gulfcaptain

During this day and age most companies are in the same position. They will not move up into management without a BA of some sort. It could be basket making, but they have a degree. That's the way a lot of bigger companies are. Great thing about the free market, you can take your talents to another company. Find out what you can do there before agreeing to work there. Ask about promotions to management. If they can put in your notice and let your boss know you're leaving unless they have a better offer to keep you there. If not, part ways, and go better yourself.

I don't know how you feel about micro guides, but the Falcon Bucoo 7'3"H is a nice rod, they also have a 7'6" in the micro...unfortunately no standard. I use the 7'3" now for frog fishing as it has plenty of power, but have used it for flipping/pitching semi-heavy grass and it has plenty of pull power to move fish, light, and sensitive.

I've watched bass do that with bluegill. Swim around them and have no intrest, but let one of them get spooked the bass is in quick pursuit. That bass may have been looking for a sick or injured fish that stuck out of the school. The bass also may also not react and let the shad school feel secure before a quick attack. I've watched 3 to 4 bass sit around a bunch of bluegill beds and not move. Lull the bluegil into a false sense of security only to rush in and try to eat a few in a group attack.

The delta doesn't have hitch, it has Delta Smelt which are about 2" long. Clear lake has hitch. Two different bodies of water but under what it sounds is the same law to try and push through. California stopped deverting water away from the delta to protect the smelt which btw also swim in and out of saltwater. The breed in freshwater after the first heavy rains and live in a more brackish water enviornment. Clear Lake is a natural lake with a native forage fish (hitch) which they are worried about. I believe everything goes in cycles and the shear size of the delta could hold areas of smelt that are overlooked or bypassed in the system. Just a thought though, if they stopped trying to destroy all the hydrilla in the delta maybe the delta smelt would have more places to hide away from preditory fish. If fry seek refuge in the grasses for safety and are sprayed and destroyed well that's not really helpful for them either. Maybe if we did reseach and looked back at when they decided to try to control the weeds if it corresponds in relation to the drop off of these two rough fish populations, maybe that is the problem and not the bass and other targeted "invasives". Anyone ever think of that?

A few rods come to mind, but what is your main type of cover you are flipping and pitching to? Is it mats, scattered reeds/shoreline cover, docks, timber? I have 3-5 rods I can flip pitch with depending on what the presentation(bait type), cover and or structure I'm fishing.

Sorry about the double post....deleted second.

Scott, I totally agree with your arguement of invasive species. BUT, here lies the issue, the bass and stripers were stocked by the state to begin with. Most of that list is protected under CA Fish and Game laws as they are a gamefish. There is a big difference between a grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, and snakehead that were NEVER stocked by a state agency into the waterways of where they now have become a problem on the system. California has an issue of water mismanagement. They don't want dams because it will effect the habitat, they can't store water when it does rain. Oh and did we forget most of S. California IS A COASTAL DESERT! Droughts are nothing new, just more covered now in the age of "climate change" and the need to bring everything back to the way it was before we ever touched it. My point is it's hard to now rid an entire fishery of gamefish the state has regulations and laws which manage ALL of which are sportfish to now have them deemed invasive when the state is the one that created the fishery. And for those who think you should catch, livewell release in CA, yeah there's a law against that too. So weather you throw them back accidently or if you decide to transplant them, you're in the same boat so to speak.

So this is kind of the the Fed's law against weed, but then some states allow it. As I read on here, Still has to pass House. And California fish and game law protects ALL gamefish. The list other then bullhead and silversides are all gamefish. The DFG would have to regulate this law even if it was a Federal action. This means State Fish and Game will have to pass regulations for this. Somehow I don't see the FBI regulating fisherman if the CA DFG doesn't inact regulations according to Fed law. And since it has to pass congress, FLW, BASS, ABA, and all other organizations could submit petitions as well as local businesses that thrive on the tourisim of the delta and it's fishery. And since it is a federal action that means ALL fisherman in each state could do this and have it submitted to congress as well as each of their representitives. As much pushback as there was for the tunnels in the delta, odds are there would be even more pushback against this.

I have 2 of the 50's, one light, one dark. I stuck to the basics and plan on doing the same thing with the other two sizes. Keep it simple

I have a Rapala Digital 50lb scale. Been using it for 2 years, pretty close to dead on. You want it certified, well you're not going to find that one at a very inexpensive price.

If you watch the Bassmasters, Edwin Evers fishes the new White Carbonlites, works well for him. Man won two events with $130 reel and a $130 Carbonlite rod. Before that he used a lot of PQ and then moved up to the Johnny Morris Line. This last year is the first time though since the reels are white that you could really tell what reels he had. But those are his bread and butter reels.

I've caught all but one of my large swimbait fish in the middle of the day, sun out. I wouldn't worry about time of day, but if you're serious about throwing it, only take that rod and bait and fish it. After the first fish you will have the confidence to continue to throw it. But if you bring a dropshot rod, odds are after a hour or two fishing if you don't get a bite the dropshot will come out and that will be it. Last fall I had a great bite on the hollow body frog when everyone else was fishing small dropshots. First fish on the 2nd cast was a 5+lb fish....bright sky and middle of the day. And in open water.

I think I stated this before, but that action is a lost cause. There isn't any money to follow through. Impossible task to remove ALL without hurting the salmon population. Stripers aren't going anywhere....they are there to stay, just as the bass are. Smallmouth made their way into the system from the upper lakes and headwaters. They can't wipe out the slilver carp in the Mississippi river system, they can't wipe out the bass or any of the other fish on that list. You can't make it old again or the way it was. And there probably is a way to use CA laws which protect bass and all the others (less the bullhead which just find ways to get everywhere) to stop the law and tie it up in the courts until they find something else to complain about. Tournament formats can become similar to Major League fishing with wireless weight recordings to go around that law and "accidently return" them to the water. Oh, and the weeds, yes they would love to remove them, but then they also want to save the reeds and tullies which makes removing all the grass also impossible.

