Aaron_H

This is what I figured the issue was, glad to hear you got it sorted!

Fair play! I was unaware of there being a Pacific fish with the same name. Bass tackle might be a bit of a challenge there for sure.

They're not endangered? Florida record is only 5 pounds, bass tackle would be more than capable. I've caught many of them, not as much fight as their bigger cousins. A redfish tournament should at least be interesting. I'll definitely check it out.

Black sea bass tournament next on B.A.S.S. radar.... ?

"Silent" is definitely a bit of a misnomer, you're right. They still put off a lot of vibration, the hooks/split rings chatter a little, and sometimes the weight can come a little loose and knock a bit. But there is a vast difference in sound in the water vs one with a rattle. On the other hand, I think "silent" is an effective method of labeling the difference between the two.

I mean, Matt and Tim talk about the importance of fishing a blade bait the same way you fish a lipless, and it's silent.... Just a different sound profile that I think may work better in certain situations. I only have a couple of silent ones, 99% of the time I'm throwing a rattling or one knocker style lipless.

Nice PB, man! It's almost as big as your daughter ?

My only "mid-priced" casting reel is the SLX DC that I use for throwing lipless cranks on a Fury 705CB. It gets a workout on 99% of my trips. Otherwise I rotate between a handful of standard SLXs and a couple of Quantum Smoke S3 PT Inshores for spinning.

My previous PB was also on a RES, one of my favorite lipless cranks.

That's great to hear! I actually thought the grip was surprisingly solid given how smooth it is, but I'm sure it's less tactile when your hands are wet and covered in fish slime. I might have to try out that 7' M/MF casting (rated up to 1 oz, felt more like a MH/MF to me) if I can find a niche in my lineup for it.

Awesome fish! Hopefully not the last biggie of the year for you, man. I got out and hit the ponds tonight, too. Went to the same pond I got my PB in last week, bite was far less active after the cold snap we had over the weekend, but managed a few fish. Five bass, three tilapia, and a surprise 12.5" crappie that almost came home as dinner. Ended up getting a 22" 6lb 11oz bass on the very last cast. She thumped the lipless hard but I thought she was another tilapia at first until she jumped. Took me ~25 yards down the bank before I could land her.

That is correct. They're a new company so I was iffy about it, but I've got one of the silent ones and a handful of the rattling ones and they are very nice. Sticky sharp short shank EWG trebles, rotating hook hangers, durable paint, etc. They have a tight wobble, a nice shimmy on the fall, and they rest nose down on the bottom every time. My only complaint is the split rings, but in fairness I swap split rings on pretty much every lure so....

Lots of traps on the market that will have a decent shimmy on the fall. Give the Thunderhawk Sergeant a look, I've been impressed with it so far. I would recommend swapping the split rings, though.

Aside from that, how do/did you like the new Clarus? I don't see many people talking about them.

My first thought, as well, depending on which version VBS the reel has. A picture of his brake setup would be helpful here.

Why is this in Hunting, isn't he asking for advice on Big Bear lake in SoCal? ?

I've heard often that crappie in the lake makes for a poor bass fishery, but I've always considered it more of a superstition than anything. Most of my largest bass have come from fisheries with crappie present. I feel that fisheries with smaller or stunted bass has more to do with intraspecies competition than the presence of crappie "hogging" forage. Most of those same areas also have healthy shad populations, but I still get numbers and size on bluegill imitations there. I don't know if shad are preferred because of a lack of spines (maybe! Those pain receptors in their mouths have to be doing something!), but because shad are such a densely schooling fish compared to many other forage species. Easier to blow through a school of shad and get a bellyful with relatively less effort than picking off individual panfish.

I have two of the older blue Aetos spinning rods, 6'8" MH/XF. They were my two primary setups before I started using casting gear, I threw everything from senkos to frogs on them, surprisingly versatile rods. I've since gone lighter for my spinning setups, but they are still my go-to for inshore. I got them on clearance for half price, so very happy with the sensitivity for what I paid, but I don't think I'd have been thrilled at the 180 they retailed for.

Yep, just east of 95 around Titusville/Port Canaveral. Figured it would be worth the stop while he's working his way back up north.

Ned rig is a new technique for me this year, so that's awesome to see. I can get numbers on it, but so far nothing over 3lb yet. Inspiring stuff, thanks for posting.

Forty degree air temp.... ?? I bet that 5.3 was an incredible fight on the ned rig, nice when you can turn a day around like that.

That's just the Floridian Swamp Cat in its natural environment. Lot of great options here. If the weather's good and you like inshore species, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon are both right there off 95, as well. Excellent trout/redfish/snook fisheries.

Same one I use! 50 feet for only a few bucks, enough for roughly 1,200 senkos. Hard to beat that value.

I'm pretty firmly in the shrink tubing camp, I usually get 8-10 fish from a single senko this way, but this is definitely an intriguing approach. VMC makes those Crossover Rings for wacky and neko rigging that keep the hook from puncturing the worm, as well.

Haven't finished the video yet, but that hookset at 4:28...wow! Great report and some seriously awesome fish caught. Mexico is definitely a bucket lister for me.