33oldtimer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle?wprov=sfla1

Agreed, spinning reels are easier to manage in general and cast well with braid. I'm not planning on changing most of my spinning outfits from braid. And I will keep braid on a baitcaster for frogs. I'm a big believer in the K.I.S.S Principle.

I've used monofilament line all my life until this summer when I started switching to braid. I'm coming back to the realization that I'm happier with mono than braid. I've already had points of failure with braid using leaders despite solid uni knots. Both failure at where it ties to the braid and lures at the leader. That latter had me stumped until I realized mono would take the shock on the line rather than the lure knot alone on a bad cast or snag. Until this summer I never had a lure just go flying off of the end of my line. I know flouro line is popular, but I can't stand the thought of cutting expensive line off of a backlashed baitcaster. So I've started moving my baitcasters back to mono line and find that not only have I missed it, I seem to fish better with it. I'm probably just getting too old and set in my ways, but liking the old school fishing line better at this point. Curious if anyone else has come to the same conclusions or simply prefers mono on a baitcaster reel?

Absolutely. I quit watching news last winter as I realized starting my day, every day, with that garbage put me on the wrong foot. That single act has done more to improve my mental health and even lower my blood pressure than anything else. The news today doesn't inform. It is there to make you angry, upset, and fearful. That is their MO. Add fishing to dropping that mental garbage and you can't help but feel better overall. Instead of news I now start my day with my favorite youtube fishing channels, outdoor channels, or nature documentaries.

I'm just a few months shy of 60. Retired from numerous health issues. I'm blessed to live within a ten minute drive of 4 ponds, a river, and a creek. Two hours is about the most I fish at a time. I'm a bank fisherman and try to keep it simple, I have between 2-5 rods and reels set up with different lures/options to take fishing so that I don't have to continually change lures. Keeping it simple keeps me fishing. Never take fishing for granted, it is a huge blessing and an excellent boost to mental health getting sunshine, fresh air, and the lift that simply comes from fishing.

Wondering what you folks use lure wise to fish heavily pressured ponds? There are some nice bass in our small city pond, but they have probably seen every lure possible. I've caught 3 nice bass there all year. 1 on a crankbait, and 2 on Roadrunners while fishing for crappie. A few other small bass, 1 on micro chatterbait, 1 on a small spinnerbait. When the water is clear you can walk alongside the pond and see lots of bass in a variety of sizes. What do you use in very pressured waters for bass?

I need to try swim jigs. I wasn't impressed with Chatterbaits. But then I tried one and started catching fish. It's in my regular line up of lure choices now.

You have 3 setups. A Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, and Jig. How do you decide which one to use? Let's say you are bank fishing this time of year.

I have thought about dropping down to a 2/0 EWG for 4" Senko.

Curious what hook you use for standard 5" Senko/Stick Bait? I have been using a 3/0 Offset EWG, but often I prefer a 4" worm and the 3/0 Offset seems a bit overkill. I like the look of the Offset Round Bend Worm Hook, but not sure how good it hooks the fish. So what do you folks use? Thanks.

My go-to is a Texas Rigged Craw. Recently I caught a nice Smallie on a Texas Rigged Lizard. This morning I caught a Smallie on a small Swimbait. Not much luck yet with Spinnerbaits or Neds but I haven't given up on them. Last week I heard from a veteran fisherman of the river who swears by a Split Shot Rig with a small tube bait. That's one I'm going to try soon.

I was just watching a Roland Martin video and he was fishing a 4" Senko on a jig head. The first 4 fish got off the hook with a normal lift and reel hook set. Then he started using a harder hook set and didn't lose any after that. A slightly harder hook set would be the first thing I'd try.

My universal lures: Beetlespins, Roadrunners, Rooster Tails, Swimjigs, Spinnerbaits, T-Rig: worm, baby brushhog, craw. Spinning combo 8lb mono, Zebco 33 combo 12lb mono. Pliers & knife.

That sounds exactly like a place on the back of my neck. It was like a pimple, but kept coming back, would sometimes itch, sometimes hurt, never completely healed. Saw my Doc about it a year ago and he froze it off. Said it was a pre-cancerous spot. Might be worth asking your doc about and get it removed before it becomes a problem. Just a suggestion.

A good day is any day I can fish. A great day is when I catch at least 1 fish. Getting skunked doesn't ruin a day but getting the skunk off is a vast improvement.

I wear fishing shirts, neck gaiters, and fishing gloves, jeans. But I occasionally let down my guard, and gaiter, thinking I won't be out in the sun long only to see I'm sunburned later. After years of not worrying about sun exposure it takes determination to stick to staying covered.

AISICS are great, and I wear insoles in them as well. Worth trying if the shoes aren't too tight.

I just started throwing top water frogs. I'm using a size 4000 spinning reel on a 7' heavy rod. I could pull in just about anything with that, at least it feels like it

It seems like 30 years ago everyone did peg their sinkers, using toothpicks primarily. That is why things are confusing now as that idea has done a 180 and now the thought is you should not peg your sinker whenever possible

Yep, you get more aches and pains everywhere when you get old I think it helps me that I have used both spinning and spincasting reels from a young age. I reel in fish with my right hand with a spincasting outfit, but I reel a spinning outfit with my left hand and often switch back and forth between spinning and spincasting on the same fishing trip. It seems natural to me switching hands for each type.

Lots of nostalgia over the 33s. My friends and I all wanted them when we were kids and soon got them. I still have a 40 year old 33 Classic that works great. I agree the newer ones are very nice and solidly built. My newest one I bought as a combo with 6.5 foot cork rod. I used it the other day with a finesse spinnerbait and caught seven bass on it. The 33s take the place of baitcasters for me as they cast very accurately and have some horse power to pull in fish. I use my spinning outfits for most everything else. A 33 Platinum combo and 33 Black combo are on my wish list.

I'm probably in the extreme minority here. Over the years I tried baitcasting reels but never warmed up to them. Finally decided I'm happier using my myriad of spinning outfits and old Zebco 33s. I know there are advantages to baitcasters, but as a non-professional bank fisherman, and an older guy set in his ways, life is too short to force myself to use something I don't care for. Wondering if I'm the only one who gets by without baitcasting reels?

Thanks guys! I'm going to leave it unpegged as much as possible.

I'm starting to use Texas Rigs more and more and have gone back and forth on the subject of whether or not to peg the sinker. I like the feel of the sinker pegged to the bait when I'm fishing it, and some of the places I fish are terrible for snags, so pegging helps. But I'd like to know if I am missing any important advantage by pegging the sinker verses not doing so? Thanks.

I loved that show, my favorite fishing show. Second to that was Jimmy Houston Outdoors.