Choporoz

Yes....but Traffic is NOT like his later poppish solo music

RIP Chris Wood --- speaking of whom.....@Drift Panda, Traffic might be a great example -- put on Low Spark, and both of you give it a serious listen

I know little of rod construction and I got a D in physics, but I do know from experience that, yes, the action will be affected. The power, less so. I have a 6'10.5" MHF that used to be 7. It is still a great rod for frogs and toads. The bright side is that it was great excuse to get a nicer 7MHF for bottom contact and spinnerbaits.

It helps your psyche if you decide now that all missed soft swimbait bites, especially those with lost tails or baits, were blue gill or pike, or some other non-bass fish. No way to verify, but it relieves me a a lot of angst and grief over missed fish

I fish some really woody water and I was slow to try spoons much because of that. But it turns out that spoons are heavy enough to sort of act as built in plug-knocker - they can be worked off of snagged wood much better than a lot of other lures

+1 No question they catch fish. But most of my fishing is in wood, and there are much better options that aren't as frustrating

The last time we got my father out before he passed away, he caught a decent bass on a Bass O Reno that was probably 50 years old.

I don't know if Veritas has changed the last few years. I have one (Veritas II, maybe?). 7MHF. Very good $100 rod. I only use it sparingly now, because the Bait Monkey slapped me around pretty good, but I really liked it when it was new to me. I used it for jigs, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, frogs, toads....

I suspect that you got a very good spinnerbait/chatterbait rod. You probably should exchange it or get another. It will work for what you wanted, but I suspect that you'll be wanting a faster tip for worms and jigs before too long. As for the older MF rods, you should just try a number of different things on them and see what you like. Maybe light pitching/t-rig; or plastic swimbaits; rage bug on a weighted ewg hook, possibly even crankbaits or jerk baits. I had an older MF rod that was more MM by today's standards and worked great for med cranks and rattletraps.

I highly suggest you work on building confidence to get into that brush. Clearly it is very frustrating. But experiment with different hooks and texposing, skin hooking, etc. Drop shots, jigs, shaky heads, weighted hooks, texas rigs. Find what works for you becuase sunken trees in 12-15 feet of water sound like heaven. If you get out on a calm day, really concentrate on the drops and points and ledges - working slowly and watching your line. It is hard to work new spots in the wind...at least for me. But if I can learn how the fish are orienting, feel the bottom and any bites on a calm day, I have much more confidence when I approach those spots in a bit of breeze. If you struggle with bottom contact off shore, deeper spinnerbaits, crankbaits, spoons can get you into the fish without necessarily putting a premium on feeling deep bites. I really like that underwater point that comes down between the 16 and 22

Sounds like your terminal knot....but it didn't sound conclusive. Any zebra mussels there? Are there rocks? If so, are there 'sharp' rocks? I found a big difference between the line-slicing ability of rocks, depending on the location and type of water. Is it possible that you got cheap lead that cuts or nicks the line? Lastly, since I switched to San Diego Jam for fluoro, I have had almost no knot problems.

I so love this sentence... I can't stop reading it

Following. I have the same problem with my Garmin Echomap Plus in my kayak. But I also had problems with Lowrance Hook 4 and 5 ...same thing...different kayaks, different transducers. Nearly always in less than 6 feet, but once in a while in over 12 FOW. I've only ever used auto depth, but maybe I should try to set to 'shallow' when in skiny flats. Usually lasts for a couple minutes, but sometimes as long as about 10 minutes. Rather maddening when transiting tidal flats that can leave some boats stranded for hours....not as much risk in kayak, but still a PITA.

Always 'normal', but I imagine that sideways would work also. Maybe better when working pads, which is one of my favorite uses...I'll have to try that

I still do that to some degree. There's some weird stuff going on in my head. Especially, if its the first bite in an hour or more....I should be saying, 'Great! I found them, or they turned on!" But, usually, my brain says "WTH have I been doing wrong for the last hour? At least there's fish in here - maybe I just found the one dumb one. I need to try something else...something else would have been working for the last hour." So, I suppose overall confidence isn't necessarily my strong suit. But I do recognize the role confidence plays in fishing baits or styles. I have zero confidence in buzz baits -- I will still tie one on a couple/few times a year when I get to what I think is perfect situation -- but I won't stick with it for more than 30 minutes or so without a whiff. On the other hand, I can throw a GP Rage Bug for eight hours without a bite.

I am so ready for the day when bass learn to talk. Thanks for the reminder! It is getting to be time to pull out the SKRT Anacondas.

Sounds like Mega Strike is batting 100% ... two for two screwed up orders Did he threaten to kick you in the a$$? JK, Bobby --- Always been a great company to deal with!

My better rods cost double my better reels

I typically go four or five years between staining/painting, but it is always at least a year too long --- As a master procrastinator, I typically put it off longer than it when it should be done

If you like that lure and it happens a lot while yo-yo-ing or popping it off the bottom, consider changing hooks. A shorter shank may help you out. (It could screw up the action, though.) I am one who hated having to change hooks on perfectly good baits -- and refused for years. But, I have to admit that once I started experimenting a little with different sizes, bends, shank lengths, etc...it is rather fascinating how much it can affect a lure -- whether it is a fouling issue, or the way it reacts with weeds or wood; the wobble or the fall...I hate dealing with the variables, but I do admit that it is interesting and I've stumbled into upgrading lures from the trash heap to great producers. As to the noisy retrieve, I wouldn't think twice about it.

I suppose on your waters it could be very different, but 90% of my Seibert chatterbait and spinnerbait purchases are primarily white/chartreuse. I'm not too concerned about the exact colors, but if I see mostly white and chartreuse, it's good. I also keep a few blue/black ones around, but only use them at night or in muddy water. I did buy the red/orange chatterbait, but even when that is the 'hot color' around here, it really didn't do any better than white/chartreuse. Oh yeah...and while you're there, get some white Rage Bugs for your Fogy, if you don't already have some.

Yes! No OCD for me regarding plastics colors. Since the first time I was forced to choose between green pumpkin and red watermelon....neither of which made me think of watermelon or pumpkin....over a decade ago....I had zero interest in what the manufacturer called their colors. I need pictures or something off the shelf and buy what looks right to me

I have never gone in after a lure...or a rod. Wife went in after a phone once. I think you're all looking at this wrong. Once you learn that lost lures are opportunities to visit Tackle Warehouse, you'll start breaking 'em off. To be honest, it is more about fishing time on the water for me. I just won't spend 15-20 minutes of fishing time trying to get lures back any more.

There's a reason that 'good spots' are 'good spots'. Pulling a fish off a laydown just opens up a vacancy. But, I guess the OP was more about whether that first fish is in there and willing to bite. As we can see from the replies, often she's there but won't be bothered until you hit her on the head three or four times.

Yes. That's where I saw it. I read the transcript or notes from that...I don't have the patience for videos most of the time.....I probably should have watched it...lol. A quick google led me to another article where he mentioned them again....got me to thinking - I also wonder if hooksets might be negatively affected.