ClackerBuzz

x2. i wrap it around a stick free/clear of my rod/reel like i'm water skiing

be careful b/c 30lb braid will EASILY snap the tip of an 8lb rated rod if you are trying to 'un-snag' a lure using the rod (and snags are twice as common if ur bank fishing). wrap the braid around a stick (not ur hand b/c it will cut u) and pull directly back. most time the braid has the power to bend the hooks out and u can get ur lure back

i'd go much lighter on the weight. 1/8 is standard down to 20 ft. 1/4 oz if deeper. i use 1/32 and/or 1/16oz in heavily pressured ponds/lakes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsTG34mywK0 don't over work the bait: http://www.bassresource.com/mike-iaconelli-fishing/dropshot-tips.html good luck!!!

i haven't met a lure's paint job yet that can withstand 8 hr of bouncing off rocks. i know a guy who fishes Luck Craft pointers. he touches the chipped paint with care like a fresh wound after each fish. funny part it the paint chipped from the bass's teeth. high end lure run truer and suspend better so i think its most important for jerkbaits. and doesn't matter when it comes to jigs, spinners, chatters, lipless, cranks. most times a bass will hit any brand/color lure or even style if ur in the right location and deflect off the right cover

seems like you took a step back in rods? I know alot of guys here love Avid's. why the 'downgrade' to a BPS?

x2. i'd drag a kayak back there. you be able to get much better angles and access to deeper water ie a date with a big girl

a hat signed by Bluebasser86. better story for people on the street.

x2 for gammy weedless and mend it, mend it and mend it. i put my soft plastics away after they get tore up from fish. at the end of the week pull out the Mend-it and fuse them all back. like new. stuff is amazing and easily saves me $100+ every season. (yes super glue and a lighter work but they make the plastic hard and not 'wacky')

x2. but i think color is second to vibration. i'm on vacation in asheville and was killing it on chatterbaits three days ago (i had to deflect it off a rock to initiate a strike; they wouldn't touch it just chucking and winding in open water; slow rolling and bouncing off rocks/cover was the key). the water is so thick and muddy that i knew the heavy thumb of a metal blade was in order. they loved the blue/black chatter. after i lost that....they loved the white/chartreuse too. the water cleared after the rain "slowed" down two days ago and they took a jig bouncing the same way. that bite turned off yesterday and nada since. i did get a few bites slow dragging a weightless senko. you still had to drag it into a rock but they wouldn't commit. today i'm going to try a 1/4oz tube.

type the name of any local reservoirs near you in the thread search bar. chances are there are reports and pix guys have posted. and use google maps for small ponds off the beat and path

settle on a line and knot...then practice tying in front of the tv. then test it off the water. if ur using braid wrap it around a stick (NOT ur hand) and pull lure till it slips or snaps. same with mono/fluoro and connection knots. seeing ur line snap BEFORE ur knot slips OR breaks will give you tons of confidences to hit the water again.

ur both right. ideal, no. possible, yes. frogging with a short/stout rod in open/close water is easy and possible. but i wouldn't want to bomb a frog 60ft into a lily pad field and try to haul out a 5lb+ girl. MH to crank is possible but not ideal. cranking stick are great b/c they load slowly giving the fish time to take the lure in...and absorb shock to keep the treble hooks from unbuttoning during a fight. with a MH you'd need to pause 1-2 seconds to let him have it and don't put ANY pressure on the fish during the fight or ur rip the trebles out (loose drag too). if you like cranking just buy the right rod.

ur kinking the line when backlashing. i'd recommend braid. it doesn't backlash as easily and when you do it doesn't compromise ur whole spool ie cost you time/money/lures/and fish

this sum's it up perfect. you encounter different conditions at every new body of water you fish and end up with a small anchor toolbox

lots of good braids on the market. i also use PP but in hi viz yellow. makes all the difference in the world for me. i can see the line run sideways or at me much better. i used to hate those kinda sneaky bites b/c you don't feel anything. now i love knocking the snot outta'm when they try and get tricky

you clearly have a good thing going! i'm guessing you're casting small trout style lures (soft plastics and 1/8oz mepps spinners etc). the 10+lb bass in that pond obviously like them. bigger rods and line usually mean bigger lures. it's nice to be able to hop a frog thru slop but remember the roots of ur success. no matter what you "upgraded" to, take one of ur proven light tackle rods too. punching is great, 1/2oz spinnerbaits are standard for most, frogging can yield hogs, 10" worms attract pigs but clearly those bass enjoy a small snack. going to 3/4" spinnerbait may mean getting a 14+lb bass on 25 days of the year. but its sounds like you have them dialed in on the other 340 days. great advice on the set ups. i'd go with 7ft MH spinning w/ 30lb braid. its strong, versatile and still casts far. attach a 8, 12, 15lb leader as needed per the lure/cover ur casting. tie straight to braid if you want but be careful b/c you can snap a rod much easier with braid (usually trying to 'unsnag' a lure. instead wrap the braid around a stick and pull directly. you can bend out the hooks and get it back. DON'T wrap around ur hand or u will bleed).

Haha Like keeping ur woman happy...you have to let her think everything was HER idea!

x2. they were using the right presentation. watch their rod action next time. note if they were dead sticking, hopping, dragging w/ pauses. and if you can't read their cards just ask. even the most cold hearted friend will give you a tip after he gets a good 30 min laugh on ya.

you better be one heck of a salesman. pro's say "never leave fish to go find fish". and ur basically asking someone else to leave fish so you can find fish. i just don't see it happening unless you bring ur wallet

don't power ur phone up when wet (sounds like it may be too late). stick it in a can/zip lock full of rice all night. only power it up after its dried out.

sounds like you got 2 choices: 1 buy a boat or 2 learn how to shallow water fish

lots of threads on this topic. my advice would be put up some nice youtube vids in HD with good editing. at the very least you should have free soft plastics in no time

sucks to hear. good idea dragging for ur rod. does ur phone work ok? if not try the rice trick

7 generations of live bait using! i totally agree sam, being a great angler definitely takes higher brain function.

i agree and at the same time know some good ole red neck boys that didn't go passed the 8th grade. they can out multi-species fish most of the people i know. sometimes common sense, quick learning curves and a keen sense of observation go a long way