RandySBreth

Find the biggest, deepest, and slowest current pool in your stretch of rivers. Usually that will be the Winter hole for Bass. (Google Earth is a great tool to find these pools.) Small suspending jerkbaits are a good bet.

With what kind of jig? For punching matts and lily pads, or for stream Smallmouths? For 1/8th ounce hair jigs in Winter, or for 3/4 ounce football heads? There's lots of different kinds of jigs.

It depends on current conditions and how well you you know your boat. I've fished out of my solo canoe on Beaver Lake and Table Rock, but I know my limitations, and I'm careful. I like fishing them better out of the 17' Lowe. ;D

I've been doing some deep spinnerbaiting over the last couple of years, and everyone's advice so far has been good. Another thing to try is to use braided line that's about the same diameter as 10 or 12-pound mono. (It'll be anywhere from 40 to 60-pound-test break strength, depending on brand.) You'll be able to get deeper a little faster and stay deeper during the retrieve, and feel what's happening down there better.

[quote What type of fireline would you recommend? I would like something that I can see easily. I will be using a 6lbs fluorocarbon leader. Also, what is your opinion on knots? My plan was to use a double uni, but the Albright Knot looks good? I like the 6lbs fluorocarbon, but it's hard to see sometimes. A lot of my bites are very lite, and it's important that I'm able to see my line.

My reasoning for the braid is visibility. I can see the braided line easier, and an add benefit is I can cast it further. Using high visibility superline (for strike detection) with a fluoro leader is something I've been doing for years, and it's a great set-up. Probably not for everyone, as some folks can't or won't learn to tie good knots, which is essential. As far as the price of superline versus going straight Fluorcarbon, using superlines as a main line is much more economical because you rarely have to re-spool. I have one finesse rig I use for shaky heads and smaller lures, it's spooled with 4/10 Fireline and I use mostly 8- or 10-pound test Fluoro leader on it. I spooled it two years ago with the Fireline, and because I only cut into it a few inches each time I re-tie a leader, it's still has an almost full spool. How many times in two years of fishing that rig about once a week would you have to re-spool Fluoro? 4, maybe 6 times?

I don't know about it being the "best', but I usually use a back-to-back uni-knot for tying to backing, and a Blood Knot for attaching leaders. If the difference in diameter of leader to superline is really extreme (like 6/20 PP to 20-pound fluoro leader) I use a spider hitch to double the thinner braid before making the Blood Knot. Works for me.

ML is very handy for throwing smaller grubs, or even smaller cranks for bass. My favorite river Smallmouth rod is a 7' ML. Enough backbone for bigger fish, but still fun to catch "pounders" on.

Duo-lock snap on cranks and jerkbaits for me, too. 8-)

Yes here in the Ozarks we do things a little different. Because of many of the conditions just stated, I use a 7' medium power/fast action spinning rod, with a large capacity reel spooled with 4/10 Fireline. Most of the time I use Orvis "Mirage" fluorocarbon leader, 1X size which is about the diameter of 8-pound test mono, but is rated at 14.5-pound test. I sometimes use 10-pound Vanish as leader material I don't think gear ratio is that big of deal with jerkbaits as you work the bait with the rod and don't crank it in like you do crankbaits. Faster would be better to take up slack, mostly.

Suspending jerkbaits are tough to learn how to fish, but when you put it together, you can catch fish in cold water. Start reading the articles here and do a google search for how to fish these lures.

I bought a non Bass Pro brand boat off their used/trade-in lot. Why someone would trade in their Lowe for a Tracker is beyond me. As far as the buying "experience", I financed through my bank and basically told them what I would pay for it, take it or leave it. I've heard they're pretty no-hassle about things, but I don't know.

Genetically programed to fish. Everyone in my family is angler - except my Dad. Kind of odd. My older brothers aren't as fanatic as me, but all are more serious than the average fisherman. My son caught his first fish a year ago at age 2, so he's on his way, too. Which is nice. 8-)

Wow, I came home yesterday and the In-Fisherman Bass Guide was waiting in the 'ol mailbox. Inside is an article about wakebaits. Pretty cool. Pick it up if you see it. ;D

