MassYak85

I'd describe it as a mod-fast. It loads up enough to keep trebles pinned imo but then again I like rods on the faster side so to me it seems softer than what I'm used to. Dobyns runs a little soft for their rating so their "fast" isn't what I'd normally call "fast".

Got to fish maspenock the last couple days. Both were pretty everage days but got a handful of 1-2lbers on a variety of lures. Definitely needed some "average" days to get some confidence back. It's feeling more and more like fall!

I do feel bad when I kill one, usually happens a couple times a year where I put one back that I know doesn't have good odds (usually a gill has been damaged). I've taken home fish to eat before that I knew would probably die.

Same, I ended up with all Daiwa reels pretty quickly because I could find the Tatulas on sale so frequently I just started replacing all my old starter reels as they crapped out. I bought the Type R 8 speed for my frog setup and had a bearing crap out on me pretty quick. Other than that it's been nice, although I do feel like the brakes behave differently than my Tatula CTs. I got a Fuego recently and honestly will probably stick with those over the CTs or Type Rs, put more money into the rod. Although I suspect my next reel will be a Shimano just to spice things up.

Keep an eye out on Ebay and Amazon, you can frequently find Daiwa reels at good discounts. You can find a Fuego CT for 75 bucks brand new almost any day of the week...no seriously, I just looked. Save the extra money on the reel and put the rest of your budget into the rod. Dobyns Fury's are good, the Daiwa Tatula lineup is really nice but would put you slightly over budget, again look out for sales.

Currently I toss those baits on a Dobyns Fury 795. What's your hesitance to get a longer "swimbait" rod? Trust me, you won't regret the extra length after you get used to the rod unless it's a transportation issue. As for line, I'm running straight 20lb mono because I mainly use it as a swimbait rod throwing heavier lures like the 200 s waver and 9" slammers. But if I were to do braid to leader for the lures you are using, I'd go 50lb braid to 18lb mono leader (maxima ultragreen is what I use for leaders). I've fished the 168 on line as light as 40lb braid to 12lb leader before. I wouldn't recommend it, it can be done, but if you want to run 15lb leader I think it's doable if you are checking your line and knots religiously. Also don't lock down your drag if you do go that route.

My dad loves using them more than me but I can't deny their success, and they come through weeds better than anything else I've used that isn't a frog. Like others said small ribbontail worms work well, and grubs.

I agree with Glen, the ads are all fishing related so I don't mind seeing them and like he said it's a free site, I just turn the blocker off for this site.

I currently live in VT but have been back to MA a couple times since they declared certain areas (which I'm from) as critical zones. Generally my philosophy in life is if I'm more likely to die driving to go do something than the thing itself, I don't stress about it, but I still take precautions. I went to fish from shore for an hour at dusk in westborough and practically bathed in bugspray. I still got bit three times, they were relentless. The chance of getting it is low but the disease itself is no joke, the fatality rate is scary. Ultimately it's your call to make (obviously try and abide by any strict local ordinances set in place for certain areas). If you do go just be careful, wear longsleeve clothing and put on strong buspray.

Beautiful day on Webster this morning. The fish didn't think so. I did manage a decent (14 inch probably) largie and a dink smallie on a tube. But that was it. I never though I'd say this...I miss ice fishing.

Tell me about it, lol I'm going crazy right now trying to figure something out

The Hookup Tackle has 6 and 7" senkos for 4 bucks a pack. 42% off! Limited colors but a great deal nonetheless.

1. I believe they can be at times. I've fished before where seemingly the only difference in bites was the line, plus I fish some pretty clear water and it just gives me more confidence. 2. Snaps, yes...swivels...yes....never snap swivels though. I've had them straighten out on fish or just straight break. Practice tying knots and any speed you might save is negligible and in the end not worth the added weakness of the snap swivel. It's also awful for baits like spinnerbaits where they can slide up the wire arm and foul a cast. 3. If I was going to chum I'd just go straight to using live bait but that's just me. I don't see a reason it wouldn't work though. 4. Check with your local tackle shops, most should have certified scales they will be able to verify fish with. The issue is transporting the fish. If you intend to skin mount it, doesn't matter, if you intend to release it just realize the likelihood of the fish dying while trying to get it somewhere to be verified is pretty high. But I believe like others said, in your area there are probably game wardens that can come and verify a catch at the lake.

