the reel ess

This will be a popularity contest of what people like to fish most. Last fall I caught a PB on a cheap old BPS store brand spinnerbait, so I had to pick that. I also love those other baits.

IMO, this is the type of bait that color matters the least. I think one reason is that I almost never catch a fish in direct sunlight with a popper. Even when they bite it during the day, it's in the shade. I think the action is way more important than the color.

I love the Pop R and the Chug Bug. They've both been killer for me this season. I don't like the magnum sized Pop R. Thus I bought the Chug Bug to fill that niche. Here's a tip. Use a snap or split ring on the line tie and you'll get a better walking action. It is true that most of the time you should wait for the rings to dissipate, but not always. Sometimes the action of the bait starting right up will turn them on. It's a great bait for when schools are busting bait on the surface. Then you'll need to make noise to attract their attention. You won't spook them in this case. The bigger size would probably be better for that situation. Just like the retrieve, you'll need to let the fish tell you if you should wait a few seconds before you start. Sometimes, they'll hit it on the stop. They just can't stand it sitting still. Bigger mono is usually better because mono floats. Therefore 15 lb is more buoyant. It also seems to me to be a better compromise between stretch and strength. I use 15 lb. Big Game. But the regular size Pop R can be a little tough to cast on a baitcaster with heavy line. I use a 6'6" M. But a longer rod can help.

You can use the Trick worm in almost any way you use regular worms. T-rig, shaky head, wacky, weightless. For this reason, I almost always have one tied on (weightless) or at least in the kayak with me. If I decide I want one of the other presentations, it's right there on the end of my line. It works great rigged the same way you'd rig a ribbon tail. I'm sure there are times either is the better bait. Ribbon tails are available in monster sizes. But there is a magnum size T Worm too. Due to the added action, I see the ribbon tail as a warm weather bait, but I've caught enough bass on the T Worm that it doesn't need to prove anything else to me. I don't drop shot and I haven't used a gator tail since I was in my 20's. I'm pushing 50 now.

I'd try a frog if there are weeds or pads present. I usually have a Trick Worm tied on my spinning rod as well. I like all the usual bass baits, but fish might be conditioned to the most common ones. When I approach a pond, I'll usually walk the dam and areas I can get to before I put my kayak in. Pay attention to baitfish and small fish around the edges and any movement you see. I often catch a couple from the bank before I get in the kayak. If I spook a fish I'll leave that area and try it again at least 15 minutes later. Their memories are short unless you stick 'em. Then I just throw the baits I think will work based on season and conditions. Parks get pressured. Fish will be more "educated". It's good to try to show them something they haven't seen yet. It never hurts to ask private pond owners. All they can say is yes or no.

To what depth are these useful?

I made a crate for the rear well using milk crate, pvc pipe and zip ties. It was free. Now, with the two flush mount rod holders, I can take 7 rods and hold a tackle box, scale, extra bags of plastics, etc. Very useful. I put a zig-zag cleat on the side opposite the bungee paddle holder. Sometimes I use a stringer and that's very handy so I don't always have to untie the stringer to put more fish on. I've always wanted a stadium seat for my kayak, but it's too tippy for that. I just use one of those cheap stadium cushions and it's pretty comfy for hours of fishing. Before I started using it, my feet would fall asleep after a couple hours and I'd have to squirm around to wake em up. A kayak will give you all kinds of cheap or free upgrade ideas.

Location. My last few PBs were frog, spinnerbait & jig (current PB). Those are big fish baits, but they really reflect the ways I like to fish. The last two PBs came from the same body of water. I'd have more confidence there with a Ned than I would most places with a monster bait. I've caught 5+ pounders on most of the usual bass baits at this same place.

Yep, no hookset. I had that problem when I was new to bass fishing too. I came from a background of crappie and bream fishing so I'd never set a hook. As you're reeling the bait in and you get a bite just wait to feel the weight of the bass on it and then give it a sharp yank. I also don't like braid for topwaters or any trebles. I know others will argue, but mono gives me time the stretch for bass to take a lure before I can yank it away. It also gives some stretch when you get the bass close and it inevitably jumps and tries to shake the bait. But those two things don't appear to be your issue.

I'm just north of the path of Florence when it comes by Columbia, SC. Not our first hurricane, but it might be the most rain I've ever seen in my nearly 50 years. And I'm really glad we recently got a new roof. The last one would not have withstood the sustained winds we're going to get.

