MediumMouthBass

I have a love/hate relationship with it. Its how i started and how i fished for over a decade of my life. There were days i wanted nothing more than to be on a boat in the middle of the lake, and other days you couldnt get me to leave the bank, no matter what. Its a challenging way to fish, between the higher pressure banks get, lack of open areas to cast, having to dodge snakes and ducks/geese. Breaking off the line since you cant paddle/troll right on top and pull the lure out, getting stuck in all the broken off line that plagues the shallow edges, only being able to fish in (usually) very shallow water. And only being able to cast so far, and sometimes that very shallow water went out 50-100'. And if theres a high wind, casting distance is basically just dropping the lure down in front of you. Walking a few feet, or sometimes a mile or 2 in thick brush with a 1' wide trail in woods you knew were filled with snakes and ticks just to get to a spot. Seeing guys on boats out in the distance catching one after another, staring down at their 3 screens, deciding which of there 20 rods on deck they would pick up next to cast, as you grab your backpack that feels like its full of 20lb weights and try to grip your 4-6 rods and walk to the next spot. Pulling the slime off the lure each cast wondering if its worth the 10 minute walk to the other side of the lake that has a cleaner bottom. It sure does have alot of downsides, and you are at every disadvantage known to an angler. But theres just something about it that feels right. Learning the lake/pond the old school way, no tech, just pure skill, luck, and hope. I have a boat and several kayaks now, and to say its better/easier/simpler would be an understatement. Its a gift sent down from the fishing gods. Able to fish everywhere and anywhere i want, less lures lost, no ticks, only water snakes in certain areas, it sure is great. But i find myself bank fishing more and more over the last 2 years, it just keeps drawing me back. Plus now that ive been to the other side, i just catch much bigger fish from the bank. If only i knew what i know now then....

Ah yes, the "heres my 1 person experience, ive been doing this for so long and im fine" so its not true saying. Tons of people smoke every day? They dont have cancer, so that must be false too! Right? Look on reddit, each weeks theres a "rod came broken" post. Look at the reviews on Amazon, "rod came broken" plus a picture, "reel was not the right one". I will admit its not happening to every order, but it happens more than it should. A lot more. Especially with Amazon being a company that does returns without checking the item sent back or its condition. Which is why theres been numerous amounts of times people got the wrong item, or a previously used one. In my other hobbies its even worse, people getting fake Eotechs, Surefires, etc.... And these cost way more than most rods and reels. But Amazon is good at making things right, buy with confidence using them. Like i said already, i just pointed out the issues that may occur with them. That have happened over and over again. In most cases the rod and reel will be shipped out fine, but not all.

Some sellers have a 50-100% restocking free as well, even if shipped the wrong item. Make sure you check their reviews. For US Amazon, rods almost always come broken. Not sure if Japan ships with more care. Reels are often used returns, sometimes even the wrong reel. Theres been a few times people have bought $150 reels and returned them with a $30 reel from Walmart. And it makes the next guy to buy it very upset. Lures are hit or miss with getting a bunch. Sometimes you order 1, you get 1. Other times you order 1, get a box of 5-10. This is usually the case with anything made by Berkley, since the whole case is stamped with the 1 item number on the side. Any issues mentioned above Amazon will correct, it just might take a week or 2 to get the right/new/unbroken rod or reel.

