roadwarrior

The "other" answer is loading up your rod. When a bass srikes a frog, Slug-Go or buzzbait, you need to simply reel down until you feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook. 8-)

Welcome aboard! 8-)

Hey Mike! Next year you can mail them to me, I'll bring them up to Kentucky Lake and then mail them back to you. Or, maybe we can make some arrangements with the lodge. We'll see...It's something we will work on for next year's roadtrip. 8-)

lawyerbassman, Welcome aboard! 8-)

You only need three rods to cover almost every technique: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229 8-)

Too cool! 8-)

Dude! If you can hear thunder, you are in danger. :

There is still a thread running on page 2 of this section: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1212520515 If you run a "search" you will find another 100 threads. :

Nice post and pics. Congratulations! 8-)

Welcome aboard! I suspect the main problems are your rod and hook-set. Soft plastics and jigs require a rod with firm tip. SuskyDude described the "snap set" which is also referred to as the "quick set". Making these two changes should solve the problem. Good luck! 8-)

Spotted bass are not found in Michigan: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Micropterus+Punctulatus+ 8-)

Contact your state's Department of Wildlife and ask for help and direction.

Man, I know this is what makes forums fun, but if you go back and review the last twenty pages of this section, more than half the threads are discussions of rods at various pricing ponts. Anyhow, the answer is a St. Croix Avid AVC66MF for an "all-around" rod and an AVC70MHF specifically for plastics and jigs. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229 8-)

"Soft plastics have caught more bass than all other lures combined. ...everthing else is just for fun." 8-)

We have that now with the Colorado and Wyoming oil shale deposits holding some 1+ trillion barrels of oil - five time the amount of Saudi Arabia's reserves. Oil had to reach $100+ per barrel before extraction and refinement was cost effective. That has happened, and Shell has developed a way to get it out of the ground rather easily. While we may never see $2/gallon gas again, it very well could be that one day the the United States will be the largest oil producer in the world and countries will look to us for crude. There is no shortage of hydrocarbons, it's all about "delivery". So, let's start delivering! >

angle-187, I have already suggested spending some time in the BassResource Library, but I will recommend it again. You will learn far more from the "Fishing Articles" than you will here on the Forum. You need a grasp of the basics and it is available there. 8-)

Spend some time in the BassResource.com library, you'll learn far more from "Fishing Articles" and associated links than here on the Forum. 8-)

My full-size Chronarch is buttery smooth. It compares favorably with my Calais 200. If you are happy with the size, you will love the reel. I too like full-size reels, but after casting Alpster's CH50MG a few times, I fell in love with that reel. 8-)

I deleted my "turds" comment. The fact is, Quantum reels have a well established reputation for poor long-term performance. I posted the most recent comment from someone who has actually owned a couple recently.

Well Doug, I doubt they will be "heavy" and as I have stated in numerous posts which I'm sure you have seen, the "play" is engineered into Shimano reels to protect them. Perhaps that's why Shimano reels last forever. Strong, smooth, silent and reliant. 8-)

Welcome aboard! 8-)

Mine are huge and sun themselves on a spillway. Not counting any in the water or any other part of the pond, I will have 100-200 just in that area. 8-)

Does it look like this? <-------------------- The fat one was just over 7 lbs, the other fish was nearly 4" longer, but just a pound heavier. Both were caught and released on the Tennessee River in January of 2005. 8-)

Close 4:00 CDT NYM WTI -$2.16 @ $122.15

Welcome aboard! 8-)