Gundog

That monster belongs in a horror movie. Good job on landing that one.

I use spider jigs on a ball head or arkie style jig head. Usually I'm dragging it on the bottom, bumping rocks and through small grass patches. I throw it on a 7' medium-heavy rod using mono or braid. The deep range is between 5 and 15 feet.

If it comes down to defense the Pats will win. The Steelers were 30th in defense before this weeks game. Even bad offenses can get over 300 yards off their secondary. Not to mention the fact that they are 25th in the league in sacks.

Week 7. I got it marked on my calendar.

Yea he looked like a young Tom Brady playing against the equivalent of a high school JV team. He beat the Browns not the Vikings. I'm gonna wait till I see him play against a real team. Not an 0-5 team.

A 308 speaks every language loudly. Here kitty, kitty.

San Diego's gonna tie it.......Doh!!!!

Kudos AOG!

I hope the bass read your research cause I really love flipping and pitching.

Keep your rod tip down as low as you can and don't be afraid to stop and let the bait sink. You will get bit as it drops. Also remember you are twitching the bait through the water no pulling it. That means moving your rod in quick, sharp snaps.

Agreed about the defense.

I just object to being called "vertically challenged". I prefer Short-American.

I don't have success with them all year round. They don't do well in the heat of the summer. Also in the spring the water clarity is so bad that fish can't find it. That is when I go to a large spinner bait w/ colorado blade. But in the fall with clear water they produce big smallies.

Love them in the fall!

I know what you're talking about when it comes to pickerel/pike/muskie. I have a big, long pair of pliers that allow me to unhook trebles a little safer than the normal smaller pliers. I don't have a net when I fish and although I've lost fish at the boat I figure its all part of the game of fishing. After 40 yrs of fishing I've got plenty of stories of fish I've caught and fish I've lost and that's why I do it. For the experience. The ups and downs. To me that is the fun.

If you could catch big bass on soft plastics flipped/pitched/ t-rigged only that's all the pros would throw but we know that isn't the case. Pros use crank baits and other lures/techniques as well. If you are catching bass on those techniques/lures keep using them and culling when you can.

I think what he is trying to say is you catch them on a crank bait then pick areas apart with a slow, methodical approach by flipping or pitching. To answer the OP's question I would say yes. Start with a crank bait then break the spot apart with a flipping/pitching technique. Just my opinion.

Awwwww. That is one cute monkey.

You got a good deal Hoosier. Don't let them hater beat you up over it. I have owned a Ford Ranger and it was one of the best little trucks I ever had. It had over 100k miles before I had any problems that weren't expected (things like replacing the belts, brake calipers were expected). Even the problems I had were simple and cheap to fix. Enjoy your new (to you) truck. Hope you have many happy miles ahead of you.

If you ever do make that dream come true don't forget to video it. I think you could make some money off that.

Probably the most scared I was happened on a hiking trip by myself. I was about 4 miles back in the woods and I saw something running parallel to me about 50 feet to my right. I didn't get a good look at what it was because of the brush. I keep hiking but kept getting that creepy feeling that something was watching me. As I got to a clearing in the bushes I saw what was watching me. A pack of dogs. They formed a broken line in front of me. I slowly took off my pack and turned around and tried not to run. I kept looking back and the further I got from where the dogs were the quicker I moved. I didn't feel safe till I got back to my car.

You put them back?!?!?!? Wait till the bait monkey gets a hold of you mister! He is not gonna be happy about this.

Its ok buddy. This is a "No Judgement Zone". We've all been there. You see something online or in the store and you start to twitch. At first its just a little twitch in your left hand but then it gets worse. Before you know it you are shaking all over. You need it! You gotta have it! That's when the bait monkey shows up. He whispers in your ear. "Its what you deserve. You've been working hard and you should treat yourself." Next thing you know you're sitting alone in the middle of the night, in front of a computer monitor waiting for a Tackle Warehouse sale to start. But by admitting you need help you have taken the first step in recovery.

I don't go with one brand over another. I check each rod to see where they bend and how stiff the tip is. Being in the Northeastern part of the US I know I'm not gonna be using 1 ounce weights so going extremely heavy isn't necessary. The weight you are going to be throwing is really important when it comes to selecting a rod. Always keep that in mind. That means mostly I go with medium-heavy with a fast tip. But like others have said, each brand is different and there is no industry standard when it comes to what makes up a medium-heavy compared to a heavy. That is why I always go to places like my local tackle shop or BPS or Cabela's so I can touch and test the rods before I buy. Especially with high (keep in mind I am poor) priced rods over $100.