Mobasser

I like to do this mainly for a quiet bait entry. Timing is important. I actually touch the spool very lightly as the line comes off. I apply just a little more pressure at the end of the cast. It's helped when I'm casting over clear water, and trying to be stealthy. It seems to work well with tube baits, and lightly weighted soft plastics.Ive practiced it to the point that the bait just appears above a waiting bass.

I've had good luck with a Fenwick HMG spin rod. Lots of good rods in that price range now. Your steelhead rod may be awkward for bass. A lot of bass fishing is close in work. Short, accurate casting. Good luck

I'm not sure if this is still done very much, but it's a good thing to know. I've seen this mentioned in older fishing books, and shown with diagrams. Some of the novice and beginner spin fisherman can learn this. Open your bail as you normally would, and make your cast. Immediately after you release the line, extend your forefinger and touch the lip of the spool. Apply pressure as the line is coming off the spool. You can apply more or less pressure as needed, to slow a cast, or make a very quiet entry. It takes a little practice, but when you get it down, you can easily slow a cast for pinpoint accuracy or a quiet bait entry. This is nothing new, and I think I've heard this mentioned by WRB and A- Jay in past threads. It works well. Some famous spin fisherman from past years that employed this technique we're Bill Dance, Charlie Brewer, and Billy Westmoreland. All experts with a spinning rod and reel. This " line feathering" can help a lot with casting accuracy.

I'll say do what fits you best. Fishing is really an individual sport.

I also have one. Mine is older med/spin. Dark brn with cork grip. Great rod.

I have a Fenwick HMG med action fast, paired with a Shimano Sahara 2500 fi reel. An outfit like this would work in your price range. Both good quality.

I feel like I've made friends with several members, and I appreciate the good info here on BR.

I believe my timing has been off.

A Spook or any big walking bait will draw some hard strikes over deep water.

I've been using some Mepps spinners this summer. I'm using standard Aglia, and Black Fury models in sizes 3 and 4. I've been tying my line directly to the spinners- with no swivel of any kind. So far, line twist hasn't been a problem, with dressed or plain spinners. I've heard this is wrong, and that I should be using a ball bearing swivel. My question is, do you always use a swivel with you inline spinners? If so, what type do you like? A ball bearing snap swivel, or the type that ties on your line and is added several inches above the spinners?

On a 6acre lake I fish there's a tree with a 8" red circle painted on it from years ago. I never thought much about it until I realized it was painted there to triangulate this spot with a dock and a small boat ramp. This method still works today. If I saw your tape, I might check it out. Most guys probably wouldn't.

Yes. I've begun to think the more I fish for them , the less I really know.

Roboworm, in the color Folkstead Special.

I like Mepps in sizes 2 to 5. Dressed or no dressing. Black fury with yellow dots can be excellent in low light, light rain conditions.

Im probably missing something here. I always felt like a shiny sheen on plastic baits was part of the attraction.

Many members here may remember my post about fishing for big bass this year. I believe A-Jay, Catt, Dwight Hottle, and a few more might remember my earlier post. I've been doing this on every trip this year so far, and I haven't connected with a truly large fish yet. What I've realized is that I've burned myself out to this point. Last trip, I took a breather from the big bass hunting. I took a med spin rod, some smaller inline spinners, 4" plastic worms, small swim baits and one smaller top water popper. I ran the moss edges on my lake, and caught not only bass, but bream and crappie also. This was a good thing to do. Just go and catch some fish. Period. I'll continue pursuing big fish soon. If you become obsessed with a certain thing in your fishing, you can become burned out when it doesn't happen after so many trips. Now, I'll get back to hunting big bass, with a new outlook. Taking a breather helped out immensely.

I think what you might be experiencing is lower weight. My own reels are a mix of older and newer models. The newer ones are so much lighter. Ive heard guys complain that the new reels feel cheap, plasticy, and not durable. In the rush to reduce weight on our reels, this may be the case for some folks. I like the newer lighter weight reels, and haven't had any problems with Shimano or Lew's stuff. Just an idea.

I just picked two nice tomatoes this morning. We've had a good amount of rain in my area, and the plants are doing well so far. These are two early varieties my wife wanted to try out this year. Not my favourites but I can't complain. August is the big month for tomatoes here. We usually have a bunch by early to mid August. Looks like some BLT sandwiches will happen soon. Ive always liked a good BLT, with some fresh homegrown tomatoes. I'll also add that my son in laws crops are doing very well also. The corn crop is thick, and dark green in color. Soybeans have shot up in the last two weeks and looking good also. I'm always thankful for him when he has a good crop, and I hope it continues doing well until harvest time. So, how's your garden doing? Have you been able to harvest anything yet?

My condolences. I too lost my older brother to cancer. He taught me how to fish back in the 1960s. Time helps to heal these things, but it's still very hard. I'm sorry for your loss.

I've been spending time slowly working over one of four areas I've staked out. I can always catch some fish. But, I'm looking for a big fish. She hasn't appeared so far.

If you can, cruise through and check for depth changes, or other bottom irregularities. You could spend a lot of time casting in an area like this.

We always rigged them fat side down.

It may be smaller than you need, but I've done well on a Zoom Small Critter Craw. Around 3" size.

As a kid, we had a neighbor that fished a local lake for bass. Mr. Calloway always seemed to bring home some fish, which he kept and cleaned. He pulled into his driveway after a fishing trip, on a hot summer day. Dad and I were mowing, and working in the yard. Dad shut the mower off, and we walked over to talk to him. He lifted a cooler out of the back of his station wagon, that had several two pound bass, and one that was bigger. Of course we asked him what he caught them on. Al these years later, I still remember what he said. " I caught these bass on a purple plastic worm, and a purple Beetle Spin. I'll tell you guys, these Missouri bass love the color purple, they really go for it.". This has been the single best fishing advice I've ever had. I've had the very best results with the color purple, with soft plastic baits, jig trailers etc. There was nothing scientific about this advice. Just words of wisdom from an experienced fisherman. Sometimes, this type of advice is the best. What's the best fishing advice you've ever received?

Plastic worms, Zara Spook.