In the Susquehanna the fish are everywhere, finding them can be challenging or very easy depending on the day. I have a few favorite spots that have produced alot, next day theres nothing there. Move around often, try to hit the key areas as much as possible (downed trees, boulders, edges of grass, and where CREEKS flow in. Also look out for a big group of 1' minnows or insect hatches along the bank. My best smallmouth day came from insects hatching on a very shallow bank. But dont be afraid to just cast randomly everywhere and anywhere, it works better than it should. As for getting them in the boat, a ned rig, paddle tail swimbait or grub on a jig, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits pretty much guarantee something will bite. Prepare yourself, once you fish the river it ruins everything else. I do love fishing in ponds/lakes in PA, (some places are a few thousand acres and very deep) but most are within 10 to a few hundred acres and often less than 10-20' deep. Makes learning them very easy, and i dont have to travel far to find the next spot. Somehow in these smaller bodies of water the bass grow huge, ive seen numerous 5-10lbers get caught, and caught many of them too. But heres the issue, tons of pressure, way too overcrowded on nice days, pickerel everywhere, and often times the fishing is tough. Even though we have big bass, its often dinks. Quantity is also not the best, usually 1-10 fish ranging from 1-3lbs is considered amazing..... Whereas the river is loaded, and then some. Fish are everywhere, 20-50 fish per day is common, and the sizes range from 1.5-4lbs but usually 2-3lbs. Best part? No pickerel.

Man im only in my 20s and identify heavily with half this list. But for OP, throughout my childhood-early 20s i never knew why anyone wore coats. As i never wore one, thought there was something wrong with them. I had my AC running 24/7 365 days a year even in the cold winter. I was running hot every second of the day, and would sweat heavily year round. Dr's said blood work came back fine and couldnt figure out why. Just a few years ago at my last job i would be outside in a short sleeve polo in 25-30 degree weather with snow coming down and then take a break in the giant freezer after from sweating while outside. I truly loved the cold, now its my enemy. This year i started to actually need a coat, or coats plural. Now that i can feel it, its awful. Getting older is worse.

I know trolling works, and ive caught fish by doing it. But to me trolling is the bluetooth hands free version of a drop shot. I dont like golf, i dont like watching paint dry, and i dont like drop shots. Its way to boring, i need to be casting/retrieving constantly to get my daily recommend dose of bass fishing.

Some TRD Pro's are assembled in Baja Mexico, and then theres Toyota Motor plant in Guanajuato Mexico too.

Many Subarus are made here too

Ive tried my best, i just cant get bass to bite a Texas rig. However something with a skirt dragged across the bottom they love. Im going to look into getting some stuff to make slither rigs and hope that will fix my T rig issue.

Whether a product is made in Japan or somewhere else, its made by factory workers making the bare minimum. I personally dont care where my rods or reels or made as long as its not China. I have 24 casting reels currently but only really love a select few, the Tat CT, Fuego CT, SLX MGL 70, and BB1 Pro. These i believe are all made in Thailand, and were free of defects or issues. Held up to a lot of use and keep on going. I dont think being made in any other country whether Japan or here would make them any better or worse. I havent gotten pulled into the JDM black hole yet, but im seriously thinking about getting a 24 Tatula 100 along with a old stock last gen SLX MGL 70 from Japan, but thats only for lower price due to the exchange rate. Having a few reels from Japan would be cool, especially since my mother was born there. But the only thing i would ever want stamped on my reels would be Made In The U.S.A. Im holding out hope

@Jig Man Thank you for the detailed response about that! Definitely will be something to look into in the future, for now i think im just going to keep buying the heads and make my own skirts. And just try making some skirted Texas rigs for the places that i dont want to lose a jig. I think you mean bag of worms? Sorry had to say it😂 With pouring jigs set aside for future thoughts on it, im currently 99% set on getting into pouring my own baits.

A round reel or 300 sized reel is only needed for above 3 ounces. And are usually very bulky like you mentioned. Anything 3 ounces or under the Daiwa Tatula 150/200, Zillion HD, or Lews BB1 Pro/Superduty LFS come to mind. I own each one but the Zillion HD and am happy throwing 1-3oz swimbaits, glidebaits, big chatterbaits too on them. The BB1 Pro, and Superduty LFS arent very large reels either, the 150/200 Tatulas are a bit big.

