Dens228

I use my Diablo Spec R for the Dark Sleeper, it has a 5 rating. I throw my contact jigs on a Braillist, it has a 5.5 rating.

I notice that about half the time when respooling a reel it tends to load up on one side of the spool more, not a huge amount but noticeable. I then noticed that after that first day of fishing the line is pretty evenly spooled.

I use Sufix 832 30 lb braid on a Megabass Orichi XX Braillist and I can tell you that I feel every weed, rock, and twitch. It takes time to get the feel but I really think my "experience" upped quite a bit with a better rod and the sensitivity of braid. No, I don't use a leader of any sort.

I'd get an anchor, I don't think you'll tip by setting the hook, and my SHORTEST rod s 7 foot even.

I've had the same Ketch board for a couple of years now. I love it but also keep it tethered to my kayak because it's a bit heavy and will drop to the bottom like a rock. That said, I transport my kayak in the bed of my truck and was cruising down an interstate on my way to wet a line. I heard some weird sound but ignored it, a little while later I was still hearing it so decided to pull over and see what was going on. My Ketch board had been dragging along behind my truck for about 20 minutes at least while I drove about 75 mph. One small corner on the end away from the bump end was ground down a little bit. I'm still using that board. It has character now and is a great testimony to the quality of the product when I tell it at tourneys. .

I always use rod sleeves when transporting to and from the water but I've never put a reel cover on.

I'm of the belief, If you don't lose lures to snags you aren't fishing the right spots for big bass. I also think, if you're gear looks new you aren't fishing enough. I take great care of my gear, it gets dirty and marked up. It's the nature of the beast. This reminds me a time a few years back that I took a guy boar hunting in a swamp. He assured me he was an experiences hunter, having done self guided moose hunts numerous times in Canada. We go on a three day hunt to which he has pristine, clean, new looking camo and boots. We split up on the first day and I get myself a nice boar about mid day. Towards the end of the day he comes out of the swamp about as clean as he went in. Tells me he didn't see anything. LOL I'm covered head to toe in mud. The next day I take him out, we got his boar, and he was covered head to toe in mud.

I peg the weight and bury the hook in the plastic I'm using. If there's a lot of wood I tend to go with a jig,,,,,it seems to get through and around much easier than a pegged weight t-rig for me.

I have a Garmin Echomap UHD 73sv that I'm very happy with. Switched from Lowrance. My only regret is I didn't get the 9 inch screen.

I also agree with you. But warm water or non-feeding bass can cause them to be lethargic too. A jerkbait can be like a finesse crankbait. I found shallow jerks to work good when bass are busting shad on the surface in warm weather. Sometimes they are so gorged that the easy meal just sitting there is the ticket.

I think the ones I use are Owner. I like the screw lock so I can bury the hook vs the exposed hook type. As far as swimming a paddletail I tend to use a chatterbait in murky water or windy days, and underspin as the water clears, and a straight swim jig in clear water or if ripping it through grass. But, all of them have worked in all those conditions. LOL

Some places I need the water to clear up so it's too soon, other places the water is clear so I'll use a jerkbait. I base it more on water clarity than temp. A dying baitfish is a dying baitfish no matter what time of year.

I use mainly 3/8 oz with a trailer, sometimes 1/4 oz with a smaller trailer. I use the same rod, a MH/Fast for both.

Since I got back into fishing hardcore I had only baitcasters and have added and added to a fair amount of them. Last week I ordered the first spinning reel since I was a kid. Took it out yesterday and couldn't cast that thing accurately to save my life. It was fun when I caught of few bass on it though and it does have it's purpose. I'm not big on it being easier to cast. I taught one of my sons to cast a baitcaster in an hour. Does he get the occasional backlash? Yes. Also, if your funds and potential rod/reel arsenal are limited, a baitcaster is more versatile.

I barely even worry about the color of the entire lure. I doubt I could tell you a single color of any eye on any lure I own. Light, dark, ghost............those are my general choices.

I can't say I've ever caught a bass below the thermocline. Yesterday I was fishing a very clear, very deep in spots quarry. The thermocline was at 22-23 feet, I could see the bottom at 15 feet. I was marking fish, all were shallower than 20 feet. FYI I hardly caught any of them and those were tight up against the shoreline bluffs in the weeds and shadows.

Well that didn't work out for me yesterday!! LOL Nothing on the buzzbait....

I know a lot of guys like to mix and match their rod choices, not being overly loyal to any particular brand. Me.......I find there is too much variation between brands to know that I'm getting when I can't lay my hands on it prior. One brands MH may be another brands H, or another brands M......same with action. Once I find what I like I stick with that brand. That way I know what I'm getting. I don't own a Loomis but if you like it why change.

MegaBass Orochi XX Diablo Spec R Daiwa Tatula Elite Sufix 832 30 lb b Swim Jig/paddletail or Chatterbait/Paddletail

This thread made me just go out and tie a buzzbait on for tomorrows outing. I'll be working it early before the sun tops the treeline. Fingers crossed.

MegaBass Orochi XX Braillist

I don't throw enough deep cranks to have a rod dedicated to them. I use a MegaBass Orochi XX Diablo Spec R. I just realized I recommend these MegaBass rods so much I should get at least $2 off each one I purchase! LOL

The first part of what you said reminds me of a time last summer when me and a buddy were in our kayaks fishing under "perfect" conditions and were both struggling quite a bit. He looked at me and wondered out loud why the fish weren't biting when they really should have been going crazy. I replied, "They obviously haven't read the same articles as we did"

I'm not so sure you can't use just one. I use mine for open water, weed edges, deep, shallow, today I was ripping it through weeds which I do quite often too.

This right here. Make them hold on a little longer. I use JJ's Dipin Dye, chartreuse/garlic Pretty much on all plastics.