Fishing_Rod

Greetings All, @IcatchDinks Hah, no good deed goes unpunished, right? Yeah, that whole work things is a total bother to my angling ambitions. Thus, I'm left with a precious weekend time. So I do what I can to make the most of it, when I'm able to. Gotta take care of the Dad stuff first. Once all that is sorted, then the fishing gear comes out. As always, let's be careful out there, regardless of what time you are out there! Be well, Cheers!

Greeting and Happy Fourth All, @JonB2 I am using weedless TRDs on a size #1 EWG with a small glass bead and a 1/64 oz bullet weight on 10 pound mono with a 4000 size spinning reel. This is my summer time solution for weeds and reeds. This configuration presents the small bait in a more gentle approach for the shallow-ish areas. I'm typically a 4 pound mono UL gear user. During the summer months, things are a bit more 'western' so additional leverage is helpful. My only downside is the overall weight of this setup. It is far heavier than my UL rigs. So, I have it handy and use it for those areas. Otherwise like for the rocky edges and ledges, I'm back to my UL rig(s). I hope this helps. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Fourth All, @BahnzoBass You have a nice Ultra lite setup in hand with those trout rigs. Give that a go and enjoy while you decide to acquire more gear. Here in Southern AZ, I'm using the same rigs all year long. The cooler months they work well for the trout. The rest of the year it is multi-species to include bass. While I have heavier rigs, I catch more using the UL gear. Also I'm not as fatigued. Tossing that heavy gear about takes more effort. Yes, I understand and have empathy when applying leverage on those stronger fish. Heavier rigs help but only go so far based on conditions. Each break off is a big time bummer for all. A number of the local sticks prefer the braid to leader configuration. The braid tends to float, which does act like a strike indicator. It does help if you're looking. Others have mentioned a bit more diligence in making sure the line is packed on the spool nicely with the spinning reels, this appears to be more critical on flurocarbon line. You want it right and tight to lower the overall drama. There is a local AZ angler that has a TV program and YouTube channel, "Fishing with Johnny Johnson". His latest content included his recommendation of using 8 pound flurocarbon for the leader. His experience shows better presentation action at that line size. Heavier does not allow for his preferred level of lure action. It is nice to have more options, but realize you have good stuff already. Just get something with a good quality drag. Low startup threshold, smooth action, no surging, consistent operation. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Fourth All, My effective and fun approach happen to address both qualities in the single package. Effective cause it catches a lot of fish. Fun because it catches a lot of fish. Yeah, just a recreational angler that managed to find something that appears to work well in all the regional waters, all year long. My solution theme somewhat parallels @RRocket approach using the smaller bait profile rigged weedless for versatility. I'm using the TRD baits rigged weedless with a #1 EWG hook. If configured weightless it can be used much like a top water or jerk bait. Pretty effective all along the shorelines, with or without weeds. Add a small 1/64 oz bullet weight and you've got a slow sinker that acts much like the free rig as the TPE floats nicely. Even though it is a small lightweight, I do use a very small glass bead to protect the knot during the cast. I'm generally using 4 pound mono. Good to make use of the most knot strength I can have. The small bait profile provides that full range of multi-species opportunity which is all about the catching! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Fourth to All! Triple digit heat, 105F-ish, with over 15 mph winds and gusts in the high 20 mph, Red Flag conditions. What a great time to go fishing, catching. Not too aweful if you're ready to deal with the heat. Just be sure you have a quick and easy exit strategy, along with plenty of hydration. Drink frequently to avoid bad things from happening. I recently found a low cost small 2.5 inch jerk bait at our local big box retail store. I am typically a soft plastic lure user, not a hard bait one. So, this was both interesting and affordable. I mainly intended to use it for the upcoming trout season in the colder months. I looked to use it on my UL spinning gear or my BFS rig. Given the weather challenge I was up for the additional degree of difficulty. I put the new small jerk bait on my BFS rig and took it out to the lake for a try. A few casts and things were going swimmingly. That is until during one of the protracted pauses, the line got tight. When I responded, I was greeted by a heavy tractor pull sensation. OH Golly! This is going to take some time. My BFS is an UL configuration with 4 pound mono on a short 5 foot rod. Very much configured for trout and pan fish. Sure the occasional small bass too. Just typical of what you expect to find in this lake. It took over 30 minutes to be able see what was at the end of the line. The murky water didn't help. I figured it was a catfish. I just didn't know the type or size. The high drama was one the fact that it is a short pole so there is only so much leverage. Also the lighter line and older line too. It is over a year old as I used that reel through last spring till now. The color of the line is quite faded, but it still appeared usable. Then there is the knot. I'd been goofing about with a knot of my design and this is great test of durability. Even after I was able to see the fish for glimpse, there was still plenty of fight left. I got it close to shore a few times but for a fraction of a second before it would thrust away for another round of let see how much line can be pulled off the reel. On the fourth attempt to land the fish, no net, I did manage to get my hand on it, carefully. Just a quick hook removal, and an even quicker selfie. Yeah, amazing in the heat how quickly things can dry. I got this beauty back into the water pronto. Everything worked as it should. The high drama was a nice way to start off a fishing adventure. Not bad for the first fish of the day, first BFS fish on a jerk bait too. There were plenty of small large mouth bass in there too. Those were willing to play on the soft plastics worked along the bottom. Nothing big just all fun. Nice to have the fish catching opportunity at a community water. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Fourth All! @ElGuapo928 Fantastic recommendation. Yeah, by your location designation that low elevation just makes the heat even more intense! I regret to admit I've not ever put a line in at Roosevelt. I've driven by there so many many times but no time to fish it. I look forward to fixing that sometime soon. Be well! Cheers!

