T-Billy

I was only 10 then, but I remember it. Long lines at the gas stations, high prices, gas rationing. My Grandpa went from driving a buick 225 with a 455 to a chevy chevette.

I'm only into my 2nd season with it, but so far no, no issues at all with it. Much rounder and smoother than 4 strand, handles great, and it's the most abrasion resistant braid I've found. That gore fiber lives up to the hype IMO. It will, but it won't get as limp as the Spider Wire due to the Gore fiber.

I do all my heavy cover fishing with 40# 832. Plenty strong enough, big enough in diameter that dig in isn't an issue with standard spools, but small enough in diameter to get significantly more casting distance than 50#. It'll handle all the tasks you mentioned very well.

Not a bit. The house I just bought is 3 min from the ramp on the lake down the street, and it's only 15 min to either ramp on the neighboring lake. 16' Polar Kraft running a 20HP Suzuki only uses about a gallon per trip.

I didn't know they made Largemouth hotdogs. I'll look for them next time I'm at Wally World.

Fried five 14"-16" LM just the other day. Slathered the fillets with a sour cream and sriracha mixture, rolled em in seasoned flour, and into the 400 degree peanut oil. Served with jalepeno hush puppies. Mmmm GOOD!!!

13 ARK's here. 10 Tharp, 1 Cobb, 1 Lancer, 1 Invoker. Tharp series is my favorite. I like their reel seat best and they have Fuji K series guides. I have 6 Dobyns, 3 Sierra, 2 Kadens, and a Fury. The fury 735 is the only Dobyns still seeing regular use. I like it for moving baits. I've also fished with a friends Champs. I like my ARK's better. Same story with ARK. Both companies are solid in that dept.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-LEWREEL.html?from=basres

The biggest benefit of high end cranking rods is their ability to make it easier for you to walk, and more comfortable for you to sit, by making your wallet much lighter and thinner. ?

I bought a spool of 30# Hercules to try on my chatterbait rods. So far so good. Angry Fish is another cheap braid I've had good luck with for moving baits. For bottom contact I stick with 832 for it's outstanding abrasion resistance.

This was definitely not my experience.

I have the L and ML Feather. I like em alot for neds, grubs, small swimmers etc. Very nice rods. Plenty sensitive for bottom contact. Zero issues so far. Just started fishing them in March, but the ML gets lots of use.

Lots of memory too, and only SLIGHTLY less stretch than XT. XT is also more abrasion resistant, has less memory, and is available everywhere at a good price.

I spent a bunch of hours punching mats last summer with pretty limited success. Doesn't seem to be the best way to go in the waters I fish. Throwing that punch rig into the nastiest, most weed choked wood tangles I could find was a different story. It's all I wanna do during the daylight hours in summer now. If the weed mats aren't producing for ya, go find some choked out laydowns and put that rig right into the heart of em. They'll produce clear into the fall, even after the weeds are dead and brown.

This was my first thought as well. Outstanding rod for it's price point.

This rod is $129 and is lighter and much more sensitive than a Fury. Beats the Kaden, Sierra, and Champ too IMO. I love it for jigs, trig's, and frogs.

Yup. Palomar and Trilene here. Both have served me well for decades Alberto on those rare occasions I use a leader.

Who's Randy Blaukat? ?

Laying off the hookset is a good way to lose a biggun in heavy cover. Gotta get em coming at ya on the hookset. I hit em all hard, and throw lot's of dinks over the boat. Doesn't seem to hurt em any.

I prefer Boca Grips. They've served me well for many years. I tried a pair of the Rapala vice grip types. I had a 3' musky shake right out of 'em. They do work well for weighing bass though.

^ This. It's compact and I've found it to be an easy knot to learn, and easy to tie on the water. I give it an extra wrap through the loop at the finish, before cinching as a little added insurance that it won't come undone. I've never had one fail, even after several days of passing through the guides. Line always breaks at the terminal knot or somwhere between the knots.

Craws are what I generally start with, and they usually produce, but sometimes bass get picky about profile. If I go through an area that I believe is holding bass with a craw and don't get bit, I'll usually go back through it with a worm before moving on. Sometimes they really prefer one over the other.

Black n Blue jig or Trig TIGHT to cover. Backs of coves where creeks enter is often productive.

ARK Tharp "Money Maker". It ain't a high dollar rod at $129, but it fishes like one.

Congrats.