James Yalem

All my baitcasting rods are 5'6". Of course, they are not new, but I have lots of them in heavy and medium heavy. My two bass spinning rods are 6'. I really don't like rods longer than 6' because I sit down when I fish. You can get pistol grip 5'6" rods from Custom Angle Rods.

Given the success of the A-rig on clear water lakes like Table Rock, IMO line visibility does not matter if you are using a moving bait. OTOH, IMO, it might for bottom bouncing baits like jigs and soft plastics on c-rig, drop shot or t-rig.

For many years I used the improved clinck knot. I could tie it in seconds in the dark. But then in the early 1990's, I switched to braid line. The improved clinch does not work with braid line, but the palomar does. So for the last 20 years, I have used the palomar knot. Now without my reading glasses, I can't see the loops to tie knots like the improved clinch in low light. So I use the palomar knot.

5' 6" I'm old fashioned and sit to fish.

Try spinnerbaits especially chartreuse.

Oh Please, why take seriously anything the UN says. Besides bass are found in all the 48 lower states and in almost any body of water. They will be the last fish to go extinct anytime soon. They could outlast **** sapiens. Don't worry you will have plenty of bass to catch your entire lifetime.

Bass Pro and others sell braid sissors for cutting high tech braid lines. They work, but do wear out over time. Fortunately, they are not expensive.

It depends on the topwater. Walking baits like the Spook or even Pop-R, I put a split ring on the lure and tie to it. But for all other topwaters, I tie direct to the lure with no split ring. Recently, I am using oval split rings.

Excellent video of a largemouth bass under a dock. You can tell it's a largemouth because its jaw extends past its eye. Loved how the bass ate the first and third worms, but not the second.

I have owned a house on Truman Lake since 1981. Since 2001, I have noticed a major decline in bass fishing on Truman Lake. It always had its quirks. It is a tough lake to fish with any real wind and the lake level changes could be challenging. Due to its muddy water base, the bass live in shallow water so they are more prone to fronts. Also, I never did any good at night in the total dark. But during the 1980's and 90's, I caught plenty of bass from the lake. During the 21st century, the bass fishing turned really tough and slow. I don't know the cause. It may be more rapid changes in lake level. I am in the process of moving to LOZ since I no longer need to confine my fishing to the weekends. Truman's biggest asset was always lack of boat traffic, even on the weekends.

Given the success of the Alabama Rig on clear water lakes like Table Rock in MO, does line visibility really matter to bass?

I have no idea what these lures are worth. OTOH, I can tell you that I used most of them earlier in my life. I have no idea how many bass I caught on a Heddon Sonic. Then I caught many on a Cordell Spot which is still made. I never caught much on a flatfish, but did catch quite a few on a bomber and some on a Hellbender. Jitterbugs are still made, but I caught more on black than yellow. Devilshorse is still made and I caught lots on that lure in the Spring. In 1971, I caught my first 4lb bass using baitcasting reel (Abu Garcia 5000) on a LIttle George. So these lures are now vintage antiques. I guess at 57, I'm getting up there, but these lures worked very well in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I have fairly recently used some like the Devilshorse and Spot.

Totally agree which is why I tie direct to braid, usually 20-30 lb test green.

I just keep my rod tip high and line tight. I like to see bass jump. Of course, I'm 57. I have caught many bass and don't fish tournaments, so losing one even a big one doesn't matter.

IMO, each fisherman has to decide for him or herself what is, and what is not, sporting to use in bass fishing. Someday, modern technology will likely invent some lure or tool that catches bass and other fish every time its used where fish live. Some just want to catch fish and will use the best lure, bait or tool to do so. Others will want it to be a challenge. I thought that tournaments were supposed to be a challenge. Since the umbrella rig seems to take much of the challenge out of bass fishing, I agree with tournament directors banning it from their tournaments. I, also, agree that since most bass fishermen practice catch and release, the use of an umbrella rig will not adversely affect bass populations. I am not against people using it, but I won't due to personal preference. Although in Missouri, it might be illegal to use with more than three hooks (treble hooks are one hook) at one time on one rod; not that anyone's odds of being caught are very high. OTOH, a court might consider one hook, like a rogue because it is only attached by one knot to the line; unlike a spider rig for crappie fishing.