Choporoz

Good post-solid directions. I never delved too deep into intricacies and variants. I tie, what I thought was some sort of alberto, and been happy with it. I've never noticed or tried the wraps inside the left loop (pic/step 3 above). Just put braid tag through loop same way it went through to start. Back when I used fine, slick Gliss, I did have occasional slip, and I think this knot here would have prevented it.

Went and sprayed up in there last night and at least a dozen came out and went straight to the ground. Will go again this evening and see what is left. Fortunately, no real urgency, but I would prefer to have the boat out over the weekend since weekdays are so much more pleasant on the water. Thank you! I hadn't even thought about the swing tongue. I may be able to get them from that end if they let me swing it. The stings suck, but the next couple days of itching is what drives me insane.

The colors I listed are what I use. The bluegill looks sweet, too. That spoon is a pretty substantial hunk of metal. Most of two ounces. I use a MH swimbait rod rated to 4 oz. If you don't have enough rod for those, but want to get your feet wet with spoons, I highly suggest Nichols 3/4 oz Larry and Flutter spoons. Both are excellent, but the hooks could be better.

I lose a claw, I replace the bait. And I have replaced a lot of baits this past week. Very unusual and specific bite on c-rig the last several days: I get a hit, start feel for weight, and nothing. Seconds later, rod loads up. Fish on, claws gone. I suppose it could be a second fish following up after seeing one interested, but it happened so many times, that I assume the first fish gets the claws first, and then for some reason decides to inhale what's left. I think I need a go-pro on my sinker.

TW has some great color Jackal Counter Back spoons for just $10. Maybe discontinued colors, IDK. The Stealth and Japan shad are excellent. If you have gizzard shad and enough rod, these are fantastic. Brings big ones on straight retrieve as much as on the backside drop.

Easy and cheap. Reel Grips. Have used them (from TW) on similar knobs and loved them.

Thanks, @VolFan . Agreed that fogger in garbage bag might be best option. Spraying up in there best I could seemed to have little effect. Apparently, the spray has to coat each wasp to be effective, and that isn't likely. Fortunately, they aren't too aggressive, so I shouldn't have problem getting a bag taped around the whole front of the tongue. Not sure if tube(s) are open inside all the way back, though.

Looking for advice. I've got what I believe are paper wasps in my trailer tongue. Trailer has been sitting outside for a few months. Need to pull boat out for maintenance. Went to hook up trailer yesterday and found dozen or so wasps flying in and out of tongue; from underneath, behind the coupler. I sprayed wasp spray on and around tongue yesterday, but was difficult to spray up from ground. Went out today and saw zero activity and thought I was good. Started moving safety chains and found out otherwise. Got a couple stings through gloves. Could have been worse, except now I am less than eager to try again. Any suggestions on how to clear them out...or kill them, from underneath? Pretty sure the nest is in the square metal tongue tube right behind coupler, though I haven't seen it yet.

Here's an example of why it is important.... and why my obstinance gets in my way. One mid June morning I struggled. Surface temp 84, bass had been deep and/or off shore chasing shad last few days. Really had a hard time forcing anything to eat anywhere that worked in recent days. Came in around 11 and after tying up, I stood on the dock for 45 minutes or so and watched big bass feeding on minnows in 12-24 inches of water. Turns out bluegills started bedding overnight. Gills aren't a big part of bass diet here. Too much shad. But the bedding gills apparently drew in small gizzards to feast on fry. The bass were relentless, but stealthy enough to not be noticeable from a boat away from shore. Almost no surface commotion. Worse, it happened to me again the other day. Takes me too long to learn from my mistakes.

Very true. However, it is important to me to understand the preferred meal of the day. Not to match colors, but to understand more about locations and activity/reactivity.

Quit throwing Carolina rig years ago. Was never very good with it and not worth the trouble, I decided. But, watched this shortly after listening to Frank Scalish do a c-rig deep dive on Bass Talk Live. Decided to break it out one more time. The past three weeks, 90% of my bass over 4# have all come on the old ball and chain. Have come to love it.

I add them to every flutter/structure spoon that doesn't come with it, or I lose the dressing. The Mustad that @A-Jay referenced above is outstanding. Far better than the stock ones now on Nichols spoons.

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Great, rapid development, @casts_by_fly . Takes most folks years to recognize specifics for their preferred profiles. But be careful not to get too limited too fast. I have strong preference for Ecuadorian Habano and CT Broadleaf wrapped cigars, and strong aversion to San Andres tobacco. However, I have stumbled into surprisingly notable exceptions. I suggest not writing off lanceros completely. They can be very good, but only during a slow, focused smoke. Consider getting a draw poker. It has saved quote a few cigars I was ready to toss.

@new2BC4bass , baby that Aetos. I bought 3 when they were closing them out years ago. 1 spinningand 2 BC. Loved them. But eventually broke all of them on fish. BTW, I really like 25# braid for inline spinners and blade baits.

I am a fan of Invisx. You could make a good bass use case for any test from 8 to 20. But 12# is what I buy in bulk spools. Very versatile, sensitive, manageable and durable.

One good thing about the grass.... the 2's feel like 7's coming in. 😅

I have as many as 18 rods on my boat at a time. (8, if in kayak.) But only two are really dedicated to single presentation. That said, I have one that excels at chatterbaits (for me.) Just so happens that it also excels for 4" flutter spoons. Never tried a spinnerbait on it, but I suppose it would be fine for 3/8 spinnerbaits; probably underpowered for 1/2, which is what I usually throw.

Same

I've got something similar, bought years ago, but has a boot tail. Never got a single hook-up.

Thanks, @Westcoast . I have had the GLX 802 for a couple months now and absolutely love it. The grass here now calls for 1/8 on my t-rigs and it has been a joy to fish with. It handles 1/16 and weightless well, also. Per my concerns above about controlling big fish, I think I've got past that. I've landed up to 7# now with it without losing anymore big ones.

Annually or 100 hours: oil, oil and fuel filters, lower unit lube. Plugs, thermostat and impeller every other year, but I plan to do those more frequently now that I've drastically increased hours per month.

Shocking truth: It depends. Depends on structure below and around it. Depends on cover nearby. Depends on season, wind, forage, current, etc. Depends on pile composition and 'complexity'; such as orientation of thickest branches. I mark nearly every brush pile I encounter, and rarely pass by without fishing each. The only somewhat definitive rule that I have experienced is that I rarely catch the biggest bass relating to a brush pile IN the brush. But I have caught numerous big lmb 5 to 15 feet outside of them. So, I usually work the areas outside first. Presentations depend largely on what I already think about bass level of activity that day (fast/slow, feeding up/feeding down, etc.) With bottom-contact baits, lots of very good fishermen like to crash wood with heavy weights and jigs. I tend towards the other end of the spectrum with 3/16 or lighter, feathering through fairly slowly. I don't drop shot much, but I have cashed checks on slow bite days by sitting right on top and soaking a drop shot right in the pile. Crankbaits are very effective around any wood, but I recognize my cranking shortcomings and don't do it much for fear of hanging up and temporarily ruining the spot. I'm more likely fish spinnerbait or swim jig if I feel need to move a bait through/over a pile quickly.

Duplicate.

I sort of, generally agree that 'I don't care what pros use'. I try not to underestimate sponsorship impact on pro use and recommendations. However, when talking about line types (vice brands), I do think pro opinions matter. If the opinions are informed by experience. 100%. Was here for a couple years. I am swung pretty far into all flouro except for a few specific applications.