Christian M

They definitely work, and not just with lunkers, I've caught plenty of 2-4lb bass with the 7" Senko. Just make sure you have the right size hook to match. I go with a 5/0 when fishing the 7" Senko

I use 10-12lb Mono for "walk the dog" spook style baits. The stretch in the mono improves the action of the bait and is more forgiving if you set the hook too early on a strike.

I agree with Sam about the lake being over crowded. Maybe you can talk to the township about stocking the lake with forage for the bass. The fish you hear hitting the water in the cattails might just be dinks too, ud be surprised at how loud a 2 lb bass can smack the surface.

Have you considered placing you're own fish holding structures in the lake? Give the Bass an alternative...if you build it fish will come.

With the way the weather has been recently (hurricanes, earthquakes, 25 degrees one day, 50 the next) I don't trust the ice and will be staying firmly planted on land. My prayers go out to the families of the two teens that fell through the ice while riding their bikes on Budd Lake in North Jersey last week. Please be careful out there guys.

3"- 5" Senko ( Black w/no flake, Junebug, Red Shad, & Baby Bass) Berkley Havoc Juice Worm Jr. (Red Shad) & Pit Boss (Perfection) KVD Caffiene Shad & Ocho Creme Worm (Scoundrel) 7" Berkley Power Bait (Black, Red Shad, & Tequila Sunrise) Zoom Super Fluke, Lizards, Brush Hogs & Shakey Head Worms (Baby Bass, Junebug, Black w/blue flake) These my "go to" plastics & they all have their own place & time, but as I continue to fish new waters and meet new anglers it evolves. My PB's have come off of the 5" Senko in june bug & black

When I was learning to use a Baitcaster my buddy taught to tune my reeI so that when I cast the spool stops when the lure hits the water. Eventually I was able to cast straight into the wind and not have to use my thumb to prevent backlashes. I do use my thumb at all times when flipping, stopping the spool to place the lure, and when retrieving. I definitely agree with NBR when it comes to keeping the drag loose, my thumb has more education than my drag.

It depends on how you plan to use it. Seems like a long rod for drop shotting. I prefer a 6'10" ML/Fast action tip with 6lb flouro,. For bulkier lures and heavier line I go with a 7' MH/Xtra Fast action tip, for this I'll use 10lb braid to an 8-10lb flouro leader.

I've had a Carrot Stix Wild 7'MM for more than a full season & I use it often. I paired it up with a Quantum Smoke SL100HPT, its the lightest combo I own. I use it almost exclusively for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. I actually like the action of the tip for spinners & chatterbaits. It helps set those thicker hooks on spinners and chatters. So far I haven't had any problems with it, but I baby my gear, I always keep a rod & reel protector on my mid to high end gear.

My first bass and my two PB's came from a golf course lake. My first PB was 6lbs on the dot, the second was 6.5lbs, My buddy caught a 9.7 on the same lake. I've heard many rumors of bass breaking the NJ state record in the lake, but no one reports them because no one wants it to become a "hot spot". Thank goodness because I love that little lake, so many people don't even know there are fish in there!

You have a couple options here. Option #1- If you have enough cash to buy the boat without hurting your pockets, go for it, but don't break the bank buying a boat. Also, have a mechanic go over the boat if you choose to go this route. Option #2- Fish as a rider when you can, its' a great way to learn, and you can continue to save up. Then you can borrow the boat when you absolutely have to.

You have a couple options here. Option #1- If you have enough cash to buy the boat without hurting your pockets, then go for it, but don't break the bank buying a boat. Also, have a mechanic go over the boat if you choose to go this route. You'll probably want to replace the trolling motor for a boat that size. I have a 55lb in front and back of my 14.5' boat and most of the guys I know that have 16'+ boats have powerful TM's (65lbs-110lbs). Option #2- I don't know what kind of tournaments you're fishing, but if you have the opportunity to fish as a rider, that's a great option. You'll be able to fish as a rider when you can, its' a great way to learn, and you can continue to save up. Then you can borrow the boat when you absolutely have to.

