David P

Really not going to get into this or make it more than it needs to be. Jail time for being on vacation and casually fishing? Sounds extreme when I have witnessed people caught without a license and being let off entirely. All I was saying was taking illegal limits of fish is different than the original posters question. The worst I have ever heard is taking the rod and reel you're using, not jail or seizing a vehicle. As for your last sentence... Scoff all "YOU" want...Sure seemed it was aimed in response to someone's comment, not a blanket statement. "If you cross my path" ... Not trying to argue by any means. I for one buy my license wherever I go. And if it wasn't a statement from francho toward me, than it's entirely my mistake and a misunderstanding.

Assuming this is towards me... Seems you went a little far to threaten me on a forum when no where in my post did I say I fish without a license, or that I would. I for one have never fished without a license... I was just saying your "story" of jail time and truck/camper being seized is a little far fetched and not typically what happens to someone caught simply fishing without a license.

I've had hooks tied on with the same knot for the past 1-2 months without retying.. Never had a single issue with breaking a knot... I wouldn't buy into that one bit.. Can't imagine a knot gets weaker in 12 hours...

I fish Northern California (Delta, Clear Lake, Berryessa, Folsom, Oroville, and quite a few others), but you're lucky, you've got the bigger bass down your way!

Just making sure! We have BIG fish out here in California... While some may say the jig is too big and long, we have BIG crawdads and BIG fish that eat those crawdads. Don't hesitate to try the whole thing.. On heavier pressured lakes, I do scale down sometimes, but I usually use a different trailer when I do that. When I use a beaver, I use the entire beaver! If you're worried about pressured lakes, a simple Twin Tail Grub can work wonders!

This is for keeping illegal limits of STEELHEAD. Two big no-nos, the illegal limits and of a popular sport fish. Certainly they do not go to these measures for being from out of state and casually dipping your line in the water while on vacation. I do not condone any illegal activities whatsoever, but I would be SHOCKED if a ranger would go to any such extremes, assuming you provide proof of being from another state, and even better, proof of having a license in that state. California has some of the stiffest penalties and fines, and I have seen people busted without a license countless times with frequently being let go with no fine, or at the worst a ticket.

Not sure if you can zoom in on my profile picture at all, but surely enough that's a jig with a sweet beaver trailer hanging out of her mouth. If the water is clear though, might want to try a lighter color this time of year!

It's certainly not the "drag" that is the issue... Spinning reels have good drags, and you're right about the handles, leverage isn't an issue... Spinning reels do feel flimsier though, there's more play in the parts, and they don't "feel" as solid... This is all just my opinion and how it ties into my confidence in the rod and reel I'm holding. What is not opinion and is fact however.. Is the fact that there are FAR less spinning rod models to choose from, and there's many techniques and baits that cannot be effectively fished... Swimbaits, Frogs, Umbrella Rigs, Punching... There's tons of baits in which you want a stout, yet still sensitive rod.. There's not many offered in a spinning setup. 12-20lb Fluorocarbon doesn't sit well on spinning setups... Casting distance and control isn't quite the same either. There's a reason no one in the Elite Series or FLW uses a spinning rod for flipping...

You got second dibs, throwing the SAME bait is the wrong approach if the guy up front is good and knows what he's casting at.

What my bait looks like / what it's doing down there. When throwing topwater I just visualize a fish absolutely crushing it.

I don't use filler line, braid lasts a longgggg time. I still have several reels with the same braid from last summer. Remember though, braid is not the end all be all. It's not the "perfect" answer to every line situation out there. Yes, it has many uses, and it's great for those uses, but it's not necessary or even good to use for all techniques and baits. Remember braid floats, that's a positive for certain techniques, but not all. Braid doesn't stretch, again that's a huge plus sometimes, and other times not so much.

Of course it will work. The only thing I would suggest, is do it with 60 or 65lb braid to keep the line diameters closer.. 50lb braid is usually comparable to 12lb diameter, and you're tying to 20lb fluorocarbon.. I like to keep the diameter a bit closer. Again, this is not a MUST, but whenever flipping I prefer the stronger 60/65lb braid anyhow.

