SJS

Thanks. I want to fish that far down slope slow and on the bottom because that is the area where I catch fish when they hit lures higher up in the water column. When the bite is off, I try to go light and slow on the very bottom to get hits, but I think you are confirming that it can't be done from my spot on the bank with the rigs I am using. I can't get a position that is perfectly parallel, but I can spend more effort getting as parallel as I can, and try weightless plastic. Thanks again.

I have a pond I am fishing from the bank, but the same issue could arise from a boat. There is a spot which runs down from the bank on a steep angle to about 6 to 8 feet. The bank on which I stand is itself another 3 feet above the water surface. From the bottom, going outward, the bottom then immediately angles up, less steeply but it is not a gradual rise. It goes up to about 2 feet. This is in a small cove and after the water gets that shallow it stays shallow for the rest of the cove. Most of the fish are spending time in that gully. If I want to fish on the bottom with a jig, a drop shot, a texas rig, etc., etc. I cast out to the shallows and work the retrieve back through the gully. Most strikes occur there and it is no problem with anything not on the bottom. But with bottom retrieves, whether it be small hops, drags, jerks, steady and slow, whatever, I have no control over the lure once it starts to decline down that outer ridge. It goes the speed that gravity and friction dictate regardless of what I do. Unless I want to speed it up but that defeats the idea of trying to fish slowly on the bottom. How would you fish this if you want to go low and slow?

I really appreciate all the comments. This strikes me as a great business opportunity. Is there such a thing as a clothing engineer? Boy, if someone could invent fishing clothes that are really comfortable, really cool in summer, really protective against sun and bugs, really cheap, and make me look 20lbs lighter, they would make a fortune.

I live in SC and it is pretty hot and humid these days. Being retired, I get to fish every day and spend hours outside and I am not crazy about lathering up with sunscreen and bug repellant. So, I decided to try one of the fishing shirts that claim to give good UVA protection. It seems to work for the sun, and the mere covering of my skin also provides bug protection. Problem is, despite its claims in the advertising it is not comfortable against the skin, does not breathe well and is hot. I think the reason is I tried to get away with buying a cheap one. I would love some suggestions for a comfortable, long sleeve shirt or hoodie that breathes well and is cool in very hot and humid weather. Suggestions for light weight pants would be great too.

Great fight, were you using light or ultra light gear?

Well, what got me thinking about it was tying on a jig today, which has the eye fixed vertically, and wondering if it made a difference in the motion of the jig when I wanted to hop it across the bottom.

When threading the fishing line through the eye of the lure do you: 1. Run it through the eye from the bottom up? 2. Run it through the eye from the top down? 3. It depends on the kind of line? It depends on the lure? It depends on the technique to be used? It doesn't matter?

DON'T! DANGER, DANGER, DANGER! Yesterday, I was fishing at one of several small ponds near my house. Across the road was another. Two small boys rode up on bikes and started fishing the other pond. I have been stymied by extremely hot weather, so I was fishing ultra light for bluegill to try and get something on the line. Then, things went out of control. I caught 3 bluegill in short order. Instantly, I had two small boys by my side casting. They were using large lures for bass so I gave them some of what I was using. They started catching bluegill. And talking, and talking, and talking, mostly about how their dads caught bigger fish than I did. I wished them luck and left. Seeking peace and quiet, I left for another pond a bit away; a secret pond. Not that folks don't know it exists but don't know how good it is and it is not as easy to access. Three minutes later two small boys show up on bicycles (yes, the same two boys). I was striking out. They, using my lures, started catching bass. As I walked away muttering like the grouchy old man I am they offered to teach me how to fish. And now, it is summer vacation and they will be there every day. No good deed goes unpunished.

Never mind, I looked it up on google and see its part of the normal Shimano lineup. Thanks for the tip, it looks like just what I need.

Casts-By-Fly, I no longer have my old trout gear. I have a St Croix bass rod that I like a lot so that idea appeals to me. I had not previously heard of JDM Miravel. I have a Shimano Miravel 3000 but want something smaller and lighter so the JDM sounds good. What is the difference between the JDM and the Shimano? Is it the same but JDM offers better pricing?

My current panfish rig is a Daiwa Regal LT 2500 and Okuma Stratus 7 rod with 8 lb mono. It works great but I am going to get myself a higher quality rig for no other reason than I like fishing a little more with better quality gear when I can and Father's Day is coming up. I never really looked that closely at panfishing gear, but I used to live in good trout country and in the past have had good rigs for trout. My general google look at gear gives me the impression that folks spend less on panfish than on trout. Why? Trout can get bigger, but most trout caught by most people are not larger than good size panfish. I don't think they fight any harder, just differently. I don't think they taste any better, just differently. Is it just that trout are aristocrats and panfish are blue collar? Anyway, I'll quit rambling and just ask my question. What would be a good rod and reel for panfish that would be a noticeable step up in quality from what I have now?

I posted a PB thread here on May 1. 10 days later I went to the exact same spot and caught a larger one on an Urchin bait using a drop shot rig. No scale again but it measured 27". I went out and bought a fish scale. Haven't caught anything over 2lb since.

Thank you Glenn. Appreciate all the hard work.

Don't recall what the thread was but I recently read a post by Swamp Girl that spoke about the simplicity of her fishing with her canoe. It got me thinking about getting a canoe or kayak for fishing small ponds, but I would not be using electronics or any other gear beyond two rods and extra lures in my pockets. I don't need a tricked-out fishing machine but something simple and light that I can lift by hand onto and off the roof rack of my SUV. I have experience in both kind of craft but not as fishing platforms. This will be shallow, still water with no waves or rapids to deal with, though the occasional bump by a gator is a possibility. I would appreciate comments on the merits of one type of boat over the other for this kind of fishing.

I'm fishing almost nothing but T-rig currently just so I can improve with that method and I still feel like it's as much luck as skill that I get a good hook set. Despite that, I am catching more and larger bass since starting this. I'm also starting to enjoy the technique while originally, I did not, I just used it because everyone raves about it.