gulfcaptain

I would say that that would be a better bet for the moment. What topwaters are you looking to throw. I use a mod fast action 7'MH for walking baits, larger wakebaits(although really not a true topwater) and on heavier buzzbaits. Poppers, props, and smaller walking baits I use a M moderate action since the hooks tend to be smaller and the softer rod absorbs a bit more of the shock to help keep the hooks from pulling. Those are my preferences, Hope this helps a little.

Wow, I've throat hooked fish dropshotting, a couple with a worm. Cut the line and let them go and let them live to fight another day. Also have caught bass that have hooks in them as well that were doing just fine. If you don't injure them too bad you can let them go and they will live. Or you can eat them....Hopefully if you feed one to the birds you don't leave the hook in the fish.

you going to try the 8" hudds the next outing? Once again, great first fish of the year.

for braid no, you can put it on either one. I wouldn't put anything heavier the 10lb on the spinning rod. When you talk about frog fishing then yes braid is a good thing to have but also need the equipment to fish them. You may be able to use the reel and atleast 30lb braid (most fish heavier) but you are going to need atleast a 7'MH or H rod that can handle the technique and fishing conditions you're looking to do.

Those cobia can be quite the handful. Always seem to have a little something left right at the end especially the big ones. They like to do the death role when you gaff them. I could see the net on them being a problem with the bigger ones especially if they decide to go the other way.

Fish your basic colors, black, white, baitfish colors. And if you want to use a weighted hook, I don't think it would hurt. You are going to be straight winding on the soft frogs, so it's kinda like a softbody buzzbait.

I'd say a net. It would be easier then trying to reach down 2ft to try and angle an angry toothy musky to try and catch him with a Boga Grip. Just make sure you have a big enough net and a long handle. Its easier to guide a fish into a net and lift, once you have him in the net, if you have a reel with a clicker, put it in free spool with the clicker on, set the rod down and use both hands.

I'd say the D-Bombs, they have a big profile look even though they are only 4". The punch skirt will give you a bigger profile as well, but punching I try to stay as compact as possible.

that's what I was thinking,

Yep, I can see it on Judge Judy, the lawsuit from the swimbait being stuck in someone and the e/r visit that incurred(or the rattle trap). Then the counter suit for the $50 swimbait that he cut off and you want returned or replaced. Remember, yes we are all responsible for our actions, but this post was made by a 15yr old up and coming angler and do we really want to lead him to those kind of drastic actions? I know we all vent our frustrations, I used to send surface irons fishing off the coast when I ran boats. If I could hit you then you were too close. Never solved anything except upset the people fishing there as well as them threatening to call the Coast Guard for trying to intentionally hit or injure them. So I am as guilty as the rest. But I have become wiser the older I become and a calm response or comment to make them aware of their rudeness works well except for the 1 jerk out of 10. The other 8 seem to get it. But yes, my temper has shown itself before but I try hard now not to let it. Idling past someone that raced you down the back to cut you off and just looking at them or throttling up just as you pass them(just so you don't wake them I have some respect) seems to work well. But a simple "hey do you mind giving me a little space" seems to work 90% of the time.

Sounds good to me, but as others stated, might want to double your leader length. Just remember, keep your drag looser as there isn't much stretch. All my drags are set light since they all have braid opposed to when I fished just mono.

As stated, there are exceptions, and just because you're a young angler it doesn't give anyone older the right to blow you off and not show you the same courtesy. I have no problem with younger respectful anglers coming up and asking questions or watching to see what I'm doing and learning as I did growing up. There are a lot of good kids fishing around where I live, but there are a few bad apples as well. And some adults have egos where they can't stand to see a younger angler(kid) out fish them. Keep doing what you're doing and keep getting better fishing and respecting others as you grow. Respect will follow as you get older.

You might look into a softer rod with a little more give. May look into a crankbait rod. Had the same problem with the lighter A-rigs and since switching from a MH fast action flipping stick(IM-8) to a MH crankbait rod(IM-6) with more give and a softer tip. I think I've had 1 fish come off in the last 2 weeks where before I was loosing about a third of the fish. But we can't catch all of them and the big ones didn't get big by no learning a few tricks and escaping. If they didn't how could we tell the story about the big one that got away.

Agreed, it's everywhere. I don't see it as an issue with the older generations. I'm 41 but grew up respecting the others around me. When I was young I was lucky to have some great mentors and give others a wide birth while bank fishing or even if when I was running charter boats. Now, it seems the younger "me" generation doesn't seem to have the same respect although there are exceptions. Happened to have this conversation yesterday with a fellow fisherman who witnessed a group of kids(older teens) who watched him catch 3 fish and kept easing up. When he happened to pick a male off a bed he was fishing one of the kids quickly made a cast to the bed he was fishing to try and attempt to catch the female that was still there. His words weren't edited as he told them exactly how it was(he didn't have a wife to remind him not to). I ask nicely when someone crowds me unless I already know you. If you want to come up and ask a question, cool, but don't just start throwing and casting to where I'm fishing. Of course, most of the ones that do that have a hard time catching fish anyways so Karma has a way of taking care of that. I'm glad I'm raising my son with better manners then that and when he fishes with me I make sure he gives other fisherman space to enjoy themselves.

Not really, you are gonna have to look at your drag stack and see if any of the washers are sticking. Two types I'm sure you are aware of but just in case. There are stainless and fiber washers, only thing I could think of if they haven't been used most of the winter and you had the drag set from before, then there is a possibility that the fiber washer is stuck to one of the stainless ones.. Sorry, but you're gonna have to dig a bit deeper then just oiling and lubing up the reel.

