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For crankbait rods my #1 choice is the Judge blank by Rainshadow (you will have to build or have built. After that: St. Croix. Loomis Everything else below that in whatever order you want it doesn't matter. Although I do like the offerings from ALX and sometimes I'll roll with Dobyn's. I used to use Phenix rods years ago when I first got back into bass fishing. I went all out and bought 25 of the M1. 6 broke that first season. I got them replaced and sold them all on Craigslist.

Lafayette is great. Not as good as it used to be IMO but still ok. This time of year I usually start with a big topwater. I have caught many a 5+ on a dropshot there. Just upsize your line to 8 or 10 and use a weedless dropshot hook. I have caught 1 single 10+ on a huddleston there many years ago. Caught an 8 punching a black dog fake fish like 6 years ago. My buddy caught an 8.5 and a 6 or so on a glide bait on the coldest nastiest day in the winter. The main key to Lafayette is early morning, as late in the day as possible, and the windiest days. When Lafayette is slick calm it's tough but still possible if you figure it out. Punching the grass can be super good there when it's calm. I have also had good luck with underspins and your swimbait of choice, texas rigged craws and once I got super desperate and found out I could get bit on a Lucky craft wander slim and wander blade very easily on that day at least. Very hard baits to find. A spybait would be similair. Just keeping them up above the weeds. A floating jerkbait would likely work as well. That lake is small enough that you can bring a variety of stuff and just keep trying until you get bit. All this being said I have been skunked there quite a few times. Now I will also say that Chabot is better and has bigger fish. Just go there. Last time there a couple weeks ago from the bank I caught a pig on a Gan Craft 178. Probably went around 7 lbs. When I go out in the boat I usually wreck em or get skunked. Not many in between days there. A few years ago I had a crazy day and had stopped counting after catching 30. All but one were over 6! And I only fished for a couple hours. If you are super desperate there is a pond in Orinda just above the golf course. Just ignore the no fishing signs as I am sure they are not put there legally. The golf course put them up but they don't own that creek section above the course that is damed into a pond. Last time I went there I got skunked and the time before that just 2 but they were over 4. I'm sure someone was stocking it illegally. There were some jaints in there. I have caught many 4+ and one 8. No real signs of life in the pond though. So bass eating bass for the most part I would assume. Although they were catching bats one night. That was crazy. They may all be gone now or the water may be gone with the drought. worth a looksie though.

have ordered from them in the past. Anyone know what up with this?

Anyone here with any recommendations? I am flying out to Pennsylvania from California to pick up a truck for my business and drive it back :-( Figure if I gotta suffer driving for days on end I may as well take a break and catch some pigs along the way. Open to any other suggestions along the route as well. Just looking to catch some hawg smallies and have a good time. If you're not a guide and just wanna get out and know the water well enough of course I'll cover whatever expenses for the day and maybe you can let me use a rod or two. I wont have any with me.

no one answered you but they will be in all phases of the spawn right now. you didn't specify what lake. assuming lake washington look in the backs of marinas for spawning bass and just start pounding docks until you get bit. for all of the small lakes each one is different. just go fishing. if you catch nothing you will still have learned something.

shoot now that you got your partial refund send it back to the manufacturer and get a new one. or just gently heat up, scrape off epoxy with utility knife xacto etc. put a new guide on, wrap it and epoxy it. good to go. next thing you know you'll be making your own rods.

uh thats in oakland and certainly has no bass in it. it would be a miracle if someone caught a bass out of lake merrit. east bay has a lot of options but you gonna have to drive.

I need to get to tapps. looks like its turning on. a few big fish being caught off docks.

oh almost forgot. you can take golden gate transit. from civic center to fairfax and bike to the marin lakes as well.

Hit me up if you wanna roll in the bass boat. Also Tapps is great. Never know ether you are gonna catch a smallmouth or a tiger musky or the elusive largie. Tapps should just be getting good now. Same ol stuff. Dropshot, soft plastic swimbait, ned, football jig, senko, spinnerbait, deep crank in the summer. The spinnerbait on docks bite should be turning on soon (couple weeks). Just need one color. White double willow with white blades 3/8 or 1/2oz. then go back through with the senko.

