tommiller76

Most of the replies here offer excellent advice but I would also add that if you are going to actually go into the store to purchase your setup that you try several different brands, lengths, weights, etc, it's possible that you find something that feels right to you that you hadn't previously considered. Also by going to the store you can talk to someone and offer more information about exactly what it is you're looking for to which they can then make recommendations to you. Good luck.

I was able to catch that sale too, I ended picking up quite of few doubles of some of my favorite baits (and some others). When you couple that with the rewards that DSG offers with the scorecard its a win win, not to mention that when you get your reward in the mail you have another excuse to go back to the store! Good luck and be safe...

The only thing that stops me from fishing is a frozen body of water. I have even fished when there was ice at many places on the surface but basically if there is open water I will fish it.

I wish I were going fishing with Bill Dance today! I love Bill, I watch his shows so often that my kids sing his theme song when it's on. #0 plus years on t.v. doing the same show speaks for itself. Bill is a legend and flat out the best fishing host on tv. Here is to 30 more years. Good luck and be safe...

My kids love The Big Bang Theory theme song. Mine would have to be Bill Dance's into. I only wish I was going fishing with Bill Dance today, those private lakes he gets to fish sure look like fun. Anyways....

I have recently bought some Livingstons that emit the sound and I was wondering what you guys out there that already have them what you think of them. Mine are still on there way and while I sit here waiting to try them I was thinking of how to best fish them. I have two in the mid range diving series and one of the jerk bait type. So what is your take and how do you fish them?

In the senkos style baits I find that the strike king shimmy sticks work just as well, Zoon has a wide variety of plastics that will cover every single type of soft plastics fishing you will need. I also like Havoc, Big Bite Baits, and Net baits. Most of the baits I've listed here don't have the scents that some of the high end plastics have but most will salt impregnated in them. Another idea to keep in mind is that most tackle stores and big name stores usually have some sort of plastics on sale so you can always save some money that way too. Good luck and be safe...

5.33

I would do a little research before making a choice. There are plenty of sites dedicated to stripped bass fishing. Mantauk, and points northward are normally a good place to start but it's hard to say because this winter has been so brutal. Here in NJ most guys are waiting for any sign of stripper run. Unfortunately until the weather stabilizes this will remain uncertain. Calling guides from the different regions up and down the coast should help you to eliminate any stripper free waters. I hope you are able to find what you're looking for and congratulations on the wedding in advance. Good luck and be safe....

You fish any time there is open water despite the water temp. The key is changing your presentation, key are cold and slow so fish accordingly. Jigs, plastics, and suspending jerk baits are just a few baits that work best this time of year. Just a tip if you decide to go out before the water reaches the mid to high 50's is fish slow and when you think you are fishing slow fish slower. Oh and be a line watcher, bite will be light and more often than not they are seen as opposed to felt. Good luck and be safe...

I would look for smaller bodies of water like ponds streams that run into larger bodies like rivers and lakes to start with. If you are new or at least newer to bass fishing starting at these type places takes the intimidation factor out of the equation. Of course this year winter doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon, but in the mean time I would go to your local tackle shop and talk to anyone there. If you explain your situation you may be pleasantly surprised by how many people are willing to talk about fishing. I've found that small mom and pop shops are far easier to do this in and have a far greater understanding of what goes on in that area. The big stores like Dicks, BPS and the like are knowledgeable about tackle and gear they usually have a limited amount of info on the local waters. The last tip I would give is this, keep it simple. Don't try to get fancy or cute, use what you are comfortable in using. Once you get a better understanding of what bass want in the smaller ponds and such, then take the knowledge gained there and translate that to ever larger places like rivers and lakes. Good luck and be safe...

I tend to be one those guys that has to be doing something, sitting there counting in my head has never really been my strong suit. I do use jigs and C-rigs because sometimes that's just what they want. Luckily though there are enough fish in the waters I fish that are willing to move some so reaction baits work quite well for me. Think about it if you spend all day doing the same thing with the same results it cannot hurt to try something different. Einstien said it's insanity to do the same thing over and over and expecting the same results, hell if he believed it then who am I to argue? Good luck and be safe...

Here in the northeast, winter doesn't seem like it will ever end and while I have been able to really put a lot of work into my cold water presentations I have also had plenty of time to try things that I may not have tried in years past. I read an article not that long ago about trying different things and getting outside of your comfort zone every once in awhile and so I did just that. With bites few and far between I had enough time to wonder what other strange or odd things you guys may do to catch fish. I'm not talking about just tweeking a tried and true method for catching cold water bass, but true off the wall presentations that may or may not have caught fish. If anyone has any good stories or truly strange presentation they have used or still use I want to hear about it. In the mean time good luck and be safe...

