deadadrift89

One of the best ways in my opinion is fish with better anglers and time on water. I assume your high school doesn't have a fishing team but maybe one of the local College's in your area does, if so reach out to the team Captain and tell him your looking at increasing your skill as an angler and if they offer a program for younger anglers or if any team members would be willing to mentor you or spend time on water. Also reach out to your local Fisheries Dept./Bass Clubs and ask them for any available resources

Line watching is done where the water meets line, sometimes fish will pick up a bait move off with it and you'll never feel it. When you cast let bait fall on a slack line then engage reel and take up slack, if lure is not close to the area you threw bait a bass probably already has it so take up slack and set the hook. Happens a lot especially when fishing unweighted senkos. With Texas rig plastic or jig 90% of time after bait hits bottom I drag it slowly with my rod from 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock then reel slack and repeat. I do not move my bait with reel only the rod and always keep my line tight with no slack after the initial cast that way I can detect strikes. When I detect cover after slowly pulling through it I pause bait for a few seconds and then lightly shake in place then continue the drag process. I prefer using Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon on my baitcasters and on spinning reels Power Pro braid with fluorocarbon leader. There are times jig/worm fishing when bass will hit your bait as you reel in to make another cast and that's when I put that rod down and pick up a moving bait. Lot's of people like to hop/swim worm or jig in some situations but I don't so can't offer advice on that. If I had to pick one bait it would be a Zoom Trick worm(Junebug color-stained water), Gamakatsu 4/0 ewg hook and 1/4oz weight close second would be zoom Ole Monster 10.5" with 5/0 hook. I love Texas rigging soft plastics and its my favorite way to fish. That "tap" you get when a bass hits is so addictive.

What cutter do you use for braided line? I'd prefer something that doesn't require putting tension on line when using. Mostly using 15-20# braid and tired of frayed ends on setups when using leaders Thanks

Depending on water clarity Junebug Alabama Craw Green Pumpkin

I don't think so but it was pretty well picked through at noon yesterday at one store and other one didn't have anything I wanted

Academy Sports today 50% off all clearance storewide. Wish I'd been when door opened. Crazy deals on some things.

We've got 2 Academy Sports within 30mi of each other. One had nothing hardly but the other it looked liked 2 days before Thanksgiving on the baking aisle at Walmart ? crazy deals

I use this one from Bass Pro and its saved me many cranks over the years. I spooled it on a old Quantum Iron round reel and it works great

Bigger bass on average for me. And i seem to always catch at least one really big catfish every outing also?

Glad to see this today !!

1/2oz, I can fish it shallow to deep and easy to cast on any of my MH rods.

@schplurg all kidding aside if your ok with it that's all that matters. Over last several years manufacturer's have produced rods/reels in so many different colors. But you know your friends aren't going to let it slide without taking a shot in boat at ya and yes I own 3 purple IKE dropshot rods on a deal i couldn't say no?

This ^^^

A quality spray paint would work wonders and honestly it's the only way I'd fish it. Only thing worse would be using it like this?

This is exactly what I'd be looking far. I'd drag heavy jig,Texas rig or use bigger crankbait to locate the laydowns and mark them with your graph or use a app on phone if needed. Then you can fish them anyway you choose. Another thing is to concentrate fishing the edge of flat along those creek channels.

I use to do same when going in my canoe, mostly white or blue shirts. But after owning two different red bass boats and a white center console I don't think it makes any difference. I fish muddy to gin clear water and it doesn't seem to change my catch rate using canoe vs red bass boat. Fish can see you quicker standing on deck vs sitting in canoe/yak but at casting distance to bass it makes no difference in my opinion. Off topic regarding safety I was coming back to ramp in dark after sunset and two yaks were in middle of lake with no lights never saw them until right on them, thankfully I wasn't running and just at idle or it could've been tragic--something that still scares me.

Teva sandals when warm. Skechers when cold.

Yeah that's lousy, that color and Gizzard Shad are my best 2 in the KVD 1.5

@GlaucusSame here and it had one piece of paper on it, I was shocked. That one said "fulfilled by Amazon" I ordered couple of other rods and one said fulfilled by Abu Garcia another was from a Tackle store and both came in cardboard shipping tubes. Even then one tube had been broken by UPS. So I'd steer clear if it says "fulfilled by Amazon for seller" unless you don't mind sending it back (which is easy with them). I've gotten several rods over the years from various companies in shipping tubes and I bet 25-30% still get broke or at least tube has damage unfortunately. Dicks Sporting Goods sent me 2 rods in a regular box and no packing just loose, they made it ok but I'd never do that again?

I use 20# PowerPro Slick 8 on 3 of my 2500 reels for my dropshot, tube and shakey head rods and that size works well for me. Going to try 15# Slick 8 V2 on another dropshot rod.

@jttackaI highly recommend if your not already to become proficient at using a Texas rig. Start with 3/16-1/4 oz. bullet weight, Gamakatsu 4/0 ewg hook , Zoom Trickworm or Zoom MagII and you will catch fish. I use numerous techniques but the Texas rig is my most reliable and favorite way to catch bass. Second choice would be early/late during day(Spring-Fall) a walking topwater bait--KVD Sexy Dawg or Spook jr.

@Harold Scoggins that's the best??

That says a lot for them I've got 2 different model Zillions(M/XF,MH/F) what type line in comparison? Which Kistler H3 do you have and weight? Also do you know what if any difference on the 2019 models from last years is ? I hear a lot of praise for them but no one local to compare sensitivity vs my Zillions or GLX. Thanks appreciate it

I would have been one of those guys??

Tom I really hope your able to find a partner. I fished with a gentlemen for many years every Friday that was in a similar situation as yourself. His family didn't want him fishing by himself for health reasons. He was an inspiration and wealth of knowledge to me over the years as you would be in anyone's boat. Best of luck Steve