FishChaser1

There is actually a LOT of shallow cover and that's where I can find bass mid-late spring. But before and after that the cover is just dead. And I know for a fact that there are bass in the pond - there's a rumor going around that someone caught a 10 pounder the other day but I'm not sure how true it is. I've seen some very sizable lunkers here though

Thanks guys, I have one more question. Why is it that I almost never see bass caught shallow in my pond? Does it have something to do with the clear water?

My first fish ever - I dropped my rod in the water and when I picked it back up there was a 6 inch fish on the hook.

But how do I know what part of the water to fish without a fish finder? I won't be able to see deep water, drop offs, underwater structure, etc.

Very high; you don't see dead bass floating around

Nice fish right there

As a fisherman, I have way more days than I should when I don't get any bites all day. I change my presentation, location, etc. and follow seasonal habits but more than half the time I end up not even getting a bite. I can't find what I'm doing wrong. I live in Massachusetts and the water where I fish is VERY clear - I rarely see bass ever get caught shallow except for the few weeks of spawn / post spawn. I can't cast far enough to deep water nor do I even have means to find where the deep water is.

I've noticed that after an intense feeding it's harder to catch bass the next few days.

It's been about 2 weeks since the spawn ended here. Up till today they've been easily caught near their spawning areas but today they were just nowhere to be found. It's strange because the perch started spawning now but the bass seem to be ignoring them.

Then why doesn't it work when i do it? I do it exactly how it says to and i've been trying for hours.

***I appreciate you guys for trying to help me but the knots listed simply don't work

I don't want to use tape im afraid it'll slip. I want help from someone who knows about a knot that actually works

I've been trying to tie my line to my spool for the past 2 hours and none of the knots i used were working.

Dink, I tried that too, it's impossible. The knot slips out before you can tighten it.

It can't clinch down the whole way because it knots before it gets to the spool

I've been trying to use youtube tutorials for an hour but none of them work... the arbor "knot" doesn't even tighten to the spool, can anyone help?

What modulus graphite is too high? I've heard stories about as low as 30 ton graphite rods breaking under moderate pressure. What's the highest modulus you can get without worrying about it snapping in half?

Thanks for the welcomes guys I was looking at the silver max reel but didn't want to cross brands. Also not sure about spending an extra $10 on the the Triumph over the bionic

Using it for a variety of soft plastics and spinners. This is my first baitcaster. My budget is $140, the main rod/reel I'm looking at now is a medium heavy fast action 7 foot bionic blade rod and a 6.3:1 bionic plus reel. If you have another combination in this price range that you think is better, write it below and explain why.