Spankey

I experience that when fishing the lower tidal section of the Susquehanna. I Seem to fish better during the incoming tie. Change between tides is Slack tide or Ebb tide it is referred to I believe. Not sure if the same as OP has posted about. The Cali guys are getting slammed with some big rain right now or this past week. I would think those weather conditions could throw things way off.

I've experienced that with river smallies. I'll fish some of those conditions. But I'll be honest, on the river I'm not interested in that initial muddy water and excessive currents immediately following a storm.

Is it possible the fish shut down because it's a condition they are not use to or possibly the condition that is infrequent?

That’s true. Only balsa I use are Rapala and Bagleys. I don’t see a change in quality. Colors have changed some. Color is what it is or not is. I wanted some new Bagleys for Xmas. They picked me up a handful from TW during the sale. I look forward to using the new ones.

I stopped throwing a lot of Power Bait stuff. Why? I dont know. Worse thing about bout it is, I believe it is good stuff. Has always been very productive for many many years. I don’t want to go way out on a limb and claim it’s the best there is. But, it’s good stuff. Just doesn’t get on my hook much these days.

For the most part my plastics I keep in the factory package but I store my plastics in Rubbermaid containers labeled as to type of fishing. Ex. Ned Rig, Neko Rig, Swim Baits, Creatures, Lizards, 4” Power Worms, 7” Power Worms ......... easy to find. For the most part any significant hardware I keep right in the box. If I were to pull out my Ned Rig box, Everything would be there. But as organized as I am I have some stuff that is not quite organized or at my finger tips for any moment. My hard baits I organize more by brand.

I’m more into fishing lizards than picking up a creature type bait. Zoom in 4”, rarely a 6” version. Most of my plastics are on the finesse size. Light Texas rig or split shot them. My most productive colors are Watermelon candy and watermelon blue flash. I use to use a black w/dots that was very productive but can’t find it anymore.

great lure

Yes, I believe you are correct with that name. I'm sure, pretty positive that I have some smaller one used for trout. I don't think Mine have a "V" to the blade but I believe you. The shaft through the blade sticks out in my head. Mepps spinners for bass have always been a bit of an easier find. Slightly heavier versions. I'm not throwing Muskie weight spinners but I'm not throwing UL 1/24 oz. or 1/32oz.

They are worth the $.40 more. Wordens or whatever they are called use to have a rooster tail version with a blade setup like Panther Martin. Not sure where that amounted to. Maybe short lived.

I prefer a Mepps or Panther Martin over the Rooster Tail Brand. Many many years ago when I first got on the river in-line spinners I threw a high percentage of the time. Really a carry over of trout fishing. Productive smallie bait.

I’m out here in the North East. Winter is what it is. Could have or potentially could have been a lot worse so far. Gonna hit 48 this afternoon. I won’t be out on my boat but it’s one day closer to spring. I have some trout fishing as an outlet during the winter close to home. As long as the streams don’t get hard it’s a place to visit.

I’ve recently got an Abu Revo Winch for the holiday. It is white. If I were to get a Custom built rod for it (highly unlikely) I think I’d go way out on a limb and get a red white and blue rod made up. I fish with some nice rods but none are custom per my specs. Mix of colors. Majority are cork. EVA foam is not an issue to me. It will be a bit of a winter project to get the right rod for the Winch. I have two in mind but I have to touch them. I can’t buy a rod sight unseen.

If this thread keeps going it will be amazing as to how many of us have the same story. A fish(es) that changed your future and out look on bass fishing. No legal fish went to waste at home when I was young. I don’t eat fish now or even when I was young. I’ve tried it, just not into it. Walleye is the only thing I will eat and I have to be the one making it. I’ve trout fished since I was about 8 years old. Took it seriously at around 12. Was taught about trout fishing by a farmer I worked for as a kid. None of my folks know nothing about fishing. My brother could care less about it. I remember strolling in with a stringer of trout countless times and putting them in my moms kitchen sink. They loved them. Fifty years later it still exists. My clientele so to speak of are different people. I’ve never had a hard time finding a home for them. The other year I gave a gal I work with 83 of them. Her count. Sorry about the trout talk. I’ve been doing the catch and release thing for bass now for about 38 years if my math is correct. If I have a bass that doesn’t make it. I find it a home. It doesn’t happen very often. I’d like to believe I handle bass as well as the so called best out there. I’m puzzled as to how it happens to a fish that isn’t foul or gut hooked. I hate to see that happen. It bothers me. I’m not gonna stop bass fishing over it. I just reflect on the moment and move on. I’m the same as most of us doing the bass thing. It keeps me going, not overly obsessed I think about bass day in and day out like you guys. It’s a healthy thing. Sorry for rambling.

