Knightiac

Exactly. I've got an app for my android phone that has helped - It's called color note. You can make different notes and within each note you can write descriptions or even make a check list. So I've always got a little sticky note on my home screen on my phone titled BPS. In that note I list things I need and just check them off or add things as I go. It sort of helps me forget about things... Until I actually purchase them.

If you ask because you're hesitant about throwing jigs into open water - don't be. My PB was caught in open water on a small bend in a pond. It is possible that a jig is too bulky fo fish sometimes, and in that case I like to rig a chigger craw or rage craw on a football jig head. No skirt.

I'd still throw a jig. If I knew big bites were on it'd be a good size jig and if bites are supposedly hard to come by, then I'd toss a smaller jig. It's hard when you don't have a target, you've just gotta move slower and/or target at different depths. I've got a buddy who would be throwing a suspending jerkbait in that situation - garaunteed.

Since I fish primarily from the banks, I have to keep one bag with all of my stuff ready to go and it limits me. That being the case, I've got hundreds of bags I leave behind that I've experimented with and just simply ruled out for the time being. My buddies see my stuff laying there and get mad at me for having so much not in use, but it's all about experimentation or you really can't rule out what you like and dislike.

The weight on those jigs and the way they are designed won't affect him much. IMO they're a great starting jig. I fish jigs 70% of the time probably and they're my downsize jig of choice. The weedguards haven't been an issue for me and I can't recall having any more short strikes with them than any other jig. Just my opinion though,

I was in the exact same situation as you when I started out. Fished worms my whole life and decided one day to give them a shot, so I bought some bitsy jigs just like you. I'll always remember, my first bass caught with one, was while I was picking out a backlash on my new baitcaster. LOL. Just fish them like you would a worm. Don't worry about pitching and flipping or anything you see on TV, learn how to use them on the bottom first. Cast it out anywhere you would a worm, and let it sit for a second. If you don't feel anything, simply shake your rod and this will make the skirt move. Or instead of shaking it, you can lift an inch or two (everybody is different but most techniques get the job done). After this if you have no bites, you can do anything you want. Start out by hopping it along the bottom. Or you can lower your rod tip and drag the jig (this lifts sand or dirt from the bottom and can attract fish). Just like worming, don't get predictable. Twitch it once, then five times, then twice. Change it up and remember what works for you. A GREAT craw for those little jigs is the Berkley Chigger Craw. Or the Berkley Chigger Craw with Crazy Legs. They have great action in the water. There is a smaller version that works fantastic with your jig.

Well, I asked for a few small things. Got a booyah spinnerbait, sufix elite and some EWG gammy hooks. Also received $100 for dicks which I turned into a 7' M/F Mojo Bass spinning rod that I love. Then $50 a BPS which went into a ton of senkos, rage tails and some pumpkin ed jig heads.

Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper Jr. Little 4" Worm with a TON of action. If the bottom lets me rig it shakeyhead, I will. Otherwise I will peg it with a bullet weight on an EWG gammy.

I've always been curious... What is the main reason you like wearing those? I just don't see the appeal, not that there's anything wrong with them. Same effect as wearing long sleeves, it cools your neck off that much?

It's a tough question to answer without knowing what and where you're fishing. The bass in the ponds I'm fishing down here have all locked up due to the weather. I'd give anything for it to be summer and be throwing ANY lure. Summer fishing is really just easier in general. Find the fish and throw something at them, anything. It's easy to learn what works and doesn't.

Anything from Old Harbor Outfitters. I discovered them in a little bait and tackle shop in Key West. The name of the place is Key West Bait & Tackle, actually. They have pretty much anything you'd need, but I love the shirts that I linked below. They also have these shirts in short sleeve. http://www.oldharboroutfitters.com/products/productDetails.cfm?product_id=4&color_id=33

Every time I buy something fishing related I can't stop thinking about it for days! Lol. Just got a 7' MH/F Veritas to round out my rod collection for now. Spooled up some Yozuri Hybrid (for the first time) on my Lews and paired them together. I love the combo and thanks to those who recommended the Yozuri, it's good stuff.

worms - all havoc. big and small bottom hoppers and juice worms.

