SigPig94

? Thx!

You’ve definitely been doing the “wacky” thing longer than me...so I appreciated reading your thoughts. I’ve also developed a preference for a shorter rod over the years....I just like the feeling of control it gives me. I’ve been using 6 or 8lb mono and circle or octopus hooks....I recently purchased the St.Croix Avid X, M, XF, 6’8” rod, so I’m looking forward to getting out and using it with some different hooks (EWGs, etc)....also, I just purchased my first kayak so my fishing approach/style will be changing greatly as well. (Waiting for my back-ordered kayak to ship really sucks.....but in our current pandemic situation I realize there are certainly more important things to worry about)

Thx.....it certainly never hurts to have options!

Thanks James! I really appreciate the info and the offer!

I like shadow to sunlight....my thinking is maybe a bass sees it as something moving into the sunlight to warm up? Also, I use plastic worms containing sparkles/flecks so the thought of a quick “flash” when my bait hits sunlight is nice.

What happens in nature.......stays in nature. ?

Then that’s a Largemouth with Largie/Rock Bass parents....those red eyes and markings scream Rockie.

Then I stand corrected.....that loos like a BIG Rock Bass to me! ?

Thanks Daniel....I really appreciate your response. Renting would be the most sensible thing for my situation and is probably the best way to get a feel for things. So nice that you have something like that in your family.

Thanks haggard! ?

Looks like a Rock Bass to me.

Thx...I’ve checked out (on-line) the Belgrade area and it certainly provides many options. But to your point, the distance wasn’t ideal. With two young kids, an extra hour or two in the car can be less than desirable! Nice! Sounds like you have the best of both worlds for fishing! And the Kittery Trading Post must be close too....love that place.

Yeah I agree the scent definitely helps. But I don’t think the Gulp is anything like a fluke, etc when it’s WACKY rigged. It’s way more rigid and you don’t get that “hang” or “droop” on either side of the hook when rigged. Looks pretty straight on the hook and performs waaaaay differently when retrieved. I almost wonder what the attraction is for fish.....it kinda looks like a stick moving sideways!

So I’m newly retired and currently living just north of Boston.....always DREAMED of owning a little cabin in southern Maine, on a small bass lake/pond, easy to fish by kayak, canoe, or small boat......and FULL of bass of course! If you had the chance to buy/rent/build, what lake/pond, 1-2 hours from Boston, would you like to be on?

Yeah, at first look and feel, the 5” Gulp Sinking Minnow doesn’t look like something one would wacky rig...it certainly doesn’t have the flexibility of a Senko or other soft plastics, but the denser build definitely gets me more casting distance which is a MAJOR plus at one of the “shore-fishing only” reservoirs I fish here in MA. I primarily use the Watermelon-Red-Glitter color and I’ve had success with Smallies and Largies...not sure if it’s the presentation, rigidity, or just the nasty stink of it!? I also like that it’s APPARENTLY bio-degradable...the packaging says 100% natural ingredients.

Weightless Senkos with a circle or octopus hook has been my go-to.....but I’ve caught many nice Smallies wacky rigging a Gulp 5” Sinking Minnow.....they’re denser/heavier so I get more casting distance but they smell like s***! Thanks to the WEALTH of knowledge on this forum, I’ll be switching things up a little this season (EWG worm hooks, weedless wacky rig hooks, etc) so I’m excited to get out there. I wacky rig 90% of the time so it’s great to read about different tactics and tips.

Agreed, but a bass fishing forum hardly qualifies as “pushing”.

I truly want to believe that people are inherently good......threads like this one give me hope.

Thank you Keagbassr! Being on Covid house arrest has obviously dulled my attention to the important things!

Thx for some great points.....I have been using circle hooks exclusively but have recently purchased some Finesse Wide Gap hooks......I’m also gonna give the Ned Rig a try this season......really appreciate your opinions on the rod mattering the least....makes a lot of sense the way you explain it.

Thx DogBone.....looking forward to the addiction....many like you have told me it’s inevitable! My shore fishing will be for when I realize how out of shape I am and don’t feel like paddling ?

Thx Pogues.....to your point, inevitability everything comes down to what the individual prefers. I have a 7’ bass rod in my arsenal but over the years I’ve definitely developed a real preference for a 6’6”. I figured that the Avid X 6’8” would be a nice/doable size change.

Looking forward to hitting Wachusett when it opens.....even though I just bought a fishing kayak, I still look forward to shore fishing.....Wachusett definitely can be moody when it’s windy.....my best days there are when I can get my wacky rigged worm out far enough....beautiful Smallies (and sometimes Largemouths) make it worth the risk. I grew up in the Berkshires (yes, that IS still MA) but now I live on the north shore of Boston so when I talk about anything but Stripahs, I get funny looks! Any freshwater recommendations for kayak bass fishing would be appreciated! Stay healthy fellow Baystaters!

Thx to everyone who took the time to share opinions/ideas....I sincerely appreciate it! Last week I purchased a St.Croix Avid X, 6’8” M-XF so my search is over.....until my next search starts! Wishing everyone a healthy, fishing-filled immediate future!

Thank you everybody for the replies.....it’s precisely why I came to this forum! So much knowledge to pull from....can’t thank all of you enough!