Greetings All, Yes, very warm these days in my region of Southern AZ. Given the pre-monsoon conditions where it is just hot (triple digit hot) and windy. This past weekend, the entire SO AZ was under National Weather Service declared "Red Flag" warning conditions. The hot winds were well over 15 mph with gusts over the upper 20s. Yeah, just what you need to work out that angling ambition, right? Over the many years of living all around AZ, I find that I don't change my fishing approach too much because of the heat. The typical approach of weedless soft plastics seem to produce results regardless of the ambient air temperatures. Now I am a recreational angler so I'm just out to have a good time. My preferred UL approach works for me. It is difficult to send those small presentations in high winds. There was a lot of low angle casting going on this weekend. @Bassin101 The recommendation to "go slow" is a good one. It certainly produced bass for me in the Tucson urban waters. None of them were large but all were good fun. I still use the same rigging and soft plastics low and slow. Generally as light of weight as possible. Usually less than 1/16 oz - 1/64 oz. All the waters in SO AZ are very popular and the UL presentation helps with success. What does change is my personal preparation. The heat is no joke and is dangerous. Have a good quick exit strategy. Also have plenty of sun protection and stay well hydrated. It is the difference between a good or bad day. My gear includes a large thermos of water. It keeps the water from getting crazy hot. Drinking frequently just to make sure things continue to be good for ya. Also good quality clothing for adequate sun protection is very helpful. Burning is no good. The fish have not demonstrated they are too different in behavior. I do pretty much the same thing in the winter and summer time at the various reservoirs in the region. Also the same when I'm up in the metro PHX areas and the Mesa canals too! Let's be careful out there. Have a good time just make sure you're good. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, Yup, it is rather hot in most places. Southern AZ is one of them for sure. We have an entire weekend under 'Red Flag' warning. If the triple digit temps aren't interesting enough the winds ought to add that extra degree of difficulty. I only just realized in reviewing this thread, that I've been 'finesse' fishing for a majority of my angling adventures for several decades. Yup, I enjoy catching fish and I don't want to work 'too' hard doing it. Sure, I'll heave some of the larger presentations for a bit. Then go right back to catching them with the smaller gear. The recent conditions have the weeds getting on the thicker side. Usually, I do a bit of weedless TRD using a 1/64 oz bullet weight. Just enough to get it sort of down there. It works really well for the multi-species bite. I've also used that setup with and without the weight as a kind of jerkbait of sorts close or at the surface. That has been effective too for many of the schooling bass and bluegills. I had the wind blow it off course and had it land on a weed mat. As soon as I pulled it clear it got smashed! Wowza! that was a fun time on UL gear. I'm mixing it up between the UL spinning and BFS casting rigs. Having a good time using both. It is interesting to see all the products out there you each are showcasing. @GreenTrout That link you shared, THXs! Oh, the bait monkey! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, @SJS Congratulations! New rod, better bass, and a new angling approach success. All great accomplishments. Bravo! Yes, totally agree it is toasty in most areas. Here in Southern AZ we've got the heat with the wind to make for 'Red Flag' conditions all weekend long. It is going to be interesting making a cast under those conditions. We'll see what happens. Let's be careful out there! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings @Bazoo Your reasoning parallels my observations too. When tossing lighter lures with lower effort, the lower spool mass appears to be the way to go based on inertia. My personal comparison with the different low cost casting reels have been with magnetic brakes. I have an older BP casting reel that had both centrifugal and magnetic brakes. A well built reel but I realized I did not need or use the centrifugal brakes, it was all magnetic. So, that is why I ended up with what I currently use. This is also the case for my BFS casting reel. It is used just via magnetic adjustments. I adjust the friction, spool tension, to just where there is minimal lateral play. Just off from the zero movement setting. That works for my preference towards the lighter presentations. I hope this helps. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, Great information being shared. Thank You to each who contributed for the increase in collective knowledge. @fish'n Jim Your points, "I see more floaters than I'd like to as I travel lakes. I don't care to see these "pros" flopping fish on the carpet or EVA foam with braid, heavy line, etc. monkey see... They lose skin slime, they need to prevent bacteria. I see lots of infected fish these days. Anything above about 3 # needs to be lifted carefully to not damage the mouth/jaw also. Fish are designed to be supported 360 by water, air doesn't provide skeletal support.", are so spot on. Thank You for emphasizing care of this important resource. It is really unfortunate so many anglers demonstrate poor fish handling. I can only hope through information and guidance that folks realize how important it is to handle them with care. It is not that difficult to do. It just takes a diligent effort to be careful.

