MassYak85

HUUUUGE props to these guys. Placed an order around lunch and they already have it on a UPS truck. That's fast service.

Welcome to the forum! I know being shore-bound can be difficult when you feel your in a slump, less options as far as the water you can cover. But I think you've got the right mindset as far as lures, and definitely listen to Dunks N Dinks' advice. Jerkbaits, ned rigs, rattletraps, and jigs are all good baits to try this time of year. When the water is still cold it can be hard to find good shore spots if the fish are deeper, so finding shallower ponds can sometimes make things easier. If the pond is more or less the same depth and the primary cover is weed growth or shoreline laydowns you can try fishing the windblown side of the lake or the shoreline that gets the most sun, bonus if there's good cover nearby and extra bonus if it's an area near deep water (even if you can't reach the deep water). It's good to slow down if the bite is slow but don't be afraid to try and get a reaction bite with that rattletrap. My first couple bass of the year were when the water was still low 40's and I got them burning a bluegill swimbait in short bursts. Good luck! I agree it can be hard learning online for our area sometimes cause all the pros are talking about deep reservoirs generally. It can be hard to apply what they're saying to some of the grass bowl ponds we've got. But there are still some parallels you can apply just on a smaller scale.

I'll go slightly over the weight rating occasionally on many of my rods. It shouldn't hurt unless the rod was over-rated to begin with. Lighter baits are difficult because they won't load up the rod properly and casting accurately or for any distance will be a pain. If you do use heavier lures though slow down your cast a bit and try to "lob" them a bit if it feels you're straining the rod's capabilities.

Highly unlikely but could also be a bad batch of line, although I don't think that's as common with braid. And like someone else said check that the line isn't through a rod guide foot instead of the guide itself. I've been guilty of that a few times. Check the lie for any fraying just to be sure.

I keep it pretty simple. Gears, friction areas, and the drag get Cal's grease. Bearings get Boca Lightning oil, and the worm shaft I use Quantum hot sauce cause it's a thicker oil and stays on better but doesn't build up crud as much as grease.

I don't have any truly MASSIVE worms but some twelve and fourteen inch ones and some bigger lizards. I'll Carolina rig them for the most part. But they're still not huge, just long tails, they aren't that big around.

Is the line breaking in a consistent spot (near reel, end of rod, random spot down the line, at the lure?). IMO the only options if it's breaking during the cast are a nicked guide like others have said or your knot is failing. But I'd bet it's a cracked guide insert or like you said a nicked reel line guide.

I couldn't do just one, I'd have to have a different one for casting and spinning, and even then I'd have to add a third category for swimbaits Spinning - 15lb braid Baitcasting - 40lb braid Swimbaits - 20lb copoly

Shellcracker and Matt lures get my vote.

Zoom lizards on a C-rig are a staple of mine in the warmer months.

I got fooled pretty good by a stump a few weeks ago fishing a real prey swimbait...with an 8 foot pool cue of a rod.... And 65lb braid... And a locked drag. The hookset I made was something to be proud of but the stump won that one. My shoulder let me know I messed up.

I was doing some research and was wondering if any of you have guys have had success timing the herring runs in the spring for the lakes/rivers that are connected to the runs? I know the fish eat them when they can but are they getting fed enough on the real thing that successfully mimicking them would be difficult?

Ditto. Any kind of green pumpkin base with just a little hint of orange or that classic bluegill blue gets it done.

To me knots are a confidence thing. I've tried many but only use a few that I can reliably tie and trust. Line to lure - Improved clinch for braid, Sand Diego Jam for everything else. Leader - Alberto or Blood knot depending on line diameter That's it, nothing else for me.

It depends on my mindset going out. If I have a game plan on how to target them that day I go home frustrated if I skunk. But sometimes, often in the summer, it's fun to just be on the water and I enjoy just being out and casting. While it can sometimes be the toughest fishing of the year, the 4th of July week I often find the most enjoyable. I can play music, not worry about noise cause there's so many pleasure boats out, nice weather, daylight into the evening and if I catch fish that's just a bonus. But spring and fall are game time and I go out pretty focused. I should try just going out for the heck I it it though. Some of my best days have just been paddling around with a senko and nothing else.

50 or 65lb braid. I like power pro, but grew up using spider wire and honestly have nothing against it. Also I prefer 4-carrier braid for frogs. It's a rougher line by nature which makes casting and reeling it in noisier, but it's more abrasive which IMO makes it better at cutting through vegetation. 8-carrier will cast better though.

I received tracking for both my orders and today they started moving out of Texas, supposed to be here by Monday. I don't mind the wait, it was a killer deal and as long as they get here in good shape I'm good.

TBH most of the time I have an issue with them is when a poor trailer keeper tears through them. If the trailer keeper is solid and has a good grip of them I can usually use them for at least 3 or 4 fish.

Always pegged, I'd you don't need to peg it is the cover really thick enough to punch anyways?

The meathead has grown on me. When I first got it I hated how it would blow out if reeled too fast. But as a slow moving top water it's got a really nice wobbling motion.

For me the biggest thing a wacky rigged bait needs to have is a subtle wiggle when it's falling. If it falls completely dead... Junk. After that rate of fall is critical sometimes but you can easily tweak that.

I've got fish on top water swimbaits in low 40 degree water. I usually don't go to traditional top waters untio right before the spawn. If there's a real warm day and they're moving up shallow I feel I can get them on almost anything. That first day I'm confident a frog will work around shallow wood is a special day every year.

I rarely feel I'm consistent but IMO it's just an intimate understanding of your local waters. I believe success is 85 percent understanding the bass and the lake. 10 percent tackle and equipment and 5 percent pure luck.

Still working, and besides traveling less and not seeing friends/familly or going to the gym my life hasn't changed a whole lot tbh. Still fishing on the weekends for now.

I ordered a tracking number and they sent me a rod instead! What gives!?