Mobasser

I probably carry less tackle now than I have in 25 yrs. I got tired of hauling around so much stuff, and paired it down. I carry all that I need for a trip, and only carry what has worked best for me.

I havnt used live bait for bass for so long I can't remember the last time. When I think bass fishing I think lure fishing, and I like the challenge of catching bass on lures

You might try a smaller plastic worm. A Zoom Finesse worm will draw strikes from bass of all sizes. Rig with a 1/0 or 2/0 lighter wire hook, and fish them with a slow lift/drop retrieve. Use a bullet weight of 1/8 or 3/16. June bug is a good color to start with

This is a popular bait here in Missouri in the spring, and a good one. Ozark area fisherman love the Smithwick rattlin Rogue

I fish spooks a fair amount. I have the best results with a 51/2 to 6ft rod. Short pistol or straight grip, and 12 to 15lb mono line. I like a rod with a little flex in the tip also.

I'm one who has stayed with mono line for all my fishing. I like the way it cast and handles, and don't have any other problems with it. I don't care for using a leader also. I can tie good knots with no problem, but to me a leader is adding another link in the chain, which I don't need.

As per Charlie Cambell? He's a very well known Hall of Fame angler. He could use whatever brand, style, cost rod he wants to use. But, he chooses a shorter rod because that's what works best for him. Not what someone else tells him to use. I just think a shorter rod works best for this.

Agree. I can work my other baits better with a shorter rod too.I use some standards- Storm Chug Bug, Pop R and the H20 popper from Academy. The only surface bait I like to use a longer rod with are buzzbaits. I do better with those on a longer rod.

I've tried longer rods with different handle styles and none work better for me than a short- not over 6ft rod with a short handle. It's been working for me for 35yrs, so I see no need to change now. With a shorter stick it's automatic. Not a hindrance at all

Yes, that's correct. He does palm his reel so holding the rod at the reel point works good for him. I believe he still uses round ABU reels too.

Catt, to save a little weight, I'm running a Qauntum low profile reel instead of one of my round ABUs. Plus, I'll use this rod off and on over the course of a trip. I've never heard of Rogue wrist, but I could see how snapping the rod around for hours could make your wrist hurt

I've heard other guys complain about wrist, forearm pain etc. Luckily I've never had any using this handle style

For many years, I carried a 5'6 med/hvy pistol grip casting rod on board. A composite rod with a slight tip flex, for fishing a Zara Spook. My old rod finally broke in June this year after many years. An older friend recently gave me an old rod he hadn't used in many years. A Fenwick 5'6 pistol grip casting rod, probably made in the early 90s. I cleaned the rod up good, swabbed the guides for grooves or nicks, and all is good. With a good cleaning, the rod looks almost new. This style of rod, though unpopular now, works excellent for fishing a Zara Spook. The shorter handle length never gets in the way when you work the lure, and the shorter rod never contacts the water, either elevated in the boat, or bank fishing. It also helps with the ages old problem many guys have with topwater lures: Jeking the bait away from a bass before he actually has the lure in his mouth, and missing fish on the hookset. The shorter rod can't take up as much slack as say a 6'6 or 7 ft rod, and can help give you those 1 or 2 seconds to. actually feel the fish before you set the hook. Hall of Famer Charlie Cambell of Forsythe Mo, is an expert with a Zara Spook. I was lucky enough to meet him many years ago at a fishing expo at BPS in Springfield Mo. He outlined his tackle for Spook fishing, and always used a 5'6 pistol grip casting rod, 14lb mono line and a high speed reel. Does anyone else like a shorter rod for Spook fishing? If not a pistol grip, than a short handle style? This fall, I'll be throwing some Spooks on my new "old" pistol grip rod. It works the best for me.

My wife went to AZ to visit her sister this summer. She was gone for 6 days. I fished so much my casting arm was sore! I usually go 2 or 3 times a week anyway. She doesn't mind.

I buy rubber boots at my local farm/home store. 39.00 per pair. These are 12 inch boots. In colder weather, I have Muck 12 Chore boots. Both work well

I like Trilene Big Game. 12 to 15lb test for my baitcast reels

I used to buy tons of baits. Now not so much. Over the course of 35+ yrs I've collected way too.much tackle. Now, I only have one style I buy a lot of: plastic worms. I love em

Berkeley.

I still use a 4600C3 also. Mine is 24 yrs old I think. Still working good

Catt, you should have them put a new shutoff in for you. I agree, and have had similar problems working on old houses. Sometimes, it's like pulling teeth to get them to come back. Nonsense!!

I always had trouble with suspended bass. Still do. I used to throw traps, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits with little luck. I tried a 4" worm and have caught some over the years with this. In open water, we use a ball head jig. Most times we're around weeds, so we rig up with a 1/0 light wire hook, split shot, or light bullet sinker. I've caught more suspended fish this way than with baits that were actually designed to run mid depth. It's slow going, but it works well for us.This is why I'll still call the plastic worm the most versatile bait- all around

Catt, it's funny you mentioned this one. These have been a sleeper for me this summer. I found 3 bags in my stash of old plastics. I've been using them all summer now. My local tackle shops don't even carry them anymore. I'm going to order some for next season. Motor oil has been especially good. Kind of like the Ditto Gator tail. Another older worm I quit using for some reason. Still one of the best. The 6" Phenom is hard to beat

Most of us carry way more lures than we end up using in a typical bass fishing trip. Many of the baits we use can be fished several different ways through different depths, speeds etc. My own most versatile lure through the season is the simple plastic worm. It can be fished at any depth, mid water, or on top. It can be rigged Texas style, shakey head, ball head jig, split shot, slider head, wacky, or weightless. All can work at different times. It can also be trimmed down or modified easily in the field to for any situation, and comes through cover better than any bait I carry. What is your most versatile bass lure? One that comes close to a do it all bait?

Catt is th lower picture a Zoom trailer? It looks like some I have. Perfect for the Silver Minnow spoon

If you can time your trips right, a spinnerbait or lipless bait can be very good at times. Jigs work well too. I fish plastic worms up untill the lakes ice over.