Airman4754

Bigger Fish: Gambler Mega Craw All Fish: Rage Space Monkey (all of their baits wrapped into one) If it's just a great day I switch to Pit Bosses because they are super cheap.

My tourney partner never says anything. I just hear braided line straining through guides so that's how I know.

I Neko fish a ton for Spots. I fish between 4 and 8" baits. For hooks I use Gammy wide gap finesse weedless hooks, and I would strongly recommend the weedless and this technique is killer on the edge of weed lines. Size 1 for 4" and 1/0 for everything else. I use sheet metal screws for weight. 6 x 5/8 for 4", 8 x 5/8 and 8 x 3/4 for the bigger ones depending on depth. This bait for me is so much easier to fish on the drop because the they hammer it. Rod is whatever you want but I fish it on a 7'6" M/F Phenix UMBX setup. I fish it just like a drop shot but I will floss it about every five feet. It's a good rig for LMB, not great for smallies, and the most productive Spot rig you will ever fish.

Something I do when it's windy and can't line watch is to slowly lift the rod to feel for weight before I twitch it up off the bottom.

There it is for a normal feeling fish and Here we go if it feels big right away. I guy I've been fishing with a guy forever that always says Maybe and looks up at his rod to make sure it's not a snag. Then when the fish is about to the boat he will finally admit he has one on.

You obviously didn't read my post. We pay the US Forest Service or the lodge that is on the lake day fees so those pay for the boat launch. ODFW plants bass in one lake in this state. Other than that they put 8" rainbow trout in lakes that I have zero interest in. They also took our salmon population hostage as you can only keep their hatchery fish. In my state as a bass fisherman I just fork over money to our state regulators to go after a fish family they wish didn't exist. Also all reservoirs were built for hydro power or flood control. Fish were never considered when they were built as some are being removed now because of the way they limit fish populations.

I use one of those for my lipless rod and they are pretty decent. They are very light. I paid $180 for mine through TW and I think that is too much. You could do much better for that on the used market.

Make the size match the EWG. 4" = 4/0, 5" = 5/0, etc. It will get it down to the fish quicker too which is the important part.

I think it's dumb guys that only bass fish and don't keep fish have to buy a fishing license. You pay state tax, sales tax, property tax, register your boat, pay launch fees, AND have to pay money to catch and release fish? If you're killing fish and eating them that's one thing, but if you're not taking anything home that's just boating.

Those guys have something more than just fishing. There are a bunch of people that can go on the same handful of lakes and catch good fish whenever. Those guys put EVERYTHING aside and and center their lives around a specific set of days on some specific water. They almost never "fun fish" like most people. They also the steel trap mental game. Fishing is like golf, pre-Tiger. Every normal human being was born with the ability to compete at the highest level. It's just very few that put in the time to do it when it really matters. Everyone on this board could be the next great bassbass fisherman, but we won't because it's just not that important to us.

When you need to spend three times as much to get something that still doesn't quite do the job as well as what the majority use it's probably your best bet to conform.

I had a Dobyn's swim bait rod and it was good. I replaced it with a Phenix UMBX Swimbait H/F that handles up to 8oz and I like it so much better. The price is fairly close but overall I felt they were miles apart.

I love Maxcuatro. I throw it on a lot of setups. It's expensive but it's worth it.

I only fish double flukes, because why not? Anyways I throw them on my cheapest rod. It's a 7' M/F and it does just fine. When the post spawn is in full swing they attack them like crazy, cheap rod and all. It's a reaction bait, nothing special is needed.

My dad is long gone now but I have all of his Shad Raps and I still catch way more fish on those than the much newer ones I have.

I fish four types, a regular plastic 11" ribbon tail, a buoyant 11" ribbon tail, 12" Power Worms, and Rage Anacondas. I usually only fish them in the summer in 35'-60' of water. 6/0 punch hook. My secret is I peg a 1.5oz tungsten punch weight and a matching punch skirt. I throw it on a Dobyns 805 Punch rod about a mile and almost dead stick it. It will take me 5 minutes to retrieve it. Almost all the fish I catch over 5lbs past June is on this rig.

Loomis GL2 6'8" SBR, Shimano Scorpion Antares, and I'm trying 12lb Yo-Zuri hybrid this season. Usually I'm throwing 12lb Trilene XL. That covers all weights and blades.

Kicker Fish Hightail Hole Shot worms.

I've had worse days. Nice fish!

Great job guys!

I use the 5" for everything. Cut down the body as needed. I run from a 2/0 EWG to a 5/0 heavy punching hook.

Same. I figure out through any source I can what species of fish are in the body of water and how big they usually are. The rest of the time I am zoned in on my electronics. The only real advice I give to novice guys is make every cast within 6" of where you wanted it to land in open water and 3" around cover. Also make every cast have a purpose. If you're inexperienced take the time to plan every cast with a mental checklist of why that would be a good spot. In my opinion casting is the most important part of bass fishing success.

That would be a reaction specific rod. Anything will work on reaction fishing, the fish are attacking it so you won't miss that unless you have nerve damage. The sensitivity needed for a drop shot is a completely different category.

That day it was a high in the low 50's and it rained on us pretty hard most of the day

The reaction specific GL2 rods are good. I have the spinnerbait rod and love it. However in that price range I think you can do a lot better for a bottom contact rod. Loomis starts getting sensitive around the IMX line and up. I've heard first hand from two people that the new Megabass Levante spinning rods are REALLY good for their price and it will be the same as the two Loomis options you are considering. I'm sure others can chime in on really good alternatives in that price range. Not trying to bash Loomis, I've been fishing those and Lamiglas since I was old enough to hold a rod, but their lower end stuff is more name than product.