Big Hands

I have heard that it's easier to feed em than it is to fool em, but (in my personal sample size of one angler) all of my largest bass have been caught on artificial baits, and for me, it's not even close. Live bait is not necessarily always a slam dunk over artificial baits, but that's for a different discussion. If my life depended on me having to use an artificial bait to catch a bass in a river or creek that was 3 to 5 feet deep. I'd probably use a silver, silver/blue or gold Kastmaster spoon. Second choice would probably be a small crankbait like a Rat-L-Trap (lipless) or a small lipped crankbait. I like these for that situation because you can cover a lot of water and those bass will see the lure if it's in the vicinity. If it were a lake, my choice would be a dropshot rig with a skinny 5" wacky rigged plastic worm. Way back in the early 80's when I was learning to use artificial baits, I landed my first plastic worm bass dragging a splitshot rig with very skinny, tiny 2" curly tail mister twister worms on very small hooks. That gave me the confidence to try more and more artificial baits. We trolled crankbaits all over creation as well.

If everything is in good shape, I will tie on the night before if possible. Right now, I have a rod with fairly new 8 lb fluorocarbon line that needs to be let out behind the boat to relieve the twist I put in it evening before last, so that one won't get retied before I go out.

I remember trying 6 lb P-Line monofilament (once) about 25 or 30 years ago. I had to run to the back of the boat in addition to winding down and setting the hook with the rod.

Profoundly sorry to hear this happened. Words seem so inadequate to express feelings in times like this. I'm sure you didn't come to this decision lightly. I joined the site later this year, so I wasn't aware, but TBH it does connect a few dots. I consider your presence and contributions on the site a gift and I appreciate you sharing this with us as well.

I can't argue with that on any level. When I bought my Legalis (before buying the two Revros'), I had narrowed it down to either the Regal or the Legalis. I liked the design of the Air Bail on the Legalis, and convinced myself that it was better to have that than the 9+1 bearings of the Regal. I also didn't love the blue-ish color of the Regal for the rod it was going to live on TBPH.

In common bass fishing sizes: BG 2500: 9.3 o $109 Bearings(6+1) BG 3000: 10.8 oz $109 Bearings(6+1) Fuego LT 2500: 7.2 oz $99 Bearings(6+1) Fuego LT 3000: 7.5 oz $99 Bearings(6+1) Legalis LT 2500: 7.2 oz $69 Bearings(5+1) Legalis LT 3000: 7.5 oz $69 Bearings(5+1) Regal LT 2500: 7.2 oz $59 Bearings(9+1) Regal LT 3000: 7.6 oz $59 Bearings(9+1) Revros LT 2500: 8.5 oz $49 Bearings(4+1) Revros LT 3000: 8.8 oz $49 Bearings(4+1) RoLo, I suspect you make the best choices for where you live, what you do, and how you do it and I genuinely respect you as a person, as well as a heck of a fisherman and contributor on this site. However, I do respectfully disagree that it would be a better choice to use a reel that weighs 23% more (Legalis LT 2500 vs BG 2500) to fish finesse baits like shaky heads and neko rigs when both are quite adequate for the task and the lighter one costs significantly less. None of the reels I have listed are dodgy by any stretch of the imagination. A lighter reel (and rod) is likely to aid in subtle detection of bites and there will be less wear and tear on you when casting. I'd prefer to put the extra money into a better rod. When I was reel shopping, I took my rod to the store with me and tried several different reels on it and could definitely feel the extra weight of the BG on the 2500 size. Just not my cup of tea. I got the two Revros LT 2500D-XH reels I have for $29 each. I have spent a lot on rods and reels (and lug heavier gear) if I feel there is a worthwhile point in doing so FOR ME. Same with camera gear. I once bought a 70-200 f/4L lens for $500, and after a short time found it wasn't giving me the results I wanted. So, I sold the lens, and sold another lens for $450 and added another $200 cash to get a 70-200 f/2.8L that gave me an aperture with exactly one full f-stop more light and it was a LOT heavier (oh, the irony). And, for me, it was worth every nickel as it gave me the results I was looking for (and the first lens didn't). Regards, Jeff

The BG is heavy and built like a brick outhouse and he's fishing Neko rigs, shaky-heads, and light texas rigs. What is to fear on a sub-$100 spinning reel fishing finesse baits like these (presumably on light line)?

Not sure I'd like a sport where smelling like urine ups your chances of being successful ?

