Mobasser

My grandfather liked daredevil spoons. I believe 1/4 oz red/ white was his favorite. He used a steady retrieve at various depths. You may try removing the treble hook, and add a good quality worm hook to add a weedless worm, for fishing around weeds.

Rage menace grub t rigged. Roboworm/ slider head. Spinnerbait

Plastic worm

I think for a serious fisherman, having a good rod for worm/jig fishing can make a difference. Moving baits or topwater- not as much. Like others have said, you still need to locate fish, and cast the correct bait at the right speed and depth. This is much harder than going to a tackle shop, and spending big money on rods/reels! Lots of guys have the best gear, but still catch very few bass. The #1 reason for not catching bass? Fishing in the wrong places. It's rarely the tackle

I would just fish as you always do. He has his pride I'm sure. He won't respect anyone who isn't giving it 100%

I've deadsticked plastic worms a lot. Plastic craws also.

It sounds like you've already got some nice rods. For tournament fishing and re tying? Keep in mind that you still may have to do some changing of baits. One of the best tournament fisherman I ever fished with kept 4 rods on deck. I saw it work for him many times

I would probably be throwing a little N. And I love the fact that their still made in the great USA.

Maybe I'm not a real bass fisherman anymore. I seem to fish many of the same baits that I've used for years now.I learn about new baits from my grandson, or here on Bass Resource. I'm not good at drop shot. I've never thrown a Neko rig, or a spybait. I still use standard bass tackle. Aside from an old flipping stick, the longest rod I own is 6'6. I still use round ABU casting reels, and two spin reels. One is a rebuilt ABU Zebco Cardinal 4, which is really an antique now. I rarely fish super fast, having caught more fish on a slower retrieve over the years. I love plastic worms, spinnerbaits,buzzbaits, spooks, and rattletraps. I still like to throw Charlie Brewers slider heads, with a variety of smaller plastic worms. The recent thread on Bill Norman crankbaits got me good. I still use some of those. Catts picture of the old Heddon Moss Boss spoon was another one. I still have a white one, and still throw it too. New things come out so fast now, it's been kind of hard to keep up with it all. At one point many years ago, I made the desicion to focus on where to fish, and stopped putting so much stock in the tackle and baits. They've become tools to catch fish with, but knowing where to use them became the key to all this. At some point I'll upgrade my tackle. It's getting there now. The thing is, I still catch my share of bass with all this stuff. But, to some I probably wouldn't be considered a real bass fisherman nowdays. Anyone else think this way?

Agree with Catt here. I use line from 8 to 15lbs. If I'm fishing more open, clear water, lighter line does just fine. But, it won't work everywhere. Even a 3lb bass can be hard to land, especially in thick wood cover. If I hook em, I want to land em too

I would fish your strong points. Take a little time to learn some new stuff, but if it just doesn't work for you, drop it. Some very good bass fisherman work with a hand full of lures, that they have the most confidence with, and do very well

I'm in the same boat with a drop shot. I've tried it, but it just doesn't work well for me either.

Sometime around 25yrs ago, I pretty much eliminated stuff that didn't work well for me. I don't feel I'm at a disadvantage here. I'd rather fish 5 or 6 types of baits in the right location, than carry all kinds of stuff that I may never use. For 80% of my fishing, plastic worms get it done.

I stand fairly close to the bank if I can, and make most of my cast parallel with the banks. I like to keep moving a few feet after 2 or 3 cast too. If I know there's some good cover or structure out away from the bank I hit those spots with several cast also

I bank fish 2 to 3 times a week after work. At one lake the banks are mowed well, and very few trees. I can use any rod there. Another lake I need knee high boots to walk the bank- it's way overgrown. For that one, I use an older 6ft casting rod.

Yes. Don't over think it. Pick up some spinnerbaits, plastic worms and weights plus a pack of hooks. Throw in a popper or buzzbait, and fish the heck out of em all. You'll get bit

Tie on the heaviest weight your rod will allow. Make the longest cast you can, then put a piece of electrical tape over your spool. Reel up and go fishing. If you do backlash, it will only go as deep as the tape. And seriously, practice casting. I've never carried spare spools since I started almost 40yrs ago. Casting Practice makes all the difference.

Most all cheaper spinnerbaits can be improved with a good ball bearing swivel. I still like to use the older style flat rubber skirts if I can get them too.

Agree Catt. Some topwater strikes close to the shore or boat can scare the heck out of you. Really wake you up!

One thing about night fishing. There's probably no better way to develop a " feel" for bass striking worms and jigs. It can improve your daytime fishing in the process

I like junebug, and pumpkin/ chart tail.

I've night fished for tears too. It is a totally different world. One night , bank fishing around midnight, casting a spinnerbait, I shined my headlamp down the bank and saw a deer about 15 ft away, looking at me. She jumped off into the darkness. I like big worms, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits the best. Also , used to hang a Coleman lantern over the side of the boat, and fish for crappie too. Bugs land on the water, and attracts shad and minnows which attract panfish and gamefish too.

Catt, I'm 61 now. I may never know the answer to this, at least not in my lifetime

Purple and grape have long been favorites of mine too.

Catt, this is all I've been able to figure out with this test. Still not sure if it was a certain color, or my retrieve that drew the strikes. Only the fish know this