I guess I should have said this is the open but it didn't occur to me to do so. Yes I fish this pond every year and yes there are many fish in there, actually there is a surprisingly high diversity of fish in there. I've caught bass obviously, northerns, yellow perch, crappie, blue gills, carp, and I even hooked a small catfish. The cat I think someone threw in there as a joke. This year alone I've caught three bass a 26 inch pike and two decent crappie. I started this thread just to see what everyone else would do if faced with the conditions I have here today. Thanks again, hopefully the added information helps to clear things up.

Good morning everyone. It is 11:30 here in southern NJ and I'm putting a plan together for today and it got me wondering what all of you out there would do with the conditions here. The water temp is between 45-50 degrees and rising but to be just a little more specific it's approximately 47 right now. Today's high is going to be around 57 and we have a moderate wind out of the WSW with gusts up to 35 MPH. Today is going to be mostly sunny with a few scattered clouds mixed in. I'm fishing a pond that tops out at about 4- 4 1/2 feet deep and is mostly clear with a very, very light stain at times but that is not really a factor right now because of all the clear water we've had this season. Last night we got a steady rain for a few hours that added an inch or two to the overall water level and raised the temp by a degree or two. So with those conditions what would you guys use? Oh one last bit of information, the primary cover in this pond is grass. I think that about covers all the important information needed to make a plan. Thanks in advance!

Don't worry guys the bass will be spawning by July and the summer and fall pattern will last about two weeks so we should have about a month of good fishing! All kidding aside, it has been a tough year for us bass guys. Here in NJ it's been the same but a few weeks ago I realized that this isn't such a bad thing. In fact the weather has given me a chance to get things re-organized and work and I mean really put A TON of work into my cold water presentations. While I wish we had a few 65 degree days in a row I have decided to stop worrying about the things I can't change and adapt. Besides isn't that what separates the great fisherman from the good? Get out and work on things that you may not always get a chance to work on, expand your knowledge and skills and you may just surprise yourself and raise your confidence on the process. Good luck and be safe...

If there doesn't seem to be any hard structure then there most be some sort of "grass" growing on the bottom. Given the depth and size of the ponds you fish I would use shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits. The two of those baits will allow you to cover more water in a relatively short amount of time and it will also give you a better idea of where the fish are located. Jigs too are not a bad idea, by dragging them on the bottom or swimming them just off of the bottom you can begin to piece together the bottom contour and composition. If you remember that bass always relate to something whether it's the weeds, wood of some type, or any other feature your waters may have then you have a great starting point. Even if you know where one stump or large rock is you can start there and slowly work out from there. Something else to keep in mind is this, ponds by nature, can be very different from lakes in the way they warm or cool, fish always react faster to changes in weather in ponds than in other larger bodies of water. You may have a great day at a pond after only a few hours of direct sunlight while a lake only a mile away may be uneventful. Good luck and be safe...

as long as you do not make it a habit and you clean your reels after each trip you should be ok. I would recommend that you alos get your reel services each Spring or late Winter.

That is exactly what I thought, thanks everyone I figured they were just a fad or gimmick.

Wow there are a lot of guys on here with small tackle shops in their homes or garages! I always keep the top four or five colors of all the top plastics out, craws, tubes, senkos, etc. so that way I can manage my tackle in the limited space I have to keep my gear. Anything over that I give to the local kids. Good luck and be safe...

Rarely do I buy something that I do not think will catch fish or that I am just going to forget about and give up, especially with the prices nowadays. With that in mind when I do swing and miss I always carry them for the rare occasion when they may produce but mostly I always keep a few of these in my bag for the less fortunate kids in my area. Far to often I see kids fishing with very bad to absolutely horrible tackle and lures and nothing compares to that kids face when you give them a new lure for their tackle box. When you do something like this you may just change that kids life forever. Good luck and be dafe...

They say that admitting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery so just keep denying you have one and everything will be ok...!

I have an opportunity to pick up a bunch of these but I'm not sure they are really worth the money. Has anyone out there have any experience or opinion on these and if so would you be willing to share such information with me here, thank you. Good luck and be safe...

Thanks to everyone

Hello all, I have recently been in contact with Pinnacle customer service and I've since learned that it is possible to swap out higher grade bearing and other components and that there is actually a whole market out there that deals directly with such upgrades. My question then is this, does anyone either do this themselves or know of someone that does? Other than talking with Pinnacle this is the first time I've sought any information on the topic. Due to the many knowledgeable anglers on here I figured it was a good place to start. If you have any information about upgrading reel components I would be more thankful for what ever you may have. Thanks to everyone in advance, I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck and be safe....