roadwarrior

Another, which I use most often, is the standard T-rig, bullet or barrel weight, with a bead, unpegged and weedless (skin hooked). http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/Texas_Rig.html

XT is tough as nails. I think Raul and flechero fish the line almost exclusively on baitcasting equipment. It would be a significant upgrade from XL which is generally considered a line for spinning tackle. My line of choice is Yo-Zuri Hybrid and Hybrid Ultra Soft.

Rather than experimenting with lures that look interesting, I have adopted a policy of buying ONLY lures that are HIGHLY recommended by BassResource.com members or fisherman that I know personally. All of my lures are organized in plastic boxes by lure class. In the case of jerkbaits, for example, I have one 3600 box in my tackle bag to actually use and seperate boxes kept in my fishing room for each brand: Smithwick Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers, Rapala X-Raps and Husky Jerks. My "inventory" of soft plastics is in storage, for day-to-day use, one plastic box.

Guys, that's just too cool! 8-) This is a GREAT thread. Thanks for the posts.

Man, that's a beauty!

Welcome aboard! Start here:http://bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html Then read all of the articles listed in this thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643

Welcome aboard!

Many members of the Shimano Posse have written glowing reviews about the Symetre ($79), but my vote for "Best Value" in the Shimano line-up still goes to the Stradic 2500FH ($129). Either way, you will not be disappointed. BTW, Reed's Family Outdoors Outfitters has them on sale: http://www.reedssports.com/main.taf?cat=59 (Free shipping and no sales tax, too!)

Nice fish, great pic!

Me, too! 8-)

Pure Fishing is the holding company that owns a number of brand names. Berkley is one of them, Fenwick is another. http://www.purefishing.com/menu.cfm?CFID=2550768&CFTOKEN=dc2fb79702d12c84-29E55247-B638-1C85-BA16B20CDAFC7525

+1 8-)

I too am a member of the NY Bass Forum. Many (most) of the seasoned tournament fishermen complain that the guys that are winning most of the local tournaments aren't even "real" fishermen, they no nothing about "fishing" they are just "Senko" guys. Well, duh... The Fat Ika could be the #1 bait in NY, but very few people throw it. I don't think the lure is effective in moving water because current negates the action. In still water, it's THE BOMB! This bait will attract both largemouth and smallmouth anywhere they live...guaranteed! ALL of the baits I mentioned will CONSISTANTLY draw a srike in your water and ANY water in the world were bass live. The "warm water season" in New York is what the southern part of the country considers spring and fall. Bass in northern states tend to be MUCH more aggressive than those found in southern states because, I think, their feeding season is shorter. If there was ever an argument for fishing bigger baits to reduce the small bass bite, it would certainly apply to northern waters. Yes confidence is VERY helpful, but it doesn't necessarily get the job done. You have to FIRST find the fish! "Can't catch 'em if they ain't there", regardless of your attitude. Confidence does not replace skill and practice. Attitude is great, but there is sooooo much more involved in being successful. With regard to "covering water fast," that's more about style. I NEVER fish fast. When I'm fast, I'm still stopped. I fish THOROUGHLY, never quickly, but that's not everyones's game, it's preference. I'm patient and EXPECT fish to be where they are suppose to be...That doesn't always work out. So, different strokes for different folks, but regarding lures: No compromise- Every lure I suggested will catch bass, most of the time, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD where bass live. Some colors will work better on some lakes, on different days and at other times of year, but "Dark" and white ALWAYS work.

Junior and Jeff Gordon, teammates. Whodda thunk it?

The Power depends a lot on the size of jig and where you fish them, but Medium Power at least. Action should be Fast or Extra Fast, with a firm tip. I think length is personal preference. My main jig rod is a G.Loomis GLX MBR844C/ Shimano CTE200GT and #12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft.

Well, there are a few lures that work VERY well everywhere, most of the time. Maybe an Original Floating Rapala is not the best choice in the middle of the winter in northern states, but nine months out of the year, this particular lure will produce a few fish anywhere. In that same vein, the GYCB Senko is a consistant producer and one of the greatest baits of all time. I could say the same about the Fat Ika. Jigs? Maybe a little slower bite, but almost always productive. Gitzit, Rat-L-Trap type lures, Pop'R and blades (Silver buddy/ Cordell Gay Blade) are a few more. Colors? "Dark" or white all of the time, chartreuse most of the time. There are other lures (jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater) that we might "prefer" to fish some days and which might be the "very best" choice on a given day, but the lures I mentioned in the first parargraph will almost ALWAYS produce a bite. These are "The Best" lures everywhere, all of the time, regardless of the weather or water conditions. I'm not sure what "The Best" color will be today, but give me a watermelon/ black flake soft plastic and a silver/black hard bait and I'll be fine. If I only get one color, make it green for everything.

Welcome aboard!

Taliesin, Welcome aboard! FIN-S-R, Five years ago I was fishing Bull Shoals the first weekend in June. The Corps of Engineers had taken charge of the reservior due to some legal requirements involving water release for downstream farmers. The point is, the water rose more than thirty feet in this huge lake with trees in full leaf! No one, including the guides, could get a bite. My guide had another idea. We fished inside primary points in what appeared to be the middle of giant coves. We fished around the trees where the "normal" bank should be. For three days we never went fifteen minutes without "Fish On!" So, my suggestion is to get away from the bank and the brush. Look for cover and structure in deeper water. You might be surprised.

Welcome aboard! I have done some business with Reed's Family Outdoor Outfitters, they are a quality company. Those are some nice prices on great reels. No tax, free shipping, a reel bag and an in-house discount. Looks like a deal to me! BTW Shadrac, You can start a new thread on any topic, anytime. Old threads are fine, but not necessary.

** MODERATOR NOTE ** All right guys, don't be alarmed and don't get mad...Several posts have been edited and a couple that only referred to what was edited, deleted. Nothing personal, but we're not going there on this forum. -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global Moderator

I think you will have much better luck with GYCB Single Tail Grubs, Single Tail Hula Grubs, Fat Ika and 3 1/2" tubes. BTW, I fish Senkos a lot, but they seem to be much more productive for largemouth bass.

Too cool! 8-)

There is a very strong possibility that the bigger fish have simply moved out a little to structure in deeper water. You need some kind of boat to get off the bank. Your lures are working, obviously, but you "can't catch 'em if they ain't there."

I get in the truck an leave. I'm already, ready!

Hmm... I take a completely different approach when I'm bank fishing or fishing from my yak: One rod, one class of lures (generally soft plastics). On another day, I'll fish topwater, a shallow crank, spinnerbait or maybe even a jig, but just one lure on one rod. I don't want to carry a bunch a gear and I want to stay completely focused on what I'm fishing, not what I could be using.