BigAngus752

I like braid. I'm not a fan of nylon mono due to a lack of sensitivity. I spent an entire season trying to force myself to like flouro and just couldn't get there solely because Yo Zuri hybrid has a perfect balance of all the qualities I want in a line. Flouro does some things better than hybrid, I don't argue that at all. However, the flexibility of the hybrid makes it worth it and in my opinion (this is only my opinion and is based on my individual experience with zero scientific basis) the Yo Zuri hybrid holds a knot stronger and for longer than fluoro. A LOT longer and stronger. Eliminating nylon mono and fluoro from my boat (except for fluoro leaders) blatantly reduced the number of knot failures (your experience may vary). I will add something that I cannot explain, but I use LEADER SPECIFIC fluoro for braid-to-fluoro. The leader specific fluoro knots are strong. I have tried to go cheap and use fluoro mainline, and I had constant breakage using it as a leader. ALSO, I have tried to use my beloved Yo Zuri hybrid 12lb as a leader and it is the WORST leader I have ever used. Constant breakage, poor energy transmittal, and unpredictable rate of drop. I cannot explain any of this and it might all be a hallucination in my head, but that is my experience. But believing is 99% of success, right?

Thirteen days ago I filled up at $3.91 a gallon, which is terrible. Two jumps later and today the best price I could find was $4.79. I'm actually going to hold off buying a sticker for my favorite lake because it's 131 miles round trip.

Thanks for coming back!

Don't sweat it for a single second. 100% chance that the jackwagons calling you names aren't spending all of their free time doing charity work. I have had enough contact with you on here to know that you are extremely respectful and courteous both with other people and with nature. I have experienced so much hate on other forums and in social media groups that I severely restrict what and how much I share. I've learned that these days people deal with their own inadequacies by stealing peace and happiness from others. We have an amazing, inimitable community here thanks to @Glenn . This is where I find real people and real community and I have zero questions about your intentions or ethics. To answer your question; I always pick up or pull out abandoned fishing line. I will sometimes pick up other's trash if the mood strikes me, but I don't pretend to be Mother Teresa because I picked up someone else's littered energy drink can.

^^^X2^^^ Spinnerbaits are pretty versatile and can certainly be good in open water under the right circumstances. Windblown points is one of those circumstances. However, the spinnerbait really shines when you are smacking it off of stuff.

FINALLY got out for some fishing. We've had a rough start to 2026 so it was a blessing to get back in the boat. I caught 18 LM but none over 2.5lbs and none worthy of pics. The pic I've attached is just to show the water color. I was fishing some private water that is usually very clear with 8+ feet of visibility. Yesterday we had 3.5 inches of rain and high winds. The water went up 2 feet in less than 24 hours. Stained is an understatment. I assumed, incorrectly, that loud and proud was the way to fish so I started throwing all dark colored moving baits. Vibrating jig, topwater, spinnerbait with Colorado blades. I caught nothing. I finally decided I had nothing to lose by slowing down so I went with something "flappy" in Junebug. I immediately caught some dinks on a pegged Rage Craw. I found almost all of my fish at pinch points with current going through them and it turned out that any plastic in Junebug was the deal. Very fun to keep switching out plastics and getting bites just because of the color. It was just the relaxing day that I needed. Truly a blessing.

Those are insane. Nice work.

I had to call my therapist and pay after hours rates. I'm not emotionally prepared for this kind of thing.

I started fishing only Gamakatsu. After many years of fishing Gama, Owner, and VMC my hook drawer is overflowing with the VMC bulk packs and some Owners I got on sale. I find zero difference in hookup ratio although my lizard brain seems to feel like the Gamakatsus may stay sharp a bit longer. I disagree with you but I'm glad you have found hooks you have true confidence in. I promise not to post a thread about our disagreement. 😉 Hey brother, my wife and I have nearly divorced over a paint color and whether it had more light gray in it or more light green in it. Sometimes you just have to put the gloves on and go a few rounds.

Congratulations and welcome! That's a solid first photo!

Great answer

I'd be protective of that too. It's yours. There is a public lake that I fish that is primarily used by catfish and crappie fishermen. Two years ago I caught four bass over 5lbs and five more over 4lbs during the season. I told my wife. She was the only person I told and I only told here because she doesn't fish. In the words of Ben Franklin, "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead".

What a day! It sounds gloriously exhausting.

I'm going to say that this guy is a professional horse jockey and he's 4'10 and that bass is 3.5lbs. Hope this helps.

That's a tough one as I can usually take away at least a tidbit of new info nearly every day on this page. Even if it's just viewing something from a different perspective. Here are the two standouts that come to mind first: @fishnkamp was such a huge repository of information on all things rod and reel. I was not knowledgable about bass rods when I joined here and struggled to find rods that suited specific purposes. Bob and I talked on the phone repeatedly as he was always available to school me on gear and it impacts my fishing daily now. Having the right rod (not the most expensive or most recognized brand name) catches more fish. Period. I can thank Bob for greatly accelerating my learning curve. Hands down @Catt has impacted my fishing the most. Learning to slow down, learning HOW to "feel", the importance of rate of fall, how a jig differs from other single hook presentations, and, unbelievably, he was able to teach me some much needed patience. He was a gift and I sincerely appreciate all he gave me.

Welcome to the forums! You have chosen wisely. Be aware, however, that the forums are addictive and the Bait Monkey is lurking everywhere, ready to convince you to spend all your fishing funds and more.

I've been out twice and surprised both times. First time water temps were 54-ish, second time over 60. Both days windy. Should have been moving baits but those were only catching dinks. The only solid bass I caught were on a finesse craw and a T-rigged Trick Worm and the good bass were all extremely shallow but very close to drop offs and all were sporting fat bellies from feeding up. All the decent bass were in areas leading to the spawning coves from deep winter water. About halfway there.

Those are some beautiful fish. I feel you with the "color doesn't matter until it does". A few years back everyone I know was struggling to catch fish on a particular lake. One of my friends who lives on the lake called me to tell me that he had found "the deal". It was a red, curly tail worm fished on a T-rig. I started fishing that and started catching. We killed them all summer when the Saturday tournament guys were only bringing in one or two fish per boat. The next summer? The fish wouldn't touch them. I've got a drawer full of them. I've kept them just in case they come back in style. LOL

That's cool!

That's a beautiful boat! Congratulations!

That's well thought out. I'm 6'4, an avid weightlifter, and I have a bad habit of swinging like Bruce Banner when he's angry. I could be creating my issues with a worm on an EWG.

@Pat Brown gets the 'solution' button IMHO. This is my exact experience also. EWG are only for large creature baits. It is, admittedly, a question that is subject to personal preference. Almost a "what's your favorite color" question.

Yeah buddy! Hammer those fat fish!

If you don't feel like you're sinking, then you aren't in a bass boat!