No bias in that statement..... But with your question, go down to Gander Mountain and put both on a rod you like and see which one feels the best to you and take it from there. I don't fish either, but both are quality products.

We have a city lake similar to your situation. If it wasn't clear you would swear there aren't very many fish. Problem being the fish in there are all mainly bigger fish. Bigger fish become wary, more selective feeders, and if there isn't much cover, well they may have migrated to deeper structure except when they feed. Do you catch any bluegill in the pond? Have you tried fishing with live crayfish just to see what happens? Only way you are going to find out what is going on is probably to get someone out to shock the pond and see, but may only give limited info due to the pond being up to 30ft deep and if they are relating to deeper structure you're probably not gonna be able to shock those fish up anyways. The larger the fish become the less density and less amount of bass the pond can hold. If it doesn't have a good food base the amount of fish you are going to catch is probably going to fall off due to the fewer fish in the pond. If there is a shortage of baitfish, then you would have to get an estimate of what the bass population and size is. It may be as simple as adding forage fish to the system to help with the food chain or it may take culing some of the current population of fish with stocking of forage. But sounds like that pond needs some management as well as a good assessment of the current health of the pond.

Well big boy swimbaits, you're gonna need a bigger reel. The Cardiff 300 would be a good start. If you want to throw the bigger baits, well it's hard to have a rod that will throw 3-4oz baits and then want to use it to throw a 1/2oz hollow belly. What you were asking about color/profile, well I know here in S, Cal we try to match the hatch fishing the rainbow trout colors but also use bass colored swimbaits as well as the bluegill hardbaits. I believe it's a bit of both profile as well as color, but you are going to have to find out what patterns will work aroud you. Seeing you are from Ohio, I would probably match the bigger baits with the yellow perch color in the 6" baits such as the Huddleston. As for the smaller hollow bellies, I don't believe color is as important as it is in the bigger baits.

should have put in January as well. Great thing about S. Cal, year round bass fishing. I don't think I'd do snow and ice very well since I don't like to be cold.

First fish, well caught it on a BPS IM6 Graphite 7'6" H Musky rod with a Lexa 300, 65lb braid with a 25lb FC leader and an 8" ROF 5 Huddleston in Rainbow Trout. Fish weighed in right at 6lbs. Good way to start the new year.

There is no shortcut to becoming a better bass fisherman. The things you ask for are all here on this site. What makes them overly aggressive one day and then not the next.....well that day, was there a storm front or weather pattern that rolled through the next day....could have put the fish on the feed. Fall for instance, that first big chill will cool the water down and send them into overdrive to feed up for the winter. Was it cloudy and windy, then sunny? Were there a ton a baitfish around when you were catching them? All these questions YOU can answer yourself if you pay attention to the conditions you fish in each day. There is no holly grail for bass fishing, just lots of pieces of knowledge you need to put together to solve the puzzle. It's what makes bass fishing such a challenge. Such a simple fish causes us such frustration, and most of the time we get in our own way. Reminds me of a saying I heard one time....Keep it simple stupid. Makes since if you think about it. I would first start with seasonal patterns and that will give you a good starting point to understand our finned quarry.

You can go that route, you can read quite a bit from this site in the article section, magazines, tv shows...gotta love Bill Dance...lol, ask lots of questions, and each time you go fishing make it a point to try to observe what is going on, the conditions, where you caught a fish that day, etc. I think I have read almost every article on here in the last 2 yrs and have gained A LOT of useful information. I try to put it into situations that I face when I go and apply it where I can. Asking like you did with this will get you lots of answers from the great people on this site....even if we poke at one another every now and then...that's just part of being a fisherman and being competitive. Each has a wealth of knowledge and information that they are willing to share if they can answer your question. If that doesn't work, well you can always stock KVD......j/k

I come home, and mentally go over what I did that day that made me successful. Think about why they were there and what conditions created the chance or me to have such a great day. Then of course, I go online or to the store to make sure I have back ups for whatever I was using if I don't already.

Don't expect the Zinkers to float because they sink like a rock due to the high salt content in them. Also, I would save you money on the Jackall Clone Gills, not worth it, been there done that. Great idea, but not a very good product IMO. If you're gonna spend that on dropshot baits, stick with the Keitechs. The Live Impact and the Swing Impacts are awesome dropshotting....use the 3.5 Swing's and a #2 hook on both. The slightest twitch brings these baits to life. And remember DO NOT STORE ANY ZMAN ELAZTAC BAITS WITH ANY OTHER SOFT PLASTIC BAITS.

There has been studies done that a percentage of bass are more cautious and wary of their surroundings while others have a more aggressive nature. Not sure where I remember seeing or reading it(may have been in pond boss) but someone was working or studying a way to bring out the more aggressive nature. This may have been a topic on Florida strain vs Northern as the northern were a more aggressive strain opposed to the Florida's which have grow bigger. Tom like myself I'm sure has watched many fish here in S. Cal follow lures, study them with interest and then stick their nose up at our offerings. This is true with the trout fed fish. The bigger fish are more cautious and odds are they have learned due to the amount of the fishing pressure. But then there are a few bigger fish that have the more aggressive nature that do get caught. But with all that said, it has been shown that I think its around 20-30% (shot in the dark) of a population of fish do not strike or haven't been caught due to their genetic nature of being wary and cautious. You asked, but I'm just a guy that fishes and has lots of useless info until it's needed by someone at which time it becomes useful.