Sam

Setting up your Carolina rig with the hook through the lizard's side is an old pro's trick. It can work and then again...............

Hoped it was pointing to where that 12 pound lady was hiding from me.

Justin, don't drive yourself crazy about lure colors, etc. Just purchase what you have confidence and throw it all day long. As for colors, there are many opinions out there which makes bass fishing so enticing as to which color works best under the conditions of the day and you found it. You keep this information to yourself so you can parlay it when you hit the same water under the same conditions in the future. Now, for color. We have guys on this forum that swear that color makes a difference. I am one. But, to balance our thoughts we have a Mr. Bob Underwood who did studies on bass behavior before Uncle Homer Circle, Hand Carrol and Glen Lau produced the outstanding Bigmouth trilogy in the 90's. Underwood penned the book, Lunker, which is a great read if you can locate a copy. The Bigmouth videos debunked some of our early thoughts about bass behavior and raised others. Here are some of Underwood's findings during his studies of our little green monsters that were published in an article by John Mark Warren in a great bass magazine (Winter 2015). You can also find data on Warren at www.fishingwithconfidence.net. Unlike the Stricker's who pawn to their advertisers' products, Warren is totally independent from outside influences. Please understand that the vast majority of us on the Forum know the following statements about bass are true based on what we encountered while on the water. But Underwood has confirmed this data to support what we have seen and experienced while he was on the water: Electric motors do not bother bass at all. Finding Bass in various locations and water temperatures virtually discounted water temperature as a guide for locating bass. The theory of repeated casting to one spot so as to anger bass into striking is one of the poorest ways to create anger in bass. The bass will not strike for several days after breaking-off with a lure in its mouth is sheer fallacy. Light does not bother the eyes of bass. The size and color of fishing line made no difference in the number of fish taken. Hook n' Look dispel many fishing beliefs but in a kind and gentle manner. So don't drive yourself crazy about the color of your bait. Just buy two or three and go out and see what happens. And then post your findings so we can have another wild and crazy thread debunking what you penned! Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Pictures. We want to see pictures. Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays to All and wishes for everyone to get their personal best in 2016.

As stated above, some tournaments have minimum motor horsepower restrictions. If you can locate the tournament director please inquire about entering with your watercraft. Many tournaments have been won within a half-mile radius of the launch site. Smith Mountain Lake and the Pamunkey River are two I remember. Good luck with tournament fishing. Merry Christmas!

Sorry to see Long Mike leave as a moderator but glad he is staying with us. Ghoti will continue in Long Mike's footsteps and provide the input and guidance that we all have been enjoying for many years. All the best to Long Mike and Ghoti for what they had done in the past and what they will do in the future.

Looks nice. You all did an excellent upgrade. Congrats to Glenn and his IT people for continuing to help us communicate with each other. A great Christmas present to us all!

I walk a specific section of a pond using no more than three rods at any time. The remaining rods and tackle are stored in my SUV parked nearby. I have to return to the SUV, covering the same shoreline once again from another angle, to trade rods and get new baits. for the tackle box. It is difficult to take more than three rods with you as they will tangle and be a nuisance no matter how you decide to carry them.

There can be a profit in shipping and handling costs. It is like the razor manufacturers. They don't care about the razor. They want you to buy the high profit blades. Your suggestion does have merits but I doubt we will see it take hold for a few years, if at all.

1. Strike King Red Eyed Shad Line of Lipless Crankbaits 2. Original Rat-L-Traps Both work for me.

We need more data on the rod. Do you have any of the rod's parameters? If not, can you get them for us?

If you keep your line in your home and out of the sunlight the bulk line should be fine for a few years. Just remember to check for knicks, cuts and scrapes and retie your hook every two or three fish.

Yes, great line and pricey. As for backlashes, here is an old pro's trick: Spool line on your baitcaster as usual. Add the lure you will be throwing the most with the setup. Balance the rod using the 11 o'clock trick. Then cast that baby as far as you can. Take the line from the rod after the cast and pull two arm lengths off the spool. Take some Scotch tape or electrical tape and place a strip across the line on the spool. Reel in the line, tightly. Backlashes can go only as far as the tape will allow. Once you master the 11 o'clock rod balancing trick you will no longer have backlashes. Or at least reduce them by 95% if not more. Good luck.

Please check out Roadwarrior's post. To continue the conversation, please consider a "crankbait specific" rod of the manufacturer of your choice. You can find different brands of cranking sticks at your local BPS, Cabela's, Academy Sports and on the Internet at various web tackle outlets. I love my BPS and my G. Loomis cranking sticks. And I am going from one end of the rainbow to the other with these two rods!

Once you decide on the 7-12 foot range crankbaits please remember that the line size will dictate how deep the crankbait will run. The heavier the line the higher in the water column the bait will maneuver. If you use a very heavy line the crankbait will not stay in the 7-12 foot range and run higher. So please be as careful when selecting a line test for your deep diving crankbaits as you are about selecting the crankbait, itself.

Flipping and Pitching - Yes Frog - Probably not, depending on where you throw the frog. If you throw the frog in grass, weeds and pads I would go for a heavy action. If you throw the frog in open water you may be able to set the hook with a medium action rod although I would still suggest a heavy action rod. Some guys and the pros like a flipping and pitching stick at least 7-feet long and longer. You can still pitch and flip with a 6'6" medium heavy rod. The 7-foot medium heavy rod would perform better.

Everone's interests change as they age. I tell young guys who believe they want to be professional bass fishermen that the road they will travel can be like this: Bass Fishing Cars Money (part time jobs) Girls Marriage Career Kids Grandkids Retirement Bass Fishing Just seems like this is the major path we take all or part of as we mature. Merry Christmas!

Confidence. It is all about confidence in a brand. When one finds a brand they like one will stick with it until the brand deteriorates or another competitor produces a better and more product. Once again, I like Shimano as I have not had any problems with their reels. Wayne Knabe of Powhatan, VA, who repairs, rebuilds, cleans and refurbishes freshwater and saltwater rods and reels told me years ago that the highest quality reels are Shimano. Now, with Shimano no longer stocking the Curado 200 parts and the evolution of Daiwa, Wayne has added Daiwa to his list of the three reel brands he likes to work on: Shimano Lew's Daiwa If you have had good results with Abu Garcia, BPS, Cabela's, Pflueger, Field and Stream, KVD's Quantum, etc. then by all means stay with them. It is all about confidence in a product. Just like your favorite rods and baits. Merry Christmas!

One may start the day with his baits in the order and place he wants them. Within two hours all things are moved and mixed together. We call it bass fishing.

Kyle, fishing tackle and equipment always in their places. All other clothes and belongings all over the place. Rule #1 for your room or man cave.

Best topwater poppers in the marketplace. I suggest you make the purchase.

1). What is the most challenging thing you find about fishing? - Finding the pattern of the day or hour. 2). What is the most fun and exciting part of fishing?(Obviously catching a fish ;-) But anything else you find exciting?) - Not exciting. Just relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Nope.

Beware, the Apocalypse is near... So, the next step is getting rid of all that LSU memorabilia and replacing it in red? Hail Satan! Go BAMA? Yes, Kent. Must pull for Bama in the playoffs so the National Championship trophy can rest safe and sound in the SEC where it belongs.