I have the Legalis LT and 2 @ Revros LT, both in the 2500 size with extra high speed gear ratio. For me, I can either make the Revros my choice, or eliminate it based on one major (IMHO) difference: line capacity. The Revros holds half the amount of line that the Legalis or Exceler do. That's either a feature or a flaw depending on your unique circumstances.The Revros has one less ball bearing, and doesn't have the Air Bail feature, but those are not huge difference makers for me. For me, that (line capacity) either makes the Revros my choice or rules it out and leaves the Lagalis and Exceler to duke it out. The Revros weighs 1.3 ounces more than the Legalis or Exceler too, but I haven't found that to be an issue, however YMMV as to whether or not it is a difference maker vs line capacity.. If the Revros is out, that means I have to find what separates the Legalis from the Exceler. The main difference I can find is that the Exceler has a screw in handle and the Lagalis does not. If there is anything else besides colors that differentiate them from each other, I haven't been able to find it. There isn't big difference between the way the Lagalis and Revros perform for me. They're both fine reels for my purposes, but if I were going to buy another, I would go with the Revros simply because I don't need the line capacity of the Legalis and the Revros is cheaper to boot.

I recently updated pretty much all of my rod/reel combos in the last year. The first spinning reel I got is a Legalis LT 2500D-XH. The nomenclature Daiwa uses is somewhat of a 'smart' numbering system, so each character means something. The LT is the newest iteration of many of their models that have used the same name for many years running. The 2500 is the reel size. The "D" stands for deep spool capacity, and the XH designates the 'extra high' speed gear ratio. After using the reel a few times, it helped me to decide what I liked and didn't like about the Legalis LT 2500D-XH. I liked the size for the type of combo I am using, I like the 'LT' (light yet tough) design, and I like the 'XH' gear ratio (6.2:1). What I didn't particularly care for was the 'D' (deep) spool capacity. I do not need 240 yards of 6 lb monofilament for any fishing that I do. So, the only LT 2500 reels that have the 'XH' 6.2:1 gear ratio AND the 160 yard (6 lb test mono) capacity in the Daiwa lineup are the Certate LT, and the Revros LT. One lists for $449 and the other lists for $49. The Certate LT is too rich for my blood, so I set my sights on the Revros LT 2500-XH and found them on sale at Scheels for $29, so I bought two. So far, I am pretty pleased with the way the Revros fishes, and The 160 yard spool capacity has been plenty. I know that the spools are available and many will interchange between models. Ideally, I would like to see them release a shallow spool LT 2500-XH; something with a line capacity of around 110-120 yards of 6 lb monofilament. Personally, I always liked having a trigger bail too so I can let bits of line out as a bait falls down a steep shoreline, but you just don't see those much anymore as I guess folks don't like that they only have one anti-reverse point per revolution of the handle. The Shimano Spirex was a contender for the feature set I was looking for, but I ultimately went with the Daiwa. So, the topic of discussion here would be why did you choose the model of reel that you did, and what would you change if you could?

Truth or fiction: I've heard that the locals refer to the tourists that show up in the shoulder season as 'newlyweds and nearly deads' ?

My sample size of one: In the summer, I tend to catch smaller fish up shallow (1' to 15 '), and better fish in deeper water (15' to 25'). In the winter, it has been the opposite, smaller fish in deeper water (40' to 60'), and bigger fish in relatively shallower water (10' to 25').

Glad you were able to get away from what could have been a bad situation. Bears are like many other wild animals in that they generally don't want to hang out with us, but we never know what compelling reason they may have at a particular time to stand their ground, or worse yet, become aggressive. It happens.

Definitely different in my neck of the woods. Most of the 'targets' we're throwing at cannot be seen. Imagine a lake with 98% treeless banks (mostly dirt or rock), and when you're 50 feet from shore it is usually at least 25 feet deep. There are some coves that have brush near the backs, and some grass (almost like you would mow in a field) here and there. Oh, and the water level can drop (or rise) a foot in a day. . . for several days in a row at times.

As mentioned, DO NOT forget to get a lake pass, even for kayaks. The local lake patrol is pretty strict and present in their enforcement.

I read Roland Martin's 101 Secrets book back in the 80's and always remember that he feels that you can make fish angry (not just bedding fish) enough to bite. He tells a story of making several dozen casts to a spot before a huge bass finally annihilated his bait. That has always stuck with me. I'm not a run-n-gun fisherman, and don't care to fish with people that are. . . . IN MOST, BUT NOT ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. I don't mind moving slowly down a bank, but tire quickly of barely getting a bait to the bottom before having to reel in and make another cast. If I think, or know, there are fish there, I am happy to work an area thoroughly before moving on.

