king fisher

I lost two combos overboard a month ago, and have finally replaced the equipment. One of the reels I lost was a Diawa coastal 200. I replaced the Coastal with a Tatula 150. I saved $100, but think I might have been better off spending the extra money. I was surprised to find the Tatula 150 was significantly larger than the Coastal 150 I have. I don't have a 200 to compare it to, but I think it is larger than the 200 too. I have only been able to cast around the marina and haven't been fishing, but with the little casting I have done, the 150 feels more like my used Tat CT than my old Coastal 200. The 200 was smoother, and had a more solid feel. They both hold the same amount of line, and the Coastal is saltwater rated, although I don't really know what they do to give it that classification. I only have minor regrets, the Tatula 150 is far better than my old Ambassador's and I am sure I it will be reeling in bass for many years to come. I wish I would have learned by now, once I find something I like I should stick with it, even if it costs a little more. The other reel I lost was a Tatula CT. I replaced it with a JDM Zillion SV. There is no real comparison between these two. The Zillion is the smoothest best casting reel I have ever held in my hands. I was expecting a big jump in performance, but I wasn't prepared for the night and day difference. I may find myself changing baits and techniques only because I want to use the rod with the Zillion on it. Only one day after getting my new gear, The Monkey was limping down the street crying from getting severely beaten up by my wife. He looked at me, smiled and mouthed the word Zillion. I don't think I will throw any more combos overboard, but I may find a way to justify getting another Zillion. I wish I would have had the option to actually hold the reels in my hand before ordering. Living in Mexico does have it's disadvantages. Descriptions on the internet are good for getting specs, and comparing price, but being able to actually hold a reel is a big plus. Now that I have my new gear, I need to go fishing. I sure hope the kid with the soda bottle for a rod and reel isn't at the launch when I get there. Watching him catch more bass than me, after all the money I spent would not be fun. I wont mind it so much after the credit card is paid and the sting has wore off, but getting embarrassed on my first day back, could really hurt.

Diawa Ardito. I recently lost a medium, and a medium heavy Ardito over board. I upgraded reels, but replaced the rods with the same same ones I lost. Difficulty with getting full length rods to Mexico was one reason, but I would probably use them even if I had a boat and lived in the States.

My daughter in-law, just flew in today, and brought my new rods, reels, and tackle with her. The Bait Monkey will not be back until April 2023 for my birthday.

A good fastball, and the ability to go Nine innings if needed.

I have multiple rods and reels, because the Bait Monkey twisted my arm.

Great. A bass breaks me off, steals my hook, then gives it to another angler.

I sure hope the Bait Monkey is off by back by then. I'm sure he is already planning on getting my Social Security check directly deposited to his account.

I wish I had a neighbor that would do my yard work, while I bass fish. Just saying, if I'm going to make a wish, I might as well wish big.

I use a snap swivel when fishing inline spinners for any species. Line twist isn't always a problem, but is a possibility. As others have said, you don't have to use a swivel, but as far as I am concerned it sure doesn't hurt to use one.

The lake I fish the most takes me 3 hrs. to drive there, I fish for 12 hours, then a 4 hour drive to get home. My friends think I am crazy, especially since I can launch my kayak and go saltwater fishing, right from the dock I where I keep my kayak. They can laugh all they want, it doesn't bother me. None of my laughing friends have ever landed a bass over 10 pounds. I have a chance at hooking a DD. on every cast 12 months a year at this lake. For me, a chance at a big bass is worth a long drive.

I wish I was lucky enough to have an accident where I end up with a new rod.

Wood or rock- Crankbait. Grass-- Bladed Jig. Water deeper than 10' - crankbait.

At the end of a hot summer day in 2040, when the sun is almost set, the bugs start coming out, and the entire pond gets quite, the soft blurp, blurp blurp of a Jitterbug will cause a big bass to loose all control, leaping clear of the water, while trying to annihilate the small piece of plastic and metal. I will instinctively set jerk my rod, sending the lure without a bass attached flying back at me, and I will once again, swear to wait until I feel the weight of the bass before setting the hook. In 2040, bass will still be bass, and hopefully, I will still be trying to catch them.

I have a small tackle shop, near me in Puerto Vallarta that I buy from, regardless of the extra cost. The problem is being located next to a marina on the Pacific, all the tackle is for salt water fishing. Four years ago, I was in the store buying some salt water tackle for work and talking to the owner. Somehow the subject of bass fishing came, up and I told him I preferred to fish for bass, but didn't know of any place I could go with my kayak. He told me he only bass fished a couple of times, but the one time his wife caught a nice one. Nice one was an understatement. He then showed me a picture of a bass that was almost 13 pounds. I told him that bass was more rare than a #300 pound tuna in PV, and I would die a happy man if I ever caught a bass anywhere near that size. Next thing I know is he is drawing a map on a piece of paper showing me how to get to this secret lake, along with instructions on what to tell the manager and commercial fisherman if they say anything about me fishing there. That weekend I drove to the lake. It's a small reservoir with a launch next to the d**n. A couple kids were swimming, but besides that there was no one around. Signs saying no fishing were up everywhere so I was hesitant to even get a rod out of the car. I rigged a rod, and caught a baby bass on the first cast. About then car pulled in and a man walked up to me, and asked what I was doing. As instructed, I told him who had told me about the lake, and that I was bass fishing, and would not keep any Tilapia if I caught one. It ended up he was the manager of the lake, and told me I could fish there, but he wanted me to kill any bass I caught. I told him thanks, and came back the next weekend with my kayak. Within 2 months, I had landed 4 bass over 10 pounds and many others in the 7-9 pound class. Needless to say, I am in debt for life to the owner of that small shop. I would still owe him, even if I bought every lure in the store for the next ten years. I still don't know why he told me about the place, I wasn't even a regular customer of his. All I can say is I'm glad he did, and I am certain I would have never got advice like that from anyone at a large out door store like BPS let alone my local Wal Mart. Every time I go in to that shop I buy something, even if it isn't what I think I need. I always thank him for telling me about the lake, and I try and get everyone that I know to buy their gear there. Small local tackle shop disappearing are proof to me, that even though change is inevitable, I don't have to like it.

