MarkH024

I'll clean all my reels. Hopefully upgrading my electronic on the console to a HB HDSI unit. Reorganize tackle 14 times. tick off my fiancee talking about fishing and hogging DVR space with fishing shows that I've watched 3 times each already. Changing poopy diapers. Develop a rash from not fishing for 6 months. More diapers. Talking with you fine folks. Is is Spring yet?

What a pig! Congrats!

7'4-7'11 is a good length. For rod power it will depend on the type of cover you plan to use it for. In my eyes, go heavier as you can throw around docks and other cover as well as punch through mats. If you go too light, then you're stuck with just throwing to areas that the rod will handle and passing up all the dense sweet spots that hold big bass. Reels, i like high speed. 7.x.1 But it's more about IPT. You want to reel in slack and get the fish out quick. The combination of a high speed reel and a long rod with a great backbone is the key to success.

San Diego Jam knot. Youtube it.

Yes with the exception for cranking rods which I prefer to use fluoro. Learn to tie an Alberto knot for your braid to fluoro/mono leader. It's a great knot and you can dab it with a touch of superglue for reassurance. I fish a ton of weeds most year so I'm typically throwing straight braid much of the time.

Bet that was a ton of fun!

I don't do the ice thing. I have a friend from the Oshkosh area that is trying to convince me of an ice adventure but not feeling it. In any event, I feel your pain. Winter is approaching fast!

Good fish A-Jay!

Good catchin' brother. Way to go

Small report from mid October. Not much to report as it seems the bass up and left to go to Florida for the winter? I threw the kitchen sink at them and the only thing getting any attention was a Manns Minus -1 crank worked over the top of weeds and a Hudd Grass Minnow which was claimed by the pike gods. You'll see that bit in the last 5 seconds of the video. Had a few follows on the Manns from bass but nothing of great size. I probably wouldn't have even bothered with this video but I was bored so I did it anyway. I had a few other dinks in the mix. Overall a really tough weekend and not a good fall bite I was hoping for. Oh well, that's fishing. Conditions: Winds from the Northwest 10-20mph through the weekend. Rain drizzle on and off. Air temps low 50's in day, upper 30's at night producing frost. Water temp was around 52 consistently.

x4. Ebay had it for a good price and got mine for some ridiculously low shipping cost too. More than a couple decades worth of rods probably. You only need a really thin coat to seal it and it goes a long way.

Wow. I might have to take a trek over to our resident Cabelas to try this stuff on. I'm afraid to order it online and get the wrong sizing. I would think they have them on sale over there too, no?

Looking good Mike!

Glad to hear you are ok Andrew. Thanks for sharing and it's nothing to be embarrassed about. This is a great lesson to remind other anglers about their saftey.

You could try fluoro but also look into a Gamakatsu Superline hook in a 1/8 or 1/16. With the speed of working it, it shouldnt sink very far and keep you in the subsurface to 1 foot range. Also, try a SK Caffeine Shad. It's heavier than a fluke and it's a REALLY good soft plastic jerkbait. I pretty much use them over zoom flukes now because I like that little bit of heaviness to it. I can fish it unweighted on a 4/0 EWG and keep it subsurface and it flutters really nice on the fall. Great bait. EDIT- Also wanted to add that if you're working the bait to fast it's going to keep it up or on the top of the water. Not a bad thing if bass are busting the surface on bait. But keep that in mind, may need to slow down.

Thanks Basscat. That was a great amount of information and much appreciated.

I went to a local lake yesterday for a few hours of bank fishing and brought only a drop shot rod......not even a sniff. This was my first skunk of the year. Glad you guys at least had a bit of action.

Thanks Ted, I meant to ask, did you use it on the plastic cap of your outboard too?

I looked into this already. The tubes for my tip ends pretty much go all the way to the very front of the boat. I don't believe I could even sneak more than 1 or 2 inches more up in that spot.

This is great to hear. I'm going to try it myself now.

x2

Chiming in so I can follow, I have nothing to add. I need some serious TLC for my boat from fiberglass to plastics.

Very cool! Congrats on your ginormous ski! Fish of a lifetime, still searching for my 50+ too.

I swear I saw a bunch at Cabelas last time I was there. Not sure I have that color you're describing but I have probably half a dozen of them that I haven't touched in 4+ years.

Any 6'6" to 7' M/Fast or M/XF rod. I personally don't use a spinning set up for any of those techniques but if that is what you prefer I think you can manage with what I recommended.