Darth-Baiter

I pride myself on my lifetime pledge to try any dish before commenting..and if I comment, I refrain from any negativity. I never BLEH any food, because someone clearly likes it and who am I to judge along those lines. having said that, BALUT has yet to pass my lips. I've eaten a giant roasted spider! that egg thing..I cant do it. my Philippine friends swear it is delicious. I'm gonna ocean kayak fish with them his year, so I know they will bring some to get me to try it.

I might have one of those in my remnants bait box. gotta go look at Elephant Butte lake. bass colors did well

well, I am packed. except my toiletries. thanks for answering my question. I minimized for sure. I will have one checked bag and one carry on. BUMMER. my trip advisor from the guide service suggested I check my reels. she said, she is starting to meet TSA agents that one allow fishing line inside the passenger compartment. WT..? I dont love the mental image of me stripping line (I already spooled up fresh stuff) at the TSA line, not wearing my belt, shoes, hat..hahah.. all my reels fit into a survey gear bag that is HIGHLY padded. I am not sure I am wiling to roll the dice.

As an adult, I have adopted all my dogs. I’ve had some good ones. Harry was a senior dog nobody wanted. My wife brought him home and it’s was challenging and rewarding. my current dog. A good one with his own challenges. For realz

my biggest and smallest bass have been taken on a Crankbait. sad, I have hundreds of dinks and only one big.

I like shopping from the MB P5 lineup. there is almost a flavor for everyone. having said that, I have a shiny new Oricchi X10 that feels like a fantastic moving bait rod. it is fairly parabolic and cant cast a chatter bait across my front yard with authority. lessoned learned..I chatter bait Hooked up in a manzanita tree is no joke.

Digitaka is always sold out on Zillions. just saying.

Not so sure about that. Looks photoshopped. AJays head is much smaller, like its way back in the photo. Like in the background small.

Wait! CA state record is 21.75 pounds?!!! That is a big denominator! Yikes!

Ajay..the man with the biggest set of hands in his selfies..and the longest arms...!!

Thank you sir!

Bringing two sets of clothing. No socks. I am flying with fishing clothing. Hahaha

I leave for a vacation bass trip in a week. I am packing early. my soft plastics are in the original clam shells. it takes up a monumental amount of space. I want to take them all out and put them into zipper type sandwich bags to save the room! will I distort them beyond use? hate to get there only to have stick baits and a wad of melted expensive Japanese baits. I dont have any ELASTEC stuff. OSP baits, Fat impacts, etc. I know Yamamoto Flapping hogs are okay in a crunched up baggie. if I dont get this down into a smaller package, I will have an huge luggage. yuck.

It’s here! Got it last week but had to toss the box on the spare bed and jump on a plane for work meeting. got home, hugged kissed wife and got a good nights sleep. Woke up , coffee and NEW Reel fondling! it looks awesome on new Orrichi X10. (First zillion in background) time. to re-spool everything for Mexico bass.

were the cables at least crossed?

wow. this thread almost made it without something coming up about CA's values and thought patterns. have a great trip. it is stunningly beautiful there.

I found this hook a bit snaggy. Great hook but there is very little forgiveness when I’m fishing structure

net storage. I keep it simple. I just lay it in the front like a few folks here. it stays put all the time and I just pick it up. my net has an extraordinary gravitation pull to a fish hook so having it up front really helps. I use a 4everlast, that I lengthened the handle for, and that is my net for life.

Definitely I never peg the weights anymore.

which thumb? both? I saw a guy wrestle his kayak. I didnt ask, but he rigged up wrist straps to yank his boat around. he was pulling with his wrist stuck through webbing. he wasn't a fisherman, but he worked that boat like a pro. maybe a variation for your needs?

from what I know (little) that county is more salt water stuff, and trout(?) but if you head east a bit, you hit some awesome lakes. WhiskeyTown, Trinity, Shasta. all those lakes are loaded with the big three. Brownbass, greenness and spotted bass. I bundle up with warm stuff and I start hitting it in March for sure. Shasta people tell me (brag) that their lake has the biggest smallmouths, and you find them near the d**n. I cannot confirm because I suck at catching smallies. but one day, darn it!! one day!! you going to have a boat? it is raining. normally around here again, and the lakes are back up to awesome levels. heck it is raining now!!

Thanks everyone

I use 12 and 14lb Sunline Sniper for my local fishing exclusively. I seem to do well enough. Everyone tells me to go to Mexico heavily lined up. 16lb flouro (minimum)is most chatter. I had a roll of 15lb Assassin in my hands just now , but I put it back. I do like the 225 yard spools. That’s two loads. is a Mexican bass stronger than a US bass? The cover more abrasive? not like I go to Mexico all the time and I can’t head to the tackle shop, as needed. Go with what I know? Or go up in line strength? typical me, overthinking this.

Japan might be my favorite vacation of all time. I once got a bug to find Hanso's shrine. got miserably lost. I saw a lady cleaning an entry way and she waved me over...I got there with my wife and the smell hit me. it was a tonkatsu restaurant.!! I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and when I opened them, she was giggling at me. she showed us to a table. menu was all Japanese. she led me around the room and pointed at other customers plates..I saw the one I want and pointed. wife made her choice by pointing at words she couldn't read. hahah.. what a fun delicious meal. when we left, a chef pointed us in the right direction and we just started walking. that trip, covid had not happened and I wasn't into fishing yet. the pandemic was the catalyst for me. now when I go back, I am walking my butt into a fishing store. for me, the Japan experience first, and I happen to be in the country that makes my flavor of fishing gear. my friends wife doenst get back until 2nd week of February. booooo...she is in Thailand now. and so is my Zillion. hahahahah

I 100% tex rig them. I own some nose hooks (octopus, I think) but I never use them. I just whip that rig everywhere, and dont think about it. I am also 100% 3/16th weights. I got tired of me eventually mixing all my weights into one mystery compartment in my terminal tackle box.