Mobasser

Sam, you do mean Go Missouri Tigers right??

I've always reeled with my right hand,cast with my right, and switched to hold the rod with my left. It would be hard to change now

Catt, I boxed in the Kansas City Golden Gloves. 72- 75.

My grandson showed little interest untill age 10. Became bored easy, didn't seem to care. At some point 2yres ago we got on some 1lb bass and he caught a bunch. At that point he was hooked! Now he's 15, and would like to organize a bass club at his high school. Sometimes it takes some time. He would rather go fishing than play video games. Video games took away much of what we did as youngsters. Bring it back

This is an area that's seen huge improvement over the years. I'll usually just replace them.

Spring is always the time that most folks will be fishing. Bed bass are caught. I don't target them, but if I catch one so what? I'll snap a pic or two and let her go.

I've thought about this also.Ive always read and heard that bass will take a crawfish over all other prey, if available

I'm sure many have built Beetle spins. I've recently bought some wire arms, with size 4 spinner, jig heads, size 2 hook. I'm making some with a curly tail grub, and a few with a smaller swimbait for the body. What are your favorite heads, arms, and bodies to make this lure?

Here in Missouri, according to our Conservation Dept, we have 8 species of crawfish. Some are land bound, and never enter the water. They range in color from greenish brown, orange brown, almost black, to blue, purple, and sometimes reddish color.Green pumpkin hasn't been a good plastic craw color for me, so I usually go with more brn/orange shades. Do you try to match this forage as closely as you can? What has been your best color in craw baits? I've caught many bass on blues, dull brown, and blk/chart, craws also. What colors are your favorites for craw baits, either as jig trailersor alone?

Hmmmm. Excuse me, would you like to join us? My wife nudged me. I could detect a slight sarcasm in her voice. We had been invited to a local restaurant by another couple who are friends of my wife's. The waitress had brought menus, and we were all getting ready to order. Yes, I was there physically, but my mind had already drifted away. To a stump filled cove, a spinnerbait arching low over the water, my thumb on my favorite casting reel, putting light pressure on the spool to feather out the cast, then switching hands and clicking the reel into gear for the retrieve. Oh sure I'm here, I said smiling. I realized I had gone into another fishing daydream. I do this all the time. At work, while driving, sometimes even when talking with other people. It's been said that when someone truly loves something, a sport, hobby, or profession, they become obsessed with it, thinking about it all the time. That's what's happened to me. Are you a bass daydreamer? I'd like to hear about it. Also don't be the least bit afraid to admit it. It happens to everyone

It may vary by manufacture, but a grape worm was my fave for 20 yrs. Not sure about gooseberry?, but grape in various shades has always been good

You would probably do well with a Lews rod. They make some combos which are nice also

This is why I like weedless soft plastics the best. The lakes I fish have moss, milfoil, and some smaller pad areas. It's just to hard to fish a crankbait through most of it. Texas rig is still hard to beat, and to a lesser extent jigs.

I really don't think there is any one rod brand that is the best. When you get in to high end rods, they all have their good points. Loomis is one. It may be the best for some, but not all. Too many choices these days. I think Shimano makes an excellent bass rod, for less than Loomis.All the tackle companies make some very good rods. Pick one that works for you. It may not be what others like, but it may fit your style of fishing better.Ive set the hook on many a rock, weed, branch and whatever else is down there. But, I've also set the hook into many a bass with my Shimano. It's proved itself

I used pork baits all the time years ago. It may be true that the right fat back is not available now, but I think cost is the real issue. It simply cost so much more to manufacture pork baits than plastics

Me too. I tend to fish the same lakes, so I use the same things that have worked. We try to go to the Ozarks once a year if we can. If I were to spend more time there, I'm sure I'd be making a change up too

A Shannon Twin spin, with a pork trailer used to be an excellent bait on Ozark lakes. I'm sure they would still work.

I'm not surprised that most of us are not expert at all teqniques. Some just don't work for all areas. Confidence plays into this also. We tend to get good at what we like, and what works best for us. If someone said they were expert at ALL the teqniques, I might not believe it.Admitting that you need work in some things is the first thing towards getting better at it. I appreciate all the honest responses here

This one is #1! If you can learn to identify and fish structure well, for me the presentations are second to this.

I wouldn't fish it, but if it works for you, who cares?

Use what works best for you. What some pros are using may not be the best for your own fishing. You can get suggestions from people, but in the end your the one who holds the rod, makes the cast, and lands the fish. Use what you like

After more than 35 yrs of bass fishing, I've still not mastered all the teqniques of the sport. I don't think I need to either. My own personal strong points are soft plastic fishing, mostly plastic worms. 3 ways I fish them- Texas rig, shakey head/slider, and split shot. Second up would be jigs, followed closely by spinnerbait/trap. Cold water-plastic grub or blade bait.My own weakest point is crankbait fishing. I don't throw them nearly as much as other baits. This is simply what's worked the best for me. What are your strong and weaker points? Have you mastered all the teqniques?

I agree 100% Catt. So many folks think a certain rod is the cure all for missed strikes. Not so

I agree with this. I think you could ask a few very experienced jig fisherman, and they would tell you it's more than just the rod hat allows them to hook more fish. Sure, nice rods can help, but experienced fisherman catch the fish that others never feel, even with mid quality rods.

This style of handle is harder to find these days. Many Ozark area bass fisherman still like to use them for topwater fishing, especially with a spook or other walking baits. Look up Charlie Cambell. His preferred rod for this