LooksLikeSinbad

You can also cheat by casting beyond the area you want to fish, then reel it in.

The book Lunker! sites a study that found released fish that are bleeding give off a warning to other bass and will shut down a feeding school.

I read that they're great but I've never tried them.

Wow Sam, thanks for all that information. I guess the answer is that you fish it like any other worm, it just has a different action than I'm used to.

I picked up a pack of these recently and the action is unlike the worms I usually fish. So how do you rig and retrieve them?

I thought that builders and developers stock ponds as part of an effort to create an eco-system that will sustain wildlife and vegetation and keep the water from becoming stagnant, swampy, buggy, etc. Putting bass, bluegill, etc. in a pond creates a nicer environment for the subdivision then just filling it with water. No?

lol!

Thanks for all of the helpful replies.

I would definitely try fishing a frog through there. Just because it's dense at the surface doesn't mean that the bass can't move around underneath. I would fish a plastic frog as slow as possible while still creating a buzz/turbulence from the legs.

Can someone explain to me (or direct me to an article about ) the difference between centrifugal and magnetic brakes? Which is better, easier to adjust, less backlash, etc.?

you could try a drop shot

Here is what it looks like, I guess they changed the design enough to avoid infringing on the copyright.

cache makes a good looking rip-off version.

Are you comparing the fluid ounces on the can to the ounces on the scale? I believe those are 2 different measurements.

You should try to contact some tackle distributors. I'm sure they could donate a lot.

Smallies love pink. I haven't had much luck with lmb though.

I have read several posts recently by people who swear by using braid with frogs. This is contrary to everything I've read in the past: braid is bad for top water because it sinks, line with stretch is good because it delays the hookset slightly and waiting with frogs is important, etc. I'm curious what everyone thinks. I'm assuming the braid users are willing to give up the stretchiness and buoyancy for the improved strength, higher test at a lower diameter, etc.

????????

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll throw out that spool and learn some more knots.

I was shore fishing this week with a spinning set up, 8# Vicious fluoro, and a wacky senko w/ palomar knot. This was the first time I have tried Vicious. I got a bite, set the hook and lifted the bass up out of the water with my rod (mistake) and found that it was much bigger than the ones I normally catch and my line snapped. Obviously, I was heartbroken to watch this lunker swim away. So I quickly pulled off some line, cut it, and re-rigged the same set up. Moved down the bank, got another bite, set the hook and gently reeled it in (because of what just happened), and the line snapped AGAIN. I know that I did not put excess strain on the line the 2nd time - I was SO careful after just losing one. I have fished with 8# transition a lot and I know I've put at least that much, if not more pressure on it without breaking. I'd really like to get your opinions on what happened. Was the line bad? Poor knots? Bad technique? I doubt it was the knots because I tie them all the time with no problem. I would assume it was my mistake, except that it happened the 2nd time.

LOL!

Wow, thanks for all the responses. This topic has got me wondering about the whole eco-system - the fish, vegetation, animals, weather, etc - of small ponds and lakes in general. Can anyone recommend some good books or online articles?

I have recently been fishing a small pond near my house and it's stocked with carp. While bass fishing, I sometimes see the carp moving in and out of the area I'm fishing. I don't know anything regarding how the 2 species cohabitate. Is there anything I can learn from the carp's behavior regarding the location/mood/presence of the bass? Would seeing carp indicate that there are more or less likely to be bass present?

Spinnerbait. Try the 1/2 oz War Eagle in white silver or white chartreuse

I caught my first drop shot bass yesterday! Actually, 3 in about an hour. It was the first time I tried drop shotting so I was really psyched with my results. I was fishing from shore in a really shallow area. The bottom is very weedy so I wanted to use the drop shot to keep my bait out of the mess. Anyway, I used the Joe's Jig Trailer Shakit Worm in Red. The worm has a very wavy action that was impressive to me and irresistible to the bass, I highly recommend it. Thanks Joe!