John Hansen

Undressed here. Have a couple dressed ones that have never caught a fish. Not sure what it is, even the ones with a little marabou on the hook don't work for me. I like trebles more, seem to get more consistent hook sets but I sure hate having to remove the trebles from small trout or pan fish that overload their eyes and somehow get large trebles with all 3 hooks set in their mouth... had a small panfish somehow get one barb on the bottom jaw, one on upper, and other in the gill area. It gets annoying so when I buy a new spinner I buy 2. One of them I will usually got 2 of the hooks off and turn the treble into a single hook.

Abu Black Max reel and a 7' MH Abu Vengeance rod. figured they would let me dip my toes in the water with bait casters. Finishing finals then I can get out and practice more!

Currently using a cheap little pot from Walmart. Seems to make just as good a coffee as any. I have been wanting one of the ones that will brew straight into your travel mug. But the cost of the little K-Cups is too much for me.

Ive read threads, watched the bassresource videos on youtube and read some more. Im pretty sure Ive been setting up the reel correctly. When button is clicked lures drops, not ultra fast but at a reasonable rate. Im not really have issues with birds nests, had a couple but not too bad. Even though I switch everything up I can't get my casts to go straight out.

Looking for help here, wasn't sure where to post this. Using my spinning rod, generally where ever my chest points is where my cast will go. Spent my whole live with spinning reels and I am pretty danged accurate. Got a new bait caster and I can not cast accurate enough to hit the broad side of a barn. Literally. Me and a buddy were out fishing off a dock. I had been using the spinning reel and working a known spot for me to catch fish. Switched rods and tackle to the bait cast with a top water frog. First cast frog goes flying 90 degrees straight to my left and knocks my buddies beer off the dock. I can not for the life of me get good straight casts with the bait caster. I have watched all the youtube videos and still nothing. I feel like I have picked up a bad habit with the spinning rod. Anyone tell me what causes my casts to go sideways and not out? I made quite a few casts, not even trying to get distances just trying to get it out there and they were all angled off to my side. Am I releasing too late? Whipping it too much? Just looking for ideas. Thanks all.

Thanks all! Don't think ill bother with it now. Time to sell the pickup and get a more economical vehicle. =[ Good by 4 wheel drive awesomeness and hello 2wd car. =[ Ill use this as is till the pickups gone. Now ill have to figure out how to carry rods on a car. Ive seen little magnetic suction holders that stick to the hood and roof. Might also have to invest in a Thule roof rack and make something up from there. College sucks.

Blue Fox Vibrax spinners. Not sure where your at but out west here Ive never NOT caught trout on them. At times I take them off because its just fish after fish and I want more of a challenge. Favorite color is a Blue Body with silver blade. Like to also have a gold body gold blade and a silver body silver blade then I usually grab a few other colors. What ever tickles my fancy. People usually talk about how bad they are but I usually loose them before they fall apart. But Ive got a few that are 3-4 years old and beat up and paints chipped but they work great.

Sharpen, being in college saving a few bucks on hooks helps. sharpen them back to that "sticky" sharpness. Usually a couple passes on my spyderco sharp maker honing stone is enough

Trap shooting still takes priority over fishing for me. Partially because I shot trap throughout most of the fall and all of the winter so through the winter I am not fishing much. Don't ride the dirt bike much anymore, but it is handy to get into some remote back country lakes and fish. Mountain Biking doesn't happen much either. Fishing is just nice because for me at least, I can spend a weekend doing it without spending a ton of money I can bring people along with me. All of that is great in college.

Thanks all! Ran to Wally World. All they had for Yum Dingers was 5" Watermelons, got a bag of them. Restocked on a few split shots and sinkers and hooks just to be sure I have enough. Nicest hooks I can find in town are Gamakatsu, they work for steelhead so they should get me started with bass. Biggest I found was only 1/0 should work for now. Are there such things as EWG hooks that aren't an offset worm hook? I couldn't find any. Ran to the local sporting goods store. They didn't have much but I picked up a pack of black/blue w/ flake then they had a bag of watermelon/Pearl on sale so I grabbed a bag. Checked out the spinner baits, neither place really had any that looked decent. Walmart had some $1 ones but I passed them up. Same with Jigs. One store had a few BooYa jigs but again didn't look too special and deffinately not worth the price tag they had on them. Didn't quite find what I wanted but thats fine. 3 weeks of school left. Only going to get to go fishing 1 maybe 2 more times. Then Ill be headed to Utah where I can start working again and put a little extra money back into tackle. Also give me a chance to fish a few different spots on the way back. EDIT: I got one final question for you fine fellas, its small and stupid so I didn't want to bother with a new thread. I am curious if I rig my rods wrong. My whole life Ive always used swivels and leaders. Is it bad or wrong to tie a snap or barrel swivel onto my main line, run a 12-20 inch leader then tie on my hook? Curious if the swivel can be scaring more fish than it helps? Also is it bad to run mainline with a snap swivel and attach that directly to say a Rapala or a spinner/buzz bait?