My belly is really growling early this morning after reading this post. Great post.

I’m a fan of Trilene XT on my baitcasters. I’m old school when it comes to my lines. Guess I’m not that receptive to change. Have never used braid. Mono and fluorocarbon.

I have two spinning set up that I fish the heck out of. ML, 6# lines. About every Two outing and I strip it back to a splice knot and respool. I’m anal and I’m not going to loose a fish small or nice one with that haunting me. I buy the XL on a bulk spool. Admittedly I’m anal and I’m sure it’s overkill. Others a hair longer. I don’t like sun beating my line up. If something seems off I strip it off. Buying the line in bulk is a true cost savings.

I use Atwood that are fully adjustable. Similar to the Scottie’s. Height Extension are available. I find the extensions to work great.

This is my experience with them also. I’ve really only fished them for river smallies. I like the smaller size. And I’ve tipped them with a variety of soft plastics. The paca being a favorite along with Power Grubs. I fish them on spinning gear. I suppose they can be fished on lighter casting but my my gear suspect is too heavy.

I’m seriously thinking about picking up another 3700 series box and go through my stuff and pull out a bunch of old school plastics, hard baits, jigs, and topwaters. Proven stuff that I’ve gotten away from for one reason or another. Things change and that must be the nature of the business. I’m surprised that many major companies have not kept up with the times. You hear a lot of talk about how the bass get use to seeing certain things. May or may not be true. But if that be the case I have stuff that they have not seen in a long while or in their life time. I’m not referring to antique lures but lures and patterns from the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s.

Not too sure about goals. I’ve been a River Rat for life. Recent (last few years) weather patterns that Mother Nature has put upon us has messed up my home waters. Hopefully they will rebound and heal. I’ve switched gears and became or becoming a laker. It’s been fun. Every time out is a new adventure. Everything is new, structure, water temps, water depth, lure size, presentation, color and on and on. Adapting is sort of a goal in itself. I’ve caught some nice largemouths this past season. Want that to continue as my goal. I’ve be applying what I’ve learned during my life on the river and smallies to the lake. Have found some smallies in the lake. That was a neat find. I have ave grand kids that I get out. Want to keep that going. Catch Muskies on occasion while bass fishing and sort of hope that continues. Those toothy critters are fun to catch.

Some of my stuff is older when it comes to Rods. St. Croix Premiere and Avid series have not changed that much. Some brands are just labeled usage specific. That is not etched in stone. My thought when it comes to Rods is that it has to feel the way I want. And even that is tough in the shop compared to being on the water. But in the shop you can get a good idea if it’s right. I’m anal when it comes to matching the right feel of the rod with the reel on it. But if you are in line for some new stuff there are some nice rods out there that don’t break the bank. Sounds like you have a fun project coming up.

I need nothing. BUT, I did make it pretty obvious that I would like to have a Abu “Winch” and a few more Bagley Balsas. I’ve been talking about it for the last two months. I left item numbers to take away any guess work. Trying to be good.

I like this thread and all. What guys favorites and all is interesting. I’m realizing now that I don’t really have a favorite. Maybe my favorite is whatever is working at the time. I’ve also had days down on the river pulling my hair out to the point I packed up the boat and battened everything down and said “I’m outta here”. But only to pull out my grub bin container with some 3” Power Grubs in it, 6’10” ML xfast st. croix w/ 6# test and a 1/8 oz. jig head. Tell myself I’m staying, I’m not getting skunked. Just another bidly lure that will get the job done.

Admittedly I have my share of baits. But a life’s worth of fishing to go along with that. If I do pick something up or order it I’m using it. Heck that’s what I bought it for. In my area Dicks, Wally World and other SG stores suck. Not worth me going, waste of time, outside of getting my license. If I don’t order from TW or a couple of places like that it pretty much doesn’t get bought. Cabelas and BPS are nice but I don’t impulse buy there. If I did those days are long over. In my opinion both are not what the use to be. They seem to put too much emphasis on the store brand knock offs. Over the years I’ve accumulated a stellar collection of Rapala and Bandit Crankbaits. But I believe I’ve caught at least one bass on each one. Sure some colors are not productive as others. Some that may seem bizarre I bought it and challenged myself to catch something on it.