gulfcaptain

I use the bobber stops simply because they are smaller and if something happens or the knot still breaks I might be able to save my punch jig. Plastic may work though. But the fine braid on the Slick 8 seems to wear easy. I've had the knots slip out of the hook eye as well on some hooks that aren't welded closed.

Slip a bobber stopper between your hook and weight and see if that helps your problem.

Return, but I would notify W&M and see if you can replace it with them with your proof of purchase.

When I lived in OK, targeted them on windy points with small 1/8 oz grubs, rooster tails, small 3" swimbaits with spinning gear in the 6-8lb class. Boat ramps also worked well. They school up on humps, drop offs, chase shad. Like to run up rivers or creeks during the spring to spawn. Fight quite well, hit lures head on. Perfect little game fish and great eating. Oh, and I'm sure one of the smaller umbrella rigs would work if you're wanting to use your bass rod as well as offshore jigging with spoons or the Little George's.

Have the same issues with all braid brands especially when punching or pegging the weight. The slick has a habit of breaking more then the original when it gets frayed. I've gone to 832 for my flip/punch rods. Tried using a glass bead once, didn't work very well but to seperate me from my punch jig. I have started using a bobber stopper at the hook in front of the weight to prevent any contact to the knot that could weaken it so far with good results.. And with the super slick, color 18"s with a marker to see how much wear the weight is having on the line.

Um, well I'm gonna go my own way although I do have Quantums, but *** is winning me over so I'm going with them. Best part about my Quantums.....they aren't Lew's and Shimano's. The old 6500 and 5500 Abu's were great light duty saltwater reels though.

Big swimbaits are just another tool in the fishing arsenal and have their time and place when they excel. Like Tom said, there are times you can throw them and get lots of fish, then there are times you can throw them for the whole week and not see a follower. When the fish are keying in on bigger offerings they do excel. But then there are times other baits will out produce in numbers and size.

Here in S.Cal, the Fall bite turns into the winter bite when they start stocking those yummy rainbow trout the bass look so forward to eating.....and a few people too.

I use the Lexa 300, nice reel. And the Irod's look nice as well. I would look into P-Line CXX. And as far as the rod, I would go with the Large Bait instead of the Jumbo. Started with the Cardiff because it was i little less when I first started getting into swimbait fishing, but upgraded to the Lexa.

I've used 15 to 65lb on baitcasting gear. Most of mine are either 20-30lb though but do have a couple with the 15lb on them and as long as it's packed tight and the drag is set right you shouldn't have any issues.

Why stop at one? Repeat what you did and look for the same conditions and cover and see if you can't put another one in the boat.

I've watched a 5-6lb bass follow a big moth that was flying a couple feet above the water. That fish rose up from about 4 ft of water and trailed the moth for a good 200ft before the moth about 15ft above the water. But while it was within 5ft, that bass was right behind it. Never seen that behavior but it does show how much they can see when they want to.

That could be your favorite jig and worth every penny of that $2.99. Might be the only one you have left....I always carry an etxra rod.

I'd go with the BPS Crankin Stick.

I totally agree. Sorry, one of my best friends is "untrainalbe". We have fished together for almost 4yrs, he fishes the same 3 baits, won't change, won't listen, is stuck in his ways and doesn't like trying new things. Is that untrainable....yep. You can't help everyone, it's just the way it is....sports are the same way.....IF you lack the want to change and do what is asked, then you can't be trained.

What you have listed you want atleast a 300 size reel, Cardiff, Lexa, EXO....etc, 25lb mono, and I would say at least a rod that has a lure wieght between 2-6oz. Okuma Big Bait rods, the new Diawa Swimbait rod that came out, or you can look into some of the BPS Graphite Musky Rods if you want a starter rod in the 7'6" MH. And as far as topwater, I've used the ROF 0 Hudds, but if you're looking for a floating soft swimbait, look into the Savage Gear Line Thru's.

Ummm, brake down huh? Offshore: West Coast Set ups (all conventional) 6 bait rods 3 jig sticks 2 heavy jig 1 light small two speed 1 MH 20 size stand up 2 speed set up Freshwater 3 swimbait rods 16 baitcasting Looking at getting another 3 by Xmas. 3 spinning Favorite, I don't have a favorite, they all are tools and each get used at different times when needed.

pond fishing you need a few techniques to fall back on. As someone said if you pressure the fish too much with one type of presentation you can blow through the fish you're catching quickly. Have a few different baits and just be ready if you're killing them one day that it may shut off the next and have to start over.

No, you're organized.....it's only a problem when your friends come over and want to shop through your collection because the local tacklestores don't have the same selection you do.

Look up the manufacture spec's for your boat online. Print the page, put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the boat. The spec sheet should have max cap and horsepower rating which is what they want to see. If you have the private bill of sale, make a copy of it and include it as so they can see it was purchased used as well as you insurance papers. If you have all of that together and you do get checked it wil go quickly as well as keeping up all safety equipment that needs to be onboard......check fire extinguisher dates....they can send you back to the ramp if it happens to be past date of re-charge. Being the boat is 18yrs old it may be hard to get another sticker.

Lets just say I need more storage for what I have.....I have gottern rid of the bait monkey, but then found this bait gorilla that I adopted. Are we counting the lures we have, or the ones on order I haven't recieved as well as the pre-order baits that haven't arrived yet but already have an order for also?

Sometimes we mis-read posts and comment.....then have to back track and step up and say oops. It happpens but at least most of us will admit the mistake unlike most of those people in DC. Next time just blame it on Bush....j/k

Although I've never hired someone to take me bass fishing, I would expect to be on the front deck fishing with him. I would want him explaining to me where to pitch the bait etc as so my day would be great, but wouldn't mind if he was fishing as well next to me. But I'd expect to share the front of the boat and fish as a team. But then this would be communicated prior to me ever hiring them. Can't get mad at someone if you never asked the question and just expect them to read your mind.

I agree totally with your response, truthful, honest, and it is what it is. #1, most people before they hire a guide look at his counts to see what he has been catching or what the reports are. So for those first time customers, always keep in contact with the guide or company you're using so you know what the conditions are and what to expect. If the guide can't return your email, or a phone call he has lack of customer service skills and would send a red flag in my opionion. Now, should you use him again? If the fishing had been tough for the past few days/weeks...etc and it was a hard day, well you new upfront what was going on when you got there. If his success rate is normally good to above average and it was a down day, then well was his work ethic? Did he try everything he could think of to put you on fish? Were you on fish but they wouldn't bite? If he did everything he could and I could see he was working hard to try and gt me on the fish, but it just wasn't happening, ran a good operation, and was friendly and explained everything as we were fishing through the day, yes I would go back. Catching fish isn't always the only reason to re-hire someone to take you fishing. The personal touches that they put into their business "outside" the contract is what makes a guide great and his customers come back. The great part about our customer service business, we all have the right to go somewhere else if we think we weren't treated well. But you still have to pay the man for his services weather you caught fish or not.

It's a finesse approach so small worms, light line and depending on water depth 1/16 to 3/16 would be about as heavy as I would go. If you need to go heavier you might as well fish a c-rig