Greetings All, Yup bait monkey is screaming. Weekend is approaching. Shopping will be done. The objective is to get a few and actually try them out at the urban waters. I've always used other metal spoons like the Super Dupers, Kastmaster and Z-Rays (originally from Tucson I believe) with reasonably good success. However, these are not designed for weeds. I look to try them just as they are from the package for the initial go. Given the intense AZ sun, these ought to make good use of the flash factor. Besides with the triple digit temps, the soft plastic may not last long. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, I can relate on the situation. I wouldn't wait that long. I'd be retying and recasting! Best of luck for that rematch! May it be equally epic but only in your favor this time! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, I have converted several 'lures' to single hook configurations. I don't have any evidence of hookup differences that I can attribute to the treble or single hooks. They both work at catching and holding on to the fish reasonably well. The biggest thing is to find hooks with the proper eye size to accommodate the split ring. I had a bunch of bulk octopus style hooks that I decided to use for that single hook conversion. Sure, it is probably not the optimum selection. It is just what I had to try. My example started with a Kastmaster metal spoon. This works in my area for trout, panfish and bass. I use the smaller versions because of my preference for UL angling. I had to modify the split ring to be able to use the smaller eye hooks. The single hook didn't alter the wobble enough to tell a difference. It worked well on the fish mentioned over several years of use. Clearing the hook from the fish does require pliers to assist with getting a grip on that single hook. Also things are less fouled up in the net as you don't have the additional hooks to snag up. Watching many of the Japanese mountain trout anglers who use crank baits, they all use single hook configurations. (possible mandated for conservation) In some areas of AZ we have similar angling constraints to a single barbless hook. It is worth the effort to give it a try. A good pair of pliers is helpful. A split ring tool is also helpful. I originally accomplished it using a combination of pliers (hemostats) and a not so precision screwdriver. Not elegant. It did work. Good luck and great fishing to ya! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, @WaskaCrank12 Wow! What a story. Thanks for sharing that experience. Based on information available, I respect your call on the situation. Doing what you think is best at the moment. I've only got a limited amount of pike experience. There are a few of them in AZ too. Always better to be careful and minimize injury. It is my understanding the TPE is better able to breakdown when compared to plastisol materials. Be well, Cheers!

