Choporoz

@PaBassMan13, I don't think that he meant it personally. I feel the same way, and it is in no way, personal. It is hard to read a review about anything on the interwebs without imagining what unstated motives, biases, etc. are lurking in the background. I particularly hate that many paid reviews don't state as much....just raises the skepticism level all the more As to the baits, I have a personal bias against most Storm baits. Or rather, maybe its just a lack of confidence. I've used many, especially pre-rigged soft baits, and never experienced much success...that lack of prior success with totally different baits colors my judgement against these new baits. Unfair? Probably...oh well

I thought I snagged a passing freight train

I'll keep an eye on this thread, as I'm a fan. However, if I have scuppernong (bubble or swamp movers), I'm happy

I suspect the problem isn't that there's no info....the problem is that good answers to your questions would require encyclopedic volumes. Every tributary is a little different....every couple miles of main stem are different. Every tide change brings dramatically different conditions. I have been on the VA side this week, but I can tell you that you got to figure them out every time .....Saturday, at 6PM, they were fairly aggressive and chasing small cranks over grass. Tuesday at 6PM, they were schooling up minnows and wouldn't touch anything over about 2". Last night, the hunters and cruisers could be caught on occasional small lipless, but money was being made in laydowns. There's a lot of information, including recent reports at National Bass Guide Service.com and even on Charlie Taylor's fishing report. The list of 'good spots' that you can reach from that launch would number in the tens of thousands.

Been a few years since I fished in MN, but you got me curious....from MN 2017 regs (Pg 28): TACKLE AND LINES How many hooks can I use on the end of line? •You may use up to three single or multiple-pronged hooks on the end of one fishing line. •If you use more than one hook, the total length from the first hook to the last hook must be 9 inches or less.

Every time I read this, it cracks me up....I'd never heard of a 'silent' WP...I don't care if you take out the rattles and tape down the hooks....no Whopper Plopper is ever going to be anywhere near silent. I use a 7'MHF - spinner bait rod. Rod is 'rated' to 1oz, and the lure is a little heavy, but casts quite well.

Not an ounce over 15.73 pounds

Be careful in the wind. The really fine lines can do some crazy stuff with a little slack and a bit of wind....catching itself on leader knot; looping on rod eyes; impossibly tying itself into mystery knots.....

Bingo. At 20 I moved from my 'birth state'.....Since then, I've lived in seven other states, territories and countries....and I'm working plans for the eighth. I did spend a week back fishing in my home state once....so, in some sort of perverted way, I could look at it as if I'd saved $28 one year

Probably not offered in all states...and those that do will all have different 'offers' What are the terms in your state? Lifetime license cost? Annual license cost? Does it change the computation if you start considering fresh water vs salt water vs trout waters? Post the details and you'll likely get better advice.

I've read this reply at least five times now....and I can't help think it is a subliminal message..... (My mind replaces 'bigger bass' with 'the answers you want'; and 'aware of you now', with 'experienced'

I would probably go with the one that I know best. But no matter which one I choose, I do know that unless I won, I would still be second guessing my decision a year from now.

I am using 12# Gliss w/6 and 8 lb. leaders. Very small diameter and will cast a LOT farther than any other braid I've used. But, it is so fine (.005) that fraying can be an issue, as well as wind issues (wrapping around tip, or getting caught on leader knot.)

Thanks for the info, Turtle. How's the current in that area? I've never been above the falls. Can you work up and back, or is a float trip best?

I have a spinning reel that developed a very bad binding issue for one weekend. (Less than a year old, not cheap and not Shimano.) It wasn't submerged and temps were 50's to 70's. Handle was binding nearly every cast; a fairly forceful nudge was required to move the handle. I took it out to work on it last night and problem is gone. Basic look-around (take off spool, handle, etc.) reveals nothing. I had a Symetre that exhibited similar symptoms - though never quite as bad as this one did. I've never heard of any other reels acting like this. Any similar experiences or suggestions?

Not sure how far the legal definitions and protections go, but in my mind flight attendants have a LOT more authority in an airplane cabin than a restaurant manager does in his place of business. I respect the position even when I disagree with their decisions. Reporting is early and fake news is rampant, but it would appear that the poor doctor is first class loser with a history of very poor decisions that ignore the 'dignity and rights' of others

I'm going to go with: 'No patience'

I can't argue with your reasoning. Probably as close as anyone else might guess. In your favor is the 'fact' that nobody will be able to challenge your numbers, no matter what you come up with. Statistics suck. Not sure what sort of useful info might be gleaned from a data set that equates the guy down the block in a 'once a year, 5-boat $100 pot', with KVD.....but then again, I'm not sure about a LOT of things. .....sorry for sounding rant-ful....I have a job highly dependent on data and statistics and I can bring you to any conclusion you want just about every time

I guess that's one way to keep your 'new friends' from begging you to take them on your new 19 foot boat

I can add little value to your question. I have used a Speed Spool for a few years and it has held up extremely well. I can't compare the other two. (like a number of others above, if I had $80 for a reel, I'd wait until I could get a Tatula. I have four and you cannot go wrong.) no value there... the reason I'm posting is to suggest you reconsider your YZ choice.....if you haven't already purchased it, I strongly suggest that you go with 12# instead of 15#. 12 will be all you could ever need for bass fishing. 15 introduces stiffness that will make you crazy, even if you bathe it in KVD L&L daily.

Accurate casting (for me, anyway) means that lure weight, rod characteristics, spool tension, distance, wind, obstacles....and length of line between lure and rod tip ....all must be taken into account. Most of those variables are constants --- the easiest to adjust is the distance of lure to tip while casting -- I refuse to compromise on that to compensate for knot fear. Pretty rare that I'll willingly cast anything other than a c-rig with 24" hanging out there.

what

This: https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Terminal-Tackle-Hoodie/dp/B00DNNWINI?th=1&psc=1 Very light, long-sleeved hoodie....I wear it with the hood up in over 100 degree weather and it is still quite comfortable.

Have you tried Prevagen? sorry.... I'm a fan of KVD L&L.