The only fish this year I was able to get the whole fish in the picture, because, I didn't have to try and take a selfie of while in my kayak. I landed it from shore right when another kayak angler was coming around the point. He stopped and took my picture. It was the first time I fished this lake, the bass in this lake are darker with more pronounced markings, than the bass in the other lakes I fish.

Free advice is good, free tackle would be better.

I used to make hundreds of inline spinners with a French style blade I used for silver salmon. Silvers were easy to catch on spinners, making it easy to determine which spinners were working best. I would catch 2 in ten casts with one spinner than catch 10 in 10 casts with another. That kind of comparison can be difficult to do with fish that don't bite as well as salmon. I could buy cheaper blades that were thin, or more more expensive thicker blades. The companies that made thicker blades were quick to point out the better quality trying to justify the higher price. All factors, such as size and color being equal, the thicker blades out preformed the thinner blades by a large margin. I have no idea why, and I don't know if the results would be the same with another species of fish. I also am not even able to make an educated guess if thicker blades would help or hurt a spinnerbait. All I can say for certain is thicker #4 and #5 French blades worked far better for Silver Salmon than thinner blades. I prefer Stanley wedge, for willow leaf, blades, and Hildebrandt for Colorado, and Indiana blades on my spinnerbaits for bass. I don't know if spending the extra money helps, but I'm quite sure it doesn't hurt.

My bad. I apologize. I should have read the post more thoroughly, before posting my reply.

Did you ask her permission to put her picture up on the internet? If you didn't maybe you should remove it. She probably simply wanted to go fishing, not have her picture plastered on a web sit and ridiculed by people she doesn't know.

I fish this situation quite often Feb. thru May. If it is windy I fish a spinnerbait, or jig making as much contact with the branches as I can. If it is calm, I use a T rig, worm, creature bait, swimbait, or a jig and will try and work the bait slower and deeper into the trees. After casting from a distance, I sometimes move in and fish a drop shot vertically. I have only had limited success doing this, but haven't given the method a fair shot yet. Before I leave, wind or no wind, I will fish a crankbait that runs deep enough to tick the top of the tree. I hopefully will catch a big bass or two before hanging the crankbait, spooking the spot and moving on. If I have many trees to fish, and they are crushing the crankbait, I will start with the crank, and give the Bait Monkey a ride to my house when done for the day. My biggest bass have been caught suspended 10 feet deep in 30 feet of water in large trees on spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. I have also had success running an A Rig over the top of the tree, but currently am not able to let the Bait Monkey take up permanent residence at my home, so I have decided to not go down that road any more. If you don't mind risking $40 dollars in one cast than it can be a devastating technique when conditions are right. This year I plan on fishing a jig more for suspended bass in trees, and am planning on trying scroungers too. The Monkey wants me to nick the tops of the trees with a jackhammer, but I think I will give the scroungers a try first.

I have had a Diawa Coastal 200 and the 150 for a few years now. I have used them both saltwater, and bass fishing. Both cast light lures well, and have held up under constant saltwater use. They also get used every time I go bass fishing and perform well fishing everything from small plastics, to A rigs. I prefer the older 200 model over the newer SV 150. Both hold approximately the same amount of line, despite the name difference. I can cast further with the 200, but I have no idea why. I have landed many Jacks, and other saltwater fish in the 30 lbs. range with no difficulties, and they are both as smooth as the day I bought them. I use them on the same rods, I use Tat CT on, and honestly I don't notice any difference between the coastal, and the Tat's when casting bass tackle. I don't know the technical specifications, making the Coastal, a saltwater reel, but I can say they both hold up extremely well in the salt.

If you want to stretch the size of your bass, don't have a scale. If you don't want to be called a liar, have a scale.

No Guarantee, but one of these might work. No Guarantee, but one of these might work.

This video was made at very low water catching very big bass. I only was able to fish this lake a couple times, but next spring during low water I will be there. I met and talked to the two guys making the video the first time I fished the lake. They were concerned about how I found out about the lake. They said I should not tell any one, that it was a well kept secret. Then I see half a dozen of there videos on You Tube filmed at this lake. They weren't even cations enough to hide the fact they were fishing an underwater island. You can see the launch in the back ground and determine exactly where they are fishing simply by watching the video. If they really want to keep it a secret, maybe they should quit making videos. I wish I would have fished it a few years ago when I heard the rumors of all the big bass. Now that the word is out I plan on fishing there as much as I can, before it starts to decline. They did make a good video, and I will be there as soon as the rainy season stops.

Shallow -- 6th. Sense Square bills from small to magnum. 6th Sense Movement 80X Academy Sprots square H2O square bills, and my favorite old Bagely Balsa B's, running low on these. Mid.-- Bomber 7A, Rebel Deep WeeR Norman Little N, Spro Rock Crawler, Rapala DT 6,8, and 10, H20 express Model M. Deep. 6th sense cloud nine series 10,15,20 Strike King 5xd 6xd, Norman DD22 Rapala DT 16