RMax

I am also wondering whats up with the negativity towards BPS. Sure, they're a little more expensive than TW but you get hands on experience with them and usually their workers are pretty knowledgeable. My only problem with them is that they really seem to be concerned with selling their own brand and about 40% of their sales aren't actual sales.

Once again, same. I rarely use jigs, although I am planning on using them more this year. Omaha waters are more suited towards fishing texas rigs. I have three out of my four setups with braid. It seems our only difference is that I tie a leader on my spinning rod and on my MH rod, and that I can't ever catch a fish on a spinnerbait. I don't enjoy throwing spinnerbaits and try as I might, cannot catch a single fish on one, of any size.

Same. I use craws/creatures.

I recently acquired a St. Croix Mojo Bass Spinnerbaits rod. I was wondering what else can effectively be thrown on this rod, besides the obvious Spinnerbait.

The only empty rods I have are an Ugly Stik and a tourney special rod, neither of which I really enjoy fishing with. My three baitcasters are 2 Energy PT's and a Tourney Special. Should I pick up the Pro Qualifier?

Green Pumpkin Senko Green Pumpkin Rage Craw Black and Blue Rage Craw Green Pumpkin Pit Boss Black and Blue Pit Boss Whopper Plopper Black and Blue Chatterbait White Chatterbait Green and Orange TuRD Black and Blue Jig

I believe you, simply because bass behavior can change depending on where they are, especially if they're in a lonesome little pond. I occasionally fish a lake that is very low pressure but is very urban (its private) and those bass behave completely different than most fish. The largemouth in there are super active in the winter (under the ice), nearly unactive in the fall, don't protect their beds, and most of them don't relate to structure, just sitting on a sandy, flat beach.

If I just did it in my backyard, do you think I would be fine? Same with melting lead, as I might try that too.

I've had good largemouth from a clear lake in Wisconsin and it was pretty good, but the best fish I've ever had was a big Mahi I caught in Hawaii! That was just an amazing experience. Teriyaki sauce with fish is a must try!

My family in Houston wants to meet us for a fishing trip somewhere between Houston and NE. There will be at least 4 people going, probably more, and neither of us have boats, so we would have to stick to shore or rent. Any recommendations of where we should go?

I fish because I love the pull of the fish against me and because I love the outdoors. I also want to pursue a fish based career, like icthyology, so everytime I catch a fish its a specimen to observe.

What baits do you make the most? I want to do this but don't know what mold I should pick, although I'm thinking a craw. Or did you make your own mold?

I've caught a rock on an inline spinner, a blue crab on a hot dog and bobber, a bunch of turtles (painted turtles, snapping turtles, even a soft shelled turtle!), and a picnic table. My least favorite though, was around 50 lb of weeds that covered a 6 inch smallmouth bass, (would have been my first and only smallie) which got off the moment the weeds collected. However, the 6 lb mono held up against the current of the Delaware and the weight of the weeds.

Believe it or not, I have never even had a nibble on a spinnerbait, even though I've put a lot of time throwing them around. I think its because nearly every fish has gotten used to seeing them, as thats all that everyone throws in my area. My go to lures (in this order) would have to be: Black and Blue Chatterbait Texas Rigged black and blue pit boss Swimming a rage craw Green Pumpkin/Purp Flake Weightless Texposed Senko Small Inline Spinner

Im not a huge fan of the finance jigs because of the size of the head compared to the skirt and hook. However, in the cold water, I would a plastic trailer that has a lot of resistance to slow the fall, something ribbed, like a d- bomb.

*Throw them away in the garbage.

And it matches too!

Dang. I figured they would change color but I hoped I could make some mixed black/blue with green pumpkin bottom.

How well does melting them typically work? Is it good or does the plastic change color?

What does everybody do with their ripped up plastics. I usually just through my plastics away and was wondering if thats what everyone else does, or if you have some nifty use for them?

Jeez! That first one is a freaking tank! It could eat my pb catfish in one bite. Edit: I mean the first catfish.

I see that its $120 at Cabelas, and only $80 at D%@# Sporting Goods. Just a heads up.

Say your line is at a 45 degree angle from the your rod tip, (imagining a line parallel with the water surface). Your bait also has an imaginary parallel line, at 45 degrees up. When you set the hook, mainly on baits that aren't constantly moving, your yank your rod tip up. Sometimes, instead of the whole bait moving up, your knot slides up a bit on the split ring, and you lose a little bit of power that good have gotten your hook/hooks deeper into the bass's jaw. I am fairly picky about it, especially on jigs, so, in regards to jigs, I only buy horizontal line tie. This also makes it easier for me to turn them into chatterbaits, if I have a spare blade. With the horizontal line tie, you give the line no room to slide around and get better hooksets. A few other things to note: I believe the circular rings are stronger but the non- overlapping sections can cause little abrasions in the line, which can cause it to snap. The oval/teardrop shaped rings help avoid this at the cost of strength.

When you set the hook, there is less of a chance that your line will slide up on the split ring. This can result in a weaker hookset.

You just gotta get used to it. It might also be the brand, I'm sure some brands are quieter than others.