I don't use any. If it's so windy I can't fish, I have a little pond I can go to anytime that's down in a hollow that rarely sees more than a ripple. I tried a system and actually have an anchor but it was too much hassle. But the Micro Power Pole looks cool. I just don't want more $$$ in my anchor than in my kayak. I plan to upgrade the kayak maybe by next season. I'd like one I can stand in.

I have a 6-6 M I use for cranks and topwaters, a 6-6 MH I use for spinner/buzzbaits and single hook lures and a 7' spinning M that I use for finesse baits. They're decent rods for $35 and have been very durable. I caught these on closeout for $25. The BC ones are over a decade old and their's nothing wrong with them. If I broke one, I'd probably replace it with a higher quality rod. But that just doesn't seem to happen. There are certainly more sensitive rods though. I use these for techniques that don't require sensitivity.

NM

I like that EWG style better than the screw in type because the bait will stay on it after catches. But I'll poke the hole thru the nose of the plastic with the point then feed the eye backwards thru the hole. I don't try to run that hook and weight thru the plastic.

You know those neat looking ponds that you drive by all the time and never give a second thought? Find out who owns them and ask to fish them. You'll be surprised how many people will say yes. Seems to me fewer will turn you down than will say yes. Most people want their ponds managed in some way. Then hit those places early or late with topwaters and everything else you already mentioned. I like to use the big bass baits in those places. In most ponds the dinks are starving so they'll still bite. It's a great way to get your confidence back and catch something, even if it's just dinks. If they're extremely small, I switch over to lighter tackle and bust out the Rooster Tail and Beetle Spin. Some of these ponds have monster bluegills too. Any action is better than no action.

I filled this spool by reeling the used braid off the reel I was replacing, an old BPS Johnny Morris reel. That reel was half filled with a mono backing and finished off with braid. I didn't even get down to the mono. I'd guess 50 yards of 30 lb braid. It's about half a spool, though it claims to hold 100 yds. No way does it. That's why I'm using it for jigs. But it will cast for decent distance.

The last rod I broke was about 10 years ago and it was a 9' crappie rod and I broke it with my truck tailgate. Before that one I'd have to go back to when I was a kid. And I've use some really cheap rods through the years. I have 3 $30 Berkley Lightning rods that have caught a lot of bass over 5 lbs. and I fish from a kayak. One of those fish pinned me against a dock. One of those fish swam under my kayak and pinned me against a dock. I had the rod stuck into the water with the fish jumping under the dock on the other side of my kayak-LOL. I had to put my thumb on the spool and yank that fish out of there. I landed it with no rod damage. I do have a couple better rods...a Falcon and a Cabela's ZX. You might want to at least look into an Ugly Stik Lite. I think they have a 5 year warranty.

I have 3 of the MB's and I love them. I did recently buy the Academy Sports store brand TAC-40 reel. I like it a lot. Strong, fast and very light (LFS). It is more compact than the MB. It only has the centrifugal brake, but you'd never notice. My experience with mag brakes is you set them and probably never touch them. The TAC-40 retails for $100 and is a lot of reel for that money. It would be a screaming deal if caught on sale. It's on my jig rod and has caught a PB.

I'd T rig it or put it on a jiighead and experiment with retrieves until the bass tell you what they want. Also might do well on one of those chatterbait type jigheads.

Cool thing about it is you can probably cut out half and respool. I remember when I was 13 I got my first baitcaster before my dad even got one. I can't tell you how many days were cut short because of a massive professional overrun. It was the only bass reel I had. That original Shad Rap, in 1/5 oz. I believe, was murder to cast on my old Daiwa Procaster. I finally had to go down in line size.

Just go somewhere with dirtier water. That's what I do. Just kidding. I don't know if fish really care about braid, but even in the stained waters I fish, I use a mono leader with braid. I figure it can't hurt.

Hear Here! for Big Game. It's the only mono I use anymore except on my light spinning combos. I also use it for leaders on my combos that have braid on them. I don't know if I need to, but I feel more confident having a clearer line tied to the bait. Not a long leader, just about 4 or 5 ft. I use 15 lb for that and it's strong enough to bale hay with. I do change it a couple times a year if I'm fishing a lot. Fluoro just isn't necessary here.

You should thank them for showing you how not to fish. Now you can avoid their tactics. My dad and I had a guy tell us once when I was a kid to leave a spot alone because he had a tournament the next day. Naturally, we caught as many fish we could there and came back later and did it again.

I made one first that worked fine but I couldn't keep the tail on it. My Sprinker works fine but has yet to catch a bass. I guess in that way you could say it doesn't exactly work. But it does function as seen in the YT videos.

I bought the Teckel Sprinker. I haven't had any luck with it yet. But I'm sure there will be a time that it slays 'em.