Wow, ive been fishing my main 2 for the past year now on 12lb line in different lakes/ponds. I carry about 2 dozen but these two never gave me a reason to change colors. Its the river however thats claimed so many innocent ned rigs and jigs for me😌. If rains in NY there will be a trees all over the bank. Its like if Gone in 60 seconds was made to be a fishing movie. No wonder you guys are pouring your own jigs, seems like the most economical move for us all. This thread has became something else, for the best. So many good comments on here about everything jigs. I am going to start getting some molds and other stuff for making plastics, will have to look into pouring as well.

Dont believe their inventory, mine says it has 0 but has 4 locally i was looking at the other day in store. Always call the store. the online inventory isnt very accurate.

Shimano Tranx 300/301-400/401 are around $110 if your local DSG has any left in store only. Teams Lews Custom Pro rods are marked down too from $220 to $175, but if you have them price match their online sale they are $60-100.

I have a KVD signature casting rod that is fantastic for throwing 3/4-1oz Big Blade Jigs and 1oz Tremor bladed jigs (with trailers these come out to 1.25-1.75oz). Really want to try 3/4-1oz footballs and swim jigs on it next. I use it alot too for 6" and 7" Daingerous unrigged swimbaits (Magdraft knockoff), depending on the Owner Beast hook used they weigh between 1.5-2oz or more. The rod feels like a MH with how nice it casts, but has the ratings for a Extra Extra Heavy. Ive thrown 2oz and over on it a bunch and it has worked very well for me, feels like it can go alot further too. Only thing i dont like about the KVD line is my hands dont feel comfortable holding the grips, really wouldve been great if they went with the ones from the TP1 line. The worst part about owning a KVD rod is the bait monkey is always demanding you buy the matching maroon reel.... These rods come in way under budget at $110, but go on sale from time to time for $66. Which is how much i paid for my 3. This might not be fancy enough but if you or anyone else is interested its the KVD CC5 composite cranking model, Heavy 7'4".

I have so many wasted nearly empty spools from this. I just dedicate them for leaders. The line counters that were available at the store all had bad reviews, so i just set the spool up at 20 yards inside the house, put a piece of tape on the line at the 20 yards for a reference mark and walk towards it while reeling. Ill reset the tape for a reference mark every time for 5 times total. Its very accurate no matter how fast or slow i reel, costs nothing, and i get to say i did cardio for the day. Not the best method, and i would still like to find a better one, but it does work.

Ive been buying Siebert jig heads for the past year, after getting advice from this forum and it comes to $1.70 per jig. And i bought a lot of skirt materials because after doing the math i can put these together for about $2-2.50. Making the skirts is fun for me, like tying flies. Plus being able to make it look exactly how i want it to is a big deal when fishing smaller lakes that are high pressured. But before doing this i would just buy the Strike King ones or other brands from local shops or Walmarts for about $1.50-3. And just became accustomed to this being the price i should pay for jigs. Now all the sudden every jig i see being sold by the big brands is $5, $6, or higher. Using regular hooks, nothing premium. And some of the skirts in store look all bunched up and stuck together. But most of the more expensive ones seem to be the brands that are heavily hyped up with youtubers and social media marketing. This is what ive been asking for days now, i try to support local smaller shops when i can. But a bunch of the local bait makers in PA are charging $6-8 for a jig, $8-10 for a spinnerbait, and 50 cents to a dollar per generic mold soft plastic.

Football jigs, lipless cranks, Chatterbaits, wacky rig, and ned rigs will be the main lures like always for me. However this year i would like to try fishing crankbaits, jerkbaits, texas rigs, topwaters, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, finesse jigs, frogs, and tube jigs more. Ive used these years ago but most have faded away onto the shelves and tackle trays and havent had much if any use. So my confidence in them dwindled to the point if i did fish them they would get cut off after 10 minutes.

