Rora

I picked up a elite bass ml for drop shot fishing. Hopefully it works out. Hasn’t shipped yet but this will be my most expensive rod. Wish I bought a reel too but I’m already in the dog house for buying a pedal kayak setup earlier this year.

Thanks the reel ess. I'm going out again this friday, in like 100 degree weather but I figure practice makes perfect. I'm figuring out little things here and there, like I don't think I like having the rod holders closer to me because I have to reach past treble hooks to grab stuff in my crate.

Thank you! I got really really lucky. the casting is hard cause there is so much to be mindful of. The poles behind me, the trees right next to me and the terrifying fear that once I fall in the water a siren is going to drag me down.

Took it out for the first time. Caught a freaking whopper on the zara spook. First fish on a kayak and first fish on the top water. Definitely learned a lot and made a TON of mistakes. 1. It's really hard to cast in a kayak, especially casting to my right side. 2. it was really hard to land the fish, even with a net. I think my net wasnt long enough. 3. It was really hard to keep steady when fishing, constantly drifting all over the place. 4. Forgot all my tried and true SoCal city pond fishing techniques and started branching out to techniques i've never tried. Took both a bfs rod and a ultralight which seemed kind of useless. Don't think its true but just need to figure out their place in my lineup. In the end that was the only fish i caught on a roughly 6 hour day, so that was both awesome and really disappointing. Hoping to get out more and learn the patterns, just in time for them to change it all during the fall transition.

Hey Everyone, Since I'm already falling down the rabbit hole i figured I'd drink another potion or two and ended up getting a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 130x off of craigslist. I got it for 400 but it looks like it is brand new! Super excited to take it out. Thinking about heading over Puddingstone Reservoir in SoCal. Funny thing is i actually thought i was going to get a tarpon 120, but the seller posted it wrong. I really wanted the 120 but im sure this will work out for my first kayak. Already got a slew of things I want to do to it, but I'm super new at this so I am trying to take my time. I'm super budget, so opted to do the whole PVC cart and milkcrate-rodholder-tacklebox. Going to get a fish finder for it, most likely Garmin 4cv? But hopefully in the future i can rig up a trolling motor. Good luck out there everyone.

So I have been going out relatively early. Usually before the sun rises. And I have found that a lot of the bigger bass are hugging the shore of my city ponds. They seem almost like they are still sleeping. How would you guys recommend I attack these fish without spooking them? These are highly pressured ponds. Any help will be welcome.

I appreciate all the help guys. I think what I got is that it’s going to cost me more than I anticipated, even if the upfront cost is low.

Hey all, So I started toying with the idea that I want my own boat. I started looking for some 14' aluminum boats on craigslist and the like, however I don't really know what to look for. Wondering if you guys had any tips for me on what to look out for? I know I want to at least take my kids out to puddingstone and other nearby lakes/reservoirs. I think I will also have a buddy (or two?) join me on occasion. I'm hoping to get motor, trailer and boat under 1K but lower the better, which i know is a tall order, but doesn't seem out of reach as I am very patient. I'm pretty handy so i dont mind, even prefer, restoring something. thanks for any help in advance.

laguna and rbc. You helped me out a while back and really its been just what you said.

OH that is good to know! I always thought the older bass were more experienced and therefore pickier.

So lately I think I have found a pattern for the smaller fish in my community pond, roughly 6" bass. I wondering how well does that correlate to the larger fish in my pond? Do baby bass share the same pattern as adult bass? Is it as simple as sizing up and down the lures? With the added caveat that adult bass have more experience. Thank you all for any help in advance.

I realized today morning that i really only like to/know how to fish drop shot so all i did was pull out different baits. Might just put them all in a single baggie and keep it in the pocket. I'm both too afraid to try something new, and also do not want to waste precious fishing time to tie something else on.

I think a lot of it is due to inexperience. I really only started like 3 months ago. So that with learning the pond + learning about bass behavior + learning how to use my lures + FOMO = a good quarterly report for tackle stores.

Do you have any tips or resources to look into for knowledge? I actually picked up Don Iovino's finesse book per your recommendations in other posts.

THIS IS THE WAY.

Is this possible? I told myself I would only carry a single plano box while i bank fish but i quickly amassed more soft plastics than i can carry and more terminal tackle than spots in my plano box. AND I'm literally typing this out as i get my labor day cart ready for tacklewarehouse. Not sure what i want to get out of this post. but just expressing how i feel. Is there a way i can keep things simple?

What rod would you recommend for bass that fits your description? Don’t mean to jack the thread.

I have always wondered if a fish would bite my bait while i pick out my wind knots and backlashes.

So I have been on a skunking streak. I am off a high from last week. Catching 4 including my PB. but man this week has been ROUGH. starting to think I need to take my daughter to the pond so I can use her as an excuse to fish with night crawlers.

I have found this really helpful. https://youtu.be/LmVljI8Txm0 especially the part about forcefully reeling in more spool with your thumb on it.

shoot I get wind knots every outing at least. Maybe more than once. But I am drop shotting. Every few days I do try to get it out at home by pulling line off the spool and respooling it using a T-shirt. I will say. Getting out backslash is the lesser evil compared to wind knots.

I am just getting used to a bait caster and have several issues with backlash (expected). But I was wondering if you guys who have fished longer still deal with backlash? On a side note do you also still deal with wind knots on spinning gear too?

I actually have a blast picking up old lures and baits that people left behind. I’m a new fisherman so it’s a great way for me to try out worms and craws from different manufacturers and colors.

Thanks you guys. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurting my presentation.

Sorry I’m nose hooking. From what I can tell the hook’s point shaft and eye are not in the same plane if that makes sense.