Hattrick7

This is some good stuff! I still can't find the post from Matt Fly. Even tried a google search to no avail.

Well I'm in so cal and it's been unusually warm. About a week ago I did well on a t rigged senko. Same spot I got one nibble on a c rig and then it totally shut down. The lakes I fish aren't very deep maybe 10-12' max. I'm starting to think that the high pressure systems are really affecting them but there's no way I can say for sure since I'm really only focusing on bottom baits. Maybe they want spinners or cranks? I'm really waiting for the weather to turn to a more normal temperature.

And so your journey into bass fishing begins... I would suggest two crankbaits and dropshotting. Just a note, if the pond has a lotta weeds/grass, crankbaits can be a pain since it gets hung up constantly on your hooks. But it should help with casting accuracy. I'd recommend the KVD 1.5 in three different colors. Dropshotting, there's lots of videos, but it's a very simple rig and it just flat out catches bass. Maybe not always the biggest ones but it's a deadly rig. For baits I would use either 4.5 or 6" straight tail roboworms. I like Aaron's magic and bold bass. You can really put just about anything on the hook so don't be surprised to find yourself buying lots of different types of baits. But those two I mentioned should work fine in your pond/lake. If you haven't done so already learn the palomar and trilene knots. These are probably the strongest knots. I would also suggest watching videos on good ways of handling bass. I see a lot of anglers catch bass and drag them through the dirt, mud, grass, etc and that's not really the best practice. If you're planning catch and release I would crush your barbs down so removing hooks is easier. Good luck!

Any significant difference in performance compared to the Veritas? Looking at getting the veracity crankbait rod. I have a Veritas 7' mh and it's been a great rod so far.

Just asked this question in my mind today. There's been a high pressure system that's moved in for the past few days and I've noticed that the bite has slowed down considerably. I'm fishing the same lake, throwing the identical baits and noticed that it's slowed down. Also fished a new lake and the bite has slowed to a crawl when they were pretty active prior to the high pressure. The winds have also really picked up. (15+ knot gusts). The winds are also coming out of the east and I read on this forum I think that when that happens it does have an effect on bites. Not too big a deal since I'm just fishing to fish but it does cross my mind as to why the bite has really slowed down considering that I'm using the same rigs and actually more plastics to try and get a bite whereas prior to the high pressure just a couple plastics got the job done. I did use a couple new plastics and then start second guessing them and switched back to old trusties and nothing. So it's not the bait. If barometric pressure does play a bigger role pretty intersting phenomenon.

Thanks for posting the vid. I'm gonna have to try them. I'll have to see which works better the skip gap hooks or these.

Interesting...I may have to give this a shot.

Guys thanks for the suggestions!

Thanks for this link. How do you rig this thing and what size do you use?

So trying to learn this jig bite a couple of days ago, my jig gets hung up Again and I lose the jig. I thought what the heck I'll tie on a t rigged senko with a 1/4 oz bullet weight and bam! A nice 4.5-5 lber. I felt a slight tick and thought I got hung up again. I reeled in some slack and I felt the fish's weight. Swung upwards and it was fish on. Took half the day off and went fishing a new lake today. Caught a small 1 lber on a spinnerbait and then I tied on the t rigged senko. Hooked into 6 and lost two due to user error. I've honestly never really gave the t rig a fair shot until now and man it's been slaying fish for me. I mean I love how bass crush cranks and spinners but feeling that slight bite and then setting the hook...well it's pretty fun The downside with the senko is that it's durability is for garbage. Do you guys have any tips to make the bait last a little longer t rigged?

Makes more sense to use the dominant hand for casting, pitching, working baits, hook setting and fighting while the less dominant is used for cranking. With the exception of offshore fishing and trying to land a 200lb tuna or something. Just seems like a waste of time and energy also to constantly switch back and forth from cast to retrieve for hours and hours especially with a bait like a crank or spinnerbait. It reminds me of a gear shifter vs steering wheel paddles. Yes taking your hand off the wheel to shift gets to be second nature but with steering wheel paddles what's the point?

Any comparisons to the KVD's? The Arashi self tune looks pretty intersting.

I've been using a single tail grub i think it's 4" in white. Kinami is the brand. It was the only one they had at the local Big 5. Been using it ever since. Caught a nice 3.5 lber last week on it. Bass just crushed it. I've tried other trailers from Yum but no luck. I like to rig mine with the tail pointing down. I think it has the best action. I think a trailer does make a difference but, at least for me, I've noticed that the bait is more successful when I'm just slow rolling it.

The way my hands and fingers stink for hours even after numerous washings.

And I was just kidding. Seriously?

Yeah that's the new and improved treble hook. The treble hook that comes with it's own "trailer hook."

When all else fails, dropshotting a straight tail roboworm usually always gets it done. May not always catch the largest bass but it almost always prevents the skunk.

Been really digging the spinnerbait lately. Booyah or SK KVD white/chart, shad color, something with red on the skirt double willows or willow/small colorado 3/8 oz I also like to use a single grub trailer in white or light color. The KVD's are nice but they come with their own "trailer" which i trim down since it interferes with the grub.

Right? I'm just trying to understand the performance benefit in having two in addition to your thumb also.

I have the SX and am so used to it and a baitcaster in general that I really don't see why a reel would need two braking systems. I would imagine that one system plus your thumb is really all you need but I've never used one with both brakes so I'm just trying to imagine the benefit. Since I've never used one and am curious, if you take the centrifigul brakes off and just use the mag brakes does the reel tend to backlash more? Or vice versa.

I can only comment on the reel. You should have no issues throwing a senko on it. The reel is a real workhorse. If you get it on eBay there's no tax and free shipping so you can get another bag or two of senkos.

Tried most on your list and Sufix Elite is the best performer so far. XT is super tough but it just had Way too much memory.

Congrats! Dropshotting is deadly for sure.

I just read about this today as well as the other incidents. I remember surfing solo in Maui not to far from Kihei. This was back in 92 but the waves were so good I had to go. Then I night surfed Ala Moana bowls with two buddies about a week later. Got the heaviest barrel of my life during that session but I was freaked out as hell. There seems to be more frequency with the attacks which leads me to think that there's something wrong with the food supply. Maybe the Fukushima radiation is killing off fish but the sharks seem to be more desperate for food and are looking to attack anything that resembles food. This one lady nearly got her arm bit off in Maui not too long ago. Scary stuff especially if you surf or any water activities. Did you guys see the video of that hawaiin kayaker reeling in a tuna when a huge shark attacked it? The guy evidently kept on fishing and caught a couple more! Now that's hardcore fishing!

I only use mono and I would suggest Sufix Elite. Great line with minimal memory and not expensive. I would recommend a larger diameter. Rather than lb test look at the diameter of the line. I would recommend using .014 or .015 to start. If it's too thin I've found that it tends to backlash easier. Make sure that when you spool up it's coming off the spool correctly onto your reel so it's not going against the natural coil. Then just practice. Like golf the distance will come just want to get the technique down first. Before you know it you'll be whipping baits out there at will.