roadwarrior

Welcome aboard! Here is a thread to start with on "Reading a River." http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1183129059 You'll find several threads suggesting lures, other equipment, techniques and tactics in our "Smallmouth" section. I think you will find these discussions helpful even if you target is largemouth and Kentucky bass. Take a look through the back pages, too. Good luck!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

No kidding...We'll see what Fish Chris has to say, but that fish looks A LOT bigger than 11 lbs to me. Have you guys weighed some real weight to calibrate the Rapala? I just don't think that weight is right. I'm one of the first guys to say that you can't really judge weight by a picture, but that fish looks more like +/- 15 lbs to me.

Unfortunately, lures like ponds and often decide to stay. It is very difficult recovering from hang-ups. These are my suggestions: #1 Fat Ika #2 5" Senko #3 Gitzit #4 Kreature #5 Kut-Tail

By "kinks" do you mean weak spots resulting from backlash? I don't know of any other reason why you woiuld be having that type of problem with a baitcaster. Regarding memory from storage (shaping), fish your heaviest spinnerbait with a tailer for fifteen minutes and it will disappear entirely. If you are fishing from a boat you can troll your line which takes care of 99% of all problems. "Walking" your line in a field will accomplish about the same thing. However, as Raul noted, it seems to me there may be another fundamental problem that we are not seeing. Baitcasters should be spooled with the line spool upright (like with a pencil). If you spooled it flat like you would with spinning tackle that will result in VERY twisted line if it is put on backwards. That's all I can think off. #10 Yo-Zuri should NOT be a problem for you.

My main pond was heavily covered aound the banks for a good part of the spring with the snot grass (spirogyra) George mentioned. The bloom was almost entirely a result of residential run-off (fertilizer). Our ongoing drought exacrebated the problem as the chemical concentration accumulated without water outflow. Anyhow, we have had a little rain over the past two weeks and poof! it's gone.

DUDE! That's a toad. Congratulations!

I don't consider that a slump. As a matter-of-fact, I would be proud as punch to put any of my friends or family on some "fish of a lifetime." I don't think catching big bass consistantly has much to do with luck. To "catch" big bass REGULARLY you have to fish for them exclusively. Otherwise you might "get lucky" and catch ONE... If you are able to find big bass and have put your wife and and son on them, the person that caught the big bass simply had the "luck of the draw", but it will be your turn next time, or sometime. I hope you get yours soon. In the meantime, share your family's excitement.

jc2bg, Welcome aboard!

If you have skipjack that is another baitfish striper love to eat. I fish a 3-way swivel with a 3 oz weight and a #2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook on the Tennessee River. For smaller, suspending fish we also use a split shot presentation allowing the baitfish to swim randomly on a drift.

We have had several threads recently discussing Iron Silk. Some guys like it, some of us think it is "THE WORST" line ever made. (Others say Vanish deserves the title).

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On their own, both original formula Hybrid and Hybrid Ultra Soft float. The "sink rate" is, for the most part, a function of your lure, not your line.

We are only limited by our own imagination. 8-)

Which color is better? I was wondering if you guys (Aint Texan & WhiteMike) have actually fished a Fat Ika? I've been fishing them for three years and never have had one "fall apart." A fish will ocassionally throw one, but I can usually fish most of an outing with just one bait unless I loose it getting hung up. Unlike the Senko which has a high percentage of its total length free from hook support, the Fat Ika is almost totally involved. This bait is "bite-size" and generally taken completely into the fish's mouth. p.s. I want to re-emphasize that buying products from BassResource.com advertisers helps us all. Brad Coovert sells a broad range of lures and equipment, including the Fat Ika. Please take a look at his site: https://shop.jbcoutfitters.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=9

Man, what a find! Nice fish, great pics, too.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Nice fish, great pic. Congratulations!

I have a Lamiglas SR705R designed by Skeet Reese in conjunction with Lamiglas. I bought the rod for $160 shipped. For heavy or deep diving lures, this rod is THE BOMB! http://www.lamiglas.com/prod_indiv.php?id=38 (You can buy this rod from a number of well known retailers for $160, not the $220 MSRP)

Welcome aboard!

Make your life simple: Spinning tackle: #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, Baitcasting: #12

4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook.