DitchPanda

Was gonna say I live in Northwest Iowa...and while we don't have closed bass season the largemouth can be tricky right after ice out. I usually spend as much time fishing crappies, bluegills and stocked trout early season as I'd do bass. The pan fish and rainbows are often much more cooperative.

Well I would say your equipment is more than sufficient....John Cox is one of the best anglers on the planet he runs an aluminum boat with a 200hp motor and last I saw he only has one lowrance unit that he claims he doesn't even turn on half the time. Think hes been pro like 15 years and he's won something like 2 million bucks...alot of it in the past 5 years. As far as worrying about the money look at it like gambling...as soon as you pay your fee its gone...if you win it or more back that's a bonus. If you can't afford that or it doesn't sit well with you I'd avoid tourneys.

I think the rozante 77 is exactly what I want. The places I'm fishing have weeds even shortly after ice out so I want a bait that dives no more than 2-3 ft.

Do you guys have any favorites? Looking for something in the 2.5-3.25 inch range. I already have some small x-raps but they are kind of aggressive for super cold water in my experience...I also have some husky jerks but they don't suspend as well as I'd like

Mine does not look like that. The local wal mart has almost as much gear as my nearest DSG. Luckily we have a scheels right down the road that does pretty good.

Kinda wondered. I've got a few small blade baits to try when my ice comes off.

Tonight I picked up a bottle of Old Forester 100 proof bourbon and a bottle of High West double rye. Kinda fun to try some new ones.

What on? Gonna be ice out here soon soooo....asking for a friend?

I agree with @jbsoonerfan 100%. I'd get a couple decent combos to help cover more techniques. If your willing to drop $450 on just a rod you could easily get 2 combos + a decent rod for that money if you shop around.

I know several guys who own the nice ice castle camper AC equipped things...and a toy hauler...and a regular camper. They seem to enjoy spending money much more then using there stuff. Don't really seem to enjoy life in general to be honest.

Agree that it is not more fun. Drinking beer and playing cards is something you do at a buddies house while your smoking meat. Ice fishing can be that way yes but not for me and my buddies...we are there to catch fish. I'm not dropping 25k on an ice castle just to sit around on the couch...I already have a place to do that..its called my house.

Well I can tell you how I would handle this if I was your neighbor. If you asked me politely to ease up I would more than likely respect that..at least to a point. If the dogs barked it would drive me nuts too so you may not have to ask me I may do it on my own. However if I decided to fish there and wasn't approached politely or got some smarta$# response or some harassment I'd be there every chance I could just to make it worse for you. Point I'm making is you have handled it very well up to this point and been very adult about it. Don't take it to a level where he is gonna retaliate after you instigate him..that never ends well. Right now you have 2 people in a little mess and both are in the right...don't make yourself out to be the bad guy and put yourself in the wrong.

Of those two I vote Yamamoto. Although I throw the dinger from time to time. I use the BPS stiko and gambler ace more than either.

She's a keeper bro. My old lady hates all things whiskey.

I don't believe I read to much into anything...you said people getting bummed out for things you don't deem worthy of such feelings are weak and pathetic. But you are right on one thing these are all opinions that in the grand scheme don't matter.

Disagree...there is another variable you can't control in either...in fishing its the fish in baseball its the batter. You can only do what you can do. Lets go another way...basketball. Michael Jordan was extremely hard on himself for underperforming. He is also regarded as one of the hardest workers and best players ever in the history of the game. He is also weak and pathetic by your logic. See its not that hard of a concept to understand. This guy gets it. I'm saying its ok to be down and use that as a motivator to improve after a failure or what you perceive as failure. I'm not saying your gonna be devastated or emotionally wrecked like after you lose your job or your mom dies. I never asked if your in a life altering depression and can't function after getting skunked.

So is it also pathetic to you when an pitcher is upset when they lose a big game?

Why didn't I think of that?

So I've only been drinking whiskey a few years...outside of shot or mixed form that is. Looking to expand my cabinet some and I'm looking for some suggestions. For reference right now I've got Jameson,Buffalo trace, Glenfiddich 12, Bushmills blackbush and Redbreast 12. I'm wanting to pick up another couple bourbons and a rye. Looking for recs in the $35 and under a bottle range. So what are some favorite budget bourbons and ryes?

No different than somebody spending alot of time and money to get good at baseball only to get bummed when they lose. Fishing is a game we play and I don't agree that its pathetic to get bummed out when they fail especially if it is several outings in a row. If your really serious about bass fishing you will use those be negative feelings as a motivator to learn so you don't feel that way often. Remember everybody processes wins and losses differently...as long as you use failures as fuel to do better I think that's the goal.

It all depends. Most years I'd have a rotation of productive spots I'd start on and work thru and if I didn't have my fill I'd move on to different areas. Last years crazy rona crowds forced me to fish and learn new spots as my normal spots were often choked with people. The upside is I've added a couple new spots I've got confidence in to my rotation on my local ponds.

So I have a few ponds locally that get pretty good weeds and matted vegetation in summer. I've always fished around and on top but never really gone in to get them. I'm not talking huge thick mats but thick enough I'm gonna use a heavy rod with 40-50lb braid. I need some bait,hook and weight size suggestions?

I basically fish shallower than 6ft all the time. Like said above water temp and clarity have alot to do with it. I think a tandem is a good all around for most conditions. In cold water I like a single large Colorado....in dirty water I like a double Colorado...in warm water especially when its clean I prefer a compact double willow. The tandem fills in the gaps in late spring to early summer and mid to late fall.

Finesse flip jig Lipless Line thru swim bait and glide bait If these fail I will switch to Ned and jerk bait.

I've got a couple 1/2oz to try this year. If they are even half as good as everybody says I will have a box full by next fall.