BrianMDTX

I use 8 lb. YZH on spinning reels and 12 lb. YZH on baitcasters.

You are probably going to get a lot of suggestions. I just got back in the bass fishing game in May after 30 years. My first and only baitcasting rig was a Daiwa Millionaire 3H. When I decided to buy some rigs, I did not want to buy a $$$ BC and find out it was not for me. So I bought a Garcia Black Max for less than $50.00. I can’t compare it to a better grade BC, as I haven’t used a better grade. But so far it has surprised me. It casts soft plastics and topwater baits well (I now have two) The spool tension and magnetic brake is easy to adjust and the drag is relatively smooth. I plan to upgrade at some point, but so far (on MHF and MF Daiwa Aird X rods), I have no complaints.

About 90% of the knots I tie on hooks are nothing but an old-fashioned improved clinch. I use a Palomar knot on octopus hooks on wacky rigs. An IC is simple to tie and very strong if tied correctly. Like all knots, lubricate well with saliva or water before snugging down tight. And make sure the line/knot is at the top of the eye and none of it gets caught in the gap. That will easily cause knot breaks.

I agree with Jig Man. If it’s one only, it’d have to be something that lasts a long time. Maybe a Whopper Plopper. If it’s one type, it’d be an easy choice for me. A 5” Senko.

I believe around 1:00 am. I just heard that on the severe weather channel report. It’s at 145 mph right now. Doesn’t need to speed up much to be a Cat 5. 11 mph.

Leaving IAH for my home in The Woodlands this afternoon I hit a pretty good downpour. Must be one of the first of the outer rainbands to make it this far. My wife gets off work at 7:00. I’m thinking about hitting the pond lol.

I just bought two packs of Gammy 1/0 octopus hooks (6 ea) for $3.99/ea. Not bad. If you can’t find octopus hooks, circle hooks will do, but I feel that octopus hooks give a better hookset. If you want to try a WR with o rings, get #10 o rings at HD, Lowe’s etc. Or simply hook the Senko at the halfway point. Good luck!

Pointless? No. But IMO make the trip and get 1/0 octopus hooks. All you have to do when the bass is on is reel in the slack until the line tightens and the hookset is automatic. You’ll have to set the hook with a 3/0 worm hook (if that’s what you’re referring to).

First off, nice bronzeback! Second, I almost did that once. I now make sure I keep the attached loop around my wrist. Third...good story!

I guess I should ask...how’s fishing after a hurricane?

I knew from go the Sienna 2500 was not a top-tier spinning reel. At $24.99, it’s not mid-tier. I bought it via a gift points program so I risked no $$ of my own, so if it turned out to be junky, no big loss. But I am really pleasantly surprised. It reels very smooth, the drag adjusts well and is also pretty smooth and it has an AR switch. It may last 10 years or 10 months. Time will tell. But so far it has exceeded my expectations.

That’s a deal!

I agree 100%. If I’m fishing...I’m fishing!

As I never heard of a Georgia cube until I saw it in Bluebasser86’s post, I Googled it and read up on many ways to add structure. The easiest was old Christmas trees (or similar evergreens) and a concrete block. Drill two 1/4” holes 9” apart, stick the trunk through the hole in the block and use heavy gauge wire through the holes and around the block to secure it. You could make six of those in less than an hour and sink them immediately without waiting for the concrete to cure. The Georgia and Shelbyville cubes look great, but more $$$ and a lot more work.

I have a Savage 110E in .30-‘06. It’s probably 25-30 years old. I glass-bedded the action (that’s fun with that barrel nut) and worked up a good handload of 57.0 grains IMR-4350 and a 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. It will shoot 0.75” 3-shot groups all day. Savage makes butt-ugly but accurate and dependable rifles.

Sounds like a heck of a day there! Clean that wound well!

I like the specs on that Fuego. Is yours the 8.1:1 ratio?

I’ll counter with... But when the air turns crisp and cool, I might find bass in a shallow pool. But they will be hard for me to see, With a bow in hand, 20’ up in a tree! I’ll be honest. For the first time since 1989, I may actually be looking forward more towards fishing this fall than bowhunting. Which I’d never thought I’d say. Funny how having a place to fish (with good fish) right up the street looks darned good when you have nowhere local to hunt!

So...in early August, my Fenwick HMX70M-FC rod snapped at the last two inches on a hookset. Who knows why? Only had it since May so it wasn’t abused. Just found out today it will be replaced under warranty, but not until October (damned COVID-19 strikes again!). I bought a Daiwa Aird X in the interim, so if I will be getting a warranty replacement rod (a 7’ MF) in October, I’ll need another baitcaster. I’d like something that’s a step up from the two Black Max’s I currently have. Maybe something in the $100-$125 range. I prefer a reel with a magnetic vs centrifugal braking system. Other than that, I’m open to suggestions.

IMO, semi-slack means just about what it says. It’s not completely slack and laying loose on (or just under) the surface, and it’s not tight. It’s just enough slack that the bass starts to run the line out without immediately feeling line tension, but easily reeled in to let the bass set the hook in about a second or so. Regardless, I’ve deep-hooked two on a WR. And two on a Zoom trick worm TR. Sometimes it just happens.

I look at it like this: that double-digit may hit that bait you cast in a new pond, and with cheap hooks, there it goes. Fishing a $4.00 lure (still a good lure) over a $14.99 one I can see. A Yum Dinger over a Senko I can definitely see. Same with a lead sinker over a tungsten. But not hooks. I want great, sharp and strong hooks every time.

I don’t want to say it never fails, but it hasn’t failed me yet. Sometimes you can’t keep bass off the hook, and sometimes the bite is real slow, but I’ve caught at least one bass every trip out fishing a WR. It’s got to be one of the easiest baits to fish with in existence. Whoever dreamed up the wacky rig deserves a new bass boat lol.

I’ll triple down on the Aird X (I have two- a MHF and a MF). Get a Aird X MF and pair it with a Daiwa Revros. Or if you want a less expensive reel, I’m pretty impressed with the Shimano Sienna 2500 I just got. It’s on a slightly more $$ Daiwa Procyon MF rod. The reel was $24.99. Two weeks ago it fought and reeled in this 4.5 lb bass with ease.

I use a 7’ MHF and am happy with that. I have to say- I can see a difference between a 6’6” and a 7’ rod. I really have a hard time believing 2” of rod can make that big a difference.

Sometimes you just never know. The weekend before last I had fished all morning out of my Sea Eagle Packfish7 inflatable and caught a few bass. Nothing to write home about. I pulled the boat out of the water and popped the valves to deflate it. While waiting, I figured I had time for a few casts. I picked up my new finesse rig with a 5” Senko WR and walked over to the left side of a small tree growing at the water’s edge and casted it out about 10’. I caught a submerged stick. I went to the right side of the tree and casted the same distance. As soon as it sunk the line started running. I figured bluegill or dink bass, as this spot is on the landscaped side of the pond where all the kids fish and people feed the ducks. The rod bent. Hard. Turned out to be a nice 4.5 lb. bass. Sometimes they are “right there” where you least expect them.