The Hookup Tackle has 6 and 7" senkos for 4 bucks a bag (42% off). Go stock up! Edit* oops, wrong thread lol

Do you by any chance have a blocker turned on? I've had it happen too. I believe when the ad bar gets blocked it moves the logo down and interferes. I just turn the blocker off for this site.

I wouldn't say that bass fisherman in general are a more passionate breed of fisherman, but the culture and industry built up around it allows you to dive as far down the rabbit hole as you want and I think that's what makes it so appealing. Plus all the different avenues within bass fishing. Whether it's local tournament fishing, professional, kayak pond clubs, trophy hunters who grind and grind for that one bite...and forums like THIS. No matter what your fix is, there are other people who share it and will be there to give support. I know some of the trout and pike/musky guys are pretty hardcore, but you'd be hard pressed to find a group of guys targeting trophy panfish for decades.

I've honestly never heard of soldering them until this thread and I'd probably agree with you. The shrinkwrap, fly thread, and epoxy are all options I know people have used though.

Two reasons. If using thin line (braid) it can actually slip through the gap on certain hooks that didn't properly close the eye... Which means lost fish. The other is the point where the metal wraps around and froms the eye cab be sharp and cut line if your knot gets wedges in there. This can be an issue with using a snell knot I've found. Again... Lost fish. And I'm sure none of us like losing fish, especially to preventable tackle related issues.

Quinsig in Worcester has decent fishing, can be tough and crowded with pleasure boats on warm weekends but there are big ones in there. Also the chance at a pike but they're rare.

When I was down in Virginia for a couple summers I fished some relatively pressured reservoirs. I had what was probably a 6lb bass swim right up to my kayak to check me out, taunt me for a few seconds and then lazily swim away without a care in the world. Bass are weird, sometimes they act like this other times you look at them wrong and they dart into deep water.

The ONLY thing that has been consistent for me this summer has been tiny bait fish profiles. Like 3 inch keitechs. But with those I'm only managing small fish for the most part.

Got on the Charles today. Didn't get skunked so I consider that a success compared to how the rest of my summer has gone lol. Got a decent 2lber on a ned rig along with a couple dinks. Also got a small keeper on a t-rigged rage bug. Slow day overall, they seemed to be chasing small baitfish around the weed edges in the morning and showed some slight interest in spinnerbaits but I couldn't get the right combination of size, speed, blade right to get a pattern going. Ended the day fishing deeper hard bottom which is where I got all my fish. I also fished A1 from shore at dusk for about an hour hoping for a bigger bite. Had one blowup each on a spro 50 rat and a G2 shellcracker, missed both. An 8 inch largie decided it could get the shellcracker in it's mouth and learned how to fly when I set the hook. I called it after that, despite being absolutely covered in bugspray, two mosquito bites were two too many for me to stay any longer with the EEE threat right now in my area. Oh I almost forgot, on the far-off chance anyone here knows someone that fishes near the waltham launch of the charles from shore at night I've got two of their frogs I pulled out of a tree. They had rattles put in them. In case they want them back lol.

This. Some of the swimbait guys have more of a twisting cast where you're using your core muscles more to take the burden off your shoulders and arms.

I'll be back in MA the next couple weekends, looks like the weather might start to cool down here. I'm hoping that will change things enough I can put together some decent fishing. Might try from shore a bit at night Friday.

I have the older model Tatula 7'4" HF rod and love it for frogs. I'm tall so I like longer rods. It is stiff but has enough tip flex to launch frogs, even light ones like booyah pad crashers.