13lbs3oz - On a jig I tied myself always fun!

This says it all. Very good explanation as to why. Stop pouring jigs with EWG hooks! Straight shank hooks are the best... Ewg hooks help keep plastics in place when texas rigging a bait, but even then I still dont' use them because of hook up and landing issues. I avoid them when possible, aside from a few specific scenarios.

Revo STX from Ebay. Retail is $200 but can frequently get them for about $130 on ebay. Smooth, high speed reel, with a great drag.

Spinning isn't JUST for finesse, but it's an general rule of thumb. It's hard to put heavier line on a spinning reel without line twist.. When times call for 15lb fluorocarbon, or even 12lb fluorocarbon... How will you manage? Braid works, but it isn't ideal for all applications by any means. Flipping, Punching, Frogging, Cranking, there's many techniques where 12lb+ line or 50-65lb braid is ideal and none of that is ideal for a spinning reel. Stick with it, you'll get more comfortable and you'll wonder how you ever preferred spinning setups in the first place!

Floroclear is P-Line's worst line, one of the worst lines I've ever fished.. It's limp and manageability is GREAT, but strength wise, it's terrible... It breaks, a LOT. Try a real flourocarbon. P-Line Fluorocarbon, Sunline Sniper FC, P-Line Halo, Trilene 100%. There's tons out there. Floroclear is very weak. Try their flourocarbon instead.

I'd vote for the 702 Champion as well.. I use a 702dx but the Champion is extremely nice as well given your price cap. Can't go wrong!

This is by means meant to discourage you or crush any dreams of yours, but rather to work harder, get a few tournament results, and establish yourself more before you begin to search for sponsors. You don't want to acquire just any sponsor because they're willing to give you free or cheap stuff, you want to be picky and selective for companies that you already use their stuff... For companies you truly believe in. So many kids are just out there to get a sponsor to say they have one. You don't want to stock pile "crappy" deals and then down the road have to leave them for companies that are better. That won't give you a good name. Any kid can promote products online, at the dock, in a fishing shop... Anyone can talk about a product, but that doesn't mean... 1) People take your advice and suggestions. OR 2) That you're good enough to put what you know to the test and win tournaments. Results are important! Fish tournaments, do well and be able to show off your body of work, and then go about the sponsor aspect. BE PICKY, you're young. Best of luck, and I hope you don't take this negatively... It's meant more to be motivation and steer you toward tournament fishing.

There's almost no "wrong" way to fish a jig, it just depends on the lake, cover, what bait the fish are keying in on, and things of that nature. You can swim them, hop them, drag them, twitch them, shake them, or any combination of these... Have you seen crawdads in this body of water you're fishing? Try to match the color (if you have). Could always try a few different colors. What's the water clarity like? Are you fishing weedy areas, rocks, or brush? I learned to fish a jig by literally just slowly dragging, then pausing, then shaking just a bit, then dragging again. SLOW. Just to get the feel of what the bait was doing. Try to slow yours down a bit. There's definitely a lot of variables that go into jig fishing, I'm sure others will shed their opinions and what has worked best for them as well. Best of luck! Winter time is a great time to slow down and really learn to fish a jig!

Got back out again Monday and got a couple more. Nothing like 4lb fluorocarbon for some added fun.

Try 4 and 6lb FC Sniper... No spray, no nothing. No memory, limp as hell, and surprisingly strong. I had 5 fish over 6lbs on the 4lb test last month. The stuff is awesome. Braid when fishing baits like a senko on slack-ish line, the braid creates a bow in the water... The braid and fluoro are doing two different things in the water.. (This is for baits that have a slow fall and you don't have direct contact with, not things like a drop shot where I too use braid many times).

I did it with my older Revo Premiers, it's not hard, just have to contact Bass Pro Shops and see if you can get the high speed gear...

The better question is what wouldn't you throw? It's one of the most versatile rod in the line up, and many people I know have 3-4 of them. Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Spooks, Jigs, Swimjigs, Chatterbaits, Texas Rigs, Senkos, Light duty pitching plastics, Smaller swimbaits, Scroungers, the list goes on...