Steveo-1969

I only use fish grippers to weigh fish and that's not often as I find my "hand scale" gives me much more pleasing results! Electronic scale says *** pounds but "hand scale" says 3 pounder!!!! YAY!!!!!! To the OP @Hooligan - are you saying that MLF is damaging/killing bass every time they weigh one? Hmmmmmm.......

These worms actually turned up briefly on Gotham last season but were quickly killed off with poisoned liquor.

Ha-ha. I wade in the Upper Potomac year round if the water level is safe and whenever I see a muskie in the water my heart starts to pound a little faster!

Mr. Spider sir. Buying Seaguar Tatsu is not going to allow you to cast an 1/8 ounce bait with your MHF rod (rated 1/4-3/4 ounce) backlash free. The line isn't the problem, it's your rod. It just doesn't load up enough to cast effectively. I would hate to see you drop $40 on Tatsu, get the same results and feel the BR community misled you. I suggest you use heavier baits on your baitcaster with any line you choose and fish the lighter baits on one of your spinning rods.

Those snooty Marylanders. A double-wide is the next best thing to a palace!!!

Wow, thanks for sharing Allen!

I hear ya! So I guess telling your dad "I'm using LH reels because they are more comfortable. Now shut up and fish!!!!" is probably way over the line, eh? ha-ha Just do Brett a favor and when he's trying to decide between RH and LH reels, just tell him whatever is most comfortable for him is the correct choice...

Thanks for the additional info. I have no experience with that rod but see it's MHF and rated for 1/4-3/4 ounce. So 1/2 ounce is probably the rod's sweet spot. Lots of guys on here will say they would have no problem casting 1/8 to 1/4 ounce lure weights with your rod but it would be difficult for me. Before my current rod I was using a rod rated 3/16-5/8 ounce to cast 1/8 ounce jighead+trailer and while it was do-able, it definitely wasn't fun. And to get any distance I had the spool tension and brakes so loose it was backlash city. For me a different rod made a huge difference! But the next post in this thread will probably say "I have that exact rod and can cast an 1/8 ounce lure a proverbial country mile! Practice practice practice...".

You need to stop listening to your dad and just go with LH reels. You've tried both and your body and brain are telling you that LH reels feel more natural. Sorry dad...

You have not mentioned any specifics about your reel or rod or the actual weight of the lures you are casting other than "pretty light lures". Definitely watch Glenn's video as he talks about the importance of the rod itself when casting light lures with a baitcaster. If you are using 10# Sunline Sniper then your line isn't causing your backlash problem. For light baits I personally use a Medium power/Fast action rod (rated 1/8-3/8 ounce) with a smaller reel, 10# Seaguar Red Label and apply KVD L&L conditioner the night before I go fishing. My casting skills are not going to win me any competitions, but I can cast an 1/8 ounce jighead+trailer with ease, and farther than I can effectively set the hook.

I don't use Mend-It (I've had it in my TW cart several times and always take it out, don't know why). But I try to get as much out of a soft plastic before using a new one. 1) I use a screw lock hook to help save the nose, specifically an Owner Twistlock Light hook. 2) As the skin-hooked area gets torn up I will keep rotating the bait until it's torn up all the way around. 3) Then I will bite a bit of the bait off at the head and start all over, giving me a fresh "skin hook area". Oh, and love the screen name. BEAR DOWN!!!!!!

This is one of my BEST fishing purchases. Now Berkley Vanish on the other hand......

I could use a lesson or three in this...

Ha-ha. I liked your post and added to your rep. You're welcome.

It's probably because you are from Hagersbush which is known for disreputable characters. Not sure what's wrong with @Alpster but there must be something....

And of course "If you could only use one lure.....???"

If by "rage" you mean swear cuss curse stomp around throw things break rod over knee and generally act like an idiot then the answer is... never. For me fishing=relaxation. When I lose a nice fish I don't get mad, but my heart breaks and I feel sick to my stomach.

^^^^This^^^^

Mono: Trilene knot Fluoro: Trilene knot Braid: Trilene knot Braid to fluoro/mono leader: uni-to-uni knot

Jig for me too!!!!

Welcome to Bass Resource and thank you for your service.

I like beer too. In fact, I like it so much that I stopped drinking it (and all alcohol) 12 years ago. I totally understand the honest intention of "I'm only going to have a couple" and then finding myself drunk. I envy people who can stop after a couple. I'm not one of those people. There will be no lecture in here and I don't have a soapbox, but if you are truly concerned about getting too intoxicated in certain situations then you shouldn't drink any alcohol in those situations. If you can live without the buzz but still want the taste there are some pretty good N/A beers out there. O'Doul's would not be one of my top choices though, sorry guys, I'd rather drink Busch N/A before O'Doul's. @J Francho mentioned Kaliber which is good. Beck's and Clausthaler also make a good one. My favorite is St. Pauli Girl N/A. Delicious!!!

Yup. Face shield, hat, long sleeves, sun gloves. Started wearing these just last summer and it was the first year in over 40 years that I didn't get sunburned. Hopefully I wised up in time and have avoided future skin cancer.

This year I'm going to try spinnerbaits. I've never fished one so I think it's time.

So far in 2017 I have caught exactly ZERO bass...