papajoe222

When I first started fish jigs, it was strictly cast and work it back. Flipping and later pitching came a couple of decades later. A companion told me to pause whenever I felt something. Keep your rod tip elevated and as little slack in your line as the wind will allow. With moving baits, bass will normally turn after inhaling the bait and that will transmit back to you. Be a line watcher. As Glen has mentioned numerous times in his videos; Watch your line, if it does something that you didn't impart on it, set the hook. With time, you'll be able to eliminate the pause because you'll know from experience.

It depends on the diameter of the worm. I carry an assortment and use the one just big enough to slip over the worm so I don't overheat it when shrinking. I carry a small Bic lighter in the same tiny zip-loc.

I've done both, centered and off center and if I had to choose which was more productive, I'd vote for centered. FYI, One thing I have noticed is my hook-up ratio is much higher when the hook point is perpendicular to the worm rather than parallel, which how it ends up when using an O ring. I've been using heat shrink tubing and running through it and the worm.

I like them on the heavy side with a lot of gusto. Wait, we're talking fishing.................Yea, that too. My downfall has, and will always be, I love to throw hard baits (jigs included). On a tough day, I'll just downsize and fish tighter to cover. By the time I give in, it's because my shoulder is ready to explode and I'll switch over to soft plastics and finesse rigs.

Super Spook is my favorite to fish A 1/2oz. Arkie jig and RageTail Craw catches me the most fish.

Normally, only after water temp. hits 70, but I still throw them after the water cools below that temp. in the fall.

The fish could very well be in the immediate post-spawn cycle where they move out from the spawning area and rest up. They'll still eat, but bites are tough to come by. One thing I'll suggest, only because you didn't mention, is to cover the entire water column. I'll often find the females suspended during that period, but not in close proximity to that first structural element away from the spawning area. 50yrds. out toward deeper water is what I've regularly experienced. The areas you've been targeting are good ones, you could be just fishing below where the fish are.

10lb. fluorocarbon, or mono. It even happens when I drop down to 8lb. but not as much. Before you ask, yes it's spooled correctly. I think it's because the line is looser on the spool after a few casts vs. when I spool it.

What techniques do you plan to use them for?

Increase the angle of your rod to the water. Either up to 11:00, or down to 3:00

That is why I dislike spinning reels. If I fill mine up that far, the line starts jumping off the spool after a few casts.

As a trailer, I opt for a paddle tail in the spring and again in the fall. Summertime, it's a split tail, or no trailer. I've never used a split tail as anything but a trailer. Fluke style baits is a whole different animal.

For years I used a 6.3:1, but I upped it to 7.1:1 two years ago.

Shoulder, hand, wrist and elbow surgeries sidelined me a number of times during past fishing seasons. I even postponed three surgeries until after the season so I wouldn't miss out. Pretty much put an end to tourney fishing for me and now, I'm lucky to get through four hours of casting. There's always ibuprofen and ice packs waiting. Ah, but those four hours are worth the pain.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Jimmy and his family. Just saw this on youtube. I couldn't watch the whole video because of the affect it had on me. My kids grew up watching Jimmy every Sat. and what he said in the video about family is the way we feel.

Seeing as male bass rarely exceed 4lbs., how do those big females mate?

I use a T-Rig for a faster presentation, moving it farther on each hop than a jig. For that reason alone, I opt for a jig in colder water. I'll throw a worm once the water warms considerably and then the jig becomes a target bait for me.

Locust or Wasp for both color and blades.

Description, I have no idea. For a trailer, I'd recommend a chunk style, or really any soft plastic with a lot of bulk in the nose section and nose hook it rather than thread it on.

As was mentioned, the question is where, not what. Although you may find schools of 4lb. bass in some southern, or western waters, once most bass reach that size they tend to become loners. They also tend to become homebodies. The set up in spots that offer security, ambush and feeding opportunities and seclusion. This is especially true with females as males rarely grow to much over 4lb. Personally, I went the quality route for about ten years. I've pretty much abandoned the fishless days and sometimes weeks commitment and gone back to the fun aspect of just catching fish. Give me a day catching 16in.-18in. fish and I'm a very happy camper.

I’m one of those guys that puts tem away after the spawn. Not that they wouldn’t produce then, I just switch gears come summertime. Hard baits and big worms , or boot tail swimbaits are my go to’s and finesse when called for.

The only Falcon rod I own is my C-Rig rod and I've yet to find a rod that works better for that application.

Two come to mind..... A Jig of some sort and an in-line spinner like a Mepp's

Regardless of water clarity, no one retrieve works every time. Stained, or dirty is a vague description, but with visibility less than a foot, I've found that dragging a football jig with loud rattles and a high action trailer to be the most productive.

Did you spool your baitcaster the same way you did your spinning reel. By that I mean was the spool of line set on the floor? If so, that is where the twist is coming from. Also if you are using some kind of rod through the spool of line, was the line coming off the top, or the bottom of the spool. If not from the top, you added twist during the spooling process. I echo 30lb. test as a minimum for a casting reel and with some lines, that's too light. The only way to determine which is to spool it under a lot of tension. If it digs into itself, go to a heavier test.