I can't believe nobody here reads another site. From the "Dock Talk"section of "another site" : "Gamma gets out 1/19/2010 Gamma Technologies is pulling out of the fishing-line business. The news was announced in a note to its pro staff, which stated that henceforth, Gamma would focus solely on its tennis division, where the company has been exceptionally strong for almost 3 decades. Gamma's rise to fame was notable as it forced many line manufacturers to rethink and retool their own fluorocarbons. Gamma's fishing-line endeavors began with Frog Hair leaders for fly-fishing. It then began to explore opportunities in bass fishing and attended the another site Top Gun Championship in 2005. There, many pros like Greg Hackney, Brent Chapman, Matt Herren and Jeff Kriet became familiar with the line and joined existing Gamma pro-staffers such as Dave Lefebre. Despite its high price point of about $28 per spool, Gamma made significant inroads in the bass market, but things began to unravel when Gamma product-line and pro-staff manager Tom Ference was let go. Most of the pro staff was cut or chose to depart soon after. "In light of this decision Gamma Technologies is not offering sponsorships for 2010 and effective immediately all existing agreements are canceled," the note read. Got any Gamma? There's a good chance it might be worth more than you paid for it when current retail stocks run out. If you need to stock up, the another site Store still has it in stock. "

The modified jointed Red Fin is an Ozarks "secret" bait, kind of like the old days where guys made their own suspending jerkbaits out of floating Rapalas. I may be tarred and feathered for even mentioning it here... What you do is take a jointed Red Fin and heat up the bill with a heat gun, then when it's nice and pliable you bend it down, making it more of a "wiggler" than a diver. Sometimes a little lead wire is wrapped on the rear treble to give it a more "nose up" attitude. You don't jerk, twitch, or do other things like that to work it, you just retrieve it slowly and steadily, letting it wiggle and wake right on the surface. These are a pain in the ... to make - loss rate is like 50% or more. There are other good wake baits out there now. I better be careful driving later, a guide driving down the road will probably try to run me down for even mentioning what the "Wiggle-Diggle" (modified Red Fin) is...

Limiting yourself to five isn't as bad as it sounds, really. The main thing is take rigs that are versatile, because late April can go one of several ways. If it's a rainy spring, you can get into cranking the off color water up the main creek arms, or even spinnerbaiting the newly flooded brush. One spring several years ago I was catching Bass on spinnerbaits on a unique pattern: Park picnic tables! If the water stays pretty clear you can almost always get a few fish with the shaky head stuff. To target big Smallmouths a spinning rod that'll throw small swimbaits or grubs a long ways is good. Someone mentioned topwaters (Spooks). They can work, but most savvy Table Rock guys use wakebaits in early spring and do better than the topwater guys. What's a "wakebait"? There are several out there, but for the most part we've used modified Red Fins. You can google that. I'd bring at least two good spinning rods, a crankbait/jerkbait rod, a spinnerbait rod, and a dedicated jig rod. There's your five. Check your P.M.s'

I've used the Fluorocarbon as leader material when using superlines. Good stuff. As far as spooling up a reel with it by itself, I don't know. Standard mono Maxima was my go-to mono for spinning reels for years until superlines came out on the market.

Bigger reel equals bigger spool, and all else being equal, you'll get longer casts with a bigger spool. That may or may not be a factor for where and how you fish. I only use reels that size for Crappie fishing or small creek bass, but that's just my preference. If it works for you, don't worry about it.

"Has the sting worn off yet from the beating Luke Clausen gave you in Ultimate Match Fishing with what you called his "Sissy Rod" (spinning rod)?" Just kidding G ;D

Nothing beats superline, but the visibility thing gets me, so I use Fireline/Fluoro Leader. I fish Table Rock/Beaver Lake (<- super clear) so I like the leader thing. I know it's not what you want to hear, but I've learned to love it. Cheaper than spooling straight fluorocarbon too.

These are my thoughts, too. Some smaller tourneys don't really care about this type of thing, but most bigger ones do. Check the rules of any you plan to enter. Like was stated, if you fish to win, and do, someone will have it in for you. Trust me on that.

Good underwraps, tight wraps on the material, and good cement or glue should do it for you. I sometimes use superglue for jigs, just make sure it dries clear.

Good underwraps, tight wraps on the material, and good cement or glue should do it for you. I sometimes use superglue for jigs, just make sure it dries clear.

Fireline 4/10 or 6/14 or PowerPro 4/15 or 6/20. For non-superlines, FluoroClear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid. If you're just stuck on regular mono, Maxima is still awesome.