Josh Smith

You know, I used to hang up all the time. I learned to stop reeling when I hit a rock and let the bait float up. This does a couple things: First, it clears the obstacle. Second, it triggers bass to strike. I was never much good with cranks til I figured this out. Regards

Dude, you need more rods. Regards

Hello, I have a nice crankbait rod, a VanDam if I recall. After using it for a couple years, I got to playing. I'm a fan of the Cherrywood rods, but have recently replaced them with lighter graphite rods. I found that one of those Cherrywood HD rods -- the 7' MH -- makes a perfect (for me) shallow to medium crankbait rod. I use mostly squarebills and haven't tried it with deep divers. Regards

We're going to get 3/4" of rain tonight, then more tomorrow morning. This is the rain that has historically woken the bass up. I am happy ? Regards

I prefer centrifugal brakes. The reels I use regularly that have magnetic brakes at all, also have centrifugal. The magnets help with the wind. Regards.

This holster is slower than the others I own, but affords more protection and therefore sees the most use. Regards

Hello, https://trophytechnology.com/bulldawgrods/ Are these any good? I've not heard of them before. Thank you, Josh

Went fishing Sunday. Everything is high and muddy and cold. I scared a sunfish with my jig. Regards, Josh

I generally try to fish the edge of shade, and to do so, locate the wind or current that will best carry the lure in. Lots of places I fish are extremely high pressure and I therefore try to be as subtle as possible unless circumstances are such that noise is preferable, and then the noise is controlled and deliberate.

You're a bit odd, but that's ok. Centrifugal brakes work at the start of the cast while magnetic brakes help taper the cast of toward the end. Most of us "old timers" use our thumbs for that. However, I do have a reel or two with both and I like to use those on windy days. Regards, Josh

I have a hard time with Shimano. From what I've been able to gather, they stole Lew Childress's design and marketed it as their own. I generally won't use and any reels made in China. I own one, my ultralight Pfluger. I got back into fishing, realized I needed to replace my UL reel, and ordered a fairly high-priced spinning reel from a brand with an excellent reputation. I felt betrayed when I saw "China" on it. Josh

I use metal frames. I do own and use one graphite-framed reel, an Abu Garcia EON 3600. I actually enjoy that little thing. It's smooth and, after I rebuilt it, works perfectly. I do keep it relegated to lighter use on a M/F rod. Believe it's setting in my bedroom rod stand set up for weightless whacky rigs. I generally use it for things other people use spinning reels for. That said, I have no illusions about its graphite frame. It is by far the lightest baitcasting setup I have, but it'll warp if I hook into anything huge, and I'd never use it for heavy cranking. Josh

The Texas Rig works best with Mann's Jelly Worms. I need to order more. I'll nearly out. Josh

I use round reels. No low profile. Josh

This is an excellent way for some irresponsible dog owner to get a couple pets shot. My only encounters with dogs have been positive. One place I fish has a Rottweiler that regularly goes seeking pettings from all who pass through his territory. His name is Caesar and he appreciates treats too. Josh

Last winter I caught a nice smallie while river fishing. When I released it, it refused to leave. Just swam up next to me and stayed put. I picked it up and tried to release it again. Again, it swam back to me. Finally, I picked it up for a third time and released it a ways downriver. Josh

Knowledge-wise, no goals. I've learned this all my life and have been studying hard these past three years. There's always more to learn, but I'm going to take a more leisurely attitude this year. My main goal will to be to fish more with my wife. Josh

My wife had a rod rack custom built for me. It's really very nice. Her father passed unexpectedly in October, and we inherited several rods and his tackle. Not a lot, but he had a couple of good rods and favored spinning tackle, so I'm rebuilding one or two reels for the wife. One of these setups I remember him using when we'd go fishing with him as teenagers. (My wife's brother and I were best friends since age 10.) I'll post pics when I get a minute to set the rack up. Regards, Josh

I do both. I measure success in how healthy the bass is, and I feel it's our duty to examine each fish for disease or malnutrition. Each bass I catch gets a physical. Josh

Yes, especially if I'm fishing on a rocky bottom. I carry a hook hone in my vest pocket and an all-purpose diamond hone on my belt. I'm a big believer in if you own it and it's supposed to be sharp, then you have a responsibility to keep it sharp. Josh

Yes, I buy a lot of my stuff through eBay. I always go through and rebuild each reel, though, and don't ever expect to be able to go right out and fish any reel, used or new. Josh

Yeah, for about 20 years it wasn't a priority. Shooting guns took its place. I made guns into a business, and got back into bass fishing when I started needing breaks from business. Coming back in, I discovered the equipment evolved to the point that I can do in practicality what I wanted to do in theory before. I've played with the idea of tournaments, but I'll never make the mistake of turning fishing into a business beyond selling a supertuned reel now and again. Josh

That's a different ballgame altogether. I'm talking typical Northern Indiana bass. Point is, don't play them to exhaustion of you can help it. Regards, Josh

Two weeks ago a favorite frog snagged. Because I was using 65lb braid, I decided to straighten the hooks. I picked up a stubby branch, wrapped the line around it a few times, and pulled. The braid snapped and the branch flew backwards, striking my thumb. It then shattered, burying splinters under my thumb nail. First aid included removing part of the nail and most of the splinters before bandaging. Afterward, I tried to fish but it hurt to much to really enjoy myself, so I packed it in. (I later removed more splinters and bandaged it properly.) Lesson: Before using braid and a stick to bend hooks, make sure stick is not rotten, with green being preferable. Josh

Anyone I could learn from, or anyone I could teach. Josh