the border of NC and VA near 168? if so im right up the street so to speak...

i agree with Justin, i've fished NWR with good success. he said it as far a what baits to use. i like to "power fish" the banks with the cypress trees and bushes. there are longnose gar there too! fun to catch if you can hook them...

And it beats picking up your yak and all it's gear and hauling it across the road (twice!)! Less grass on the boat ramp side too! Great for senkos and cranks... If your up to it we should try to meet up some time...

RantinRavin, i really shouldnt tell you this, but fish the other side for a better bass bite.

Justin, try the canal between neighborhoods off of South Independance. It's just past "Barkley Meadows" sign on the right (not the left) heading towards the ampitheater. I fish that for 20-30 minutes before I head to my second job (7" junebug culprit worm t rigged works well) . My PB in that little place was only 3 lbs but it's an easy place to fish AND it's public property! Maybe you've already fished it? BTW, do you fish Smith Lake? I've been wanting to fish it with my kayak but haven't made time yet.

i do the "fish it anyways" (if im by myself) and then do what you did. the whole "im sorry sir, i didnt see any signs" story. but after the first bust, its on you if the same cop busts you again! Sorry to hear about your spot, theres too much private property where i live too!

Senko's (4" and or 6" watermelon w/ black flake and june bug fished weighless) have been working reeeeally well! ive also had hits on Netbait's baby paca craw in orange/brown color. ive had an occasional but reliable bite on spinner baits yo-yo-ed off the bottom too. Where are you fishing? maybe i've fished it before. i fish all over the peninsula and southside. i know the peninsula better, but i am looking to find some good lakes to fish on the south side. something good for shore fishing when im in a pinch for time and something i can put the boat out on when i have all day...

very nice!

With a baby on the way and a sick wife, fishing as come a little less frequently this year, but Friday (4-6) a buddy of mine took me to his lake and we did pretty well considering a heavy wind. Both fish caught on 4" senkos. my my fishing buddy actually saw the fish i caught (im in the orange yak), casted at it and got tangled in a tree. he told me to cast at the spot he last saw it. 10 seconds later, BAM! the fight was on... Thanks to Randy for a good time!

in all cases, tight lines are better than slack lines! keep at it...

i have to wear "my good luck" fishing shirt that i always seem to catch big bass with, oh and my catch percentage seems to go up i dont brush the teeth! but i guess thats why they call it superstition

LOL...i was referring to my dad too! gotta love him though

Best: Match the hatch Worst: if the weather sucks, dont go fishing...

The hardest thing for me is learning to adapt to the weather conditions. i learned that if bass want your lure...THEY WILL EAT IT! slow days are mostly slow because i want to stick to what i think works rather than throw something different. sometimes i have to go back to the basics... "Shut up and fish!" That helps...

Good to have you!

Richmond is a great place to fish. i have made sever runs up to Richmond to fish with "Sam" and "Wdycrankbait" im sure they can share a few things as they have done for me. Welcome!

another yak convert! welcome! nice fish...

when my fishing buddy doesnt know the water we're fishing and wont use any of my lures. he's too worried about loosing a $9 crank bait instead of trying to bass fish! (if youre not snagging or losing a lure or two, your not bass fishing) i just want him to hook into a beast

im a firm believer that bass bite when they're hungry. raining, wind, or even blue bird skies, if you throw what they want you'll hook up. some of my best catches were on days that werent pretty! so if you can go...THEN GO!

I live in Va Beach, and caught a 3lb chain pickerel last weekend (2-4-12)! i've been taking advantage of the warm days and fishing the sunny side of the lakes. ive noticed that the bite doesnt pick up until 10am some mornings though. its a slow day compared to a spring spawn, but worth the tug on the end of your line! Good luck! just go

Welcome to the forum!

Well you've arrived and are ready to learn and share! Welcome...

Way FREAKIN jealous!!! NICE CATCH!