Choporoz

Me, either.....?

I'd be totally shocked if I ever looked at a jig and said "that's got an O'shaughnessy bend" I can barely tell the difference from round when two are side by side. I mean, I get that they're 'different'...but, not so much that I'd ever think to care...I don't think. I have enough to worry about with wide gaps, offsets, line-tie angle, etc. Besides, even if I were to get 'guidance' on best bend shape for particular jig, I would probably ignore it. With jigs, especially, I need to throw out most of what I read about it until I actually throw the jig. The way I fish different cover is subtly different than how anyone else does. Seems trite, but it is true....I need a jig that comes through the cover I fish without hanging and then sticks fish. Everything else is secondary, and I won't know until I try one. I just can't make any generalizations except about the way I fish.

Good point. I will admit to having tried some snaps, but honestly, re-tying was faster than fumbling with "speed clips." I still use snap swivels on wire leaders when fishing for toothy fish, but no more snaps for me when bass fishing. There's definitely something to be said about chopping a little off of the business end of your line when you change lures.

Good points. Sponsorship comes with it, some responsibility for honesty and transparency. You are always very explicit that you are sponsored when you recommend products or give glowing reviews. I wish all were the same...maybe it should be required in sponsorship contracts :)

-So....with regards to your reel, the review 'system' apparently works, as you say most reviews were good, and your experience was positive. -Your last question is most important. I'm a huge fan of skepticism. Usually across the border into cynicism. Not just reviews, though. The internet has made everyone a potential expert without need for credentials. -Reviews are still hugely important. Ebay would never have existed without them....probably not Amazon, nor HomeAdvisor, nor much of our internet commerce. But, as you suggest, a discriminating view is hugely important. Real life experience with a product, should be evident in a review you trust. And, its important to remember that every manufacturer turns out an occasional lemon...and some users aren't reasonably capable. -Retail site reviews should be taken with a grain of salt and consider that most are written within a few days of receiving a new product -- and generally don't tell you much about experience after a few weeks, or years. -'Fake' reviews are a real, growing problem. Both for and against products and services. And many of them are written well....be skeptical -Even here there's always risk of reviews that aren't especially helpful.-- when asking for opinions, be specific as to what user experience you're looking for -- not just 'what's the best reel?' If writing reviews and opinions here, please explain models, length/frequency of experience, conditions used (rives/lakes; SMB/LMB; etc.) Skepticism is a good thing

Never used any Trapper hooks, but I seem to recall that hooks with a 90 degree bend were 'brittle' or at least susceptible to breaking. Have to agree with @J Francho....I don't really see a need. Then again, I only use barbed hooks.

I experienced the same thing today. Once I quit chasing shad and went to my strengths in wood and grass, my day turned around remarkably (68-70° surface temps even with highs in 50s last couple days)

Right....what's with the gremlins that loosen drag in middle of the night??....I miss a couple every year because I didn't check/adjust my drag at start of the day.

Not too big, generally. But if it doesn't get bit, and you aren't comfortable, take it off, bite off quarter inch and put it back on...and try that

Small sample size, but I'm going to be comfortable extrapolating for now..... Recently was able to observe a decent size bass (2#+) swimming alongside the boat while trolling steady at about 1/3 speed. Didn't seem to have a care in the world. After more than a dozen yards, I cut the speed....just a hair...and he bolted. As I said, small sample, but it confirmed for me what I've read about how steady troll speed is much better than speed changes. I sort of suspected that cutting speed would have been an ok thing for him....not so much, apparently.

I started out aiming for cheap and simple. I am still cheap, but have abandoned simple..... somewhat. I went for a couple years using Yo-Zuri Hybrid (6-15) for everything. Went quite well for a while, but once I tried braid, I decided it was worth complicating. I do use leaders (abrasion resistance, to save braid on reties, and to facilitate breaking off...visibility is just a bonus that I am not convinced is a big deal.) I practiced tying leaders (and other knots) while sitting around in the winter. That said, there is some mixing it up, but for most part: Spinning: 18# Gliss w/8# YZH leader Treble hooks: YZH (8-15) Other baitcasters: Braid (20-50) w/YZH leader (8-12) I wish I could remember who created and posted this because I really would like to give him credit, but a couple years ago, someone put this chart up and I thought it was very well done:

One of two reasons for me. The other is simply to save on braid...by spooling less.

