roadwarrior

If you are fishing from the bank, original Rapala (floater); from a boat, Rapala Countdown (rainbow trout pattern). Panther Martin is my go-to lure (gold spinner, black w/ chartreuse dots).

1/2 oz Micro Munch Tackle jig, hunter green with black flakes/ GYCB Fat Baby Craw, watermelon w/ black flakes. or Same jig, black or black & blue/ GYCB Fat Baby Craw, black w/ blue flakes.

avid, Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. I hope you will consider setting up your drag a little differently. Tight drags are fine for smaller fish that can be horsed in, but they too can be landed with the drag set for your trophy bass. You cannot anticipate the precise time that PB will strike, being in a state of readiness at all times is the only safe option. I hope you have better luck next time.

Pure Fishing sold: http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/BUSINESS01/704100398

If you are concerned about "quality components, craftmanship or quality contol" look elsewhere. The Rat-L-Trap is often on sale for $1.99 and sometimes 99 cents. They are not going to spend any money improving these lures. However, whether the paint chips off or not, these baits are proven bass magnets! If you want a better looking lure and top-of-the-line hooks, Yo-Zuri RatlN' Vibes, Drum and the Lucky Craft LV series are for you. Although I personally prefer the higher end lures, I still fish Rat-L-Traps and they are VERY effective.

Welcome aboard!

Hmm... I was thinking Shimano Curado. :

I suggest trying Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (11.9 lb test) on your spinning reel.

My "worm" rod is used for all soft plastics. I prefer spinning tackle, airborne worms created a mess with baitcasters that I simply don't want to deal with. Anyhow, my rig is 7' MF, specifically a St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella 2500FB/ Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 and Gamakatsu or X-Point 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks. The GYCB 6" Senko is my "worm" of choice.

You don't need chorizo, hamburger and your favorite sausage will do just fine. If you eliminate the tomatoes, add 28 oz of beef broth to the recipe. If the soup is too thin, just let it continue to simmer (uncovered). If you think it is too thick, add water or beef broth. I like to kick it up a notch in my own bowl with Tabasco Sauce, but don't add it to the recipe if you are making it for guests. Not everyone likes it hot. This recipe is "spicy" but not really "hot." Leftovers can be stored in Zip-Lock bags or Tupperware and frozen. Chili will keep indefinitely.

1 lb course ground sirloin 1 lb Dino's chorizo 2 packages William's Chili Powder 1 medium Spanish onion (thinly sliced) 1 jalapeno pepper (seeds removed) 1 large can (28 oz) diced tomatoes 1 large can (28 oz) water 1 Campbell's Beefy Mushroom Soup 1 small can (16 oz) red beans (not Kidney beans) 4 rounded tbsp cilantro 4 rounded tbsp yellow corn meal 2 tbsp crushed garlic 2 tbsp black pepper 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp salt ---------------------------------------------------------- Cook in a 4 qt sauce pan Remove chorizo from casing Brown sausage, sirloin and onions on medium heat Drain all visible grease, pat with paper towels Add Williams Chili Powder and stir so that all of the meat is coated Add tomatoes and water Stir in cornmeal Stir in Campbell's Beefy Mushroom Soup Stir in all other ingredients EXCEPT beans Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat to medium low Simmer for 1hr, stirring occasionally, uncovered ------------------------------------------------------------- After the soup has cooked for an hour, add red beans Continue to simmer on medium low heat for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally ------------------------------------------------------------- Remove from heat, cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------- Top chili bowls individually with grated sharp cheddar cheese and serve with dill pickles and saltine crackers.

Good for you! Tough conditions and you still managed to catch some nice bass. Great pic!

I don't think there is a reason. Color and tint vary is all bass populations. On the Tennessee River I catch a lot of spots that don't have any red and others that seem to shine. There does not seem to be any correlation with time of year or size of fish.

At the top of thisw page you'll see a section labeled "Fishing Articles." That's where you'll find this: http://bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html Start there and look around the site. The BassResource.com Library is extensive.

Welcome aboard! I'm sure a few of our members know something about that gear and will have a couple of other suggestions in your price range. Good luck.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! Pure fluorocarbon as well as copolymers with a fluoro component are stiffer in cold weather. I suspect cold effects the physical intergrity of the line, but I have never read anything in this regard.

Great fish. Congratulations! *** MODERATOR NOTE *** This post is NOT about C & R, so don't start preaching. These kind of threads always go down hill. Most members, including deadeye32, already practice C & R most of the time. If you want to start another thread on that topic, do so, but NOT here. -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global Moderator

Welcome aboard!

Hey roger! Good to hear from you...Gary said to say, "Hi!", too. :

I have found that my crankbait rod is my "general purpose" rod. I fish 90% of all treble hooks, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits with a St. Croix Avid AC66MF (soft tip.) For light lures (X-Rap) and at night, I fish a Fenwick Techna AV, AVS70MM. For big treble hooks (Pointer 128) and deep divers, Lamiglass SR705R (glass), Heavy Power/ Slow Action. All three of these rods run about $160. As a more general recommendation, I suggest a 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/ Moderate Action rod.

I believe the 6" Senko does not appeal (as much) to the smaller bass. Often, you have to get by smaller bass in order to get to the larger fish. I have seen this demonstrated in the aquarium at BPS during a seminar hosted by Mike Whitten (GYCB "Inside Line"). Smaller bass are generally MUCH more aggressive than larger bass. I think this is why 5" baits are far more "productive." I also think that when we are comparing knock-offs, this is a strong argument for cheaper baits. Agressive bass will be attracted to a variety of soft plastics, regardless of the brand, fall rate, texture or action. When almost anything will work, knock-offs are probably just as productive as Senkos.

For an "all-around" rod I suggest taking a look at the St. Croix Avid, AC66MF or AC70MF. St. Croix has a reputation for quality equipment and both of these rods will match up nicely with your Shimano Curado. nicely. If you would like to be a little more technique specific, the second rod should have a firm tip to fish jigs and soft plastics. The Avid AC70HF might be the ticket at this pricing point or you might just wait, save a little money and buy a G.Loomis IMX MBR844C. The Loomis rods pop up in our Flea Market occasionally. If you are patient you can probably pick one up for under $200.

Wassup with that? 9.5 lb green trout...another "everyday" fish... : Great fish, but an even better picture. We need a separate section for you and the rest of the Cali guys. For some of us, that might be "This Year's Bass." There are a couple of guys on the Forum that might think that's a pretty good day and I might be one of 'em! Nice fish, great post.