I have the carbonlites (black model) in all the gear ratio's. Use the 5.3:1 last couple seasons as my crankbait/umbrella rig set up and the 6.4:1 for my shallow cranking/wakebait fishing. Both perform great. The PQ seems to have good reviews. I just like a lighter reel.

"How much did you spend shopping?"

I tend to pack for my trips depending on season, place, and parameters (IE water temps/weather). I pack my bag with what I believe will be most productive in experiences with those conditions and make adjustments on the fly. They need to have confidence in what they are fishing with and the technique they are using. In otherwords, well rounded fisherman I believe does not have a kit, they just adapt and fish the conditions at hand and fall back on experiences and knowledge. And when all else fails, cover lots of water with the trolling motor on high. I'd give them reading homework to read ALL the articles on this site in reference of how they fish, seasonal patterns, conditons, etc. So much useful info on this site, it could be the ultimate confiedence kit.....Knowlege and information.....just an idea for that winter project. Then they can base their "kit" around conditons and seasonal patterns which will result in a better understanding instead of a "hail mary" aproach when it gets tough out on the water.

As Tom put it, most jig bites aren't a thump. Yes it's nice when they smack and try to run off with it, but most of mine are a heavy mushy pressure or it just doesn't feel right. There isn't a thump or tick in the line. Like Tom suggested, you have to know what the jig feels like by itself and anything out of the norm, set the hook.

I lucked out and got my TourMG at a great price. Performance wise, it's smooth, casts great, light, and well I have no complaints of this reel. It has the footprint (shape) close to the Kenitic while the EXO's are a bit narrower. I would not hesitate on picking one up as it has been a great reel that has gotten A LOT of use and has given me ZERO issues. Still smooth and quiet and always in my car or with me when I go fishing. Gear ratio wise, the 7.1:0 ratio TourMG is the same IPT as an EXO 100 6:6.1 if you're looking into one of those models as well.

Think about how hard they have tried to destroy the snakehead populations, silver and bighead carp, as well as grass carp. A small body of water....yes, but all waterways draining into the delta is an imposible feat. There isn't any way to remove an entire ecosystem that is thriving let alone a fish that migrates in and out of the ocean. The cost alone will be in the BILLIONS and fail. There isn't any money for it. They can try but they will fail as I know I will not follow that rule when I fish up there, let alone being able to remove fish from hundreds if not thousands of miles of canals, rivers, streams, and bassins. Yep California law makers officailly have their heads up their A$$. Trying to restore the delta to it's original fauna is an impossible task.

X2. I'll be using the castable unit to locate said stucture mentioned above.

I fish braid on everything with a leader and use the Albright Knot. Also don't use anything under 20 for my swimbaits. My set-up for smaller swimbaits under say 3oz's is 40lb braid with 20lb leader and then the hudds/Line Thru 8" baits as well as Triple Trouts get 40-50lb braid and either 25lb mono or FC depending on which bait it is. Need to make sure your connection is really wet before tightning up on it also. I figure most already do this, but had a tournament partner that wouldn't wet it till the end right before he pulled it tight. Needs to be wet prior to pulling it snug or this can cause damage to the braid.

They do have a moderate action but they are made to fish cranks. Have a few DD22's and they aren't a problem. Fish 5XD's which is just under the 6XD. I like the action of them. The major difference is on the hookset/strike. The rods feel whippy but when the bite occurs the rod takes the brunt of the impact and helps keep from ripping the hooks. Then the action also lends itself to constant pressure being applied to the fish. They unfortunately don't have the cork handles though but for being a composite rod are extremely light. Let me add this as well. I fish my cranks with braid with short 4-6ft leaders of either FC or Mono depending on what I'm fishing and how. So the moderate action is great for my cranking needs. Now when I fish say a bladed bait or ripping a rattle-trap, then I do use a Mod-Fast rod. And one of my favorite rods Ive fished this year has been a 7M moderate action rod which I've had a hard time putting down with the really shallow crankbait bite I've had most of this year.

I've caught them on rattle-traps, crankbaits, jigs, and plastics. Have a friend that was on fire with a home made rat a few summers ago. Had 5 one night on that thing. Sadly, the bass didn't find it as appealing but they were pretty awesome topwater bites. Everyone I've hooked over 5lbs felt like they were going to rip the rod out of my hand when they hit. No tap tap there.

Could opt for the new 13 Black *** 7'9" cranking rod, if you look around you can find the Quantum Tour KVD Cranking rod 7'4"MH or the 7'11" on E bay for around $80 (not bad considering if you buy it from TW you're going to spend $170). Also have the Phenix Glass Crankbait rods that are between $129 and $160. I personally have the Tour KVD's in both 7'11MH and 7'4"MH. The 7'4" is a good all around cranking rod. I use it for squarebills and could easily handle the deeper cranks I fish (5XD's) without an issue and is really light. The 7'11" is my dedicated deep cranking rod though when I know I'm going to be doing a lot of that kind of fishing.

It's always good to learn new presentations. With certain bait presetations in a pond you can burn through those fish quickly. I've had 2-3 days of good flipping/punching in certain ponds I fish where they bit great, then go the next time....Zero!!! Conditions didn't change, but ran out of fish in those areas. Time to grab another rod and another presentation. Knowing mulitple techniques will only make you a better more consistant fisherman. Many get hung up on a certain way of fishing and end up being lost when it doesn't work since they have become one dimensional.