CrashVector

This is oversimplifying it a bit, but a good general rule of thumb: If you are getting backlashes during the first half of the cast, then go up on your spool tension. If you get backlashes on the last half of the cast, adjust your brakes.

There are a few pros I like to watch on yt for sure, but I don't buy stuff because of their opinions. I fish for multiple reasons, but none of them have to do with making money. Pro fishing is little more than one big ad. They're not professional fishermen, but I WILL say that I will NEVER buy anything from the googan squad brand. Buncha lying douchebags.

I'm a finesse fisherman 99% of the time, and I catch 5+lb largemouths with regularity. My pb of 11lbs 3oz was on a modified Ned rig.

For me, it's about how much effort I'm willing to put in. If I just wanna catch a few just for fun, I walk the bank. If I'm being more "serious", I haul out the kayak.

Caught two better than 7lbs in one bank fishing trip on a berkley powerbait pit boss.

Nope. I never use leaders.

+1

Top 5 lures for me: #1: 4" powerbait pit boss in bama bug #2: Finesse TRD Ned rig in green pumpkin goby #3: powerbait the general stick worm in green pumpkin #4: 4" Keitech easy shiner in Crystal Shad #5: Big TRD in green pumpkin goby on a shakey head

I've never seemed to do well in areas where there are lots of carp, especially when they're gulping air on the surface. I'm thinking it correlates with lowered O2 levels in the water.

Yep. Not like even 20-30 years ago when you had to decide between basically junk or top of the line. I fished for YEARS with a Shakespeare supreme combo that I bought at a Kmart that was closing. It costs me a grand total of $10 lmao! I still have it for nostalgia purposes

I mostly fish during the day from about 10am -3 or 4pm and I catch plenty.

I use a 7'6" Abu Garcia Veritas PLX tournament edition in H/F.

In my opinion, if you want to be a minimalist as far as equipment goes, OR if you simply dont have the disposable income to buy multiple combos (and lots of people don't), I point people towards a MH/F 7' baitcast combo like the Abu Garcia Max X combo, AND a M/F spinning combo like the Max-X spinning combo from Abu. With a total investment of under $200, youd have the ability to fish literally ANY lure for bass, and do it fairly well. Throw in two spools of Berkley Trilene Big Game...one 12lb and one 8lb, and it just touches the $200 mark. Spend $20 on terminal tackle..hooks, weights, swivels, etc. Then $20 on lures. Zoom is super affordable. Less than $250 all said and done, and done very well imo. You can go even less expensive on the combos to bring the price down farther

I hooked a log on a Ned rig in about 1.5' of water. I could see it stuck there. As I was flicking my rod trying to get it unstuck, a 2 pounder came and swiped it loose.

For jerkbaits and crankbaits, i'd choose the XT or big game. XL is low memory, but least sensitive. It's what I use in 8lb test for "general spinning duty" XT is more abrasion resistant, but less limp. I personally don't use XT, and use Big Game instead. Sensation is a copolymer. It's the most sensitive of the bunch, but with the highest memory. I use this in 6lb or 8lb on my finesse bass spinning setups that have mono on them. Personally, I wouldn't go below 10lb test on a baitcaster. This is where I fall as well.

They knew about it oct 15th.

Berkley big game is great line. I don't trust anyone who says otherwise. I use the clear and green. Hell, most of my reels have SOME kind of berkley on them, except for a few that I use braid on. My mono bluegill spinning setups get Trilene XL in 8lb green for the reduced memory. My mono finesse bass spinning setups get Trilene sensation in 8lb clear. My Catfish rigs get Big Game 20lb in coastal brown.

I like TW. I've ordered from them twice, and will probably do so again in the future. However, I won't use my CC or debit card. The fact they waited months to disclose the data breach so they could still cash I on Black Friday though...was kinda crappy of them.

Congrats on your bonus! I own a Curado DC that I use for skipping. It's a very good reel for sure, and you don't be disappointed. Enjoy the new combo, and let us know when you catch your first fish on it!

Agreed. I ordered from them last year and this happened. Only two times I've had to cancel my card and get a new one...was days after the two times I ordered stuff from TW.

I use them interchangeably and haven't noticed a difference. I HAVE more clear mono lines, but I still use green sometimes. Basically, I use clear in 12 and 8lb, and green for 6 and 15lb. That way, I know what test is on which reel.

Absolutely..I wasn't criticizing you. In those circumstances, I'd probably do the same

Fair enough. I wouldn't want my easy spots fished out either, but honestly, THE spot where I know I can go pretty much ANY day and catch a few...is also one of the most highly pressured ponds in my state. It's 10min from my house...all bank fishing, and 30-40 people fish it every single day. It's a big pond...like 20acres, but I still have no issues catching big bass there pretty much at will. It's not uncommon for me to be standing there with 10-15 other people fishing....I'm just usually the one catching them lol In fact, one of the most common conversations with my fiance goes like this I grab a baitcast combo. "Where ya going?" "The lake. I wanna catch three or four then come home. I'll be back in 20-30min." "Oh okay." I swear by powerbait pit bosses in ponds man. Pretty much any pond I've fished, a pit boss puts em on the grass.

Guess I'm different...I have zero issues telling people what I'm using.

Because people don't believe you can fish top water frogs on anything less than a steel cable because they buy into things people who are paid to say certain things say...and "they" say you need 65lb braid, so that's what they go buy. I fish frogs back in the swamps...through brush and slop and laydowns and thick vegetation....all on 20lb braid. Never had a break off. Never had a knot slip. Ever. However, I don't set the hook like I'm in the Olympics doing the clean and jerk portion of the weightlifting competition either. Again...it's a 10lb fish, and hooks are sharp. If you're setting the hook hard enough to pop the knot on braided line, then you need to learn how to set hooks properly.