An Outdoor Guy

The reason I don't use fluorocarbon is because I have 2 rods (medium heavy fast bait caster, medium fast spinning) and I need that 50lb braid (12lb diameter) for frogs and spooks as well. I found that using braid is a good "all around" line for me because I can throw top water frogs as well as lipless cranks and DT series/XD series to. I may not be getting the maximum depth out of them but hey you gotta do what you gotta do.

true, but like I said I have very little experience with them so I just take advice and soak up information whether it be right or wrong. Now I just learned from you that "seasonal" lures are not really seasonal so I'll start trying things that are out of the ordinary. Love learning something new everyday. Makes me a better angler.

I want to hear everyone's favorite bass lures for spring, summer, fall, winter (winter is optional) mine are: Spring: Lipless cranks, Chatter Baits, Jigs, Jerk baits, Square Bills Summer: Jigs, Texas rigged worms/craws, Frogs, DT6 - DT10 (no XD's because I don't have a boat yet) Fall: Lipless cranks, Chatter Baits, Jigs, Jerk baits, Square Bills, Texas rigged worms/craws Winter: I hibernate....

I also use a snap. I use the KVD 00 or 0 Snap. the really small ones that are rated for 25lbs breaking strength. love it but I don't really know how to use a lipless crank. I heard they were only good for the spring and fall. maybe I should try them out now in summer....

thanks a ton! I'm going to try the Palomar knot and see how that goes. hopefully no more break offs and / or knots coming undone.

That was my suggestion ^^^ I was going to say use a 1/2 oz bullet weight and peg it. then learn to stop the cast were you want it so the weight and lue flips in the air and lands sinker first. the bullet sinker penetrates the water like a hot knife through butter. basically a mini punch rig.

you got it. 50# braid to 15# fluoro using a FG knot. the FG knot holds amazing but I broke off my lure right at the knot. it happened again today but I think this time it was my knot that came undone. the line was all zig zaggy like the knot unraveled from the force of the cast

yep already checked all of them. they look fine which is weird to me as to why its not running true. I am using a small KVD snap. the smallest they make. and the strike king has the oval shape split ring. I should try it without the snap and everything as you mentioned above. yeah I'm throwing it on a MH F with a 7.1-1 lews mach 1. I don't think I was burning it but I was going kinda fast to keep it off the bottom. I was fishing it rather shallow

So I got 3 Rat-L-Trap lures from strike king. The banshee series to be exact and I noticed when I'm retrieving them the lure is coming back kind of on its side. like not laying completely on its side but really close to it. Is there something I'm doing wrong? My setup is a 7' MH F rod with 50# power Pro Braid. if that helps any. Rod tip was up during my retrieve because I was fishing shallow

I did that but it still broke. I'm afraid if I pull to hard ill break the line. I will try it again and pull harder this time

I use 50# braid. it doesn't dig in like some smaller diameter braid does. I LOVE the feel and diameter of 15# fluorocarbon but man talk about knots failing...I just lost a nice spinner bait today because I got a backlash and the line broke right at the knot. Took my fluorocarbon off and re-spooled with 50# braid. I wish I could find a decent knot to use with fluorocarbon

I did wrap my arbor knot with electrical tape about 5-6 times before spooling. I also just got some cheap mono to use as backing for the next time I need to re-spool. I don't know why I didn't think of that before lol But no I didn't use anything sharp to pick at it. just my fingernails and ALOT of pulling. nothing ridiculous though I was afraid of pulling my spool out of the reel OH! one more question so I don't have to make another post. What knot is best when tying fluorocarbon to a lure or hook? I had a improved clinch knot break on me when I had a backlash....lost a pretty nice spinner bait today....not my day I guess ;/

I know! that's why I'm a braid fan, usually if I pull hard enough they'll come out but this time it didn't. no matter how hard I pulled. that's why I was worried the line is weaker now because of that. But 2 people telling me its fine I think it'll be alright.

