Bazoo

Glad to hear good news for her. Glad to hear good news for her.

One of the things I do, when the head of the senko gets torn from the line/eye, I remove the damaged part and re-rig it, turning the senko 90º to get a fresh place for the shank and point to go through.

Thank you for sharing all of that information, it was a great read. I remember about 30 years ago, when I first met Gamakatsu hooks. I bought a package from somewhere, and opened them, and I remember thinking "These are the sharpest hooks I've ever seen!" I was reading fishing magazines in the 90s, and into the early 2000s. I don't subscribe to any of them anymore, but I still read a few occasionally, and have a small stack of old ones that I snagged out of the recycling center that need reading. Howdy, Thanks for sharing your technique with us, that's a nice trick. When you say you use a glass bead, I take it that you are using both a glass bead and a lead weight? Does this rigging have a name? compact carolina rig? Do you peg the weight? if it wasn't pegged super tight, it'd still make some noise... sounds like it might be a cool rig to try. Or are you saying that you sometimes only use the glass bead? If so, why?

I generally use a backup with a senko, and I keep it at the ready. I mostly bank fish, and it's no problem to lay my rod down on the bank, making sure the lure and line is not in some weeds or brush.

Those look like real nice boxes. I've never seen them before. I know to keep my eyes peeled for them though. I'd like to see a picture of the inside. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the tip!

Howdy from Kentucky USA. I like Abu Garcia baitcasting reels. I like both the round and low pro reels. I learned how to cast on a round one, though I forget the model. Wish I had another one as I've regretted parting with the first for 20 years now.

Worse would be if they are catching fish and you ain't!

I bought this Buster Boat by Splash Marine some time back. It has a livewell and a cooler, and appears to be in very good shape overall. I do have some issues and some questions though, that I will attempt to address all in one thread. First, what are these boats called? I've heard buster boats, bass trackers, pond boats, and other names, but do they actually have a name? The front and rear handles appear to be very sturdy, and on the occasions I have moved the boat, used them to tie down with my ratchet straps. I also have used them to drag the boat in the yard via a rope and the lawnmower. I however have thought perhaps they are only meant to lift the boat and not to drag, winch, or otherwise horse the boat. Does anyone know how strongly the handles are attached? Does anyone know the interior construction there? Is it solid, or reinforced? I could use through bolts for handles with locknuts and fender washers if need be for strength. So far, there has been no sign of failure, but I've been as gentle as I can be. The second of my first questions is with regard to the hull drain plugs. It originally had something like this: When I purchased the boat, they had been siliconed shut, and were busted such that they were not usable. I broke them out, and the flange that remained made it suitable for a standard rubber drain plug. However, the flanges were brittle from age and broke after a short time. I removed the rivets that held the flanges, and filled the rivet holes with JB Water Weld epoxy, as the holes didn't match the attachment holes in the new drain plug pictured above. I since have decided, I want to just keep using the rubber plugs and not use the cheap plastic drain plugs I purchased. I'd rather it take a few minutes longer to install the plug, but have easily replaceable plugs. So, I am thinking I should add a metal flange around the holes for strength and because I suspect that the Water Weld will not hold up in the small holes over a long period of time from the plastic flexing. I appreciate any advice in regards to my drain plugs and what I intend to do, and any advice period. Bazoo

I use both depending on application. I've found that the standard gap offset hooks do not grab as much moss or grass when fished through thick stuff. I use a 4/0 for senkos and haven't had any issues. I have used as small as 1/0 for ZOOM lizards in a pinch without any issue, but I prefer 3/0 or 4/0. I generally only use EWG hooks with thicker plastics, or if I want a bit of keel for some reason. I also will use one just to experiment if I am not in need of the more weedless features of a standard gap hook.

I don't do social media other than targeted forums. I do this one, several gun forums and a knife forum, and often, only specific parts of a forum that are of interest to me. I like the community here, and I like the atmosphere. I don't always find something to post about, but I read a lot of the articles and forum posts as well. Shoulder surgery... learn to cast with the other arm? Crazy thing is, I learned to cast baitcaster just yesterday with my left hand. I don't have the aim yet, but my thumb learned pretty quickly since I had the reel adjusted for the lure via my other hand. As far as everyday carrying, I carry a mess of stuff, including a handgun. I'd be lost without my Leatherman Original and my pocket knife too. I also keep a spare Leatherman for when the inevitable happens. Perhaps take up whittling? You can do it in the house if you put down an old sheet or just sweep up. A little scoop I whittled a few years back. The knife is a 6.5375 Case XX Jumbo Stockman in Bonestag that I dyed black. You might also consider taking up writing. Choose a specific topic that you know well, write a good article on it, and submit it here. Might start you off on a new endeavor.

I could follow this...provided I can count a spinnerbait as soft plastics. I have been working on refining my soft plastic fishing too actually. I am confident with, and decent with Texas Rigged worms and lizards, not so much with other varieties.

