Mobasser

Why do I spend money on nice reels? Easy. They feel smoother, have better drags, and usually last longer. At least that's how it's worked out for me.

I've night fished a good amount in years past. Some of my most memorable trips were from the bank, before I ever had a boat. Walking the shoreline at night and casting a dark spinnerbait/ pork chunk combo caught lots of bass. Black 5/8 oz Jitterbug drew hard strikes right at the shoreline. Had a big deer walk to within five ft of where I was standing one night. We looked at each other for three or four seconds, then with one leap he was gone into the darkness. An old half rotted sunken dock was a hotspot. There was a light above that had bats circling on some nights. Round ABU reels, pistol grip rod and 14 lb Stren mono. Very good memories. This summer, my grandson and I will go together in my boat on a small quiet lake near home. I'm looking forward to it.

I've night fished a good amount in years past. Some of my most memorable trips were from the bank, before I ever had a boat. Walking the shoreline at night and casting a dark spinnerbait/ pork chunk combo caught lots of bass. Black 5/8 oz Jitterbug drew hard strikes right at the shoreline. Had a big deer walk to within five ft of where I was standing one night. We looked at each other for three or four seconds, then with one leap he was gone into the darkness. An old half rotted sunken dock was a hotspot. There was a light above that had bats circling on some nights. Round ABU reels, pistol grip rod and 14 lb Stren mono. Very good memories. This summer, my grandson and I will go together in my boat on a small quiet lake near home. I'm looking forward to it. I've night fished a good amount in years past. Some of my most memorable trips were from the bank, before I ever had a boat. Walking the shoreline at night and casting a dark spinnerbait/ pork chunk combo caught lots of bass. Black 5/8 oz Jitterbug drew hard strikes right at the shoreline. Had a big deer walk to within five ft of where I was standing one night. We looked at each other for three or four seconds, then with one leap he was gone into the darkness. An old half rotted sunken dock was a hotspot. There was a light above that had bats circling on some nights. Round ABU reels, pistol grip rod and 14 lb Stren mono. Very good memories. This summer, my grandson and I will go together in my boat on a small quiet lake near home. I'm looking forward to it.

I've fished for roughly 60yrs. I still get excited about going fishing anytime. As far as my mental state, fishing is when I tune out negative things I hear, the news, etc. I try and focus on catching fish. This season, I've been trying to focus my efforts on catching a big bass, and it's been a deal. It's a new thing to put my focus on.

I've been a fan of the Heddon Moss Boss, and Johnson Silver Minnow for a long time. One spoon I don't hear much about now are standard jigging spoons, like the Hopkins style. These were heavier, dropped down to depth, and snapped back up. Good for bass schooled up in deeper water. My grandpa had several red/white Daredevle spoons In his box. Very popular in his day. I'm sure would still work now. I think I read that the Johnson Silver Minnow was invented in 1921. Some of these spoons have been around for a long time

J Francho, I've heard about some things you can add to water for electrolytes, but I've never used them.

I got the Fenwick on a good sale price. Most guys would probably like a longer rod now days. Charlie Brewer liked shorter rods overall

I use a 5'9 Fenwick HMG med action. 6 or 8lb mono line. Most any med action would work.

Catt, A-Jay, WRB. If not available, Bluebasser86, and J Francho as alternates

I catch a lot of bass in clear water with 4" plastic worms. Spinning gear and 8lb line is perfect for a light t rig like this.

There were many pro anglers in the past who did well with spinning rods, 95 percent of the time.Bill Dance, Tom Mann, Billy Westmoreland, Guido Hibdon, and not a tournament guy, but Charlie Brewer. They all caught large fish too. Spinning gear has its place in bass fishing. Another tool for the job.

Beer won't help you on a really hot day. Water is still best. As A- Jay and others have said, best to start hydrating the day before your fishing trip. And, keep doing it while your fishing.

My wife worked in a medical lab in the mid 1970s. Her job was to check in blood specimens from doctors offices all over Kansas City. Things were very lax back then, and the girls weren't required to wear protective clothing or gloves. Long story short, my wife was diagnosed with hepatitis C, and at 52 yrs old had to have a liver transplant. She was very lucky. It was a stressful ordeal. Fortunately, she had a great team of doctors, and one of the best surgeons in this field. That was 12 yrs ago. She's doing great. She's maintained a very healthy lifestyle. Good diet, non smoking, and staying positive in her outlook on things. She's taught me a lesson from her experience. I'm making this post for others who may have to face something like this at some point. If you can, follow my wife's lead. Keep your chin up, follow doctor's orders at all times, and do your best to live a healthy lifestyle. With modern technology, you can enjoy a good lifestyle, much like you did before your surgery. Having a team of good doctors and a top notch surgeon can certainly help. I know this helped her. But, it was the positive attitude that saw her through this, and still does now, 12 years later. I'm a firm believer in the power of having a positive outlook on things. Many days, it can be hard with everything that goes on. But, it works. My wife is living proof of it. This next Saturday, we're having a party to celebrate her 12 yrs anniversary of her transplant. I expect there will be many more.

Looks like youve got some good snacks to take along J Francho.

It's starting to get hot here in north central MO. The best thing I've found is H20, plain old water. I like it cold, so I pack 6 bottles in a small cooler on ice. Depending on how long I'm fishing, I may drink all of them in a four hr trip. I've had days in really hot weather, that it seemed like I couldn't drink enough water. An ice cold Coke may taste really good, but doesn't do much except to make you more thirsty. An added benefit of packing my water bottles in a small cooler, is that the empty plastic bottles go back in the cooler. I dispose of them when I get home. I think A- Jay posted a chart showing the effects of dehydration. It can happen to anyone, especially in really hot weather. There's lots of different drinks out there now to stay hydrated. And, it's important to remember: if you ever reach a point where you can't pee, you could need medical help. What's your method for staying hydrated when your fishing in the heat?

Good tips!

As has been said, use a stringer. Keep a cooler on ice in your vehicle, and put your fish on ice. Clean them when you get home

I've read about Dottie here before. Interesting story, that may never get resolved.

When the weeds start coming in big, I'm usually fishing a t rig plastic bait of some sort.

Charlie Brewer Spider Slider head. 1/8oz. Any thin 4" worm will work. Fish it slowly

Thanks Heron. I'll check them out. It will be hard to beat MM111, Marg Mutilator, Oxblood/ red, or my very favourite, the purple Folkstead Special.

Ive never gotten scientific about choosing colors. I was recommended purple forty years ago by an experienced fisherman. That color, along with grape, watermelon, blues,and solid black have all worked well. Purple is still my #1 favourite.

I bank fish a couple of times a week. It's good exercise. In hot weather, I like to get out there at sunup, and walk around casting as I go. I have a couple of spots that I'll stop and make more cast. If they don't produce, I'm hoofing it to the next area.

I think A-Jays working on his house. Working on some windows, and some walls

I'm probably wrong, but this sure seems like a Bill Plummer Super Frog, with the flat legs. I bought one at Wal Mart many years ago.