roadwarrior

Welcome aboard! I fish what I consider my "all-around" baitcaster. I use the same rod for all medium weight treble hook lures (topwater, jerkbaits and cranks) plus buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. This rod is a St. Croix Avid AC66MF with a soft tip. I have mine matched up with a Shimano Calais (6.2:1) and #12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft. More generally, I recommend a 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/ Moderate Action baitcasting rod and reel combination.

Man, I hate to hear that...

Bass will still be found in shallow water occasionally when they are feeding, but they tend to suspend in deeper water the majority of the time. Worse than that, however, when the water is cold their metabolism is much lower and they are often inactive. Fish don't actually hibernate, but they approach a state that is very similar. Generally, slow presedntations are more effective, but even that approach often requires hitting the fish in the face with your lure or bait. Absolute location can be crucial. Focus on structure, it offers your best chance of catching a fish. Locally, my most productive pond will produce two or three bass per hour fishing in the warmer months, sometimes it can be much better. November through early March this same pond produced about one bass for every four hours on the water. I had many days without a bite. Fortunately, things have picked up a bit recently. Good luck!

Feeding frenzy! Forget about finesse, focus on jerkbaits: Lucky Craft Pointer 100, Original Tennessee Shad & Rapala X-Rap (08), white. Another option you will want to try is a white (pure white, white & silver or white & chartreuse) spinnerbait with silver willow blades.

Here are some illustrations of various knots, including the Braid Knot: http://www.sportsmanschoice.com/terminal_tackle_knots.htm

Welcome aboard! Jerkbaits are a good option, especially early and late in the day. Otherwise, Fat Ika, 3 1/2" tubes, GYCB Single Tail Hula Grub, grubs, spinnerbaits (especially single willow blades), hair jigs and lizards. Focus on structure and if there is any current, current breaks. Structure includes hunps, ledges, rock piles, boulders, steeply sloped points, channels and any transition. Smallmouth will almost always relate to some type of structure.

I did and he still went out and bought a Pflueger! :

Really? Just to be obnoxious, I made the Kick-Tail distributor replace two full, three piece sets. My third set has never been used. I keep them in the top shelf of a hard tackle box just to remind myself that I will NEVER buy an infomercial lure again. They produced a few fish, but nothing special. They broke each time. The Kick-Tail is the most poorly built lure I have ever owned. Durability consisted of one or two strikes. I HIGHLY DISCOURAGE anyone from buying this lure. The entire promotion is a scam.

I fish the GYCB Single Tail Hula Grub as an alternative to the 3 1/2" Mizmo tube targeting smallmouth. In open water I fish an exposed hook, jighead. Otherwise, T-rigged with a 1/8 oz bullet or barrel weight, with a bead and unpegged.

#1 Fat Ika #2 6" Senko #3 Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tube #4 Lucky Craft Pointer 100 #5 Rapala X-Rap #6 Yo-Zuri RatlN' Vibe #7 Lucky Craft Sammy #8 Zara Spook #9 Terminator spinnerbait #10 Micro Munch Tackle 1/2 oz jig/ GYCB Fat Baby Craw

:) Beautiful bass, thanks again for the post. Great story, great fish, great pics. You da MAN!

Wow! This is THE BOMB! What do you guys think?

Yes they do! Although smallmouth bass can be found at lower latitudes, thermal ranges are not uniform. Look at any gardener's book and you will see "zones" that vary dramatically in continuity. St. Louis is only 200 air miles from Memphis, but two growing zones different. Smallmouth thrive in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, but at the same latitude, not central Alabama. The largest fish tend to be found along a line (+/-) drawn between Little Rock, Arkansas and Atlanta, Georgia. Numbers are FAR more prevalent north of this line. Smallmouth bass recruitment is exponentially greater in northern environments. Southern smallmouth grow bigger because they feed continuously (365 days a year) throughout their relatively short life (10 yrs). Northern bass are much easier to catch because their "feeding season" is so short and they are VERY aggressive. These bass are the same species living in different environments. A five year Southern smallmouth may weigh between 4 & 5 lbs, a northern bass is 10-14 years old before it reaches 5 lbs, although that may be changing. Warmer, clearer water and gobbies may have changed the dynamics.

Welcome aboard! You can do all of your fishing with one outfit, but I would strongly suggest something other than an Ugly Stick. BPS and Cabella's always have combinations on sale and those are (generally) your best buy for brand new equipment. I would suggest being patient and picking up something from one of our members in the "Flea Market" section of this Forum. You will find some great deals, often. As a general recommendation, a 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Heavy or Heavy Power/ Fast Action rod will work for you. A 300 or 400 series reel is probably what you need. Line capacity can be important for light saltwater applications, although that is not usually the case for most freshwater fishing. I prefer Shimano reels, but many of our members are fans of several well know brands. You will receive several recommendations. If you specify your total pricing point, that will help our members steer you in the right direction.

WOW! Those are some fine bass.

Hawgin, You're going to have to wait a few weeks until all the new Daiwa reels have been serviced. :

Well, I don't think that's what everyone is saying: Oversized weight has the potential to damage or break your rod. You should NOT exceed the recommended parameters of the rod.

That's the way to start the year. Congratulations!

Nope, I have always been landlocked. But I have fished saltwater on a number of occasions, mostly bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. I have caught red snapper, yellowfin tuna, tiger fish, grey sharks, Jack Cravel, bull reds (on my bass rod), amber jack (85 lb, PB), barracuda, wahoo, mackerel, dolphin, speckled trout, sheepshead, stingray and snook. Maybe something else, but no bill fish. I like being on the ocean, especially days out, but I don't care for the heavy fishing gear.

Excellent! Great pic, too.

Nice fish, nice pic. Congratulations!

"I wish they all could be California girls" -The Beach Boys The BassResource.com Boys

Now...That's funny! And accurate. Here are a couple of suggestions if you need some help: #1 Fish soft plastics in/ on or near cover and structure. #2 Slow down. Allow the bait to fall to the bottom and leave it there for a minute or at least fifteen seconds. Move the bait six to twelve inches with a slow, horizontal sweep and allow the bait to fall on slack line. Then let it sit again. Repeat until you feel you are "out of the zone."

Well, I'm not sure exactly what that means, but most of my biggest bass (10 lb+) have been caught on a 6" Senko. So... Me thinks it's worth the price. As a matter-of-fact, I think GYCB Senkos are a Great Value! 8-)

*** Moderator Note *** I have had to delete a couple of posts. As usual, political or in this case "semi-political" posts come into play. At any rate, this thread has run its course and is now closed. -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global Moderator