DitchPanda

Tried to get my lady into it. For a while it worked and she went with me all the time..even caught some fish. But bass fishing...at least around here..is not fast enough bite wise for her. She would go out and ask me what to do and how to do it..then we fish 4 hours I catch 8 and she gets skunked. Then she would get ticked at me as if I was lying or withholding information so I'd have to explain that 30+ years of having a rod and reel in hand just gave me an edge on casting accuracy and bite detection. She stopped going after that.

Had 19 on my truck on the way to work Monday.

I just got this Michael Jones book off Amazon a week or so ago

For me because of when I got serious about bass fishing I'd have to say Aaron Martens. Wasn't really the techniques but more his mindset behind finesse and the way he approached it. Also his commitment to it kinda instilled confidence in me.

I would also gladly pay more..within reason of course..to support a small shop but they are hours from me. Because of this I do the majority of my buying on tackle warehouse.

Smells like night crawler farts and crawfish fumunda

Your budget will allow for a very nice combo. I agree that the most versatile combo consists of a 7ft medium heavy and a reel in the 6 to 7 range for gear ratio. If it was me I'd probably choose a Lews LFS speed spool 6.8:1 and a St Croix mojo 7ft1 medium heavy fast or a Dobyns Fury 7ft heavy fast ( fishes closer to med hvy in my opinion). Can get into either combo for around $250 or a little less. Throw on some 15lb big game and your good to go. I have done everything with those rods- senko and fluke,jig,swim jig, Texas rig,spinnerbait,chatterbait, buzzbait,walking topwater.

Wow...apparently I'm too easily impressed. Maybe I'm just a simpleton.

Fair enough..but there's alot more going on then just Costner.

You may be the only person I've ever heard say they don't like it

So I've had this show recommended to me for a few years now but never really gave it a try. Then this last week I started watching it and I'm addicted.

I do believe I will put together an order one of these days

I'm genuinely jealous of anybody that has a small tackle shop close by. Closest one for me is over an hour away.

Lots of great advice here and I appreciate all of it. The truth is sometimes hard to admit but I know what the real problem is. The problem I have is what alot of us have...I was much more health conscious in my 20s...I worked out watching my diet and therefore was the lightest strongest I've ever been. 8 years ago I got a new job that requires alot of desk seat time, couple that with a sedentary lifestyle at home and I've ended up gaining 60+lbs. What I need to do is a lifestyle change...healthy food options coupled with some good clean exercise like light to moderate weight training plus some walking\running.

Its sharp and goes away pretty quickly once I get it uncaught or unpinched I trust you...I agree its probably nothing serious. Just a pain and annoyance for now.

So the past few days I've had some lower back pain after fishing. Its weird while I'm fishing I don't feel pain...maybe a little stiffness..then I get into my truck and have a pretty sharp pain and some cramping in my lower back. So I get out of my truck stretch a little then I'm able to get back in and get on my way. As I'm driving it seems to get a little better and i haven't had pain when I get out of my truck. Then I can go home and hang out on the couch pretty much pain free. Anybody experience these symptoms? What helps? Any suggestions would be appreciated

I also have a Sierra 702 and is a great Ned rig rod.

I saw that. Dudes a whiner...but no doubt he's a very good fisherman. P.S I still like him..whiney or not

Curious if anybody has experience with them? How's the quality? They have some cool stuff at good prices

I usually carry a cheap old Gerber folder I've had for probably close to 15 years. Clip it to the inside of my pocket if I'm wearing jeans or wrangler cargo pants. This is not a refined knife by any means..it was less than $15 when I got it. Plus its carbon steel which means if its neglected it will rust easy. But with a little TLC it has lasted me a long time and because its carbon it seems to sharpen very easily.

I've done bluegill scaled,gutted fried whole...also done small channel cats skinned fried whole. Now days I'm a fillet guy 100% of the time. I almost never keep fish in the freezer because I never seem to eat them...so I keep enough for a meal or two and that's it. Im not an electric guy choosing a manual knife all day every day. Normally I use a 6in rapala marttini knife that's probably 20 years old.

I'm a big believer in fishing wind blown shorelines especially if the wind has been consistent direction wise for days. Wind seems to blow little stuff...little bit bigger stuff follows the little stuff...even bigger stuff follows that stuff. That's my very scientific break down.

I have a ton of crankbaits....that said I don't fish them near as often as I probably should. The 2 I use most is a size 5 shallow shad rap and a 1\4oz red eye shad.

Looks like I may have to try a bottle

With all due respect dude...shut up