I know a guy that spent two days in a row on one tiny spot and won himself a brand new full size bass boat and motor for his patience and perseverance. Turned around and did the same thing again (on a different spot) a couple years later.

Yesterday's fish count only had yellowtail on the overnight boats. Nothing caught on any of the other boats would require more than 20 lb test IMHO.

My first ten pound (10 lb 6 oz) bass was caught on 6 lb monofilament. I also caught a 22 lb channel cat that was 39" long on 8 lb monofilament. Both were epic battles as I was fishing solo in a boat with spinning rods and had to land them myself. The catfish was in deep water and took over fifteen minutes to get in.

I have had some great experiences watching pros and learning from them in several disciplines including bass fishermen. He may even have a local guide in mind that he would love to fish with. He might enjoy having you along too. Definitely a 'keeper'!

That all sounds great, but on the other hand, doesn't he put videos on YT that others (potentially thousands of other fisherman) can use to find those great fishing spots that others may have wished wouldn't be exploited in such a way?

It's in there. You have to dig for it. Basically, if you can catch the crawdads in the lake you're fishing, you can use them for bait that day ONLY is how I interpreted the regs.

Back in the 80's my wife and I rented a condo in the Princeville resort at Hanalei Bay on the north shore of Kauai right on the golf course with the shoreline right across the street. I was walking back to the condo from somewhere and I saw a young guy with a fishing rod and he was carrying a largemouth bass. I asked him where he caught the fish and he said he caught it in the bay, LOL. I basically called him a bald faced liar and explained that largemouth bass don't live in the ocean. He finally cracked and admitted that he caught it the golf course pond and lied because he was scared he'd get in trouble. He was using a casting bubble and a feathered hook and reeling it across the surface when the bass took it. I checked out the Wailua River while I was there too, but didn't get the chance to fish it. It's supposed to have some bass. There might be some ponds in and around the cane fields down near the south shore if you can manage to get access. The interior of the island is a big mountain that averages something like 500+ inches of rain per year. One of the wettest spots on the planet. You can hardly ever see the peak because it's usually obscured by clouds, but all that runoff has to come down to somewhere, and I can personally testify that bass are present on the island ;~)

My $0.02: Trolling needlefish in frog or bikini pattern (on leadcore line with a light leader) at about three colors as slow as your boat can go should get you some stocker trout and maybe a holdover or two. The east end of the lake is pretty shallow, especially with the current lake level being relatively low. I would concentrate toward the western 2/3 to 1/2 of the lake when trolling. Bank fishing for trout, I would head toward the dam area on either side of the dam. If you're keeping the trout, I would go with a treble hook somewhere in the #18 to #22 size range with a little wad of powerbait. No heavier than 4 lb leader (2 lb or 3 lb is better). I use a small egg sinker with a snap and a 2 to 4 foot leader (depending on if there's moss or vegetation on the bottom) so it's like a carolina rig with a treble hook. Take a bobber and clip an open snap on one side of it and a tiny casting sinker on the other side. Put your rod in a holder and let enough slack in the line so you can put the open part of the snap over the line in between the 1st and 2nd guide on your rod. Let the bobber dangle just above the ground. When you see the bobber jump and rise up, pull it off, grab the rod, and open the bail. Let the fish run with it for a short time, and then reel down on it, and bring her in. Cut your line as far down as you can, and tie a new hook on. Get your treble hook back when you clean the fish. Small ultralight rods make the fight much more fun and sporting. As for bass fishing, BB Lake has some nice fish in there. There is one kinda long skinny cove with several docks in it. If the water is high enough, there can be some nice bass in around those docks. There are also several rocky areas that provide natural cover for bass. I would start with plastics, creature baits, and spinnerbaits. Get to your spot early. Make sure you have your license. The lake is heavily patrolled. It's going to be a mob scene more than likely, so some patience will come in handy.

A LOT of people have done just that (quit fishing or moved away). There's a decent chance I'll be moving to get away from it too. Fishing is nowhere near as popular as it was several years ago around these parts. They also imposed a 35 mph speed limit, so your big 200+ hp rigs are not going anywhere in a hurry around here. Let's not even speak of the daily launch fee of $24 Don't worry about us though, the nanny state has got us protected.