roadwarrior

Take a look at the St.Croix Avid AC70MHF. $153 at Reed's. No sales tax, no shipping charge. (Click "Add to cart" to view your actual cost) http://www.reedssports.com/Product.taf?_function=detail&_ID=670

Well, I understand that "one bait" is not necessarily the "right bait," but being a swimbait rookie, if I am going to fish it, that's all I'm going to fish. So far I have caught ten bass in approximately sixteen hours. On average, I catch one 5+ lb bass on my ponds every four hours. That's exactly where I am with Mattlures Baby Bass. I have given up some "numbers" which I don't care a thing about, so I'm going to stick with the program for awhile.

Welcome aboard!

Wrong. If you are going to fish for BIG fish, you have to spend ALL of your time hunting them. You are fishing for ONE bite and there is no telling when that might occur. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1184651491 and... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1184593780

Not to be an ole stick-in-the-mud, I'll give 'em a try. However, I have been using Gamakatsu for a number of years without any issues. Some time ago I discovered X-Points which I REALLY like, too. We'll see... 8-)

No, worse than that... Muddy is wearing a Yankee's hat and fishing a Senko with a Shimano reel! :

;D ;D ;D Yeah, we've been beating this horse everyday for at least two years... IT CANNOT BE KILLED! :

I'll bet you are one heck of a guide. I'm sure most of your clients will miss fishing with you. Thanks for the inside story.

Fat Ika, weightless and weedless. Fish with spinning tackle, #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft and 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hooks.

Hmm... Great fish! 8-)

Better fishing is up north that time of year, particularly if your target is smallmouth bass. We never have the numbers in this part of the country and the smallmouth fishing can be very difficult during the summer.

Man, it's already Thursday and this topic hasn't been raised all week! : We are NOT censoring discussion or cutting off debate, but jezz guys, it's ALL here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643 AFTER you have read EVERY post in EVERY thread referenced above, THEN come back to this thread and post an ORGINAL THOUGHT. If it hasn't already been said, at least 10 times, I'm all ears. ALL STICKBAITS HAVE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS AND SOME THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE BRAND.

Welcome aboard! Whenever the conversation turns to "What is the best?" the responses are usually about what is our "favorite". With 10,000+ members, we have sponsors of every brand. So, whether it's Quantum, Daiwa, Pflueger, Abu Garcia, Cabela's house brand or BPS, someone here likes them- a lot! For me it's Shimano. Most reels start out sweet, but the question, I think, is durability or performance over time. The Symetre and Stradic are great reels. If you like the way they work and feel, that's what you get and that's exactly what you'll have five or ten years from now. With proper maintainance, these reels might last a lifetime.

Hmm... Me thinks some members are paying attention... 8-) What pricing point are they bringing it in at? Right now $100, $200 anb $250 are pretty well covered.

I fish them, too. However, they are too big and heavy to cast for an extended period of time. I troll with them and use them mostly for striper fishing when we can't find live bait. They are VERY effective, but definately NOT user friendly.

Most of "fishing" is cast and retrieve, not catching. As flechero has pointed out, the opportunity to "catch" is infrequent and the chances of hooking-up with the "fish of a lifetime" only happens once. To CONSISTANTLY catch bigger bass requires the ability to hook up and land THAT BASS when the opportunity arises. EVERYTIME I have that opportunity, I want to have ALL of the variables in my favor. To use your softball analogy as reference, if the perfect pitch is delivered I want to take full advantage of that situation and knock it out of the park!

I suppose when you make an assinine statement like that your're just trying to get a reaction, but if you were serious, you are just plain WRONG.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! These articles might help: https://www.bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

Good for you, buddy!

Man, I just hate stories like that. The opportunity to catch a really special fish just doesn't come around that often. Oh well, better luck next time.

Wow! Very nice. 8-)

Welcome aboard! I don't consider the season "winding down." July and August are usually my best months for the biggest largemouth bass of the year, late September marks the beginning of smallmouth season in the Mid South. If things are slowing down for you, try to find structure in deeper water. You might be surprised! 8-)

Your softball bat reference is prime. Although there are SIGNIFICANT differences in higher end equipment, they do not fundamentally affect you fishing success. High end gear will make a good fisherman better, but it will not make a poor fisherman good. I think the "high end" starts at about $150 for a combination (rod & reel). The "best value" is generally a combo from a major retailer on sale (they are always on sale). This would be an example: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59174_100003002_100000000_100003000_100-3-2

Welcome aboard! Just keep playing with the Sammy and follow avid's instructions. The LC Sammy is the easiest lure you could chose to learn this technique.