J.Vincent

Learning to pitch cast is like riding a bike, once you train your mind and body to work in harmony , you won't forget.

Most of my Reels are in the $100 dollar category but I also own plenty of extreme budget reels; and of all the budget reels I own , I think the Okuma Stratus Has performed the best. The Okuma Stratus SV35 is a Dicks Sporting Goods Exclusive; and is priced at $29.99 on sale this week. They are usually $49.99 but for the sale price , it's an excellent option for double duty bass and light redfish. Or at this price you could buy 2 for $60 and still be in under your budget .

Saint Peter, Bryan Kerchal, Rick Clunn, Mike Iaconelli, KVD, Jordan Lee and Al Linder

One of my favorite wacky rig hooks is the Eagle Claw Weedless, but it's more of a light wire and doesn't handle those bigger fish very well. Does the Berkley Fusion have this same problem ?

Wacky Rig Stick worms are great for follow up situations, when a Bass might swirl and miss a Topwater style lure; and its also a great approach bait for working the perimeter of docks and fallen trees. But Texas Rig Stick Worms are generally a much better option when fishing a break line of Vegetation or when Pitching into Cover.....and then of course there are always exceptions to every rule

Congratulations !

Nice Fish !

I learned: 1) The Abu Garcia Revo X is probably one of the most under rated Baitcasters on the market 2) and 27 degree weather + 17 mph winds = my hands are frozen after 30 minutes

Ask 100 hundred anglers this question and you may get 10 different answers; but all the answers may be correct for that individual angler and their specific fishing situation or style. I personally think a Moderate Fast Rod is perfect for fishing SquareBills in tight quarters and I also love a Moderate Fast Rod for Sammy style Topwaters when fishing for Smallmouth....and personally I will also throw Spinnerbaits all day long on Moderate Fast Veritas casting rods. I guess personally, I just have more confidence in a fishing rod that's capable of more evenly absorbing the energy of a hook set while also being fast enough but not too fast. But again I'm talking about casting rods, not spinning rods, but if you choose to fish spinning tackle, the principles and qualities of a moderate fast blank are still the same. As for that specific Fenwick Elite Tech Rod, I've heard they are great options for the Smallmouth angler and could be helpful when fishing expansive gravel flats with SquareBills when the wind can make fishing Baitcasters just a pain in the butt. They also stay loaded for longer than a Fast Action will and could do well with certain styles of JerkBait fishing. Anyway, just my 2 cents on a topic that's wildly debated : )

Here in Michigan I have a lot of confidence in tubes, they have great versatility and can mimic gobies or crawfish , and just seem to catch greater numbers of fish....However, my biggest Smallies have actually been caught on 1/2 oz BlackBlue Skirted Jigs, off shallow rock piles at night. So I think , low light situations are one circumstance when the bulkier skirted jig should be a better choice. Just my two cents : )

Nice catch , hope you released her back alive...looks between 4 to 6 lbs but difficult to say definitively.

Thank You !

Ok, i can't stop laughing, because this is so true !

I do a lot of Bank fishing and it can be very limiting, so maybe focus on lures you can better present , based on your shoreline cover and situation. I would consider adding some shallow running hard jerkbaits (1-3ft) to the arsenal you mentioned. Also don't overlook the Strike King Bitsy Bug 1/4oz or Bitsy Bug Flipping Jig 1/2 oz. Those jigs have small profiles and can work well when fishing from heavily pressured public shorelines. Also, a few Inline Mepps Spinners 1/4oz for fishing River Smallies !

Definitely Tie direct to the Spinnerbait with a good solid knot (Palomar or Trilene Knot work well for me and they are simple and effective). If you want freedom to change baits on the fly, then maybe consider using Norman Speed Clips. Its basicly an enhanced Split ring designed mostly for crankbait fishing, but could be used with any closed eyelet lures where you would typically have a split ring (though it wont work with R bend Spinnerbaits). I have found The Norman Speed clip has a smaller profile and will catch less underwater debris than regular Snaps.

Hello Bass Resource Members, I'm an avid bass fisherman with experience fishing in Michigan, Florida, Louisiana , Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. I'm mostly a shoreline guru but Im also looking to get back into the tournament side of the sport and would love to share and grow within the industry....I'm here to expand my knowledge and continually learn about this great sport !