DitchPanda

I'm a bank guy...I'd say my average outing is 2-3 hrs. I usually fish 2-4 days a week. I have a buddy that just got into bass fishing and I've been teaching him. We have had several outings in the past month or two that have stretched to 4 or 5 hours.

I have a series of small ponds I fish that are stocked with rainbow trout. I throw a kastmaster often and have caught plenty of bass on them.

That's what I was worried about. The fact that the drag is so so and they don't have an AR switch so you could back reel if needed is kind of a deal breaker for me. Thanks for the info. Ill just wait and buy another Revros...which has the switch and a nice drag...during the next TW sale that way I can save money to stay within my budget and get a better reel!

For me I can't seem to go true minimalist...or maybe I should say I don't want to. Best I can seem to do is one rod for active fish:lipless, chattebait,spinner bait etc....one bottom style rod:Texas rig, jig, senko etc...one rod for finesse which is almost always a Ned rig. Even being bank bound I'm still almost always lugging at least 3 and up to 6 rods. That said I'm confident that @Team9nine is right...I could bring a couple packs of TRDs half dozen heads and a pair of pliers and catch fish.

So I've been very impressed with my Daiwa Revros and Regal spinning reels. The budget(ok cheap) angler in me wants to build a super budget Ned combo...like 60 bucks total. Anybody have any feedback on the newer Laguna reels?

Never really fished one much so I bought a couple. Anybody really like these? Any mods I should do? Are the pre rapala ones better or is that hype?

Menace grub rigged vertical. In particular a summer craw colored one on a bluegill swim jig.

Amen

I understand where your coming from. My style of fishing I don't lose a ton of baits so I still see the benefit. Take the goat for instance...the standard size is $5 for 4...my favorite swim jig trailer is a menace and it is $6 for 8. So if the goat lasted twice as many fish...since I don't lose many swim jigs...it would be cheaper. The thing that kept me from trying is I asked goat vs menace and it was unanimous the menace was better on a swim jig. I use the TRD exclusively for Neds, you use the zinkerz. The zinkerz is a better deal financially..my issue is have so much confidence in the TRD that I haven't tried the zinkerz. Either way 8 or 12 durable baits for $4 bucks is a solid deal. I have a mud minnow TRD tied on now that has a dozen or more fish to its credit and looks brand new. Heck its just getting broke in enough to fish right! I will likely snag it before I wear it out. Don't get me wrong I look for deals to. They are still out there if you look in the right places. To save money I use slot of Yum products. My favorite worm is Mr Twister phenom...20pk for $3. Big bite baits 5in grubs and small creature are both in my arsenal...25pk $4-$5. Nothing wrong with being thrifty!

I actually just started using braid to leader on a few spinning setups this year for Ned rig and small hair jigs and its been awesome. I usually just tie a long leader 12-15ft so I don't need to retire. I've been using a double uni knot and its been good to me. Haven't had one fail at the connection...every time I've snagged and broke off its been at the bait.

Most of my fishing is done within 10-15 minutes of my house so not alot of thinking time. I'm usually just watching for wild critters or farm machinery(spring and fall) so I don't run up on a planter or combine while I'm rollin 60. I will admit that the first few trips after ice out my mind is filled with scenarios and anticipation. Can't really blame a guy as that's normally the first open water I've seen in 3-5 months.

No superstitions here. Ritual? Prep work like mentioned above. Check hooks, line...check supplies in the tackle bag.

I worked it out with him thru private message on here. Not sure if he has a web page.

Time to order some more..then you'll find them

So last year I was in the market for a bitsy bug style jig but I wanted better quality: nicer hook...better paint...wire tied skirt. Well @Bluebasser86 answered the call with a very nice homemade model. Any way I bought 16 jigs from him...a mix of green pumpkin and black..all with a quality hook and wire tied skirt all at a very reasonable cost. These little 3\16oz jigs with a small Zman batwingz or the small yum craw papi (his recommendation thanks for that) have been skunk repellant for me almost to the level of the Ned rig. Best part about it is I had an old 6ft6 med fast all star rod and a lews tournament MB laying around looking for a purpose. Threw those together with some 10lb mono and I have the perfect combo for those little jigs. I just wanted to let you guys know that @Bluebasser86 isn't just a good bass angler he's also a skilled and reasonably priced tackle maker- if your having a hard time finding what you want he may be able to help you. Thanks again man for the jigs and all the advice...much appreciated.

I've tried paddletails, craws, menace grubs, single tail grubs, brush hogs etc...my best 2 baits are a regular zoom 4inch fluke and my personal favorite a big bite baits swimon.

1\8oz rebel Pop R or heddon tiny torpedo I think are both worth mentioning.

1\4oz bluegill swim jig with a summer craw menace grub rigged vertical. Weightless Texas rigged stickbait - in that shallow water probably a yum dinger since it falls slower. Top water wise I'd target under those trees docks and patios with a Frog.

I really liked what I saw yesterday out of them so I ordered two more packs when I got home. YUM may be the best bargain in bass fishing. There stuff is pretty good quality you, get a good amount and for a very reasonable (cheap honestly) price. Zoom is still my favorite but for cost and even availability reasons lately I find myself using YUM stuff more often and I'm still catching fish. I've heard people say stuff like yeah that Christie craws alright but it's no rage craw...or that dingers ok but its no senko. Yeah that's true they aren't quite as good...but they are still good...also more durable and less than half the price.

I've used a medium modfast a medhvy mod fast and a medium moderate cranking rod. Yes the hooks are sharp..I've checked them. I also carry a file to touch hem up if needed.

Thanks for the feedback everybody...I put an order in this morning

I've been throwing the 1\4oz redeye and traps lately getting alot of bites but having a helluva time keeping them pinned. I've tried 3 different rods and have had losses on all of them. What setup...rod and line...do you fish 1\4oz lipless on? Losing some fish on a lipless is a given but it seems like much more than normal.

Well when I said the name is misleading what I meant was compared to other worms with the same name its definitely different. I agree with you that finesse can mean alot of different things. That's not what I was trying to convey. I plan on using it in brush on a Texas rig.

Some Yum mag finesse worms(sold out elsewhere) a 1\4oz Cordell spot a small booyah boss pop(neither carried on tackle warehouse) and a vintage Heddon camo hat. They have free shipping over $25. Any how 2 bags of big worms 2 hard baits and a hat for $26.85 and free shipping seems solid to me.

As long as it wasn't a biodegradable and packaged wet I think it would last like the other ones. It would get back into the bag get coated in the oil they come in and be like normal minus the wear and tear from use.