blckshirt98

I assumed the thin walls on the Shadow Raps were so they have the buoyancy to float upwards as advertised.

I just ordered one this morning because I was born with the predisposition to collect things I will never use.

Fish whatever gives you the most confidence. For some it's the high end/JDM/custom gear, for others it's off the shelf stuff. Like someone mentioned already a skilled fisherman with cheap off the shelf gear can outfish a fisherman with top of the line gear. Not all off the shelf gear will feel right to you (I've tried a few brands and there's a couple that just didn't feel right for me) but there are more than enough brands at different price points where you'll be sure to find something that will give you the confidence to fish.

It sounds like almost anything would work at that spot right now. Fish whatever you feel confident in, and fish any new techniques you'd like to learn. Seems like it's a great opportunity to draw strikes to new techniques. Most importantly though as other people have already mentioned... Tell. No. One.

As a 100% bank guy I'll always bring - - Boomerang Snip attached to belt. - All my sun protection stuff (hat, buff, sunscreen, gloves, sometimes arm sleeves if it's cold) - Backpack - doesn't have to be a fishing specific backpack just one that's comfortable. One thing I look for is double water bottle holders with high straps - one for an actual water bottle and one to hold any spare setups I bring. - Water bottle in backpack - Snacks in laptop/water bladder compartment. - Knife clipped onto backpack. - Long nose pliers - Boga Grip - Fishing license in license holder which also includes a ilttle first aid kit (disposable antibiotic pack, insect bite cream, and bandaids). - Scent of some sort. - (1) 3570 Plano for terminal tackle and to store any extra used plastics. I like the latches on this better than the Pro-Latches. - (1) 3650 Plano for hardbaits/spinnerbaits/topwater - VERY specific about the 3650 because of how you can configure the compartments to hold larger/odd sized baits. - (1) Ziploc gallon freezer bag with soft plastics, with optional oversized baits (topwater, swimbaits); be sure to use hook bonnets. For rods I only bring one or two - a spinning setup for finesse, and an optional casting setup for reaction baits. It'll depend on where I'm going and what I feel like using. The Phenix M1 7'2" MXF works for finesse and also throws smaller hardbaits comfortably (up to a KVD 1.5) so sometimes it's the only rod I'll bring. Usually though I'll bring a crankbait rod for heavier reaction baits. For a completely new body of water I'll bring an extra plano, Stuff some extra plastics in the freezer bag, and maybe bring a third rod. I try to avoid bringing too much junk on the shore because I like to stay mobile to cover more water and oftentimes it's hard to find places to set down your extra rods. The hardest part is not falling into the entrapment of bringing too many colors of the same type of softbait/hardbait to fill up your pack. Pick 1-2 confidence colors and that's it. Don't bring 10 different types of dropshot baits when after enough trips you realize you only use 2-3 types. Don't bring backup hardbaits "in case you lose one in a snag". I've seen shore guys spend too much time taking all their tackle out of their backpack to find what they want and putting it all back in. You should be able to open your backpack and find what you're looking for in a few seconds. Stay light and mobile like a Recon Marine, not weighed down like an Army Supply Truck.

Shimano Curado I or a used Citica E!

Hook keeper with a hook bonnet always always always on the loose treble. If the rod has no hook keeper I'll either remove the lure (I use quick clips) or I'll keep both hook bonnets on.

I use normal PowerPro and Sufix 832 and haven't noticed anything bad from either one that makes me want to try another braided line. Plus PowerPro and Sufix 832 is easy to find either retail or online, and you can usually find it on sale.

I only use them on some 500 size trout reels and they do their job, I don't have any issues with them. Wouldn't use them on larger sized reels though since the handles/knobs are okay for me.

All of the reservoirs around here are loaded with carp and often times you can see them cruising around in the shallows. I haven't noticed any difference with the carp around, seems like the bass do their own thing and carp do their own thing.

The local grocery stores (Lucky's/Safeway/etc) along with Target and WalMart used to sell fishing magazines (FLW, In-Fisherman, Bassin', California Sportsman, and a couple of others I can't recall off the top of my head). I've noticed as well in the past few months I no longer see these magazines at any of them with the exception of In-Fisherman at Target. The local tackle shop carries Bass Angler Magazine, but that's about it. I even went to Barnes & Noble and the San Jose Bass Pro Shops, and I didn't see any of the other magazines at either of those places, only Bass Angler and In-Fisherman.

