roadwarrior

Well, it sounds like a buffalo to me. They fight EXACTLY like a smallmouth except they do not jump. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_fish

Good for you! Great story.

Yep, I know what you mean. I tried #20 for awhile striper fishing...not good. Generally, #6 can be broken a little easier than that, but your story is a good example of why I use it and trust the Hybrid Ultra Soft. With the proper drag setting, a fish cannot break the line.

"Ain't nothin' cant' be fried."

If you are focused on the Revo, you have received some good advice. If you still want to compare another brand/ model take a look at the Shimano Curado for about the same price: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_73517_100001001_100000000_100001000_100-1-1

My preference would be to spend a few extra dollars, $120 to be exact, and get the Stradic 2500FH. However, the Symetre gets GREAT reviews from every Shimano fan and even some of the Daiwa guys. For $79 that IS a great value!

No, having a manufacturing facility near me would not be a consideration. A well established reputation for delivering quality products for many years is of primary concern to me. There are many great rod makers and some very good equipment at various pricing points. I have a preference for G.Loomis and St. Croix, but I also fish a Fenwick and a Lamiglas.

This thread and the reference articles noted might help, too. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643

Hmm... Seems to me that one of two colors works all the time: "dark" or white.

The "science" simply improves your odds. "Consistancy" has nothing to do with luck, it is all about the science. It involves what is known about bass behavior, what experience on the water has tauught us and our perception of the clues on any given day. Rick Clunn makes the point with this comment: "Catching bass is pretty easy, it's finding them that is the challenge." Fish_Chris is my hero. He fishes alone (no guides), is multi-species, uses artificial and live bait, travels to numerous water bodies, both freshwater and salt, CONSISTANTLY catches HUGE fish and uses the "wrong" equipment. : I don't think he's lucky...I think he's pretty good.

The power rating and action of your rod is a function of the lures you choose to use and the the structure/ cover you fish. This has very little to do with the size of fish you expect to catch unless you are downsizing in anticipation of small fish (white bass, crappie, stocker trout and bluegill). Light or ultra-light gear will make catching smaller fish much more fun. Big bass do NOT require heavy rods in and of themselves. For most single hook applications medium power/ fast action is what I recommend. For treble hook lures (topwater, jerkbaits and crankbaits) medium power/ moderate action is the ticket. Largemouth fishing sometimes requires the fisherman to "move the fish" away from timber or out of lilly pads for example. Fishing in these environments may require heavier gear. Casting 3/4 oz lures or anything heavier requies a rod with a little more backbone, too. However, for the widest range of baits and conditions, medium power rod combinations, spinning or baitcasting, is all you need. Medium power makes catching bass under 5 lbs more fun, but it can handle almost anything you are likely to encounter in freshwater. My fishing partner and I often catch striper, catfish, drum and buffalo well over 20 lbs on medium power spinning rods spooled up with #4 or #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid when we are smallmouth fishing. My partner landed his 10 lb smallmouth on this gear as well as a 43 lb blue catfish. You're probably not going to catch any bass bigger than that cat. : Medium power is a good choice most of the time

Nice fish, nice pics...Congratulations! 8-)

Welcome aboard!

Man, those are a couple of beauties! Yours is a monster. Congratulations! 8-)

GENERALLY, I don't think color is important, it's either "dark," white or some combination (contrast?). However, SOMETIMES the EXACT shade of a PARTICULAR color is critical. For example, an orange belly on a Rogue may be killer when the same black and silver by itself can't catch a cold. Still, as a diciple of the Bait Monkey, I buy every color in the rainbow just like everyone else!

Fishing alone is like drinkin' alone: I don't like it unless I'm by myself. :

Hmm... I really don't have an opinion. It seems like I usually catch bass when I go fishing and don't, when I don't. My unscientific observation is that other variables are MUCH more important. As a River Rat, current is the overriding variable, always. The season, water temperature and baitfish behavior are other factors that affect success, but I don't know exactly where the moon comes into play.

I don't think either pond is worth fishing. The first pond lacks balance and will never produce good bass. The second pond has probably been fished out or the bass have died off. I wouldn't spend any time on these waters. The keys to selecting a pond to fish are age, original and/or supplimental stocking, forage and the water flow or consitancy of water levels. Surprisingly, ponds with little or no cover and nominal structure can still produce big bass. (I happen to fish a couple of ponds that fit that description). However, the ideal pond would have lots of structure which promotes the recruitment of various baits; deep pockets or pools and relatively shallow flats. (This describes my most productive pond). Still, regardless of how a pond was built or how it looks now, stocking and maintnace will determine the long-term bounty.

Nice "brownie." 8-)

Or just don't respond, there are no requirements here. I know a lot of stuff is redundant, but if this board was just filled with stickies and everyone referred all the people to the stickies only, what fun would that be? I hope BassResource.com helps a lot of fishermen, is informative and fresh, but mostly... It's just for fun! Have some fun and don't be shy. If you have a question, someone will be here to help. If you get referred to another section or sticky, please don't be offended, some topics have been THOROUGHLY discussed, but that does NOT mean it's a stupid question or that you should already know the answer. Many of our members are very knowledgeable and experienced (even some of the guys that fish with Daiwa and Pflueger reels). Most are helpful and courteous. All of us welcome new members to this site. So, What's a Senko and why are all those other brands called knock-offs? :

When the reaction bite is not working, go back to soft plastics: GYCB Fat Ika, Hula Grub, grubs and Laminated Lizard. My favorite Gitzit is usually VERY productive: 3 1/2" Mizmo tube, Kent's Classic (squash green). Also, line diameter and visibility can be crucial. Spool up some 6 lb test (diameter) line. I fish Yo-Zuri Hybrid and Hybrid Ultra Soft #4 (.009") & #6 (.010"). In very clear water the original formula Hybrid may be advantageous.

Welcome aboard! Although I voted "Soft Plastics," my best producer has always been live minnows fished on a split shot rig. Soft pastics that have worked for me include the GYCB Fat Ika, Hula Grub, grubs and Laminated Lizard. I also HIGHLY recommend 3 1/2" Mizmo tubes, Kent's Classic (squash green). In low light, jerkbaits and topwater have proven successful. I have had some luck with the 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade spinnerbait, but haven't fished it as much as I would like. One of the biggest smallmouth I have ever caught on an artificial lure was fooled by a 1/2 oz Micro Munch Tackle jig (black)/ GYCB Fat Baby Craw (black w/ blue flakes). However, my overall success fishing a jig has been limited.

Kistler bashing is all about their marketing scam. Maybe they have achieved a level of excellence, but for those of us that have looked at the rods and followed their brief history, it's just marketing hype. The first Kistlers were "Comparable to a Loomis, but at a better price." Well, in fact they had "issues" and components often fell off; the original blanks were replaced by another manufacturer, guides and reel seats changed. Significant "quality control" problems have been chronic. The initial pitch was a "state of the art" hook holder. The original Kistler was NOT comparable to a G.Loomis. I'm not going to keep pounding them and I have VERY high regard for some of our members that are sponsored by Kistler, pro staff and/or friends of the owner. If the company's reputation improves in a couple of years maybe I'll consider buying a rod, but Kistler's history does not support such strong endorsements. At a comparable price, there are some great rods made by companies that have built their reputation over decades. I'm a BIG fan of some of those companies.

The main reason private property is posted is to limit the property owner's liability. If you make the effort to get permission, chances are pretty good it will be granted. Otherwise, you have NO right of access to anyone's property, period.

Fish a Fat Ika and 5" Senko (not a knock-off) until you get tired of catching bass, then try other lures. 8-)