Bladed Jig gets Dobyns 736CB Spinnerbait gets whatever MH/F rod I grab out of the rod box.

7' 99% of the time. 6',6" when fishing docks or very tight quarters. I love a 6'6" rod. Rarely use one though.

Yeah return it. Get a new one. Sammy is my favorite wtd style bait. I I have never had this happen. Also One topwater seriously underrated and overlooked is the Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil. I catch a ton of fish on it. It's different than the Sammy. I think it has an amazing loud knocking sound, looks good and walks very easily.

Idk how old this post is but it says I do not have permission to view poll for whatever reason

hop on the bike. ride to bart or take the bus. take bart to coliseum. Take bus to Lake Chabot. Rent boat and catch big largies. Or take Bus to San Pablo Reservoir and rent kayak and catch spotted bass.

THUMB THUMB THUMB. Now watch a YouTube video on how to adjust your reel. Then over adjust so that you can not backlash as you learn and get better start backing off on the dials. You will backlash. Everyone does. It's rare that I have a day where I don't have at least a minor backlash or two or more. I've been throwing baitcasters for like 25 years and let me tell you i used to burn up a lot of line when i first started. Reels used to be not so friendly. Nowadays any decent reel will have enough adjustment that you can control the line. Keep in mind that you need to adjust the settings throughout the day. It's not a set once and done deal. Wind, lure weight, size etc all make a difference and one second you could be fine with minimal settings and the next you need to adjust because it gets windy for a few minutes etc. A DC or Tatula SVTW will not keep you from backlashing.

Fluorine coated hook best black nickel second best shiny nickel meh. Most have this option and i tend to live with it. 3/0 for me is too small for a general spinnerbait. Maybe on the 1/4oz its ok I like 5/0 or 6/0 long shank with a good size gap. This is what the guy that builds mine uses. Since using the larger hooks I miss less short strikers. I don't have to deal with a trailer hook. I use these larger hooks in nickel in clear water 3-20'+ visibility and don't know that it matters. Brands Gamakatsu or Owner would be my first choice I personally would choose VMC over Mustad Mustad would come in third for me

That is not normal. Also 50lb braid and 17 lb mono way overkill for that lure. try it on a lighter setup and see what happens. 20-30lb braid and 12-15lb copoly or mono or straight braid is fine.

you do not have to display your license.

Carolina rig 7'6" Heavy F or XF 40lb braid to 15lb.ish copoly - sometimes just 20lb fluoro to the copoly but I prefer the braid. I get better hooksets. Football Jig 7'4" 30lb braid to 15-20lb fluoro leader Good starting point and then you can adjust your line and rod to the conditions you are faced with.

I love revenge spinnerbaits. they get bit more for me. I also like r2s and picasso. all of those use the brown wire. some others probably doo too. Revenge spinnerbaits are popular and break fast so I order at least 6 of each color and weight that I want. Sometimes though that only lasts a ay if the spinnerbait bite is on fire.

I've lost maybe 1 fish on a bladed jig. I either throw on a Dobyns 704 or just a regular old Quantum Smoke MH/F. Both get 30lb braid. 15-20lb leader depending on the cover I am fishing etc. When I get bit I never jack em. I just keep reeling until the rod is loaded and kind of just set the hook.

I'll stick with My Spinlock. All you really need to change is the bobbin that has the paper in it. I wonder if you can buy just the bobbin and not an entire re-arm kit. I don't see how a cartridge can go bad. ahh see your pics. that looks more complicated than mine.

just my 2 cents but any 3500 bass boat is going to cost you WAY MORE in repairs, maintenance and upkeep. Option 1: If I had 3500 and could not stand the thought of using a kayak I would say get a john boat on craigslist and hit up your local lumber yard and build a platform, slap down some carpet, Buy 2 12v batteries from walmart and a cheap trolling motor to either slap on the back or mount up front. You can fish all day in the setup and fish a lot of areas other guys cant. option 2: Don't buy a boat. Fish from the bank and rentals or other peoples boats or join a bass club and get hooked up with some guy that has a boat etc. Save that 3500 and add to it. When you have enough to either finance or buy outright get a boat that wont break. Option 3: Enter a tourney that pays out a boat to a co-angler and cross your fingers.

32 GB max.