Capriceragtop

Yup. I have way too many soft plastics, but I keep them inside so they hopefully will last for years. Probably will go out this weekend and buy way too many dropshop weights, as I've never tried it, and I hear it's a productive style when fish are suspended.

That the one where you go to unhook, and the fish throws the trebles into your forearm?

@thediscochef Water at most places I go is stained. There's one lake where it's exceptionally clear, and there's also erosion netting, so any treble hooks have to be kept off the bottom. As I result, I typically reel quickly there unless it's a surface bait or Texas rig. Waters are typically pretty pressured. I have one spot that I think has minimal pressure, as it's surrounded by tall grass, and I've only seen other people once. It's the lake where I caught my first bass, and I cleaned up early on the season. Still looking for that local honey hole no one visits!

Trying to find time in the afternoon to get some fishing in, but the time change has made that tough. I did go out the other day, ended up cleaning up a bunch of mono some jackanapes left on the ground. I suppose the Good Lord saw it was good, and I pulled in a couple of jointed swim baits. Don't understand why folks can't clean up after themselves.

That's my mindset. Would rather land fish, but if not, I just appreciate the chance to unplug and get away, enjoying the weather.

Solid advice, folks. Think I've got some TRD crawz and the regular stick baits. I'll tie em on and see what happens. Thanks!

Story of ALL my hobbies. I start out with basic gear, then once I find I like it, QUICKLY ramp up into better stuff. I can definitely tell the sensitivity difference in my new rods over my starters, but you're right: my technique needs some focus. Can't tell if my retrieve is to blame, or the problem lies elsewhere.

I suppose I could block of a whole day, or visit a few times throughout the day. I tend to get out late morning and still till later afternoon. I get up early during the week, so weekends are typically lazy coffee mornings. Been thinking a weekend trip to a lake would be nice. That way, I can wake up and stumble down to the lake, coffee in hand.

@Bluebasser86 I've fished off an on over the years, but usually only once or twice a summer. Rented pontoons, went in the middle of the day, only caught bream, crappie, and such. Always considered it a summer-only sport, but learning that's not the case. Hoping to improve my catch rate this fall. I've gotten really into it over the past year or so. Would love a boat, but need to handle other stuff first. I've seen hogs caught from the bank, but I can't seem to find them. My PB is about 3lbs

@Deleted account Ha! Yea, I went from never catching a bass to suddenly catching nothing but that weekend. Hell of a confidence boost, but yea, pretty sure that was the spawn. @Bird Solid advice. Had a contact tell me that chartreuse/white double willow spinnerbaits are the cat's meow right now, so I've got one tied on, but no takers. Also picked up some blade baits. Loved the action, plus it's the first lure I've got where I can toss it a long distance. Routinely manage to get past the braid into the backing while throwing a blade.

Hey folks, Maybe you saw my other thread about what to limit myself to while fishing. I got a lot of solid responses, so I went out this weekend with one small case and two rods. I enjoyed the beautiful day, but no dice on fish. So, it got me thinking I'm just a terrible fisherman. I have what I think is all the right gear: St. Croix Premiere rods, Curado 201 and Pflueger President or Supreme reels, all kinds of soft plastics in every color made, jerks, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, Rapala floaters, wake baits, etc. In short, I think I've got more than enough gear, especially since the most successful fishermen I know all seem to only use one rod and a very small selection of lures! I slayed em in early May, catching about 20 largemouth in about 3 hrs on a Saturday, and another 20 the next day. They loved weightless T-Rig trick worms. So, I'm thinking I'm either out at the wrong times, or the seasonality has slowed the bite. It's in the mi-60's here during the day, dropping into the 40s at night. It will cool later this week into the 50's, into the 30s at night. All lakes have dropped water level. As I'm a bank fisherman, given the weather, where am I likely to find these rascals? Have they gone deep? Or, am I just presenting my lures improperly? Also, this is a dumb question, but how do I know my retrieval speed is correct? My gut says I'm bringing it back too quickly, but how do I know? I thought you wanna keep the bait moving. If they're deep, how can a bank fisherman get to em? Still very much enjoying the sport, but would like to snag one every once in a while!

My messy house and shop say otherwise! I do that, somewhat: saying I'm gonna stick with wake baits today. But, I end up carrying a bunch of them. Then, if they're not producing, I may leave those at home next trip, but bring 3 colors of trick worms.

Yea, I know. There are some days where bourbon blaze or motor oil just get hammered, though.

