jimmyjoe

You and everyone else I talk to who is knowledgeable. Casual users ..... meh. 50/50. jj

Yeah. I'm kinda tech-illiterate when it comes to computers, and I'm not afraid to stay that way. Every once in awhile, I have a problem. I call my son, who inevitably fixes it quite handily. He then says, "Welcome to the real world, Dad!" I usually reply, "The world was already plenty real 40 years ago, when I was changing your diapers." Then we both laugh. ? Kinda nice to have smart kids. jj

Yup. Go back to the basics. There's no shame in using live bait. Get some confidence that way, get the family interested, and then gradually move into artificials. And remember ...... have fun. ? jj

There are 3 kinds of spoons. 1) Flutter spoons. Usually used in somewhat clearer water, these spoons are lifted up and then let drop on slack or semi-slack line. You can let them go all the way to the bottom, or you can let them flutter to a predetermined depth, then lifted again and start the whole process over. I lift mine at moderate speed, but some fishermen "snap" them, raising them up really fast, then letting them drop slowly. This style spoon comes in many sizes and weights, from 1/8th ounce Flutterchucks by Eppinger to the Ben Parker Magnum at 3.5 ounces. There are probably bigger ones, too. I've just not heard about them. Some people use trolling spoons as flutter spoons. Some are successful, and some aren't. 2) Jigging spoons. Since I'm a shorecaster, this is one type of spoon I don't use. However, one of my friends has a boat, and he uses them quite a bit. He plays it a lot like @WRB, lifting it up and letting it fall much like a flutter spoon. A jigging spoon, however, is much more massive, or massy, for the length. When I was lucky enough to be in a boat, my favorite was the Kastmaster, a spoon that's very versatile. But Hopkins and Bomber make jigging spoons too. They're just more specialized. 3) Casting spoons. These are the spoons that I use the most. They're the good ol' chuck-n'-wind style, and some people use them just like a crankbait. That's not necessary however. Casting spoons come in 2 types: wobble or dance. Wobble spoons are the vast majority of steady-retrieve spoons on the market. They're simple to manufacture, and simple to use. Cast them out, let them sink to the desired depth, and then reel them in at a steady rate. That "steady rate" part can be difficult to determine unless you have clear water. I fish the Mississippi River and several of its tributaries, and the water is anything but clear. I use the local school swimming pool to see what my lures are doing, at what depth and what retrieve speed. (Approach your local school officials judiciously, or they may not be cooperative.) Spoons that "dance" are rarer, but they're out there. I'm a totally unapologetic fanboy of Eppinger products, which are forged rather than stamped. This allows them to react differently to a "twitch", which is how I retrieve my spoons. With some difficulty, I've gotten Thomas Buoyant and Cyclone spoons to dance, and the Li'l Cleo spoons from Acme. I've had NO LUCK with the Acme spoons if they're over 1/4 ounce, though. To make a spoon dance, cadence is everything. The force of the twitch, the length of pull, the speed of pull .... all these things are important to each spoon. And each spoon is a little different, which is why many people hate trying to make a spoon dance; they have to experiment too much and remember too much about the different models. I don't blame them. Generally speaking, if you want a spoon to dance, you LET OFF on the retrieve first, and then twitch. If you twitch by simply accelerating your retrieve and then slacking off, you get a totally different effect. It hasn't caught me nearly as many fish. This "dance" is done so slowly overall, that the spoon DOES NOT spin! If the spoon is retrieved so that it spins in the water, it's not a spoon. It's a spinner. There's one more thing to remember. There are three retrieve speed to spoons; moderately slow, very slow, and slower yet. And as far as which colors, I'd recommend choices based on contrast and pattern. There are ultra-realistic spoons out there, ones that have realistic printed images on them. I've never caught a fish with one of them. Never. I have no idea whether all this info is gonna be any good for you, but I hope it is. Good luck! jj

I like the new spinning reels, but some old spinning reels had one big advantage: the side plate came off to clean and re-lube without touching the rotating head or linkage. It was fast, simple, fast, reliable and fast. ? I can't find a modern reel that can be taken apart this way. Does anyone here know of one? Thnx for the help. jj

Although I understand the consequences of such an occurrence, I sincerely hope that it NEVER, EVER happens. Natural disasters are bad enough. jj

Hallelujah! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date! Hope you get better ASAP. jj

If you store up enough food, desperate people will find it. And they will find you. And they will find a way to do away with you. In the very unlikely event that society does break down, preppers will be targets. jj