I have considered filling it with sand, after I get mine fully done and to the size I want I may consider it, the only issue with that is when winter rolls around I won't be able to remove it and store it without dumping the sand out. I still need to make mine bigger, figured 4 rods would be enough but thats neither wide enough for my bed or near enough rods. Hope I can squeeze 3 more on mine and somehow figure out how to make it so that I can carry fly rods as well. After it gets widened that will help movement a bit then I just need to stop it under acceleration. Cant remember if i have tie downs in the front of the bed, but some sort of sticky coating and a cargo bar might work great. If done correctly that would even stop any renegade coolers from sliding forward and sandwiching the rods/reels. I might just need to experiment and see what works best.

My pickup doesn't have wheel wells =( its an '03 Tundra with stupid stepsides so the wheel wells are gone. I have considered extending the base the full length of the bed but that seems a bit expensive. I have also considered maintaining my initial idea of u bolting it to the tool box but instead of bolting it to the front I could bolt it to the bottom. If done correctly I could then seal the holes around the bolts and when I want to remove it I can just slide the rod holder part off of the bolt down part and stick it in the tool box. That way when I want to haul stuff it doesn't get broke. Ill have to post some pics of what I am working with.

Thanks all! I will have to go see if our Walmart has any Yum Dingers. I figure if they are as cheap here as elsewhere I will get a few different colors to use over a variety of water conditions. Black/Blue, Natural green and or brown shades, white maybe? Maybe something in a brighter color? Ill have to check out a spinner bait or a buzzbait. Im just not sure if I can cast that light of tackle. Me and my bait caster struggle with the light floating Rapala I have and the ugly stik I just don't think will do it, but ill have to check them out in person to see what they weigh.

Built something similar to this for myself since I don't have a full size bed it was tough hauling a cooler and 7-9 foot rods. Figured it would be worth the $15 it cost to make. Anyways, I don't know how to make it not slide around the bed of my pickup. I don't want to bolt it to the bed. I tried putting my winter time traction sandbags on it but it still slides around. Anyone have any ideas? Im trying to think of a way to maybe attach it to my tool box, could easily use some u bolts to secure it to my tool box but didn't want to have to drill holes unless its last resort. I have just a cheap plastic tool box but still. Just looking for thoughts and ideas.

When I learn the basics of the bait caster better it will get braided. Didn't want to drop big coin on braided line and loose the whole spool do to a birds nest while learning. That will get upgraded but not right now. Both of my spinning reels have Maxima UltraGreen. Both got the line last fall so Im not upgrading that yet. Mighty fine line, the steelhead rod only saw one salmon and the ugly stik has only seen some trout. Guess I do also have my MH Shimano Clarius spinning rod, its more for steelies and has a long butt but it would work find for bass. Really allow me to launch some Rapalas out there. Thanks reason. This fishing shouldn't be too bad, well be on a 32' boat and drift net fishing. Deepest water we will be in is around 50 feet (not meters) and we will be a tops of 7 miles off shore with at least 200 other boats in a very close vicinity. Boat is set up with a large level wind on the back so as long as my heads not up my rear end, which it never is, I should be good. Don't think it will be any worse than logging I did back in high school. Only thing that worries me is bears and drunks in the boat yard. I am the king of the bargain bin. People give me weird looks every time I dig through the fishing bargain bins at like Cabelas or Sportsmans Warehouse or other small shops. Usually find something worth while. Me and my cousin found some LARGE tube jigs at Cabelas one time. He bought them for $.50 turned out that Tiger musky and big bass loved them! He caught a largemouth that was big enough to drag us around in my aluminum row boat. Didn't move us far but still moved us. Also caught 3 or 4 tiger musky that day. Ive also managed to pick up over 3,000 fly tying hooks from Cabelas before. Think I paid 20 bucks for all of them. Just cause I was willing to dig to the bottom. What is the difference between spinnerbaits and buzz baits. Looking to place an order with tackle warehouse but wasn't sure what the main difference was. I want to pick one or two up. What would you guys recommend? Just want to be sure I will be able to cast them with my setups.

Thanks all! Take me some time to sift through all of this! I go to school in Northern Idaho, will be in Northern Utah for half the summer then the other half I will be commercial fishing in Alaska. I wouldn't get my tackle until I got back up here in august. But as soon as I am back ill be signing up. I have a basic assortment of terminal tackle. I just never know what hooks to get for what baits. I get lost looking at all the shapes. Then when I get past that I get lost in all of the colors of baits. When I do buy I try to buy at opposite ends of the spectrum Black, White, Florescent, matte etc. When I start catching fish I will feel more comfortable buying tackle, otherwise there is just too much! I forgot I have a sampler pack of rubber lures from "Locket Lures" My issue is I have no idea what hooks to use. It will also help when I get my full membership with the Universities bass team. I get decent discounts from a few websites. So I am just trying to get a basic assortment of tackle to get me through the summer and into the fall. Thanks bash8er PM sent!