There's a big difference as to what you would need to catch Hybrid Striper vs. Striped Bass. Which species are you targeting primarily? Will you be fishing from a boat or the bank? River, Lake, or Salt water? All of these scenarios would require different equipment, from rod & reel, to terminal tackle, to Lure/Bait.

I prefer 10lb Power Pro in moss green, to a #8 - #10 Lazer diamond or power swivel (they're both really small and the use of a swivel prevents line twist) to an 8" 12" 100% flourocarbon 10lb or 12lb leader (depending on lure & water clarity). I use this setup with an improved clinch knot & I've never lost a fish to knot failure. Every once in a while I'll hook a big Pickeral & get cut off, but I've hauled in 6lb+ Bass with this setup. The only time I use Mono is when im fishing top-water poppers, walkers, jitterbugs ect. The only time I tie Braid directly to my lure is when Im using 30lb+ for topwater Froggin or punching in murky water. Remember if you're using braided line you NEED to put mono backing on your spool because the braid (having no stretch) will warp the spool. I use a slip knot to tie the mono to the spool and an Alberto knot to tie the mono & braid together.

They're my top go to bait all year round. I caught my PB & broke my PB with a Senko, won lunker of the year in my club this season on a Senko, & caught my first Bass on a Senko. In shallow water (0'-6') I usually fish it T-Rigged weightless, but I've noticed that in the fall. when the water temps start to drop below 65, I hook more fish with a Wacky Rig. A few seasons ago I was fishing one of my favorite lakes w/a friend in late November using T-rigged 5" Black Senkos. After about 3 hours of both of us getting bite after bite without boating or even hooking one fish, it dawned on me. The bass were biting the tail end of the senko and holding on, making us think we were hooked up, then spitting the bait out. I quickly switched over to a weightless Wacky hook w/an O-Ring on the same 5" Black Senko & BANG! The first hit I got I hooked up w/a nice 3lb fall Bass. My partner switched over & the day was saved, we ended up with about 8 Bass each.

X2- I really like the Fat Rap in pearl shad, another one of my favorite Rapalas is the Flat Rap DT 3' in Yellow Perch

Last season I bought a Minn Kota Power Drive 55lb off Craigslist for $300. It was brand new & included the removable bracket. I mounted on my boat & it worked great up until the foot pedal broke. The pedal still stears but the speed is stuck on max. Now that I've read some reviews on the motor I see that this is a very common problem. The motor is still in great shape & I just ordered a new pedal. I'm thinking about selling the motor on Craigslist & upgrading to the Powerdrive V2, which doesn't seem to have this problem. Does anyone have either one of these motors, can anyone give me some advice?

The Veritas fishes great. I really like mine but after a season of use one of the guides fell out.

You know you're a die hard fisherman when you can't watch a movie or TV without looking at every lake, pond, river, or mud puddle on the screen and wonder where it is, and whether or not it holds fish. Then when you can't help but say something about it your girlfriend looks at you and says "really?!"

We catch some big Pickeral some of the lakes around Ocean County. I never wanna kill em so I always just shake em off the hook. A couple years ago my buddy caught what was for sure a state record Redfin Pickeral but let em go cause we didnt wanna kill it & we didnt want to attract any more attention to the lake which produces bass 6lbs & up and is already really pressured.

Welcome Frogman!

St Croix's Rage series makes a 7'1" MH w/a nice moderate tip for shallow cranking, its super sensitive & the tip has just enough give so that you dont rip the treble hooks out & get a good hookset, it also has tons of backbone to pull those big bass out of heavy cover. Either way I would take the advice on the abu rods, they definitely are under-rated & tend to be a lot more stiff than other rods in their class.

In clear water during July & August I love a T-Rgged weightless w/a 3/0 EWG Trokar. Motor oil seems to be the killer color. I've caught some decent fish w/it on a shakey head too

I like to use the plano guide series boxes for my more expensive lures & tackle. They're waterproof & as long as I keep the water out my lures stay rust free. They come in a few different sizes too.