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I need some advice - thank you in advance! I was out today and found a few fish interested in a ned rig. The problem, however, was that the fish were right up against cypress roots or inside sticky structure, which made fishing a ned rig tough. Lots of snags. I think I spent half the time re-tying. I didn't have any weedless ned heads, mostly because I never found them very weedless and always felt like things slowed down whenever I used them. I noticed that a cast into the right spot resulted in a quick bite or a bite after a few minor drags or twitches, but only once it was down on the bottom (about 6-8 ft) which made me wonder if I could adjust the ned technique with its exposed hook? I tried Texas-rigging the ned worm I was using (roboworm ) with a small pegged bullet weight but it just looked....really goofy. I played around with it on a shallow spot and it looked weird in the water. It suspended really weirdly which makes me think ned worms are designed to maybe have a jig head on them? What would you all do to target these fish? I was thinking a weightless 3 inch senko with a 1/0 EWG, or maybe weedless wacky? Senkos sink so I figure it would shimmy down there eventually. I don't own anything in that profile (I didn't even know they existed until I found them on TW) so before buying something I was hoping I could solicit some opinions on here.

Thank you everyone for the detailed responses! I've learned a lot.

Fairly new to the sport and still learning, so please bear with me. Is there any difference between the FC you see marketed as leader material compared to the larger spools of FC marketed toward the whole spool? I see small spools of FC ( 25 yds) and then I see large spools (200 yds) and I’m curious if they’re the same thing but just different quantities?

This is amazing - thank you so much to everyone who responded. I really appreciate all the info. I’ve learned a lot.

For the spinning setup, why do braid at all? Visibility?

I could use some advice. I fish mostly from the bank and almost always bring two rods - a baitcaster (Curado 150 MGL) and spinning (Stradic 3500) setup. I’ve been running straight fluorocarbon on both for a while now just because it’s easy. During this summer I’ve been going through fluorocarbon like crazy, usually from backlashes due to weird angled casts from the bank and lack of experience (I’m new to a baitcaster) and snags on the spinning rod. Some folks have recommended stringing up with a cheap mono and then do a 50-60 yard fluorocarbon bit at the end, others have recommended a braid backing followed by fluorocarbon, while others have suggested both (mono, then braid, and then fluorocarbon). Any advice / recommendations for someone fairly new? If you have opinions, I’d especially love to hear about which brands you like and the line weights you’d recommend for the backing. I generally run 8 lb fluoro on the spinning and 10 or 12 lb fluoro on the baitcaster. I’m mostly casting to structure up and down the bank. Lots of bottom contact fishing, occasional small swimbaits and chatterbaits. Thank you!

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I didn’t even think to contact St. Croix. After hearing about that upgrade program I think I’ll give that a shot. Thanks again! ? Where did you find them? The way it looks on TW it’s not yet released. I might be misinterpreting.

I was stomping around the bank last night and broke the tip off my spinning rod. It’s a 7’ M St. Croix BassX that I put through hell while learning over the past 6 months or so. I was already thinking about upgrading to something a little more sensitive since I’ve started bringing a baitcaster with me for heavier baits, and after holding other rods, I’ve since noticed that the BassX is a bit heavy for most of what I’m doing with it - Ned rigs, finesse worms, etc. So, I was looking at medium light spinning rods. I see people recommending the 6’10” ML Shimano Expride rods. There’s a new series coming out - series B. I put in an order for a 6’10” ML but the delivery date got pushed back to….late June, which is no good. Any recommendations from this group? I was looking at the Gloomis IMX Pro spinning rods because I bought a IMX Pro 7’ MH MBR and loveee it. Someone left a comment on TW along the lines of the 842 SJR being another one of those “do all” tapers. Any thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Open to any opinions or favorites. Thanks!

This is perfect - exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Thanks for the tips! I appreciate it.

I’m new to bass fishing and could use some help learning about seasonal behavior here around Austin, TX. I’ve spent some time googling for info, but the I haven’t found a good resource that summarizes the main things to look for that signal one behavioral shift to the next and how to best approach the fish in each season. Much of the stuff I read online assumes I already understand key terms like “early spawn” and that sort of thing. Some of the info I can sorta determine based on the actual seasons, like “late fall”, but then the details will describe water temperatures way below what I’m encountering and I realize I’m reading an article about fall bass fishing somewhere further north. I realize that asking for this to be explained to me is kinda like asking to have the whole sport “solved”, but I’m being sincere when I say I just want to know the basics. I’d love to have enough knowledge to just help me decide the types of lures I should use when and why. Right now I just use what worked last time until it stops working and then experiment until I find something else. It’s a lot of guessing ? I’m open to books, articles, videos - whatever has worked for people new to the sport. Thank you!!

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I just read through all of this and placed an order with some of the recommendations. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond.

Primarily trees, tree roots, and underwater vegetation.

I’ve got a 150-sized bait caster on a MH 6’6” rod and a M 7’ spinning rod with a 3000 sized spinning reel.

Second post! I picked up bass fishing a few months back and have loved it. I’m bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and thus far using finesse presentations - Ned rigs, small t-rigged zoom worms, and the occasional senko. I recently bought a baitcaster reel and rod. What sorts of moving baits would you recommend for someone bank-bound and fairly new to this? I bought a few small finesse jigs when I placed the rod order based on a recommendation from a friend, but I’d love to start branching out into some stuff that moves, I just don’t know where to start. Any recommendations? I’m on the bank, casting to structure and drop offs. I’m aiming to learn and build confidence, not set any records. If winter isn’t the time to start moving lures, I’d appreciate any recommendations for the coming spring as well. Thank you!!

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I went with the IMX Pro 783C MBR. Can't wait for it to arrive. Appreciate the help and answers!

Yeah, coming to that conclusion myself. I'm already planning it.

It was a huge bald cypress. Quite literally, day one, minute five of fishing with my first shiny new bass rod I bought a few days back. I've got a weightless senko tied on. I'm unsure if I've rigged correctly it correctly. I see a fish swipe at the surface 15-20 feet in front of me. I think...spinnerbait, obviously. First cast, the thing gets all fowled up while I'm dragging it back. Second cast, I reel it too fast and it skims across the surface. Third cast - into the tree. I bought 4 spinner baits and have only tied that one on. The rest just make one part of my box really colorful and noisy.

First post! I could use some help. I just got into bass fishing a few months back and have been loving it. I grew up trout and ocean fishing, but bass fishing is a whole different beast. So far, I've been bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and doing well enough to keep me coming back. I'm currently fishing spinning gear with finesse presentations - ned rigs, shakeyheads, senkos, small Texas rigs, etc. I bought a few small spinnerbaits but all I've caught with them are trees. I've been interested in adding a baitcaster into the mix for the coming spring/summer. I recently picked up a Shimano Curado MGL 150 after hearing a lot of great things and now I'm trying to pair it up with a nice rod. I fish a lot of highly pressured lakes from the shore. Most of my casts are to the edge of structure (trees, bushes, etc) along the shore or to structure just off shore, like points, bends in the lake, etc. I'm tempted to lean toward a medium, not a medium heavy, fast action rod so I can throw things on the smaller side and get a lot of sensitivity. I'd love to have something versatile for primarily bottom contact baits but also the option to throw something moving so that I can start to learn more about moving baits. Any recommendations/opinions on the rod action and/or brand for this application? My price range is somewhere between $200 and $400. Thanks for the help!