CrashVector

That's why I tell people that "professional fishermen" aren't fishermen at all. They're salesmen who catch a few fish.

Howdy from S Louisiana

1. Bass don't care about color except for light vs dark. 2. Fluorocarbon line is garbage 3. Screw "the rules". I do what works

I buy the dark gray and orange H2O xpress boxes from academy. They're $20, but they last a lot longer

I use the red BPS reel grease. Just a VERY small amount. If I'm out, or don't have any handy, a bit of Rem-oil from a micro-dropper will also do. My allergies are already horrible this year, so I can relate.

40 years for me.

Dragonflies. Seriously.

None. Braid or mono.

I throw a lot of things on it, but not everything. I use the pit boss, chatterbait, and frogs on it.

I stopped using a crate. I use a Magellan ice chest instead. It doubles as a live well bc it comes with a pre-cut hole in the side for a bubbler tube. Has stanchions for included rod holders on he side as well.

Let us know how it works

Granted. However, it definitely proves I'm not "doing it wrong" lol

For ME, it's as simple as "I have the most fun and find it the most relaxing to be a finesse fisherman, so that's what I'm gonna stick with." Therefore, I've specialized in finesse tactics, and have specific equipment just for that kind of fishing. Do I or will I throw other stuff? Hell yes I will. I have no less than 8 different chatterbait/trailer combos rigged up and ready to tie on. I'm not worried about what mood some fish is in...I decide based on what mood *I* am in. If the fish are hungry, they'll bite. 95% of the time, I start with a 4" powerbait pit boss in bama bug color, Texas rigged on a 3/0 EWG with a 3/16 black tungsten weight pegged. I usually get a fish within the first 5 casts.

Even Roland Martin said in a video about whopper poppers "Now, you won't catch a LOT of fish on these, but you CAN catch fish. I use them sometimes." C-rigs get hung up to much for me. I use jigs, but others method are more productive, so I stick with what works.

I know what you meant lol Just using the opportunity to point out that in fishing, it's VERY rare for something to be absolutely "right" or "wrong". I've been told multiple times on this site that what I'm doing is "wrong" or that I wasn't being honest....when I have videos of all of it, and have multiple catches over 10lbs every year. Those people telling me I'm doing wrong have a PB of 5-6lbs lol! "You will have nothing but trouble if you use braid less than x diameter, so you can't be telling the truth." Wrong. It's all I use...on camera. "Rigging your baits like x doesn't work." Wrong. I do it on camera. "You're not gonna catch a 60lb fish on 20lb mono because mono sucks." Wrong. I have videos of several 50+lb fish being hauled in on a supposedly "junk" Abu SilverMax medium/fast combo using 20lb big game mono. Etc etc. I may not abide by the conventional "rules" but I regularly out-catch many so called "pros", as do MANY people where I live.

Strange. For someone "doing it wrong" I catch a hell of a lot of big fish.

Then why do I do all of the above on my 7'6" h/f casting rod with ease?

+1

I thought the exact same thing LOL! I use that rig almost exclusively from the bank, and find a version of the tiny child rig to be the most effective method to do it.

Seconded. I will never use any googan products

I do lots of review videos. As a rule, it's always something I pay for with my own money, that I'm genuinely curious about, and something I've used long enough to give the pros AND cons about. I'm never "first" to review anything because I won't post a video until I feel I have enough experience with it to give an honest review. Could be weeks or even months after...just depends on when I feel "Okay...I've used this enough to be able to speak about this with some authority." Like my Symetre combo review. People are STILL commenting that it's a saltwater combo bc I said that despite the fact that I like the combo, the rod is as numb as lidocaine and isn't sensitive enough for finesse fishing. Shimano clearly markets it as an inshore saltwater AND freshwater combo...they just don't like hearing that a Shimano product isn't up to par in my opinion, but it's my honest opinion based on over 30 catches and weeks of use.

I'm a finesse fisherman 95% of the time and is what I "specialize" in. My standard lures are a Texas rigged powerbait pit boss with a pegged 3/16oz weight, or a reverse rigged cut down senko or Ned rig with a de-hooked Ned weight glued to the bottom. I've caught many fish in the 4-10lb range on those exact baits. I will use chatterbaits, frogs, and a devil horse, but it's very rare. I worry less about catching fish than I do about just enjoying myself tbh. It's pretty rare when I get skunked except for the last week lol! If you're having fun, the bites will happen. It's easy to go overboard with buying too much crap tbh. Find what you have the most fun fishing with, and just keep doing that...fun is what it's all about anyhow. I personally love using soft plastics because it's simply the most fun for me, therefore I've become quite good at it because it's so much fun. See how that works? Lol

I'd say start by watching yt fishermen who focus on people new to fishing. Keep it simple as you learn.

Too cold? I'm really looking forward to the warming trend next week to get these fish back to biting.

Next week will improve things. We're gonna have a warming trend sunday to Thursday. I'm going out today ahead of yet another cold front with a powerbait red crawfish and a Ned rig. If I don't get a bite, I'll just come home and sit it out til Monday.