Mobasser

I know the Roboworms have been around for quite a while now. I really caught on to them around four years ago. Even though I think this one has always been popular as a drop shot bait, I've never used one that way. I've always Texas rigged them with a 1/8 oz weight, and 1/0 hook for the 4.5" size, 2/0 hook for the 6" size. An older friend who sometimes goes with me likes them on a splitshot rig. Both rigs are killer on a small quarry lake we fish. The water is pretty clear in this lake, and the Roboworms excell in this scenario. If you look at Roboworms in the water on a clear sunny day, they almost seem to change colors as the sunlight hits them from different angles. I have thrown them on an Owner shakey head, and this can be very good also. But, the light T Rig usually comes through cover better, so that's what I use most often. As for colors, I've broken it down to only three that are must haves in my area. Black Grape, MM111, and the all around best, the purplish Folkestad Special. I plan on trying the Roboworm Zipper worm also. This one looks pretty close to the old Rebel Ringworm, which I had good luck with years ago. I can't really say enoupgh good things about these baits. They are a winner. Are Roboworms part of your soft plastic arsenal? If so, how are you rigging them, and what colors do you like?

I was going to make a new thread on Roboworms. I've been catching fish so far this summer with Roboworm in Folkestad Special, and Black Grape. Both purplish colors

Sums it up good Catt.

Even though the bass metabolism is at its peak in the summer, they still rarely chase after every fast moving bait you'll throw. They like to sit in prime spots, and will always choose the easiest meal they can get. A T rig worm fished slowly through these areas is an easy target for bass. There's really no negative clues with a plastic worm that may turn them off. They may chase baits of other styles at times, but on typical hot sunny summer days, the plastic worm can be fished where the fish are, and where other lures can't go.

Congratulations young man!

Very true. It might be fun to compare before and after retirement. It may not change all that much. One thing I've done over the past two years is get up very early on Saturday mornings, and bank fish a small lake near home. I like to get there at first light, especially when it gets really hot and humid around here. I can fish for two or three hrs, then head home and start the day. I often have the entire lake to myself. I've caught quite a few bass this way too. Man, I love the early morning trips. There's nothing like getting there and making your first cast as the fog is still lifting off the water. It's the perfect time for bass fishing.

Yes. My wife will look over and say" playing with you fishing stuff again"? I always just say " yes". She knows me all too well

A-Jay, one thing I do now which helps me out is I spend more time on lubing a reel, spooling new line, replacing or sharpening hooks, etc. Usually in the evenings. Also spend more time reading about fishing in general. It's just my wife and I at home now, my children are married and on they're own, and I get bored with TV pretty quickly. It's not the same as actually fishing, but helps fill in when you can't go.

This is what I'm afraid of next year. I plan to have a small business when I retire next year also. I wanted to keep it about 20 hrs per week, but, you know how that goes....

I'm not retired yet, but hope to be next year. I still work three days per week full time, and two days part time for three to four hrs per day. Usually, I'm able to fish two or three nights per week after work. These are always bank trips by myself, as there's usually not enoupgh time to load the boat in the evening. Saturday morning is usually open, and I fish then for five or six hrs, with an older friend who goes with me. But, many times something comes up. Projects around the house, family commitments, or helping someone out with something. Simply put, it can be hard to find the time to fish as much as I'd like to. I've heard many guys say," I can't wait until I retire, then, I can fish all the time"! I think it doesn't always work out like that. So many other things to do. How do you manage your fishing time? Can you go as much as you'd like to? Hopefully next year, I'll have more time to devote to my favourite sport. Time will tell....

My son in law has the BPS casting reel you mentioned, along with the spinning reel. I think he's had them two years now, and likes both. They seem like good reels for the money

If that one doesn't fit, you can save it for another rod if you need it. Either take your rod to a good tackle shop for repair, or, go to Wal Mart. Most Wal Marts carry a 3 pack Fuji tip kit. It comes with hot melt glue also.

Our Academy has a good amount of Big Bite Baits. I've used the 2" grub for crappie, and a 5" ringtail style plastic worm for bass. Good products

I agree with WRB on this. Unless you just want to spend the money, you don't need to buy a stradic to get a good spinning reel in the 100 dollar range. Shimano Nasci is right around that price, or the Shimano Sahara at around 80 dollars. My newer Sahara is size 2500. Light, smooth, and very good drag. Perfect for bass fishing

I don't own any baits worth swimming for, plus, I don't wear swimming trunks when I go fishing.?

Menace grub in Summer Craw. After catching 13 bass in a little over an hour, this one became my grandsons favourite.

I love the Magnificent Seven! Great Show! It's gonna be hard....

I've got a rod rigged up for toad/ frog fishing now too. I didn't buy a new rod for this, but I'm using an older flippin stick. It's the only one I've strung with braid. It's loads of fun. Lots of fish hit them, but I probably miss more on frogs than any other baits too.

I see a lot of threads about how many rods to carry on a trip. Some folks carry as many as fifteen, to be prepared for any scenario. When we fish from our canoe, I've paired it down to two rods, and a small single sided box. Looking back through some logs I've kept, I realized that I've caught more bass since doing this, and it's been more fun too.In another thread, WRB stated that if you know what the bass are hitting on, you really don't need but two rods. I can't agree more. Starting with a buzzbait or popper at sunup, we look for any topwater action. Once the topwater bite is finished, I tie a 3" or 4" paddletail on to cover mid depth fishing. My other rod is only for a t rig plastic worm. And looking back on all this, the plastic worm has caught more summer bass for us than any and all baits combined. It's ALWAYS been the plastic worm that catches both numbers and size for summer fishing.Some folks might say we're missing out on fish by not throwing different style baits, and keeping more rods rigged up, but, I have to disagree. If you have a rod locker on your boat, and are able to carry more rods along, of course this is the way to go. Bass will strike many different styles of lures, when they're active, and you can be prepared to throw anything that might work. We've all learned that bass, and the prey they seek, are most active during the summer months. Therefore, it only stands to reason, that they will chase a faster moving more active bait? For us, it just hasn't always worked out like this. A plastic worm, worked slowly on or near bottom has accounted for the most fish through all the years. I think the main reason is, that we can throw them where other spinners, or treble hook plugs could never go. The worm is the KING of summer bass lures for us, and I can't see anything that may work better. Is the plastic worm your #1 bait for summer bass fishing?

I had a friend who bought all the stuff to make plastic worms years ago. He made some good ones and caught fish on them. I wouldn't try this for profit, but it might be fun to.make some for yourself. You could make some interesting color combinations that might be a little different than what everyone else is throwing.

I fish one smaller lake with an 18" keep limit. The lake is loaded with bass in the 13" to 14" range. As has been said, Beetlespin, 4" worm, and small poppers work well. The Beetlespin covers the mid depths. Once it gets hot, the 4" worm catches the most fish for me.

I hooked and landed a 5lb bass on a limber Eagle Claw glass ultralight rod years ago, using 4lb mono, while crappie fishing. I'm sure the flexible rod helped land this fish.

Ive always liked the way mono handles and cast, on all my reels. I also like one knot, tied to hook or lure.I may be wrong, but I imagine lots of bass are lost each year to.poorly tied knots. I've tried some flouro, and don't like the knot retention, kinking up etc. So I stay with mono, it still works the best for what I do.

I have a 17ft aluminum canoe made in Lebanon, Missouri by Osagian canoes. It's 4ft wide in the center with a square back, so it's very stable. I've stood and fished many times, but mostly just casting. It still works best for sitting down and fishing.

I have one rod strung with braid, for fishing really thick vegitation. Otherwise all mono on other rods/reels