A welcome tribute to honored BassResource members.

Bravo Glen! Well Done. Appreciate the information with inspiration. Thank You!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, Yeah, standing on firm ground when casting is different than being on the water (kayak, canoe, boat, paddle board). That additional movement with variability affects cast accuracy. The main thing is keep casting while trying to have fun with it. As many have conveyed, it may still catch fish when it is in the water. I mention 'in the water' as I've had many casts that didn't quite land in the water, yet still had a happy ending. I over shot one which landed it on the rocks. I then had to give it a tug, only to have it pop free and drop in next to a branch. Bam! The line started moving fast laterally. Wowza! Others in the forum have previously mentioned the feathering effect when the bait approaches the water at a low angle to achieve graceful gentle landing. A bit of critical timing is necessary to apply enough resistance to lower the entry speed significantly while still hitting the intended destination. It is a deliberate oversend, with brakes applied just at the end for that quality finish. Depending on if using a casting reel or spinning reel, the approach is to use a finger to add resistance just prior to the bait hitting the water. A similar approach is used to land a fly gently without the line bunching up due to excess energy. Get the bait to hit the water. Then refine the delivery over time with plenty of practice. Have fun too! Yeah, my neighbors have a great time seeing the old guy casting at the various plants in the garden when he can't be out at the lake. Enjoy a great weekend all! Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, Yeah, 'it depends' is a pretty good answer. I rarely have a well defined location persistence criteria because I'm a recreational angler. My goal is simply to enjoy catching fish. My opinion on the matter is based on a whole bunch of factors. One of which is conservation of energy, mine! I'm frequently in my kayak via paddle power or shore line angling. Thus, there is a cost benefit consideration. I prefer doing more casting than paddling or walking. Here in AZ, I'm familiar with most of the fishing options in the area (I've lived here for many decades), all which require a good deal of travel. So, quality angling time is a premium with a simple goal of catching. That generally involves a dedicated approach to carefully work the very busy limited number of angling locations. The issue is a limited fishing resource with a massive number of folks at those locations. A good number which are anglers. Because of the high level of stress on the resource, it is rare that a flamboyant angling effort is successful. I've tried over the decades with very limited success. Over time I realized the UL finesse approach works well to accomplish my goal of catching. Thus, I probably work an area longer than most to get that bite for a selfie with a fish. At the urban angling locations, I see a lot of folks walking and casting. Hovering long enough for maybe three or four casts (as bass anglers). They then move on from there. So, it is rare they stay more than 5, maybe 15 minutes. The catfish folks are camped out at their locations. They rarely move, even when there is a bite on-line. There have been many times I've notice rod tip movements and they are not interested in responding. So it goes... I tend to stay on location (roughly speaking, due to wind and other influences) for at least 15 minutes, frequently longer. I'm not subscribing to an objective of covering water and looking for a fast bite. I am looking for that bite and I'm willing to make it happen. Using the UL gear, it is pretty easy to detect even slight interest from timid fish or small fish. That opens the potential for better fish. When working the area carefully, I'll feel those small inputs and focus on working the area even more. That has resulted in some nice success stories and photos. Yeah, not the approach for most general anglers. It does suit my angling style. Just my $ 0.05 tossed in for consideration. Yes, adjusted from $ 0.02 due to economic escalation. Wishing all well, and a fun safe weekend. Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, I concur with @Backroad Angler and @RB 77 as my experience tends to support those opinions. I get good results using GY senkos. They have even more fish response once their appearance changes to that dull pitted look. I'm guessing some of the salt has dissolved to make that appearance as it appears uniform on the entire surface. So, I'm not attributing it to just abrasion. Happy to use them when I can. It does support the bait monkey! Be well, Cheers!

