roadwarrior

All good! 8-)

Those are nice fish and great pics. I'm glad you guys had some fun. 8-)

Welcome aboard! I don't bend barbs down on any type of hook or lure. I want my smallmouth to jump, that's what excites me!

Mike, You're an accomplished angler and I'm sure that works very well for you, but for most guys your technique would be a disaster. Today's sophisticated drag systems have been developed over the years to allow even the most finicky fisherman to fine tune his equipment. I set mine up, at least initially, with a scale, and rely on them to perform flawlessly. I am extremly pleased with the drag set-ups on all my Shimano reels.

"The harder I push, the righter it goes." Glad to hear you're okay.

Nope. Fish it just like it came, you'll be very pleased. ;D ;D ;D ;D Congratulations! 8-) p.s. I felt the same way about the additional spool, but I have two spools for other Shimano reels that I have NEVER used. :

Well, if I'm invited I'll come down next month and you can give me a lesson. I would REALLY like to fish with you when it's convenient. -Kent

I always read this "WATCH YOUR LINE...WATCH YOUR LINE". So, what do you guys do at night?

Nope, I had not heard that. On topic, right NOW is the time to look at the Avids. On sale, great value!

You are so silly... We'll all look forward to your report. 8-)

No. They will hold for a short period sometimes, but when you're involved in a battle the fish is at least partially stuck.

Some guys can, but for most of us that would be a formula for disaster! Braking systems are designed to aid the user, to make fishing easier and more fun. I doubt that there are many fisherman that would want to give back this technological enhancement.

Cornhuskers rock! Good luck! 8-)

It's more about "where" than "how". As with most (all) lures, structure and/ or cover are key. Running a Trap or trap-like lure along a weed line is killer. Rip-rap, ledges and ridges are other suggestions. Find the fish and the fish will find the Trap!

Welcome aboard! You don't need to use a baitcaster, all fishing techniques work just fine with spinning tackle. However, many fisherman prefer baitcasters for certain applications. I fish both types of equipment. For "finesse" fishing I choose spinning tackle. For "power" fishing and fast retrieve lures, I would rather use baitcasting equipment. Heavier (thicker) line performs much better on this type of gear.

Although I recommend Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test) I actually fish #4 (.009" diameter, 8.5 lb test) most of the time on my main smallmouth rig. I have never been broken off by a fish using this line. It has been my experience that line diameter has a SIGNIFICANT impact on smallmouth fishing, but a lot of other VERY SUCCESSFUL smallmouth fishermen here at BassResource.com have great luck with heavier line. (I'm referring to live bait and soft plastics, not hard baits). I guess you'll have to see for yourself.

This thread is currently running in "Fishing Tackle": http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1188738154

Pretty close. I guess I gave the Saint's offense too much credit. :

Good to hear from you. Get well soon. -Kent

January 1 through December 31. :

Hmm... I fish other lures for fun and to be a "versatile" fisherman. I NEVER take a soft plastic to my ponds if I'm fishing another lure/ technique. I PREFER fishing a number of hard baits and I'm trying to become Mr. Jig. BUT...if it were just about "catching bass" I would fish nothing but soft plasics at least 80% of the time. I think I could fish nothing but these lures/ baits and catch 150% of the largemouth bass I currently catch: Fat Ika, 6" Senko, El Gordo tube, Kreature, Swimming Senko and Kut-Tail.

Dan, Man, those are some high quality pics and nice fish, too. GYCB baits: I fish most of them (all of them?) and they deliver as advertised, period.

Good luck! But set your goals a little higher, catch some bigun's!

Great fish! Man, if Aaron Martens had landed that beast a couple of years ago he would have won the Classic!

Not true. I fish live bait a lot. Use a circle hook (Gamakatsu #6 Octopus Circle Hook) and you will NEVER gut hook a fish. 95% of the time the hook is in the jaw joint, the other 5% in the roof of the mouth or lower jaw. I can't recall a gut hook in the last 7 years. Both of the smallmouth in my avatar were caught on live shiners and circle hooks.