roadwarrior

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

I don't have a dog in the fight.

Yo! That's one "tackle bag" AND four rods!

It probably sounds like the only thing I ever fish is Hybrid Ultra Soft, but that's not true. I have fished "most" lines and experimented with Triple Fish, Gamma Fluorocarbon, Maxima and Sunline Defier last year. I'm still looking for "the perfect" line. BTW, if price is not important to you, I REALLY like the Sunline, but it's $40.

I'm done. Nothing much to do today so I put together everything I'm bringing to Fork and have all my Plano boxes totally organized. "For fishing" I have one bag containing four boxes plus four rods. However, I'm bringing a little more, just in case. :

I think you put in "Line size for smallmouth," or there is another similar post there.

What I'm hearing is that some of the more "urban" locations will be eliminating their hunting departments. The fishing portion of the sports sections aren't going anywhere unless they get bigger. Spring stock-up is about to begin.

Dukhunt22, Welcome aboard! Check out this thread and all the links. (It's also one of the Stickies at the top of this section). http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643

Twenty-three hours, forty-five minutes to kick-off! It started last night with the "Greatest Super Bowl Commercials of All Time." I'm having some work done on the house, so I've been stuck here all day. Been watching ESPN's Classic Channel, "The Greatest Everything" from all past Super Bowls. You gotta love it or you wouldn't like it at all! I'm pacing myself, but staying upright until 5:25 CST tomorrow is going to be a challenge. 48 hours of pre-game...I hope to sleep-in until at least 5:00 tomorrow morning. GO BABY!

Nice, fat bass. Very healthy looking fish. Congratulations!

lazeebum, I'm almost exclusively live bait. Specifically, I fish live minnows on a split shot rig and spinning tackle. As I think I have already stated on this thread, the Tennessee River is not even in the running for the best river for numbers. If it's a shot at the next World Record your after, now that's another story. This is is big bass river. The Cumberland River and it's tributaries are the only other contenders when it comes to size.

Welcome aboard! Both Yo-Zuri Hybrid and Hybrid Ultra Soft are bonded (not coated) fluorocarbon/ nylon copolymers. The Ultra Soft has a higher nylon component making it more manageable, but also more visable. The lines are simply an alternative to mono, fluro or other copolymers. It is NOT a "special use" line. Both Hybrids are highly abrassive resistant and I feel they are a very good compromise of all the characteristics I am looking for in fishing line. I use #4 & #6 for all spinning tackle applications. #12 is what I am using on baitcasting equipment.

Guilty as charged... I fish soft plastics the vast majority of the time if I'm fishing artificials. This is my second year to really focus on becoming a better jig fisherman, but soft plastics are still my bread & butter. My top three producers are all soft plastics: 6" Senko, Fat Ika, El Gordo tube.

Russ, Wow! At -120 I ain't doing nothin' outside!

Part of my response is technique specific and part is just personal preference. The length of your rod is a good example. For some techniques, longer or shorter equipment migh be "ideal," but that doesn't matter if it is not comfortable for you. So, these are my thoughts in general, but I am not really stuck on a specific length. Soft plastics General: M/MH or Heavy Power/ Fast or XF Action. Spinning or baitcasting. For me: 7' MF spinning. Specifically: St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella 2500FB/ Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6/ Gamakatsu or X-Point 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks. Jigs General: MH or Heavy Power/ Fast or XF Action baitcasting. For me: My soft plastics rig for weights 3/8 ounce and less. 1/2 oz and more: G.Loomis GLX MBR844C/ Shimano CTE200GT/ Hybrid Ultra Soft #12. C-rig General: MH or H Power/ Fast Action baitcasting gear. For me: The majority of the time I fish a split shot on my soft plastics rig. For a true C-rig, that usually means 1/2 oz weight or more. I fish my heavy jig rig. Treble Hooks General: MH or Heavy Power/ Moderate Action. For me: With medium weight lures, Medium Power/ Fast Action, soft tip: St.Croix Avid AC66MF/ Shimano Calais CL200 (6.2:1)/#12 Ultra Soft. For heavy baits and all deep running lures: Heavy Power/ Slow Action glass: Lamiglas SR705R/Shimano CTE200GT (5.0:1)/ Ultra Soft #12. Drop Shot (see Soft Plastics) Live Bait General: Medium Light or Medium Power/ Fast Action For Me: Medium Power/ Fast Action, soft tip: G.Loomis GLX PR844S/ Shimano Stella 2500FB/ #4 Ultra Soft/ #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks.

For serious dry and warm, Sorel. http://sorel.com/

Excellent point Mattlures. In the highly pressured waters of California, and especially on those lakes with World Class potential, you have provided a service to the fishing community. You have described a scenario that makes perfect sense to me. Now that I understand what you guys are really doing, I'm glad you are on those spawning beds in those particular situations.

Isolated structure in current cannot be beat. Year-around, this will consistantly hold the largest smallmouth in any body of water, anywhere. #2 are submerged ridges, immediately adjacent to deep water in current. Steep, rugged structure is key. Get hung or get bit! In lakes, #1 is a sunken island or hump surrounded by deep water. This type of structure will ALWAYS hold smallmouth. The structure I fish most often on big lakes is primary points. Not all points are productive, but these are your best bet for success. Smallmouth will stack up on some points, but finding the right point is still a challenge.

Sperry Topsiders are "The Bomb." Always have been. These are THE BOAT SHOES that have withstood the test of time. Buy one pair and you will have a shoe that for the next five or ten years will actually GROW on you. There is NOTHING comparable for moderate weather footwear.

Dan, Look at you...Castaway? Mr. Dan is a Kistler Man, to suggest another rod is really a big statement... I think you probably ought to step up a few dollars and take Lightninrod's advice and get yourself a Kistler Medium Helium baitcaster.

Bass are basically the same, nationwide (worldwide). Certain lakes, for whatever reason, can be lure and/or color specific. However, there are NO lakes or rivers where specific lures/ baits never work. Topwater lures have never won a big time tournament, but that doesn't mean they haven't contibuted to a winning total. I like topwater action, but unlike most bass fishermen, it's not my favorite. When topwater is working, jerkbaits will almost always work better. So, my point is...Topwater will work on ANY water sometimes, but there are usually more consistant producers. I suspect whoever told you that topwater never works at that lake just hasn't had much success with the tehnique and rarely (never) uses it anymore. Get after it!

Just be patient, selling G.Loomis rods is what he does. Regarding your choice, you are going to LOVE the MBR843C. I have the GLX MBR844C. If I could only have one rod, this is the one. However, I am NOT suggesting the 844 over the 843, that's just a matter of application and most importantly, personal preference. I actually fish soft plastics on 7' MF spinning tackle. My 844 is used for heavy jigs and striper fishing.

Nope, I got the deal late last spring or early summer. Following the lead of a couple of BassResource members, I wrote a very detailed resume listing all of my qualifications. After demonstrating my skills in spending literally thousands of dollars on Shimano reels, I was able to convince the marketing manager that I too should be sponsored by the company and receive free merchandise. Less than two weeks later I received my "free" hat! Woo-Hoo! SHIMANO MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!