I normally use a plano 1120 satchel style box for the bank, or a small box I can slip in my back pocket if I intend to travel light. For the back pocket box, I carry a spinnerbait, a popper or spit'n image, hooks and bullet weights, usually a crankbait, sometimes a jig, sometimes a chatterbait, then I put in my pocket a bag of worms, usually senkos. In my satchel box, I carry all of that plus extra's of it all as well as a few things I know works but I don't use as much, such as a jitterbug. I've caught lots of bass on a jitterbug in the past, but I rarely throw it anymore for some reason. I also rig my satchel box with a shoulder strap, so I can either fish while walking if I only carry 1 rod, or have both hands for 2 rods. I most often use 2 rods, and generally, they are rigged with spinnerbait and worm. I'm always changing what I carry, and trying something new, leaving stuff I never use. I generally keep all the stuff I don't use in the car as well as spares of things I do use.

I use my dremel tool and the wire wheel.

Howdy from Kentucky. The wife's folks are from over yonder in NC. I started back recently after about a decade off. I lost all my gear in a fire, and that prolonged the restart. Having a son is what really prompted me. I want to boy to have the passion too, so, I figured he was pert near 4 and it was time to get back at it. He's caught a couple nice Largemouth and some bluegill too now. I'm proud to say he has it as bad as I do, or ever did.

Howdy from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

A while back I posted a thread about how my only spinning reel was being contrary. I didn't get any advice about curing the issue I was having, but I got a huge blessing from @Dan N. He messaged me and said he would gift me a better reel, and I gladly accepted. He asked me if I used baitcasting gear, and I told him yes, that I in fact had a decent baitcasting combo, an Abu Garcia Black Max. Well, the box came after a few days, but to my surprise, it was 2 boxes. I knew right away he had sent me not only a reel, but a rod too, when I saw the tube that the UPS man was toting. I opened the packages and I about fell over when I saw not 1 rod and reel, but 3; two complete spinning rigs and a casting rig. I was pretty surprised by that act of generosity and kindness as I really only expected a decent reel. The baitcasting rod is a Basspro Crankin' Stick, and the reel is a Basspro Pro Qualifier 2, which compliments my Abu Garcia Black Max combo. The spinning rods consist of a Basspro Pro qualifier 2 rod with Basspro Pro Qualifer 2 reel, and a Berkley Lightening Rod with a Quantum Drive 30 Reel. I've never used Bass Pro reels or rods and have been wanting to give them a try, as well, I've also been eyeing the Lightening Rod and Quantum Reels. He also threw in some odds and ends soft plastics with the reels, in some varieties and colors I'd likely not buy to try. Not to mention, both of the spinning reels are spooled with braid, which I've never tried before. Talk about sensitive, I feel every nibble! I've taken the rigs fishing 4 or 5 times and caught a couple of bass on the Basspro spinning rig. I caught one of the bass on one of the worms he sent too. So, I just wanted to say thanks again to Dan for the generosity and the morale boost. Bazoo

Seconds seem like minutes when the hooks are not cooperating. I can't imagine going fishing without pliers, but I see others doing so all the time. One guy was catfishing, without pliers, caught a turtle, and wasn't having any success. I offered my assistance via the Leatherman Tool, and bent the barb down. The turtle thanks Mr. Leatherman.

I was unaware of that product. It seems it'd be just the ticket for tag ends and scrap. Thanks for sharing.

Like many, I often take trash from my local lake, and always line that I find. I try to get the tag ends, if I'm able to with reasonable effort when I retie, If not, I don't fret it.

Interesting replies, thanks all for sharing.

I lost what I estimate to be a PB largemouth by horsing him. I was used to catching 2-3 pounders, and this one came in just like the others... but when I went to lift him out with my rod the line broke, at the same time I saw how large he was. Probably 6 pounds, which I know there are fish at least that large in this pond. Fishing with 10 pound mono, I should have known better, but I wasn't thinking.

I appreciate everyones input. I never would have guessed bluegill, but I was hung up on the coloration more than anything. I appreciate the reminder to count spines and look for other physical characteristics and not just rely on the coloring.

Interesting replies. I think I'd like to learn the technique as I've had a lot of instances when then hook is in the corner and its a hard spot to get. Anyone got a known good youtube reference for how its done correctly?

I was watching some Roland Marin again, and I noticed several times he "pops" the hook when it's in the corner of the fish's mouth. What is this popping and when should it be used? Is it just a Roland Martin thing or does everyone do it? I know that it can be difficult to get the hook out when it's in the corner of the mouth like that, but I have always been concerned I'd damage the hinge portion of the mouth if I wasn't careful. Thanks for everyone's insight. Start at 11:50 to see it. I believe he does it once before but I didn't note the time.