Josh Smith

I agree, 5.56, simply because that's the round the platform was designed for, and because of ammo availability. I have heard of 7.62x39 ARs having reliability problems. If you're building an AR10, go with the .308/7.62x51. Never heard of .300 problems, but the 5.56 will be around when the .300 isn't. Josh

Pic of my last one of this type:

I've been watching this guy, Dave Mercer, on YouTube. I've never heard of him as I really don't follow sports (would rather be out participating.) Was just looking for a new fishing show, and came across him. I like him. His techniques are what I've been refining to this past year or so, too, coming from an older-style presentation background. Less is more in a lot of things. Interesting guy. Very personable. Good show; I recommend it. Josh

PM replied to!

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By all means, get a Medium/Fast Action of your choice. Spend time practicing. Train your thumb on that Quantum! I don't know that real well and don't therefore know how it would handle lures lighter than 3/8 even with a ML rod. (I prefer Ambassadeur reels in the 5000/5500 size range). It depends a lot on the bearings, lube, and spool mass. I'm in the general neighborhood -- you're talking Warsaw IN, right? It's been years since I fished there. Josh

When a bass throws a hood on me, I figure I ran into a fish that's too big for Mr. Garcia and generally shuck iron. That's only happened once, though. It was on Mississinewa Lake right over the old, flooded graveyard. I hooked into something and next thing I know, I had a canvas bag thrown over my head. The bass was so big it took three .45 slugs before it decided not to eat me, and every scale I had with me maxed out. This is why I left my PB on my profile blank. Josh

Cam, You're not all that far from me. Come spring, I have a number of rods of different lengths I'd be willing to let you try. None are in the St Croix class, but you might get an idea of what you want. I personally prefer 3/8oz and heavier lures, but have been known to throw lighter with a medium rod, and much lighter with an ultralight spinning setup. Josh

A-Jay, I'm not sure if you're addressing me, or just in general. I usually hook T-rigs through the fish's upper mouth. Cranks and other plugs usually hook 'em in the lower jaw. I mean, this isn't hard and fast and thus, my answer above. Josh

Hi Cam, I've not been up that way in a while. Been concentrating on Salamonie and Mississinewa. We have shorter growing seasons in Indiana. We do have big bass, but finding them takes a bit more work. In Florida and Texas, they catch 3-5lb bass regularly. We have 1-2lb bass the same age. I'm finding that the bigger ones are usually in farm and other private ponds, and are just plain hard to fool in the reservoirs. I'll try to remember to ask around. Josh

As long as you keep the line tight, it shouldn't be a problem. I like to hook in the beak as well, but I've not found fish hooked elsewhere to be lost with a decent hook set. It's only when I fail to set the hook well that I lose 'em, and I've learned to set the hook a couple or three times with my ultralight rig. Regards, Josh

Hello, Didn't get a pic. But! This is the exact one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FISHING-LURES-1-UNBRANDED-SOFT-BAIT-JIG-HEAD-WITH-BUG-WINGS-/291136560119?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c9175bf7 I just need a name or a maker or even a style so I can look it up. I'd like to have a few different sizes and colors. (Mine are bright green/chartreuse.) This eBay listing doesn't help any with the name. Thanks guys! Josh

I wouldn't mind trying saltwater fishing. After seeing SirSnookAlot's name, I looked snook up (this was a while back). It's a nice looking fish. Most of what I am used to seeing (on TV) pulled out of the briney deep don't appeal to me. Snook and a couple others do. Unfortunately, I'm landlocked and am at a stage in my life where I don't have freedom of travel. Bass will remain my main focus with walleyes secondary, but I think I'll branch out to pike and musky when I get time to study up on 'em. Josh PS: I never did mean for this to turn into any arguments over elitism etc. All sports have their snobs, and I don't think any of you here qualify as such. At least, I have nobody on my ignore list. Now you want to get talking guns, I can show you snobs in that field!

Thanks guys. The jig bodies are over at my parents; will try to stop on the way home from the shop and get a pic. Josh

Sorta' like this, http://www.powerteamlures.com/25-ct-3-5-food-chain-tube-pro-pack/ but on both ends.

Hi Folks, There's a grub style that looks like it has hairs coming off all over it (and in some cases, fur is used on the tail like a Malibu jig). It works well for me but I never did learn what they were called, and the supply I inherited from Grandpa is running out many years later. I'm always figuring out new uses for them. These grubs are awesome if you want a slow-falling presentation. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks, Josh

I try to stay away from this topic because it's such a hot button with folks. That said, I think it's safe enough here. I've tried sight fishing beds in the past. It's no great thrill. Mostly I wanted to see the bass's reaction, as in, I wanted to observe the strike. Curiosity was satisfied and I moved on. I will and do target staging bass pre-spawn and I go after the worn-out females post-spawn when they're eating again (though neutral to negative due to being worn out). Female bass are generally bigger. Josh

Thanks! Will have to read this one, too! Josh

Who's Murphy?

Matt, They make a huge deal about being American. However, their reels look like the typical stuff coming out of China. Any idea? Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, Been looking at these. They make me curious. I've not seen much on them. Any thoughts? Thank you, Josh

Hi Folks, I have limited smallie experience. I do need to fish the rivers more, and am hoping I get the opportunity this year. I love to wade. The hunt and active fishing with lures is what it's about for me, too. I just want to lay into something that fights, too. I suppose if I had access to 5+lb bass all day long, this would be ideal. This is Indiana, though, and they grow slower. Maybe I need some FL or TX bassin'? I dislike still fishing. The buffalo fish that laid into that inline spinner was a brute. Only time I still fish is if I'm going to get to eat catfish when I'm done! Regards, Josh

I've not been after smallies in a while. This past summer was really too wet to do much wading, so I concentrated on the one lake. If it's drier this summer, I'll be able to wade my favorite place, where the Salamonie River meets the Wabash. Last summer it was always flooded out that way, and when it wasn't, that crap seaweed was all over the rocks. Never seen that before, either. I love to wade with an ultralight setup, though I have been wanting to try it with a baitcasting setup again, too, and I really need to get my fly rig out there. It's seen no real action in years. Josh

Hi Folks, I'm sitting here watching the snow come down from Linus and I'm itching to have a good bass rod in my hand. They're all at my shop! So I'm reflecting instead: The bass I catch... they fight hard. They're scrappy. But even the larger ones (for Indiana) play out pretty fast. Granted, I do use heavier tackle, mostly Ambassadeurs of all years and MH/F rods. I do have one M/F rod, and I catch a fair amount of bass on my ultralight, too. They're fun on the ultralight. Still, they play out fast. I caught a buffalo fish once. The thing was a yard long or so. It bent my MH rod like bass bend my ultralight, and I fought it for a good, long time. The old Ambassadeur I was using had 4.7:1 gearing and I was glad of it. At that time, all that there was on the popular market was mono line. My biggest fear was that it would break. I love bass, though. I guess my question is this: Where can I find bass that fight like these buffalo? I've thought about running up to Lake Michigan, but I don't know the first thing about big lakes and my boat, while a deep v, doesn't have (and won't take) a motor large enough to really fish a huge lake efficiently. It's really geared toward small to medium reservoirs. Is it the nature of bass to play out fast? Or, is it just the northern bass that play out fast due to colder waters etc? Just some ramblings from a cabin fever victim. Thoughts? Josh

My current plan for dealing with drones involves a shotgun with a full choke. Josh