MIbassyaker

The technique Red Bear posted above works better than most people imagine before they try it, and the bigger the bass, the easier it is. If I do end up damaging a small fish to the point that it probably won't survive long, including bass under the legal limit (14" where I live) -- I don't worry too much, they will probably be eaten by something else sooner or later -- eagle, heron, otter, pike, musky or something. If it's legal and definitely looks like it won't survive (which hasn't happened to me in quite a few years), I'll keep it to eat... and save a chicken instead. And if after all that, I still feel bad about it....I'll make an extra small donation to the conservation effort of my choice as compensation.

Well, to be clear, I wouldn't call it ideal, and yes the casting setup i use now with the ConceptA is indeed much preferable.... but at least up to a point a spinning setup can be made to work.

It is interesting you should say that: Until this year I frogged with a size 35 Pflueger Supreme MGX and 40lb braid on a 7'0" MH spinning rod. That particular model is a little under 9oz, and has an IPT of 33", which is actually more than the 32" ipt of the 8.1:1 casting reel I'm using now (a ConceptA). It had never dawned on me to not have confidence in it....it's just what I started using when I decided to get serious about bass fishing. Well, I didn't, but that's only because I was already right in the middle of hauling in a 5lber on my spinning combo...

I just started using baitcasters and I like them, especially for presentations where you do a lot of casting and retrieving, like crankbaits, and spinnerbaits (no cumulative line twist from a rotating bail), for heavy cover presentations like flipping jigs and plastics, and frogs (stouter rods, heavier drags), and for working heavier lures (over about 5/8oz feels much less awkward on casting, even if the spinning setup can technically handle it). I have used and could still use spinning gear for all these things, but I definitely see now how casting gear is better suited for it. But I have never understood the claim that baitcasting is inherently more accurate than spinning, and I just flatly don't believe it. What I think is that anglers are more accurate with the kinds of setups they use more often, like better, and have had more practice with, than the kind they use less often, like less, and have had less practice with, full stop.

Prefer cork, am ok with foam. I actually really like the Fenwick rubberized cork. I like the look of split grips over full, but honestly don't feel any performance difference. BUT...I hate, hate, hate, HATE bright colors on rods. So no red/green/purple/blue/orange/whatever eva or Winn grips for me, thanks.

I'm curious about this too....but not that curious.

honestly....none. I watch TV sometimes. I go fishing sometimes. I do not watch fishing TV, however.

Got one for you Whitwolf, from an old in-fisherman issue I found recently: You can't see it very well, but the pros are all sporting Rebel hats. My favorite part though is the small print: "for an in depth report on how Ricky, Larry and Tommy fish the ringworm, plus a ringworm sampler send $1 to "Ringworm Tips" in care of the address below..." I remember many lure companies would have little sample/promo offers like that, and as I kid I used to pick through magazines looking for ones to send in.

I would also like to see it, but I expect I don't watch the right shows or channels. Is it posted somewhere online?

I've used the trick stick, craw tube, swimming craw, yo mama, Kriet creature, and a worm with a name that escapes me.....they're all inexpensive and functional, and a good buy for the price.

Pre-spawn: Almost never get to fish it so I haven't settled on anything, really Spawn: Don't fish it much, but bladed jigs were successful this year Post-spawn: Senko, wacky or t-rigged Summer: Using any version of a "Jigworm" (hook with weighted head + worm; including but not limited to what everyone now calls a "shakyhead") to probe a deep weedline or drop off. Fall: don't fish it much, but buzzbaits were my favorite last year. Winter: don't get to fish.

Rod sales right now at Fenwick and St. Croix. --30% off HMX and Aetos: http://www.fenwickfishing.com/fenwick-clearance/ --$40 off triumph X (free shipping): http://stcroixrods.com/shop/freshwater/triumph-x-casting-rod/ http://stcroixrods.com/shop/freshwater/triumph-x-spinning-rod/

Gotcha. LiveMinnow is out. Good to know. How about: 1. deadsticking a worm: Cast, let fall, let sit. The fish strikes while it's sitting there after a moment. 2. A jig that gets struck immediately on the fall. The fish attacks before the angler gets a chance to move it at all. 3. A popper or spook, the bass strikes after it hits the water, while the angler is waiting for the ripples to die, again, before moving it. Were these three fish caught in a sportsmanlike way?

Ok, say next year Strike King or Berkley creates the "LiveMinnow" -- an artificial minnow bait that wiggles and swims around under a bobber just like a real live shiner. Looks just like a live one, smells just like one, acts just like one. Only not actually alive, and reusable. Unsportsmanlike, right?

I grew up fishing live bait, and have no problem with it. I do fish with artificials almost exclusively now, except when I'm targeting species other than bass. This is for a few reasons -- artificials are less messy, you don't have to keep them as fresh, fish don't swallow the hook quite as often, and it's a little easier to target a specific species like bass (almost anything will try to eat a minnow or nightcrawler, almost all the time). I think these advantages are all minor, but they add up, and the question is, are they worth the much greater cost. Live bait is also usually more effective at getting fish to bite. On the other hand, artificials can be a lot more fun, especially topwater lures. Bass angler's negative opinions on live bait are largely a result of influences from tournament angling, where live bait is not permitted, and the heavily-bloated tackle industry, which has a financial interest in making sure you buy 20 of their lures for your next trip instead of one pack of hooks, a bobber, some split shots, and a tub of nightcrawlers.

Check out this old Daiwa ad I found in a 1980 issue of In-Fisherman: "High speed retrieve up to 4.2 to 1"!

Exactly the same for me.

I walk the dog while sitting in a kayak by using a side motion rather than a downward motion. It's not hard as long as you have some room off to the side.

Mono: Berkley Big Game Fluoro: None Co-poly: Izorline XXX Braid: Power pro

Another for google search...in my case, multiple google searches on bass related topics that lead to BR articles and forum posts. It wasn't until I had bookmarked several of them that I realized they were all from the same place.....here.

Hold on now, you want an Avid, you want a baitcaster, so why not get......an Avid baitcaster? What am I missing here? Also, if your bass team going to be sponsored, you may be able to get a good deal on another brand. If it's a warranty you want, Fenwick has lifetime warranties on almost all their lines of rods, I think. As it happens, I'm using baitcasters for the first time this year. With a little homework and a little practice (and a little patience), there's no reason to be intimidated.

Found A-Jay's old thread: About a year ago I stumbled onto it and lost much of an afternoon reading through it.

I have never been able to properly walk a frog. The fish do not seem concerned about this.

Biospawn 20% off everything except gift cards, through 7/5 (Code: JULY4). Also, If you get on their email list, you have a chance of getting your name drawn randomly for free samples. They drew mine last summer and sent me some plasmatails and vile craws:

Yeah, they're not necessarily saving these bass if the rough handling and time out of water harms them further. Just because it swims away doesn't mean it will survive. It seems to me that if plastic baits can be removed without too much handling, and done quickly, it's worth doing. But I'm not just going start digging into fish stomachs to see if there's a senko or power worm to pull out.