scaleface

Its hard to say not knowing anything about the lake your fishing. Your going to get replies about slowing down and finesse fishing .I find when the bite is tough slowing down and finesse fishing gives the bass an extended time to study the lure. If there is a rip rap dam one of my favorite techniques is to cast 1/4 ounce prerigged swimbaits like Storms , Berkeley ... at different depths . Let it sink to bottom. Once contact is made , start your retrieve keeping it close to bottom. The lure will follow the natural slope from deep to shallow . You may have to stop retrieve and let it settle back down . This often will trigger the fish to bite .

My old Abu 4600's I use to use the smallest brakes that came with it and loosend the tension knob all the way. I could outcast everyone I fished with distance wise , even if they had Lews or Shimanos . When people use to tell me they didnt like baitcasters because of the backlashes I would get a 4600 out and cast as far as i could then lay the reel on the ground with lure in mid air and it wouldnt backlash. I cant do that with any of my reels today. Today's reels I still leave the tension loose but I have to rely on brakes. I like the brakes on the BPS Pro Qualifier a lot .

I use 15 lb Big Game in heavy cover and if I have enough weight to pitch it . Most of the time I use 12 lb xl because it does better on lighter weights . Its a trade off strength vs being able to present a lure .

15 lb Big Game is what I use fishing deep brush. When I first started using it , I couldnt believe how strong it was . I once hooked a standing tree while fishing from bank . A good sized tree and could not break the line. The tree finally broke . "The Tree Broke." I was reeling in the tree and there were other trees in the cove and it got hung up in them. Once again I could not break the line. Finally the lure comes back . It was a spinnerbait ant the hook broke. Its not as limber as i would like but it is strong . Like all lines retie often. A line is only as strong as its weakest spot.

Thats exactly what i thought a bad guide .

In the stained waters of Northeastern Missouri crankbaits work well in summer . I use mostly discontinued baits or ones that have been around for years. Normans , Bombers , Rebels , Rogers , Storm , Rapala.... I usually go for a silent one or a one knocker. Bluegill and shad patterns are good colors . Shallow and medium diving lures get thrown mostly. Normans Deep little N for down to 10 /12 foot is about as deep as I go. Any deeper I switch to lipless cranks . The water is in flood stage at Mark Twain and difficult to fish. Ive been catching a few on a Storm Rattling Thin Fin on flooded brushy points .

That looks like a river I fish except the species are different . Lots of fun fishing places like that .

I have never used a Senko. I've used less expensive knock offs. The Strike King Jogger worm is what I use to use . Cant find them anymore so I use Wave Tiki Sticks .

I wear a vest and stuff the pockets with plano boxes. I have weights , hooks , jig heads small spinnerbaits , small buzzbaits . They have to be able to fit in the little boxes. A couple of cranks , topwaters and a whole bunch of different soft plastics ithat I stuff in a large back pocket. I take 1 baitcast combo.

I'm a fan of Big Game but a couple of years ago trilene xl was reformulated and it is my favorite. It is limp and strong . I've been throwing lighter weight lures longer distances and havent had a catastrophic line failure yet . I have caught quite a few 6 and 7 lb bass with it .I've been fishiing 12 lb test mostly . I believe that limp lines are "sometimes" stronger than stiff lines and heavier test lines. How can 12 lb test be stronger than say 15 ? It seems to me , that a small diameter limp line will have less stress on the knot on a thin wire hook. A larger diameter will weaken because of the extreme bend placed on it . I have not tested that idea . I could be wrong but it makes sense to me .

Maybe he hasnt been getting as good information as he use to. I suspect todays top pros have a network that assist them . Theres a lot of money involved .

6 dollars for a cavitron buzzbait .

I usually stop at walmart and get a sub. Snack on it all day .

I fish the Mississippi , the more barge traffic the better the fishing. My favorite lure is a chartreuse Bomber Flat A .

I have a travel trailer parked at shallow bay. One day I made some fish attractors out of pallets and other stuff and threw them out in front of the camp. When the water would get low it looked like a trash dump so I removed it all. Plus my dad always got snagged up .

So , the fishing sucks Dec. 31st .

You are missing out .

Bomber and Norman crankbaits are a good value . Have fun shopping .

I'm with you. Tourney anglers stopping to fish my marker buoys really upsets me .

I would ignore them . If it happened again and I think they are deliberately messing with me I would let them know its not acceptable just by staring .I fish in a popular skiing area and know there will be lots of skiers around. I think it usually helps the fishing . Bass are use to the commotion and the activity camouflages my boats presence .

Theres no place for the fish to go . Its only 5 foot deep.

Your friend is wrong .

I usually dont start catching them good until an hour or two after complete darkness .

Try not to let the fish know your there .

As far as the Rebel Prop bait , I dont know what its worth but I would like to have it . Rebel made good fish catching lures and I'd fish it .