Bravo to Glen and associates! 👏 Your efforts and diligence are greatly appreciated! Wonderful to have the community thriving again. Well Done!

Greetings All, Great to be back on the system again! A big shoutout to Glen and associates for making things better! @fishingram24 you called it, "I started with 5-6 pistol grip fiberglass rods and mono line", I'm still using that similar configuration these days, with my BFS reel. I am one of the reeling with a sweep anglers. This is the approach regardless of rig. Spinning, casting, and fly rod (OK, tugging on line while sweeping). I hope you each get to try all these various hookset methods during the extended holiday weekend! Be well, Cheers!

Bravo! @MontanaBasser and others! Nice to share when you can. Over the years of going through my fishing gear, I’ve cleaned up the useable stuff and offered it to those who could use it. I bought a number of the low cost Zebco fishing rods to associate with the various reels that I’m not personally using. I’ll take them with me when I go fishing. If there is a family out there sharing a rig, I’ll offer to get them setup with another rig. This way the gear is not collecting dust and still has good use with a new person. At the beginning of last fall, there was a young family that was sharing a single fishing rig. So I paused to go back to the vehicle and brought several of my setups for each family member. Pretty soon they were tied into fish and it was great to hear the excitement. A few weeks later, I returned to meet up again. The father told me they caught a nice 3 pound catfish on one of the rigs. We all enjoyed a good smile from it. Nice to elevate joy and get more folks to enjoy angling. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings and Happy Friday All, My $ 0.05 ( it used to be $0.02, adjusted for price escalation) tossed in for consideration, it is a personal choice. I suspect we have all contemplated a whole range of considerations when it comes to the rubbish issue. I fully understand, these days you are not fully assured what you are dealing with is ‘safe’. Bravo to those assisting with the situation. Additional style points for those prepared with bags and gloves. Yes, good to be careful out there. This should not disparage those that choose not to act. You have your own reasons and those opinions ares respected. I am careful when handling material that should be in the rubbish bin. I am astonished when I’m at the urban parks and there is trash bin just a few meters away. Rather unfortunate it was too much effort to dispose of properly. On a brighter note, over the years, I’ve salvaged all sorts of angling gear. Entire fishing rigs, lures, and etc. For the most part much of it simply needed some cleaning and new fishing line, good to go again. There are a number of youth and families that I’ve given the refurb gear to. A new lease on useful gear. During this calendar year I’ve cleaned up six pairs of pliers and given most of them away to folks in need of one. Yes, I’ve used them too. A good wire brush scrub and some lubricant, many are useful again. While I don’t make a huge dedicated effort, I make a thoughtful one. It is just my personal contribution to improving the places I go to. A minor distraction from my recreation is a reasonable investment. Your mileage may vary. The choice is solely yours. I am grateful to those can and do contribute to society’s well being. Be well, Cheers!

Greetings All, Happy Friday! @Justbass11 The ole legal general answer applies, "it depends". My personal situation with angling adventures typically requires at least an hour or more travel time. Thus, fishing time is limited. Catching time is precious! The AZ weather conditions can be an influence with all that too. High winds, harsh sun, etc. Diligent precision rigging can be accomplished in more comfortable locations and conditions. So, I do a bit of prep work so that I can make the most of time at the water. It is just the little things that make it better for me. I can simply get to casting and catching. You mentioned swimbaits, it does also apply to other soft plastics too. Depending on what you aspire for the proper action, precision rigging can be critical to that success. Swimbaits may not track well if you're hook is rigged too far off the centerline and or may tear easier too. Being comfortable in good lighting all helps to promote that level of success. I put good quality knot tying in that similar category of diligent operations. If done it well, it is a benefit. Sure, I can tie a good knot in 20+ mph winds, that 4 pound mono is going to make ya work for it. I prefer not to work too hard when recreating. Be well, Cheers!