Agreed, UNLESS you are getting stocking foot waders. If the stockings and boots don't fit your feet as snugly as you find comfortable/possible you are running a good chance of wearing out the stockings prematurely due to foot/boot slip and wearing out the neoprene. They don't have to cut off your circulation, you do want to be able to add some wool socks to keep the toes warm when needed you just don't want them to be too large. I myself find breathable stocking foot waders just as warm as neoprene in the cold winter and better in the warmer summer. Just depends on how you layer underneath. But my Breathable waders have served me well steelhead fishing, and trust me that water gets chilly.

Guess I should add. My two main rods are a 7' ugly stik lite MH spinning rod and a 7' Abu Garcia Vengeance MH bait caster. What ever I get I need to be sure I can cast it. Later this summer when I get back from Alaska I will be adding a lighter weight rod to the arsenal. Buddy said I should get at least one Rapala Clackin Minnow, for some reason the bass up here love them. Just not sure what color to consider.

Howdy all, Looking for input. I am newer to largemouth bass fishing. I have fished caught them but usually not when I am specifically targeting them. I need to get some more dedicated tackle. Lures, baits. I am primarily a shore fisherman. As I get more active in my schools bass club I will start fishing on boats more. This summer I will be fishing a lot on my aluminum row boat. Wont be till mid july. I have a $50 budget. Not a cent above. What do you all recommend? I am not trying to be cheap I just want a good bang for my buck bunch of stuff to get started on. So here is what I have. Rapala rattlin Lipless Crank, 2 of them. Both are blue gill colored. One is pretty small the other is a bit bigger. Rapala Floating Jointed. Don't remember its number but its a darker brown ontop with a lighter colored belly. Only dive 3-5 inches. Unknown maker, fire tiger crank bait. My grandmother gave it too me. She bought it back in 2000 give or take a few years. Never used it, it dives something like 20 feet so most of the areas I fish aren't that deep. I have numerous tubes of different sizes and colors. Use them for smallie fishing. They aren't ideal but they do work. Have a few rubber worms, and a couple rubber crawfishes but not many. Have my normal assortment of trout spinners and spoons. Also have some large kastmaster spoons and some Rvrfisher Steelhead spoons at my disposal. I am guessing I need to get a nice arsenal of plastics started I just don't know what to get. I want a variety that will allow me to cover a variety of water and conditions. Then as I get more comfortable and start to get these ID bass figured out I can make a few more confident purchases. Just don't have the money to be spending on stuff I have no idea on, Thanks all

Berkley Trilene XL on my bass spinning reel and on bait caster, will be taking it off bait caster after I fully learn how to use it. (Not a single complaint with Trilene XL.) Its also on the rest of my reels. Maxima Ultragreen on my steelhead spinning reel (bit more money but deffinately worth it.)

Thanks for the replies guys! There isn't much for fishing right around me. I have to drive a little ways and I feel like it would be even more worth the drive if I had some sort of Water craft and was capable of getting the most fishing out of each trip. Nearest fishing too me is a 15 mile drive. I am keeping my eyes open for a good ol used jon boat or something but being in a college town you have to act quick or it gets bought up pretty quick. Looking to join the schools bass club. Don't plan on fishing any tourneys other than the little club ones but I figure if anything it lets me meet a few guys and I know 2 of them have very nice bass boats that I could probably tag along with them and fish with. My own floating device would be nice because then I can fish when I please.

Yea Im looking at joining the UI Bass Club and they were telling me about the tourney. Surprised me they caught any fish, with my luck if the water drops off too cold I can't get anything but trout to bite. Must be how I'm fishing. Might have to take a ride out to dworshak before I head home.

Sorry don't have any pics to help me describe mine. I made rod rack that sits on the ground. it holds 4 spinning rods on each end. It can then hold my tackle in-between. Sort of like a shelf/rod rack combo. I made me with individual slots for each of my Plano 3700 tackle boxes will slide in (sort of like the small screw drawers at your local hardware store. That way they are all stored and easily accessible so I can choose what I want. I also left enough room for my tackle bag to sit. Same principal as this picture only instead of the drawers and doors I made mine open and made it so that I had the storage for my flat tackle boxes and a tackle bag. I then got bored and did some wood burning on it. Think I burned some trout and other fishing onto it. After I stained it a darker color I really enjoyed how it turned out.

I love my ugly stik lite spinning rod. For the Money it has treated me well. I thought the GX2's were pretty much the same only upgraded. But the GX2's are only an upgraded version of the original... I am going to check out the medium action version of this rod, I may be able to get used to the long handle but the rod is so big, heavy, and stiff that I don't know how well It would really perform.

So I ordered an ugly stik GX2 7' MH casting rod... I was expecting it to be more of a casting version of my ugly stik lite but this thing is massive! Its built about as strong as my steelhead rod! I am not sure what to do, keep it and use it or return it and get something else... This was supposed to be my first general bass rod, its handle is LONG its well over 12" long, also the actually rods diameter is big! Im not sure it would work as a general bass rod but I wanted input. It just looks so goofy with a bait caster and its big and heavy enough you almost need both hands to cast it.. Thoughts?