@Mobasser What do you mean by, "bite dialed in?" And how do you limit your soft plastic colors? I seem to carry 3 or 4 different colors. Not a ton, but then you factor in it's 3 colors for 5 different soft plastics, and it adds up quickly!

Hey folks! I'm one of those guys that feels he has to carry every. Single. Lure. when I go fishing. I'm fighting that, but I can never tell what they'll want, and no offense, but y'all must give that bait monkey steroids. I always see something I feel I gotta get. Scuppernong, anyone? That said, I'm sure there are folks out there who land monsters frequently with one rod, and a small case of lures. In that vein, what's on your list of every day lures? If you can only carry (1) 5007 box, what are you putting in it, that will work in almost any season, water clarity/color, clear skies/cloudy/rainy, etc? They can be wake baits, jerk baits, inline spinners, frogs, crank baits, soft plastics, jigs, etc. Anything and everything, with the only limit of it fitting in a 5007 box. It'd be nice to be able to walk a bank more easily, casting as I go.

@J Francho Thanks for the tip! May have to wait on that one, as it looks pretty similar spec-wise to the Dobyns Fury crank rod.

@GetFishorDieTryin Thanks for the advice, though now you may have opened up the opportunity for two rods! I have a 7' M/F St. Croix Premier, and it's my light jig rod. I originally got it for weightless T-rig trick worms, but I think they're a bit too light for it. I found a 7' ML/F on sale, so I may snap that up, despite being in the market for a light treble rod. Maybe I can make the 7'6 ML/F a Christmas item. Folks always complaining I don't have a list!

JJ, You're correct, basically no cover. Almost exclusively from the bank, and all my usual ponds are clear, save for the occasional hydrilla or algae. Glad to hear the L/F is OK this task. It just seems so flimsy when I whip a lure out there. Fantastic rod for inline spinners, and I used it for some weightless egg hooks on a trout stream May have to save up for the 7'6" ML/F, though. Seems like a solid rod for weightless T-Rig trick worms.

Happy Sunday, folks! I've been building my arsenal over the months. Got my first true cranking rod over the summer, and considering another rod. I've been throwing lighter treble hooks lately: Rapala floating minnow (3/16oz), poppers, jerkbaits, etc. I've been reading moderate action is best, to allow some "give" when setting the hook. I run braid with flouro leader on almost everything. Am I overthinking this, in that I *need* a medium light, moderate action rod for these lighter trebles? I've been throwing them on a 6'6" St Croix Premier, light power, fast action. My concern is the rod is too light for bass, but I can't seem to find a medium light moderate? Looking for something that goes down to 1/8oz. Or is the gear monkey just trying to get his way, and I should just use mono or copoly line on a fast action? Don't have a good medium light fast action rod, but it seems like maybe I could find more uses than a straight light duty cranking rod.

Never could get a bass bite at Grove, no matter what I threw. Did see bream bedded up there, though.

Why do you wound me, cousin? From the looks of it, the rod should arrive tomorrow. No tracking info on the hi-viz power pro, grubs, etc, though. Label was created 24hrs ago.

Oh yea. Small pond, covered in pads, exceptionally easy to get to, and also very close by. Occasional refilled by a creek nearby that overflows. Biggest complaint is you'll walk out with about 15 ticks making a buffet of you.

Alpharetta? Makes me feel a bit better my new cranking rod will arrive before the weekend.

Grrr... now I'm really considering a Dobyns Fury cranking rod. I was advised a 7' MH/Moderate was a good rod to have in the arsenal. The smart thing is to pair it with an old Quantum 5.1:1 I have laying around that looks like it'll hold a mile of line, or with an old Diawa with Twitchin Bar 7.3:1. But I'm looking at a Curado 201K with a 5.0:1 or 6.4:1, and they lookin mighty tempting. Don't get to do much cranking since I primarily bank fish, but I've heard this is a solid rod for most treble hooks, so I imagine I could use it for jerks, cranks, swim baits, as well as other lures that should go slowly.

@CrankFate I also snagged a 6'6" light St Croix Supreme casting reel on sale on Amazon. It is for really light tackle, something like 1/16 - 5/16oz. Got it for a somewhat stupid reason: a trip coming up where the house is right next to a stream, and was hoping to spend a lot of time fishing it. A lot of folks suggested inline spinners and grubs, so I wanted something for that occasion. Figured I can use it for some 4" worms or such. Wasn't sure the medium rod would work for 1/8oz rooster tails or 1/16oz ball head jigs.