Bluecraw

Someone posted a link on the study of this by a university. I'll try to find it. But the study concluded that a fish "holds-on" to a bait significantly longer when it has a scent or taste on it. So, I would say that it doesn't hurt to spray some on your plastics. It just might give you another second or two to set the hook before she spits it out.

Just going through my tackle and wondering who else is obsessed. I have, at least, two of every piece of tackle that has caught me a bass. For cranks, I have two of the same color and diving depth of almost every one. Same with spinners. I have two of the same weight and color of each jig. I guess I'm afraid that if I'm cleanin'-up on one particular bait and lose it or mess it up, I can get back in the game with one that is exactly the same. Worms and soft plastics go without saying...I mean they come in bundles. Please tell me you guys are as obessed as I am with your tackle!! I mean, I have like six jitterbugs!! If it's possible to have too much of one thing, what tackle do you have too much of?

I don't use them 'cause I just think they look weird on a rod. I know...stupid reason, and I actually jumped out of my boat and into the water after one of my rigs fell in last year! Yes......I got it!! I grabbed it about 6 feet below the surface. I got wet, but saved about $300 bones!!!

I'm with LBH. For starters, bullet weights (say 1/4 & 3/8 oz.), 8mm beads (glass or plastic), couple size hooks (maybe 2/0 & 4/0), and some barrell swivels. That could get you by without a ton of cost.

Jitterbug.....black. Replace the hooks and add slip rings.

What are you using it for? Jigs, soft plastics, cranks, spinners, topwater, etc. ? Or just all around use?

Thanks for posting that. We all need to be reminded that we can always be a little more kind and warm hearted to the people around us. Hard to believe how much you can learn from a bunch of kids....

No question is dumb, brother...that's why we're all here. To learn and get better.

Finesse fishing is one of the only techniques when I use a spinning rig. I use light weight, light line, and light rod to "feel" the fish better when they bite. With all of this light gear, I have to tighten the spool, brake, and thumb the line more on the cast to avoid backlashing. Then I can't get a long cast if I need to. IMO spinning gear is best for finesse....and I LOVE my baitcasters.

Seeing as that you're not new to baitcasting reels and you know what you're doing, it sounds like you might have a bad reel. Your spool tensioning knob may not be doing its job. Try taking all of the line off the reel and keep your tensioning knob tight (like you said). When you press the thumb bar (being sure not to touch the spool), does the spool spin backwards? Or move at all? Because with that tensioning knob tight, it shouldn't spin at all. If it does, you have a bad reel. That spool shouldn't free spin with the tension knob turned only a few clicks, let alone all the way tight.

I purchased one Revo S and one Revo SX around Christmas. I took back the Revo S and purchased 4 more of the Revo SX. So, my main baitcasting setup consists of 5 Revo SXs when I hit the water. They all feel pretty much the same, even though the SX and STX have more bearings than the S. But the SX and STX have an external adjustment for the braking system, which I think is worth the extra $50. I was on the lake last weekend and by the afternoon the wind had kicked up to 20 mph or so. All I had to do was turn the braking adjustment a few clicks more and casting into the wind was no problem. With the S you would have to take the side cover off. In my opinion, the STX doesn't have enough extra features to justify the extra $50 over the SX. So, if you want to spend $100, go for the S....if you have the extra $$$, go for the SX. In my case, the STX didn't justify spending a total of $250 more over the SX and $500 more over the S. Hope this helps. I love these reels. I don't think you can get a better reel for the price.....but, the Shimano guys will say you can........ ;D

I think it's just personal preference than anything. I use all baitcasters except for a couple of spinning rigs that I use for finesse fishing and drop shot fishing. Anything under a 1/4 oz and I'm throwing a spinning rig. You just can't get the distance on lighter baits with a baitcaster without getting a bird's nest. But I don't finess fish much, so I use baitcasters 99% of the time. You'll find people here like Roadwarrior who use mostly spinning rigs. My partner won't touch a baitcaster and can cast as accurate as me. With a baitcaster, I like the control I have over the distance of my cast. I also like the way it feels in my palm. A baitcaster is hard to beat when you're flippin' and pitchin' baits. Once you master the baitcaster, it's hard to go back.

You can use the same rod for topwater and crankin' if you want to save the money, but I would go with a 6 to 6 1/2 ft. medium action rod. The shorter rod will give you more accuracy for casting in those tight spots. I use a 6 foot medium rod for my topwaters and a 6 1/2 foot medium rod for my cranks. The 6 1/2 footer gives me just a little more backbone since the strike is underwater, but still accurate casts. You're going to get a lot of different opinions here, but all of my 7 footers are medium-heavy and I use them for jigs, t-rigs, heavier baits, or any baits that are being pulled through cover. Hope this helps....don't know about the Tourney Specials, sorry.

I can only hope that my son likes to go fishing that much. The more you fish, the more you stay out of trouble...I think you've proven that. But, you're still young, she's your mom, you live in her house, you should live by her rules. She'll see how much it bothers you not to go fishing and will snap out of it without you giving her a hard time. Hang in there. :

I'm in Georgia...got some rain today, so that should warm-up the lakes pretty fast....going out Saturday!!

Listen to The_Natural!!!! That guy has more tackle than the BPS! And it is VERY organized! Search his posts and see for yourself...

Black Jitterbug...with slip rings and better hooks, of course. :

How about: KCHNBAS = catchin' bass FSHNBOT = finshin' boat FSH4BAS = fish for bass I'll think of more later...it's midnight here.

Here's an incentive, take your dip money and save it everyday: 1 can/day = $5/day 365 days/year X $5/day = $1,829/year $1,829/year X 11 years = $20,000 $20,000 = NEW BASS BOAT!!!!!!

Where's Sig Sauer? :-/

...hey, those FR-7 Fat Raps are worthless and don't catch any fish :.....might as well just throw them out....or just send them to me :....I'll take care of it for you.....

I use scent on all of my soft plastics. There have been some studies (not done by the manufacturers) that prove a bass will hold onto the bait a lot longer if it has some kind of scent or taste. I use garlic scent on everything except my jig trailers where I use a craw scent. I usually use YUM brand.

I'm with you, Valascus. Most crankbait companies don't design there lures with the addition of a snap, the ones that do include whatever hardware you need. But the main reason I don't use them is because of the line. The weakest part of your line is the knot and if you've been fishing with a particular crank for a while and are ready to try another one, then you probably need a new knot. Plus, I would imagine that most of us here could probably tie-on a different lure as fast as unsnapping and snapping one on.... :

Rooster tails!!! I absolutely never use them, but they're in my tackle bag. I guess I carry them because my son likes to use them on ponds. But even when he's not with me I have them....jeez, I need therapy....

ditto....7' MH, fast tip, 6.0+:1 gear ratio reel.