I've got hundreds of bags of plastics, and several tackle boxes full of line, terminal tackle, etc. but I'm mainly a bank fisherman so I have to streamline everything. Took a few pics of my bag, which surprisingly, holds a ton. What I deamed the creature pocket, even though there aren't many creatures in there anymore. BPS tubes, Zoom flukes and brush hogs with some storm wild eye shad swimbaits in a random producto bag. Small chigger craws and big paca craws. dingers

For smaller bitsy bug type jigs, I like a 3" Berkley Chigger Craw w/ Crazy Legs. When i go up a size I really like Netbait Paca Craws.

I love the Storm Wild Eye Shad series. They have a nice small 3" version and a bigger 5". I honestly don't do anything different with them rigging wise. Either an improved clinch or Palomar knot. I've never had an issue with either. I fish them anywhere I see baitfish. Match the hatch and you're off. I'll cast past weeds or cattails and bounce them off or through them. There are some ponds I fish here that have a sewer - the bait fish school up on top of them. So ill fish them anywhere in that area; swim them off the sewer, down the slope leading to the sewer, anything that seems realistic. The baits I recommend are VERY soft but last a long time - with some great action. A little tip: keep a plastics bag that you'd usually throw away and store these bad boys in there. Then spray some YUM F2 shad spray in there. Will give them a little scent plus soften them a little more and helps slide through cover.

High of 81 here in Orlando today

The reel seat is the reason I bought the old one, it's incredibly comfortable. I have many rods that cost more and are a higher end than the vendetta, but I'm a big fan of this rod. Gonna try and get to BPS today and check them out. If they are improved like ya'll say then that's a big plus. Thanks!

For the most part, the items I use the most are broken down into three colors... That would be Worms, Jigs, Craws and Creatures. I use green pumpkin in good conditions, black/blue in darker or lower visibility situations and a redbug or plum I will throw when green pumpkin isn't getting it done. For spinnerbaits and buzzbaits I stick to white or chart. I have darker skirts that I will throw on but I don't have as much confidence in those. Topwaters are all natural colors. I got caught in the crankbait fad... Went out and bought KVD 1.5's and 2.5's in chart. chart black back, firetiger, sexy shad, silver, chrome and you name it. I bought them thinking I would love using them and I never touch them honestly. I'd much rather throw a spinnerbait, a fluke or a swimbait. It happens...

Those exact spinners are a favorite of mine in ponds here in Orlando. The colder it is here, the bulkier I want my worms to be. Every once in a while I rig a craw on a football head jig, almost shakeyhead style. Personal favorite is a chigger craw but I want to give paca craws a shot. Maybe try throwing some flukes as well - absolutely tore up the pond behind my house tonight throwing a plain white fluke.

Has anybody here tried the new Vendetta? I'm wondering how much of a difference there is between it and the older series. I've got the older series that I bought as a jigging rod and I'd like it to be a little longer now that I have a better feel for jigging.

You can usually tell if it's the knot - just by simply looking at the end of the line. It will still have a good amount of curl to it if the knot failed. If you know you have quality line, I would first check the spool for imperfections, then the levelwind or bail, then each guide. If you find nothing suspicious, loosen the drag. The next step would be to keep your rod lower on hooksets. I have little experience with Floro so this may not apply, but do you wet your line prior to tightening them? I use mono and use an improved clinch knot 70% of the time. It's not needed, but when I do wet the line before clinching the knot, it tightens much more and the line shows much less wear. Palomar knots can also be tricky if you don't get the right tension, try a different knot if all else fails.

Any good trips lately? Was skunked walking the banks today.

If you're going to have just one rod, thats a great rod to have. Don't worry too much about needing a ton. I have two rods I mainly use, one is a M mojo and the other is a MH vendetta. I typically use the M unless I'm throwing a big jig or a big spinnerbait or if a smaller bait has a thick hook. The other is a MH carbonlite spooled with braid - it never gets used (not a huge need for it unless I got to a specific lake with a lot of slop). The only thing you need to watch out for is light wire hooks. When setting the hook with a MH you can straighten the hook out. Just don't set the hook as hard and you'll be good. Light wire hooks are easier to set regardless if theyre sharp.

I myself, have a M/F mojo bass and I'm using a Johnny Morris Sig series with 12lb Suffix Elite. It's a great pair. I use it for everything you mentioned, but what I consider lighter sizes. Just depends on the hook really.