Sure...but who wants to be an enabler? It's funny...I have a baby bass swimbait that is still in the package....rather mental....lol

At once, insightful and deceptively obvious. Goes a long ways towards explaining why we fish for bass....and the challenges involved

There's a great 'hack' I've not heard before. I've come to simply dislike skirt bands....but, I'm hard on my jigs and spinnerbaits (leave in car in summer...or in winter...put away wet....) I've used the tiny zip ties, and I wire tie -- both work, but I prefer to wire tie. (I tend to pull zips too tight much of the time and break them.) Get some small guage wire at Home Depot and a pair of dikes; those, along with two pair of pliers, and you're all set.

I'm always intrigued by the topics on deep structure; obviously deep means different things to each of us, especially dependent upon where we live/fish. (I didn't want to hijack the great recent thread about deep sonar and finding fish.) Most topics I've seen either don't specify what 'deep' is; are limited to ledge discussions; or carolina dragging at unspecified depths. -I'm particularly interested in those that target LMB in 30'+ FOW.....or specifically do NOT target likely bass at 30+'.....thought processes, approaches, methods, etc.

Here, too. But not clear. I often fish the drops and any adjacent swallower flats, but never the bottom of the channel. Do you fish for LMB at 30'?

I know you asked about drop shotting and punching, but I'm going to defer to others for those. I've never been successful at either from shore. However, a couple of things you might put on your shopping list that make fishing weeds a lot more tolerable: -1/16 oz - Vike Tungsten Carolina Voodoo Weight - tiny (and thin) and will allow you to work trig through weeds much better than other weights -Charlie Brewer Spider Pro Darter Heads 1/16 and 1/8 -- these things come through weeds like magic -Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball Head - Not quite as clean as Spider heads, but pretty good...and better in rocks, IMO

That's the tough part for me...especially weightless. I'm soooo much more comfortable with even a lightly weighted wacky head, like an Owner Ultrahead Wacky. Spent a bit of time yesterday trying a weightless wacky for first time in years....I don't think it got to bottom very often...I blame current in a kayak, but honestly, I just struggle with having enough patience for weightless plastics -- except maybe flukes...and skipping....but neither of those necessarily needs to get to bottom

I have three Smokes and four Tatulas. If in the market today, it'd be a toss-up as to which I'd shop for right now. I highly recommend both. My lighter rig* has had both brands on it and I'd say the Smoke gets a very slight edge for 'smoothness', and distance... *7'1"MF , usually with 1/16 and 1/8 belly weighted hooks throwing Cut-R's and Rage Bugs

Partial to Rage Craw most of the time. Some days a bulkier Pit Boss or Fuzzy Beaver will be much better. Colors are generally very complimentary.

Couple years ago, I too, decided that I NEEDED a glass cranking rod. I got the Mojo 7'4". Turns out that I could do just fine without it. Before I got it, I was using 7 MF rods for most cranks and a 7'11MHF for deep cranks. The Mojo will throw all but the smaller cranks fine, but the other two rods work as well, or better for me. That glass Mojo just doesn't have near the sensitivity of my MF graphite rods. It just feels 'thick and heavy' most of the time. I have three MF casting rods that I absolutely love and they can handle most of my cranking fine, and other applications as well. I still use the Mojo, but I never feel like its any where near as responsive as I want it to be.

Good to see you, Kyle. I would have thought that you were smarter than to choose the Marines. I'm retired military, but as Navy supply; so my career advice would not be all that applicable, I'm afraid. However, from what I've seen of you here, I'm confident you'll be successful with whatever route you choose in the Marines. -No sense in putting off the ASVAB. IIRC, you can retake once a month. Good score won't assure you of anything....bad score will hinder your chances at certain (many?) career fields. -Don't put off fitness thinking boot camp will whip you into shape. If you can knock out a lot of push ups, sit ups and run a few miles at a time when you get there, you're experience will be MUCH better than if you can't. -Humility, teamwork, keeping your mouth shut....those are some of the most important things about getting through basic and initial schooling....sounds simple, but trust me, for many, those are very hard...lol -best of luck

@the reel ess, doesn't sound stupid to me at all. I can't wear bifocals going up or down stairs. In fact, the only time they were much benefit at all, was standing at a urinal because junk looks bigger