BrianMDTX

Nah. Only one vowel lol. It’s funny that my dad got me into hunting and fishing, yet he was never really a serious angler or hunter. I think he did it more for the camaraderie than anything else. He did teach me gun safety and how to tie an improved clinch knot, but I pretty much learned how to hunt and fish on my own. And it is a sport. No one would fish for a living selling their catch like we do lol.

1- #956 Senko wacky rig 2- Mann’s blackberry Jelly Worm Texas rig

G.I. Joe with kung fu grip (for holding DD bass lips) and Kevlar combat fishing vest that’s impervious to hooks.

I’ll second that. I like my Dobyns Fury 705CB from a performance standpoint, but the cork grips don’t come close to the quality of the cork on the Falcon Lowrider. And they are essentially the same price.

I have a Falcon Lowrider All ‘Round Fast MH/F rod as my primary Texas rig and weighted soft plastics rod. It’s paired with a Daiwa Fuego CT 8.1:1 reel. It’s a great rod. For the weights you’re quoting, the MH/F would definitely be my choice.

It’s on Safari as well. Darned Rooskies!

I have nerf bars on my ‘05 Dodge Ram 1500. They help getting in and out (especially for my wife, although she does not like it when we take the truck somewhere lol). They’re knock-off Bullys but have lasted well for the 12 years they’ve been on.

I think the solution is, next trip both of you fish “his” way and the next fish “your” way. If that’s not an option, I think you need to fish the way that makes you happy. If that means solo, so be it.

I am not a great jig angler. But I could fish jigs all day over crankbaits without fails.

We’re a dying breed. But hey! If the Cubbies did it…?

I bet they cost a pretty penny. Hope you get a nice gobbler with those!

Try the Fat IKA rigged tentacles forward or backwards. Sometimes that simple change makes a difference.

You gonna like those #956’s!

I’ve caught more bass on a Googan Scout in Pro Blue than all my other jerkbaits combined. It’s actually a great lure and the hooks are extremely sharp.

I use Fat IKA’s and Neko Machos weightless on my baitcasters. Especially Neko Machos. They are heavier than a lot of soft plastics and the shape makes it cast well. I do Neko rig them but mostly fish on a 3/0 EWG as a weightless TR.

I love those pics! It’s like “oh yeah? Well I caught you and you’re MINE!!!” Where at on the Susky? I used to fish a lot on Conowingo and the Flats in MD, and have fond memories of driving up 11/15 up to the confluence of the Loyalsock and the Susquehanna when I hunted deer in Sullivan County many, many years ago. Beautiful country!

I’m with ya on the steamed shrimp with Old Bay, served with cocktail sauce. Even better steamed with onions. Any left? Leave whole or halve them, and mix with some mayo, diced celery and Old Bay for shrimp salad.

I used to have a full, but trimmed, beard. Used to be brown, too! My wife asked me to shave the sides off to a circle beard. I did that for years. Beard started turning gray, than white. Told her one day I was growing the beard back. Found out that some spots just weren’t growing hair. Evidently they migrated to my ears and nose lol. This is about as good as it gets anymore. The mustache has a little color. But it’s fading fast!

Bling would be extremely important to me if it helped me catch bass. But it don’t. So it isn’t. I want it to look good from an aesthetic perspective. Graceful, not clunky. A perfect fit and finish. I do not require or need flashy colors or graphics. By the way, I’m 61. You younger fellas may feel differently!

I SO agree with the “leave the live bait at home” mantra! It’s so easy to fish an hour or two with no strikes and just slip back into live bait. But those hours are learning experiences. Learning different presentations. Feeling the bottom and structure (it’s hitting limbs/weeds/rocks-it’s not a bass!). If bass are present, they will eventually take your soft plastic. FYI- this is not an anti-live bait post! Many anglers proficient with lures will still fish at times with live bait for bass. It’s for those learning how to catch bass with artificial baits I’m addressing. You have to take the time and accept that fish won’t simply scent or see your artificial bait and eat it. You are learning how to present the bait to entice a strike. And when it happens, it’s a blast!

That’s a real record and a beautiful bass!

No pics, as none were worth the time lol, but I did catch four in about two hours. One on a Ned rig and three on a wacky rig. Tried a chatterbait, a squarebill, and a few baits on a TR but not bites on those.

They make some good baits for sure.

Wacky rig: so simple that anyone can fish it. Cast in likely spots holding bass. Watch the line as it falls. If it stops before hitting bottom, or the line starts running, fish on! Several stick baits work well, but I would suggest 5” Senkos to start. Weightless Texas rig: also simple. It’s you and the worm. Goes through cover easy and you don’t feel the weight. Work it slow. Feel that tap-tap-tap and set the hook. Zoom Trick worms are a great choice. 5” Senkos work well, too.

I cast a Zoom Mag 2 semi-frequently but mostly straight tails.