Choporoz

Be careful going too far down that road. While its true at times that small lures are for small waters that only have small fish.....and there certainly are small waters with big fish that like small lures....but those are rare, in my experience.....BUT!.....I've also found small waters that have big fish that like big lures....

"I don't have my hearing aid turned on, tell me again." -Admiral James Stockdale

Head down to the local tackle shop. Ask questions. Specific questions...not just "what should I buy?" But, "What do guys find successful around here for pre-spawn largemouth in xxx lake (or local river, or whatever.)" Talk to the other fishermen -- not just the guy trying to sell you stuff. And then listen. And listen. And ask followup questions. And read Bass Resource. It can get a little overwhelming, but read more, just the same. And watch BassResource's videos. You'll learn not only what to use, but see just how to use it.

I suspected the same. Shorter growing seasons, or something. So a 6 pound LMB in GA might be much younger than a 6 pound LMB in ME.

Most of those I talk about that I neither weighed nor measured are all over 6# This one went 6.3, I believe....at least that's what my scale said

Rage Tail Menace, fluke jrs, finesse worms and hula double-tail grubs. My wife likes single tail Mr. Twister-style. I don't think either of us have ever used a paddle tail on a swim jig, however.

Nice fish. What were the measurements?

Welcome to Bass Resource Reel and Rod Recommendations. I had a couple of pretty cheap Quantum spinning reels years ago and thought that I'd never buy another Quantum. Now my absolute favorite reel is a Quantum. But......it's a $200MSRP reel....vice those old $35 combos I had way back. It is VERY hard to generalize about any brand. Get your hands on some different ones and try them out. It is hard to imagine that any reel that feels good to you and retails for well over $100 is going to suck too bad.

Good call, GC. Here's another: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quantum-Smoke-SL100HPT-Reel-/141591820542?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f787b8fe I watched a bunch of auctions on Smokes close in the 85-95 dollar range a few weeks ago. I dare say I'd take it over any $99 retail reel.

Interesting....what brand and material are the skirts? How long are (were?) the tabs? I've only had that problem if the head-side of the skirts was really short

My experience exactly. Haven't touched flouro since I discovered Yozuri

From one of my best bosses many years ago...and it even applies to bass fishing as much as it does to work: "Hope is NOT a strategy." -Tim O'brien He may not have been the first EVER to have said it, but it was said to me long before any other usage I can find

If I recall correctly, think that last year we were approaching 'pre-spawn' activity almost perfectly in synchronization with Catt and WRB squaring off - in only the friendliest, most respectful manner, of course

Thanks, Frydog. Greatly appreciate you taking the time to post your results here. Not often enough that we get to talk comparisons around here with actual data.

sorry, but I couldn't help laugh at that....you must get your trolling motors from the same place that Bill Dance does

I've got a new kayak and these stories concern me a little. I know there's a risk to rolling, but I 'assumed' it to be rather uncommon. I bought some leashes and assumed that they'd be on the paddle and rods at all times. Is it impractical to keep a leash on a rod while using it? Certainly, I'd plan to keep them leashed when behind me, but I suppose when in use or in a forward rod holder, they wouldn't necessarily be tied down.

I'm missing the finesse-y spinning gear. I disagree that your spinning rods will be gtg for light stuff. I find that I can neither throw, nor feel bites well using those rods with weightless senkos, mojo-rigged flukes, etc. I'd love to have one decent 6'6" M rod and no bigger than 2500 reel over either of those MH's.

This. I used to be anal about one lure per section of a 360 box. After seeing a few videos of pros with boxes stuffed with 3, 4, 5 cranks mashed in together, I decided if a pile of cranks jumbled together is good enough for KVD, its good enough for me. I may not be given a dozen new ones to replace the ones with a bit of hook-rash, but honestly, they never get bad enough for me to worry about.

I've been meaning to post almost this same thread/question. I don't want to hijack yours, Green, because my net will be cast just a little wider, to likely include NC and ARK, and we're ok with a little bigger metro areas....and would consider smaller water, but otherwise, it sounds like we have nearly the same 'requirements'. Good luck and I very much look forward to reading the discussion.

I looked over the all the shakey heads in BPS near me the other day. None looked like they could compete with the ones that I've gotten from Siebert and from Megastrike. There were some 'sleds' from Buckeye that looked pretty good - not classically a 'shakey head', but the best that I thought BPS head to offer. But, then again, I won't use elaztech at all, so there may well be something decent there for you that I haven't considered with those worms.

Nothing over 14 for me last year, but my wife boated a 16 1/4 on a blue/silver lipless crank last year...for which the Commonwealth of Virginia sent her a nice certificate for her to hang on the wall.

I'd like to think that I can weigh one fast enough that the fish's welfare argument isn't relevant. When I can accurately guesstimate the weights to within a quarter pound, maybe I'll stop weighing them. Until then, I'll probably continue to weigh those that appear to be 3+. I don't see any reason not to.

Got myself one for Christmas!

I understand the undercard includes Oscar De La Hoya vs. Sugar Shane Mosely

They look pretty good. Let us know how it works. I wanted to like their stuff, but I just don't have the confidence to throw them anymore. I've only tried a Minnow and a Tournament Crank, but didn't do anything with either. Their lures look pretty good and are a good price point, but I haven't gotten to trust them enough to use them any more.