Smokinal

Good job man! Hopefully these positive replies will help be your strength to keep it going this time! You can do eeet!

This is my favorite

http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?Categ=boating&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com Probably so, but I see a lot of topics on braid to fluoro and wasn't sure if everyone has seen this site yet. It shows the tying process pretty well. Just in case someone missed it.

^^^Those are some nice fish Wayne.

Happy T-Day to all bassers!

I'm in the "go when I can" group. I also like to time a good moon too but I don't let it dictate when I can go.

I have come to overlook the position of the fish. I look at the fish in comparison to the hands that hold it. I compare the size hand to the jawline/head size, then the other hand compared to the tail height. It helps take the distortion out of the picture. When you see a 2 lber held out far, with a hand the same size as the fish's head, you know it's not a 9. But when the mouth and tail dwarf the hands holding it, that's a pig.

I use the braid/fluoro leader on all my rods as well. The main reason I do it is I fish lakes with tons of rock. And braid has no abrasion resistance against rock whatsoever.

I'm sorry sir, no worries. What I meant was I was going to say the same thing. Great minds think alike!

came in to say this

I would like to warn you here that you must be very careful in how you present your idea. I had an idea for a jighead with a certain style hook on it. I, too, did not have the resources to manufacture them myself so, after searching everywhere (literally hundreds of web sites and not finding this style made), I contacted a manufacturer (name will remain undisclosed) and they asked for my video and some info on it. To this date I still have not heard back from them. This was around 4 years ago, and after numerous attempts at contacting the rep I had been in contact with. Then, lo and behold, I see my idea in a package for sale.

I like the HB units myself. They seem easier to use (I have had both HB and Low). HB seem to have "all in one" units. What I mean is, if I'm not mistaken, the Lowrance units need a second piece of the puzzle, the structure scan, to have si. That HB 598ci HD di combo is a great bang for the buck if you are only going to have 1 finder. You could find one used on Craigslist for $3-400. Just make sure it comes with power cable, mount and transducer. I have a 798 si on the console and a 597ci hd di on the bow. Love em!

How do you even choose which piece of structure to hit first?

It was fun catching them on something new. I'm so pumped for spring right now I can't even tell ya! I tried a few different things with them from an aggressive rip to a subtle hop and found the subtle hop to be the way they would eat it.

I run a HB 798 si/di combo at the console and a 597ci hd di on the bow. Don't know much about the Lowrance units though.

My thoughts exactly. I have a spot on my home lake that, in the spring, the bass congregate in there so thick you can walk across them. It only lasts a couple of weeks, maybe 3, but we catch the bejeeses outta them. We have 40-45 fish mornings (each mind you) in 4-4.5 hrs...all on jerks. It's the hottest bite of the year. Oh, and to answer op, 10lb Super Slick with 10lb fluoro leader on a 7ft spinning. See my avi?

Went out today and as it turns, will be my last of the year. Overcast, air at 32 to start and reached 50. Water was pretty clear at 42. My buddy and I boated 37 together (I had 17 and he had an even 20) with some real good ones mixed in there. He had 6-7 in the 4's, lots of 3's. I had the biggest of the day at 5-3 (pictured), a couple 4's and a couple 3's...the rest 1-2's. I had a very fun day, other than catching a good number of quality fish, I caught fish using 2 techniques new to me; blade baits and drop shot. I know, I know...drop shot? Everyone is using it, except me. It's something I have wanted to try for a long time as well as blades. So I picked up the spinning rod, built my first drop rig, put on a flickshake worm and caught 4-5 on it. I was like a kid, couldn't believe it actually worked. Same with the blades. I chose a gold blade and it worked as well. I'm not surprised they worked for me, just excited that they did. It's so rewarding when a new method works. All in all, a good cold day bite for us.

You cant buy a better rod for $54. Obviously, every product out there is going to have a fail story. I would never own another AllStar rod as I had 3 break on me swinging 2 lbers. I swing 4's on every single other rod I own and never had one break. 3 of the same brand...never again. For $54, I'd buy every one on the rack, put them on ebay or craigslist and you would have 2 for free.

Electronics without question. I have found so many offshore spots with better finders, it's amazing.

I see what you did there

I have one of those 7-2 jig/worm rods and one of Skeet's S-Glass cranking rods. Love em both.

Let us know how you do man. I'm going out Sunday but it should be nice by then. still cool at night (25-30) but been hitting 50 during the day.

Buddy and I going down a bank. I hook one on a pearl fluke, red end weighted hook. He breaks me off so I, jokingly, tell my partner to throw at that stump and get my rig back. 3 seconds later he sets the hook and pulls the fish in with my fluke and hook in the side of his mouth. Man did we laugh.

It's actually much easier...from my experiences anyway. Get yourself some Power Pro Super Slick in 12-15 lb, put a 1/2 trap on the end and go practice. Those things fly well and will give you confidence in your baitcaster. Learn to lightly feather the spool right off the bat and you'll be fine.

A couple of things that might help. first, check out google maps and look at the lake from the satellite view. Sometimes you can actually see where there is a point, sand bar, drops etc...zoom right in on it. Second, remember that lakes are not just round bowls of water. The shoreline often will tell you what the lake bottom is like nearby. Meaning, if the shoreline is steep right down to water's edge, it's probably continuing into the lake and that is a steep drop. If the shoreline is a gentle entry into the lake, it's probably shallow, weedy etc...