Awesome post man! I'm not real confident in jig fishing. I haven't caught a fish on it yet so maybe that's why. I try to catch a fish on a jig every time I'm out but no cigar. I always resort back to my slash baits and worms. After reading all these posts I feel more confident in jigs. now to just go and try to get a big one with it.

so I just got my new reel today and I spooled it up with 50# power pro braid and I went to try it out and on the first cast I got a bad backlash. well I pulled and pulled and it wouldn't come out so I took it home and got it untangled by taking my spool out and doing it that way. my question is, Is my braid now weaker because I pulled on it pretty hard to try to get the backlash out? I heard somewhere that braid gets weaker by rubbing on itself. should I change it out or am I good? Sorry if its a dumb question I just don't want my line to break when I go to use it next

wow some great answers here! Thank you guys! looks like I'm going to get doubles of everything I have in 1/2 oz now! I have been having trouble feeling the bottom on a 3/8oz jig. everytime I lift my rod tip up I can feel the bait come off the bottom same with my texas rigged worms. maybe a 1/2 oz will keep it down there?

if its the white one I had one and it broke on a 3lb catfish....returned it for the 49.99 lews combo in black and blue, its my finesse rod now.

Good looking out! I didn't even think of that! one fishing trip could've turned into a kidnapping charge real quick...

Thank you guys for the responses! its all starting to make a bit more sense to me now. I always thought that a rod with graphite is poor quality and ones with e glass are medium and ones with s glass are top of the line. yet I see so many great companies making rods of graphite that I got confused.

so I'm wondering what weight do you guys use for what depth? I have mostly 3/8 oz jigs, chatter baits, spinner baits and crank baits and I'm wondering how deep do you guys fish them? when is a 1/2 oz better suited than a 3/8 oz? when would you use a 1/2 over a 3/8 and why?

So I've been wondering about this for awhile now. What makes a rod good? or better than another one. I remember in one of fluke masters videos on how to cast a bait caster that he said the Abu Garcia combo had a good reel but a crap rod. I'm wondering what makes a rod "good" or "great"? the bend? the material? what? same with the reels. What makes them "good"? how many bearings they have? or how many brakes? what kind of brakes? Any input is greatly appreciated as I am completely lost on this one.

I am in your boat to (no pun intended) I am stuck on the shore for now and I have learned the best place to start fishing is about 10 feet back like etrout said. that way you can catch the bass that are right there by the shore line. I like to start with docks or boat ramps then look for overhanging trees or trees in the water then if all else fails ill go and throw a football jig in places ive never fished before to get a feel for whats out there. Best of luck to you!

what is a pork trailer? Like a piece of bacon? sorry for the dumb question...

Let me set the stage for you guys. I was at a swimming birthday party and went to my car with a couple friends to get my phone and a pack of smokes. My car was filled with fishing stuff from the night before and one of my girlfriends friends asked me if I liked to fish, I said yes I love fishing and she asked me to take her little brother fishing because every night he asks his dad to take him fishing and his dad says yes but then comes home from work 3 hours late drunk as a skunk and doesn't take him. The kid is only 14 years old and absolutely loves fishing. the local parks that have ponds don't have many fish and catching one is few and far between. I'm looking to you guys for help as to where can I take this kid fishing. I would hate to see his love for the sport die out because his drunk dad wont ever take him. We live in Wadsworth Ohio. Even if one of you let us fish at your own private pond I would gladly pay you and clean up around your pond or take us out on a boat or anything. I just really want to show this kid a good time fishing. His situation hit me deep. Thanks in advance any tips or help would surly make this kids year.

I would start the day out with top water till the water warms up then hit the cover spots like your lilly pads with frogs and jigs. (one person use frogs and one use jigs) then see if there are any underwater brush piles or any laydowns and fish those really good with a square bill or jig. then if all else fails go to a T rig or drop shot. best of luck to you man!