Dynamite! Oops ..... that's illegal. Never mind. ? jj

True, very true. I support local. Some people say they do, but they really don't. People don't realize that what they do affects all of us, in ways that might not be immediately obvious. Maybe they don't realize it ....... or maybe they just don't care. jj

Heck yeah. I take a rod for a new reel, and a reel for a new rod. The youngsters think I'm nuts, but the old farts like me just half-smile and nod. They understand. Before I developed arthritis, this wasn't NEARLY as important to me. It's different now; now it can be critical. ? jj

Simple answer - anywhere they want. Less simple answer - wipers (or hybrid or Cherokee bass) are movers. They travel. They don't have a territory the way LMB do. Putting it another way - if they DO have a territory, it can be miles long and miles wide. Keep in mind that my experience with them comes from the rivers in the Midwest, not the lakes. Sure. That's a principle that applies to all fish. No. How do you measure "density"? The schools I've seen personally are about 100-200 feet long (usually less), and about 30-50 feet wide. But again, that's in the river. I'm a shorecaster, so the only time I come in contact with them is when they're corralling baitfish close to the shoreline or (if I'm lucky) when they're following a white bass school and picking off leftovers. What that school would look like in open water, I don't exactly know. Shad + wipers = dinner is served! Maybe that's why you don't see so many right now. But you will. Shad reproduce like crazy. Wipers are sterile. jj

Oh, yeah. I agree one million percent. Why spend all that time, trouble and money to hook a fish if you lose him on the way back to the boat .... or worse yet, right at the end, when you're just set to acquire him? And remember - it ain't the dinks that you're likely to lose there. jj

Cranks and spinners: InvizX Finesse: Stren Original Yellow (gotta see it, y'know) All others: Big Game (green) I see no reason to make things any more complicated than they have to be, but I haven't achieved the consistency that @jbsoonerfan has achieved. Maybe someday ...... jj

Now you hold on right there! I can understand about the baitcasters, but a teepee with no refrigeration, no microwave, no furnace and especially no flush toilet ..... well, that's a picture that just won't stick! ☹️ ? jj

Wise decision. OTOH, if you want to spend money and learn something new, you'll have LOTS of new friends on this forum, believe you me! ? jj

Get a casting rod, MH/MF or MH/M. Mojo basss MH/MF, Mojo glass MH, Fritts Perfect Cranker, some of the Shimano or Daiwa glass or composite rods. Maybe the St.Croix Avid MH/M. Those are the kind of rods that those four things do best with. As for a reel, you're the person who will be using it constantly, so get one that is comfortable for you and has a reputation for longevity. jj

If you put the lure where the fish is, line color is no issue. If you put the lure where there are no fish, line color is still no issue. Since you're in California, you might have clear water conditions that really matter. Then again .... maybe not. jj

Which kind of trout you will target? Lake or stream? Browns, rainbow or what? I'm totally unfamiliar with the kinds of trout close to Vegas. Which test line would you like to use? If you are looking towards an UL casting setup, they can be finicky. If you go heavier, you have to be very careful that the setup's characteristics overlap trout and bass. And lastly .... what's the reason you don't want to use the spinning reel you already have? jj

Glad to see you here! (BTW ..... last name Orange???? ?? ?? ) jj

Still good fishing.

Like you said, people are passionate on both sides. You need to find out for yourself which is best for you. Listening to other people can't help you with that. I tried a few rod that my fishing buddies had, and that did it for me. You can try that, but it may turn out to be 100% different for you. jj

If the Mississippi hadn't been flooded almost all year, I'd have never had to fish the lakes so much. The people here were (and are) fantastic, teaching me about lakebound fishing in ways I never dreamed. Hits: Boot-tails. Never had used them. Still learning, of course. I caught fish on them, but that's all I can say so far. It'll improve next year. Caught my first musky last fall, about this time. Accident, but an exciting one. Got my first graphite crankin' rod. Man, do I love it! Now I successfully fight fish at half the weight! Misses: Braid. I spent more on braided line this year than I did on my new rod, all told. I've just come to the conclusion that God told me not to use braid. I wish he would have told me before I spent all the money, though. Flukes. Let's not even go there. River is still 2 feet above flood stage, but I'm not crying. I've got a whole new world of lakes to hit, and it's FUN! Thanks, everyone! ? jj

I'll go against the trend here, because I really like the Fritts rod, especially in medium power. The only place I don't really like it is in riprap. I like a stiffer-tipped rod in riprap. jj

I forgot to look where you were located. I should have said, "... Crappie are less visible the places I've been ..." Obviously, I haven't been everywhere. Sorry about that. ? jj