Glaucus

We've got 3 straight days of 25-50 mph winds. Temps have gone from high 60s and low 70s to several days with highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s. Most days on the extended forecast are 50s with lows of 30s and rain, rain, rain. I think I quit until May.

A jig rod and a crankbait rod are very different rods. You're also not going to want a 9.3:1 reel for cranking.

Yeah but I'm confident in saying that there is no better sound in fishing than a fish peeling drag on a spinning reel. So satisfying.

I can pitch to a target with a lot more accuracy than I can get out of a spinning rod. I'm backwards in that I started on casting gear, but I know for a fact I've spent more hours with spinning gear. Casting something like a squarebill is a lot more accurate with casting gear too. However if I'm casting a soft plastic in a traditional way, the spinning rod is more accurate. This is just me.

Constantly flipping the bail, wind knots, the slower techniques and lighter lines associated with their use, not as accurate, etc. I, however, love them. Whereas a lot of guys carry very few (maybe 1-3) spinning outfits in their lineup, about 40% of my setups are spinning setups. Well, it isn't so much that I love the spinning setups themselves, but that I love finesse fishing. I'm not so stubborn that I'll try to use a baitcaster for a drop shot, Ned Rig, etc because I also don't reach for the screwdriver to hammer nails or the fork to eat soup.

If I'm fishing a pond it's usually on the smaller side and I typically walk the whole length trying a lure. Once I get back to the starting point I switch and do it all over again until I find a lure that is working and a spot that is holding fish. I don't bank fish lakes and I only bank fish rivers at the dams. I yak/wade those.

And to clarify, along with you, Josh, the individuals who keep the fish do not "sicken" me, and I respect their right to keep fish; I would never say a word about it unless it was illegal size or from a catch and release body of water. I am simply naturally (I guess) repulsed by seeing a bass kept because I have an irrational love for the species.

I'm with you.

They're spots. Beautiful fish.

Roland fishes tournaments. He talks about it on his YouTube channel. Edit: I should read the whole thread before responding. I see that it was already covered.

I only wacky rig Senkos and Trick Worms, and I only wacky rig the Trick Worms when I feel they need to see something different than a Senko.

Yeah well when you're trying to get under trees or between trees, sometimes you miss. So many overhanging trees have eaten a lot of my stuff.

Good thread. However I will say that I lost 3 Whopper Ploppers to trees last year alone. I lose a lot of stuff. This is because I have no fear of putting my lures into a messy situation or making high risk casts because these areas are where the fish are. Actually one of the Ploppers was lost to a concrete bridge piling. I was trying to cast right next to it and instead hit it and it broke the Plopper.

I pretty much exclusively fish for bass and I'm completely catch and release. If I want to eat something, I'll buy it. I do this for fun because I love it.

How about dead in the center of your budget: the Fenwick HMG in M/F for $100. It fishes on the heavier side of M, but it can still sling light weights, giving you backbone and castability.

The M power rods on the Black Max combos are moderate fast action. Fully outfitted it is coming in at the top end of the rods lure rating. It will cast it but maxing out the lure rating does feel off.

I used to have one awhile back. It was decent. I wouldn't buy one again at full price, but I would by a few for 70% off.

1/4oz is just the weight of the head. Add hook, skirt, weedguard, and especially the trailer and you're talking about a considerably heavier lure than 1/4oz. Laugh reacted your post because we said the same thing at the same time.

A MH rod rated 1/4oz-3/4oz or 3/8oz-1oz is more common/standard. I have a Dobyns Fury in H that is rated 1/4oz-1oz and is more of a MH. That might be an option ($120)? You spoke of a Black Max combo so I'm assuming you're on a budget? The Daiwa Aird X rod in MH is rated 1/4oz-1oz ($55).

Mother Nature is unhinged

But why

Time for a lizard. Ignore the video title. All he does is catch a bass and a heron swoops in to get it but he's too fast. All about lizards on beds.

I don't think anyone thinks of holding bass horizontally any other way than holding it by the jaw and belly....

I understand the sentiment, but I am very happy to live in a state where you need more of an excuse than trespassing on private property (different than trespass of residence or home invasion) to attack or shoot someone. I've always told my wife that when we get old (God willing) we will build a pond like this and fence it off.