Joel W

I fish Super Flukes like I fish frogs. I don't set the hook until I feel the Bass. Missing hookups is because the fish just hasn't taken the Fluke far enough into it's mouth. For Super Flukes I use a ML 6'6" spinning setup with 10 lb Braid and a 3-4 ft #8 mono leader. Hook is either a #2 drop shot Gami hook where 3 & 4 inch Flukes are nosed hooked. For Super Flukes I use a EWG 1/0 or 2/0 hook. Larger hooks just seem to restrict the action of the fluke. I've also tried the Super Fluke on the Drop Shot hook but I tend to get too much roll to the lure.

I fish the NYC reservoirs, and each reservoir is different from the others to some extent including water clarity. Also my 3 favorites per season, change per season. But for the vast majority of the time it's: 1-Drop Shot with a 4 3/4 inch Zoom Finesse worm 2-Crankbaits bounced along the bottom of a weed line 3-Jigs & pigs pitched into weeds, weed holes, brush, and into wood.

I only get to fish once per week, so no matter the weather except for major storms and ultra windy conditions, I'm out on one of NYC reservoirs fishing. My day starts very early at 4:15am after trying to get some sleep which really is more like tossing and turning with anticipation of a great day on the water. Then it's off to 7-11 for coffee and some breakfast. My drive to any of the reservoirs is about 1 1/2 hours to cover the 100+ mile trip. Row all day, then take the drive back home again. Needless to say I'm beat by the time I get home. Will continue to do this every week, year after year, until time just takes it's toll on me. Then I'll find another way to get out and fish for Mr. & Mrs. Bass.

After the front moves through, we usually get blue bird skies coupled with some sustaining windy conditions. LM's generally will move deeper off the shore to the inside weed lines or even into the weeds, or a creek drop off. They tend not to want to chase which means that drop shotting, Shaky head, wt'd plastics, etc would be your best bet. Once the weather conditions have stabilized for a few days, the Bass will return to their normal seasonal patterns. The bottom line is that it's tougher fishing, but once you find 'em, you can catch 'em.

This isn't the issue. Which has absolutely nothing to do with liking him or not. By your reasoning since none of us are professional actors, singers, or sports figures, we shouldn't have an opinion one way or the other about how good or bad they are.

That would work assuming that one can accurately set their drag. Unfortunately, most people are terrible at doing it, especially while fishing. Power Pro is comprised of two strands of line which makes it more oval then round. It doesn't hold its color very well, and old PP feels more like a well worn and loved flannel shirt. Hence, the dreaded tip wrap issues from time to time. Especially light PP on a spinning rod cast into the wind. Sufix Braid is comprised of 3 strands of line, making it nearly round, which almost eliminates tip wrap, and any digging in issues for 20 lb test and up. Color seems to last a lot longer for us line watchers.

For us mortals yes. But for Bass, I'm not so sure.

30 lb Power Pro shouldn't be digging in. Try Suffix Braid 30 lb Braid and see if that issue is gone. Again, the issue that I'm concerned with is that the Braid line rating shouldn't be more then what your rod is rated for. Snapping a tip with over rated line will surely ruin your day, and lighten you wallet real fast.

Online I buy my Spook jrs from BPS. Locally, Dicks Sporting Goods has an excellent selection. I'm hoping that this year Dicks keeps their inventory current as the season progresses.

As far as brands go, I really have a lot of confidence in the Rapala DT series. They all run true right out of the package, and are consistent from lure to lure. Their line of DT cranks are really extensive to handle most situations.

Had a similar experience with Cabalas. I broke the bail on a Prodigy reel the 2nd year I owned it. I emailed Cabalas and asked how much the replacement parts would cost. I received a series of emails 1st telling me that the 1 year warranty had expired, but that they have a 100% customer service guarantee. They offered to replace the reel for free, or to apply the full purchase price towards any other reel I wanted. They even refunded my shipping charges with a check a few weeks later. Now that's 1st class customer service.

I still have my Shimano Sahara 2500 and use it for my 3rd spinning setup when the need calls for one. It's not in the class of my Stradics or Capricorns in terms of smoothness. But it's never broken down nor had any binding issues either. Darn reliable reel, and a excellent value for the money. Just wish they would come out with a better handle, as it looks kind of cheaply made.

I use #30 lb Power Pro for all my baitcasting setups. I just can't see the need nor the purpose to use a line rated @ 50 lb or more in conjunction with a rod that had a rating less then 20 0r 25lb line strength. To my way of thinking you're just asking for trouble where the rod tip will snap before the line breaks. I would even dare say that by next year I'll be switching over to 20 lb Sufix Braid over 30 lb Power Pro. The reasons being is that the Sufix Braid is made from 3 strands while the Power Pro is comprised of 2 strands. The Sufix is rounder, has a lesser tendency for that dreaded tip wrap, and the digging in issue should be almost a thing of the past. Hence, the use of 20 lb over 30 lb test. If I do experience digging in issues, then I'll go back to 30 lb test Braid.

For topwater lures my preference is Super Spook jrs and Cavitron Buzzbaits. If I'm working weeds that are right on the surface I go with a Super Fluke or a Horny Toad. As for casting a Horny Toad with a Baitcaster, it shouldn't be a problem. I do it all the time.

To catch fish on crankbaits, you need to have the crankbait hit something, pause, then repeat. I love to have my cranks bounce off of rocks, tree limbs, stone walls, and anything on the bottom. The pause is when the Bass usually nail them as they think it's a wounded bait fish. If you're not bouncing them off of structure, vary the direction and retrieve speed, as well as making sure that you pause the crank every so often. Also work them over the tops of weeds, and as soon as you feel the weeds, pause, let the crank start to float towards the surface, then crank and repeat.

I go with bright and or dark colors like chartreuse/orange, and black. I also like to add rattles to my jigs in stained water.

Brian, excellent primer on jigging.

I really don't have a slipping problem Tx rigging worms. I don't cast for distance with tx rigged worms, but rather use a under hand cast to my target. For skipping stickbaits I wacky rig them. Under what conditions are you having the slipping problem with ?

I only use hair jigs in cold water. Once the water temps reach the mid 40s here, I move to finesse jigs, hula Grubs, and tubes.

For shakey head fishing I use Zoom Finesse worms in various sizes, and also Black Widow shakey head worms. Both manufactures worms float which is the most important reason for using them. You want the tail to float not sink while the nose is slightly bouncing on the bottom. Like Drop Shotting, just slightly shake your rod tip.

Excellent outing. Just think how much better you would have done fishing those areas from your boat. Ie, the ability to cover more of that water. Senkos and other stickbaits have their place but as you learned there are other baits better suited for certain conditions.

Sorry, but I'm just not a fan of Charlie Moore nor his TV show. Neither are my cup of tea.

I'm a drop shot nut, but to call it the future of Bass fishing, just isn't realist. It's just a presentation, a great one, but if one uses it all the time for every condition, you're selling yourself short, and you're missing a ton of fish.

The fish are already wet, so they don't really care that it's raining. Generally, they're up shallow and with the slight chop on the water you can fish closer to them. I always like spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and crankbaits.

Manns -1 is my go to shallow running crankbait. Over weeds on spinning gear they're just deadly. I've also used them bed fishing with short jerks and a pause. It seems to really tick off the LM into striking.