I don't keep freshwater fish other than trout (from stocked reservoirs) to eat. If someone keeps a fish within their rights because they purchased a license, it's their right to do so. I'd like to see larger females released not just from a recreational fisherman's point of view, but as someone who has read up on the importance of the larger females to a fish population (how long it takes for a fish to reach that size, how many eggs they produce when they spawn, etc). If I'm talking to a friend about or taking a friend out fishing I'll let them know why it's important to let the larger females go, but a random stranger I'll leave them alone as it's none of my business.

omg look at the size of that thing...that might explain the stunted bass!

I'm curious where in the shoulder the pain is. Is it deep in the joint like a rotator cuff or is it more on top at the shoulder where it meets the collarbone? If it's deep in the joint do some rotator exercises to strengthen it, if it's towards the top it might be inflammation from your joints rubbing while casting. Hopefully it's just inflammation where ice or a cortisone shot can fix it, and not something structural where surgery will be involved. Let us know what the doctor says, good luck!

This sounds like it would be fun to fish with an ultralight rod, small hooks, and dough balls for bluegill. Wish I knew some people in NorCal that had this problem, I'd love to help out!

What did I just read.

I started fishing to get out of the house since I work in an office building but after fishing for a while it's now not just about getting out of the house. It's the challenge of trying to outsmart the fish by getting them to bite, and, the slow drip of endorphins as you're fishing. Each twitch of the rod or crank of the reel is like scratching off a lottery ticket or pulling the handle of a slot machine..."this is the one where the I get the big one"...and then when you actually get a bite there's the whole adrenaline dump that goes on in your body from setting the hook, fighting the fish as you reel it in, and landing the fish. Unless you're fishing a dead lake where you confidence is shot, the process of fishing is like having a morphine drip in your arm.

I've had a lifelong presdisposition to collect things so it's up there. I've always tried to spend $50/month at the local tackle shop to support them but I'm at the point where I'm just running out of new things to buy. But if you combine online with brick and mortar stuff I've bought and averaged out over the months I've been fishing...a few hundred bucks easy.

Kistler has a deal until 8/12 where if you buy an Argon rod (around $170) they'll throw in a free Kistler Classic ($150 value). Note that I have never fished a Kistler rod, just passing this deal along.

If you're talking about picking a lure where you get an unlimited supply, I'd go with a Molix Sator Worm in Watermelon/Gold Shad or Seducente. If you're talking about just one lure and when you lose it or break it you're done, Probably a Strike King 1.5 squarebill in Natural Shad or Sexy Shad.

I'm still relatively new to bass fishing so I'm still perfectly happy fishing for numbers. I'd rather fish for numbers and hope 1-2 nice ones find their way into the mix. Now if I were in a situation where I've been fishing for 20 years, maybe the numbers won't matter as much to me as the challenge of catching big fish each time out. But for now, give me numbers!

LuckyCrafts are expensive but they have nice finishes and sharp hooks, and, know that you're not buying junk. I have a few but don't think I've paid full retail for any of them...Cabela's has them on markdown pretty often and I've found a few in local clearance bins.

Get one of these Home Depot shelves - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Edsal-72-in-H-x-48-in-W-x-24-in-D-5-Shelf-Steel-Shelving-Unit-in-Black-MR482472BLB/203800338?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D59-Storage&Organization|&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_qW9BRCcv-Xc5Jn-26gBEiQAM-iJhfTZC9UI4qBlOOMQutuvkuCCGv6OoVQClCuQNK01WbUaArbc8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds Space the shelves when assembling so they fit the Sterlite 90qt and 56qt Basic Clear bins you can get from Target - http://www.sterilite.com/ProductCategory.html?ProductCategory=17&section=1 You should be able to fit two 90qt bins side by side on the three bottom selves, two 56qt bins on the top shelf, and then you can put bait buckets or whatever on the very top of the shelf.

I'd have a tough time detecting a bite in a river if the current was fast enough. Definitely try to get to a lake or pond if you can, plus you'll have a better feel for each lure you use!

I'll answer this as "if you could be sponsored by bait companies and only use their stuff, which would you choose?" I'll go with - Jackall, Molix, Strike King, 6th Sense