Never, ever, ever buy an EV. ONLY LEASE!!!! The government pays you to do this, and you wont take a huge loss going to sell it. EV's (mainly Tesla but really all of them) depreciate faster than a spaceship entering the atmosphere, no Tesla CEO pun intended. Look up like new used Teslas for sale, you will be shocked to see how low priced they are. A lot of guys in some of my car groups/forums bought Mach E's and lost a lot trying to sell them after 1-2 years.

Phenomenal bait no matter who made or makes it. Would love to get an original one day to put on the shelf, nothing else comes through grass like this design. The only thing i will add is this: The SK HH is 1oz, HH Jr is 1/2oz. I found the HH doesnt cast too well with my MH rods because it tops out at their max weight, but my H rods struggle casting it since its not too areodynamic. The Jr casts good on M-MH rods but is too small for what i want out of this bait. The 6th Sense one bridges the gap. Although it might have scrutiny like you mentioned its a full size bait, but 3/4oz. Which in my opinion is the perfect weight+size

Going through the isles of DSG i was seeing football, swim, and grass jigs costing $5-8 per, figured since it was DSG the items were just heavily marked up. But im getting low on my supply of jigs (down to my last 50) so i went jig shopping online. Somehow this is the norm for jig prices. Im quite baffled by it, since in the past ive always just bought a bunch of jig heads from Siebert for around 1.50-1.75 and either made my own skirts or got some of his or 6th sense packaged ones. The total costs of the jigs would always end up between $2-2.50 at max. For a high quality made custom jig. Although i have bought some pre made jigs for casting into trees or other brush, but these were from TW or Midway on sale 2 in a pack for $1.75-2 total. Ive noticed the more expensive jig makers have alot of marketing and youtube/social media hype around them. And a heavy amount of it. Is there really a reason these jigs that are mass produced are costing $6+ for one? And the local bait makers want close to $8-10 for one, and its not the best looking jig either. What am i missing? I can understand for some stuff more $ = more fish, but thats mainly a jerkbait thing. Wouldnt people rather just buy the stuff separate and spend the few seconds it takes to put a skirt on a jig to save alot of cash? I can maybe understand this if someone bought a few, but i love fishing a jig and buy alot of them. If i bought another 50 it would cost me $200 extra just to have someone else put a skirt over the jig. Are the skirts more durable? Hooks stronger? (i know someone will call me cheap for this, i have no issue spending money, but i do with wasting it)

100% of the time i fish bladed jigs in water less than 10' covered in grass and other vegetation. An 8 speed reel would probably be great for this, (i know some guys love fishing bladed jigs slow) but the only way i can get bass to bite them is to rip them out of weeds. Got to have a fast reel to make sure it doesnt fall too far into it however, because then you wont be able to rip them out. Youll be reeling back 5lbs of green slime and grass. Also this combo would make a very great lipless setup too. Again a bait that excels being ripped out of grass. For reeling straight back an 8 speed would be great for those really fast reaction strikes, for just yo yo ing it like most do a lipless the reel is just there to pick up line. Another thing this reel would do great. something else it might be good for is speed cranking, if you dont have ice on your lakes or ponds try it this winter. For the rod id say thats middle ground between most guys preferences. I prefer a stiff fast action, others cannot fish them on anything but a moderate/glass rod. Should be a very good combo for a wide variety of baits and lures.

The GX2 is the only rod up for the task, my local shop guy (well one of them) said his buddies used to run around hit each other with them and then smack them into the trees a bunch of times. I get around the expensive gear snobs, and the jealous budget fisherman by putting a $150 Shimano reel on a $55 Daiwa rod, or a $40 reel on a $130 Dobyns rod. It usually keeps everybody happy, except the few that give me dirty looks for the interesting pairings.

Try a pair of Fish Monkeys, very affordable compared to Aftco and Simms. These are what i use the most, good grip, padded enough to keep my hands comfortable while paddling all day. But most of these gloves wont give you that tacky feeling you want, try some rod grip wrap. Or wrap something like Goon Tape or tennis handle tape around it. This will give you what you want even without gloves.