Glaucus

Gah, I hate to sound like one of those people who ask for advice only to poke holes in your solutions. So annoying. But hear me out. Fishing just turned on here, as in literally just turned on, and things are still pretty slow moving. Would bass be lacking oxygen this early? Right now I'm stuck trying to catch these pond LMB from land because the water is too cold to get into. This particular pond has a bottom that will suck you in, so you can never get in anyways. Usually I would yak but in places I can it's too cold to risk, and at this pond it's forbidden anyways. This pond is constructed kind of strange. There's about 5 feet of flat land around the whole thing, but then there's a steep hill all the way around it except for the the path you take to get down to the flat ground to fish. Great for the wind, crappy for everything else. They're definitely munching on frogs. I've also noticed that they trap minnows like this and blow them up.

Yak, wade and bank for me except when I co-angle.

I'm partial to Daiwa and their Tatula reels. I recently picked up 3 Fuegos at a great price on Amazon to pair with some Furys and honestly there isn't much of a difference between the Tatula CT and the Fuego CT. It depends on how you rate the TWS.

Did you use the M or the MH? The MH is stiff. The M has a really good MF tip.

This is something that's consistently been a challenge trying to figure out on the banks of ponds. Scenario: A bass is about a foot off the bank, facing the bank. At what angle would you target this fish? Sometimes I can catch them without spooking then, but usually my attempts are futile. A.) Face to face. Usually the bass will get spooked by your "in its face" presence. If it does not spook, pitching on its nose hardly works. Casting over it and dragging the bait to it presents on awkward angle since the bait is coming from behind the fish and that will usually be enough to scare them off. B.) Stand at its side, some distance off, and cast down the bank and drag the bait to the fish from the other side. Hardly works and I think the reason why is because the line is in its sight the whole time. Often times this will be enough to spook the fish off before the bait ever has a chance to reach the fish. ... When I do catch these bass it's because they are either too stupid or too brave to care about my presence or the presence of something that looks off. I caught a 4lb LMB 2 years ago the was roaming right in front of me. There wasn't much I could do to be stealthy so I just dropped a Senko by it and it ever so casually picked it.

I'm right handed in all things except for reeling. Not only does it feel more natural to cast right handed and reel left handed, but my left hand actually feels more refined and dominant for reeling. I have no idea why because in everything else my left hand is useless. 10-15 years ago we could have made some pretty spot on jokes about how I look trying to throw a ball with my left hand.

How do you feel about the original Lightning rod? I've got 4 of the 6'6" M/MF Lightning rods right now, paired with Abu Garcia Silver Max reels, and I don't even like Abu products for the most part. But for whatever reason those original Lightning rods with that Abu reel are absolutely perfect for how I like to fish 1.5 sized squarebills as well as 1/4oz lipless crankbaits. They bomb them, keep fish pinned, and the IPT is on point. I tried the Shock rods for this a couple years ago but it wasn't the same.

Cases like yours is what I had in mind. Age, arthritis, disability of some sort, etc.

You won't catch me fishing with any storms on the horizon. The moment my phone alerts me to lightning in the distance I pack up and leave. I won't be launching the kayak until May, I won't risk hypothermia. I won't be stepping into the rivers until the flood waters recede and it warms up. Live to fish another day.

What do you mostly fish? Could be as simple as before you were reel setting and using looser drag, and now mono you need to set the hook more traditionally and tighten the drag a bit. But it really depends on what your primary techniques are. With crankbaits my above theory would hold true.

I disagree. His rod will work for a Ned Rig, but technically and traditionally speaking a Ned Rig is fished utilizing short, accurate casts.

I'm not recommending a return, just an exchange. Same line of rod, just 6 inches shorter and a power rating heavier. The 7' ML Fenwick HMG would be great for Ned Rig, grubs, drop shot, wacky rig, etc. The reason I asked if she would notice is because with it being the same line she would still think it was the rod she got you. Win win.

Would she notice if you exchanged it for the 7' ML version?

Which is cool, I just got caught up on the scam part. I don't know how it's a scam.

They're good value rods as long as you get one (some) with guides that are lined up properly and a tip that doesn't hook to one side or the other. Common in those rods.

Such a good technique

I've never checked where my combos balance just like I don't check or compare the weights of rods and reels. Only in special cases for specific people could I ever see it mattering. Like who cares if one rod is 3.8oz and the other is 4.2oz. Who cares if one reel is 7.6oz and the other is 7.8oz. Who cares where I have to place my finger to balance a setup.

Things took a turn for the better today. I stopped by a pond I hadn't checked out in a few days. A few days ago it was dead. No signs of life. Today bass were roaming and baitfish were everywhere. I sight fished the roaming bass with various weightless soft plastics but I didn't have any takers. They didn't seem interested in eating at all. I picked up a rod with a 1/4oz Red Eye Shad and ran them about 10 yards off the banks. I had 2 takers. That monkey is finally off my back for 2019. *Ignore the bed beard Fish #1. Not big, but it felt so good. Skunked no more. Fish #2. Better. Really ate the lipless. ... Things will go south again starting tomorrow. The temps will go back down into the 40s and low 50s for several days.

Kind of long for a Ned Rig IMO but it'll work

How is it a scam? It's a little expensive but it will last forever unless you put it in a tree. It accounts for dozens of nice fish for me every year. It also isn't like a buzzbait at all. You can't pause a buzzbait. You can pause a Plopper. It's more like a buzzbait and a popper made a baby. It's a fantastic bait.

"Buzzing" sound from Abu Garcia LTX sound from Abu Garcia LTX from Abu Garcia LTX Abu Garcia

That's a shame. See that beautiful smallie in your photo. You'd have a great time fishing a WP for those babies.

Tokyo Rig because it's an expensive silly looking gimmick. Alabama Rig. Never fished a spoon. True swimbait (fished smaller ones but I've never fished one of the big ones).

I love Fenwick. HMGs are good for the money. Warranty is great too. Quality made and beautiful.