Bazoo

Howdy and welcome. A 7' Medium Fast Spinning rod with a 2500 or 3000 sized reel. 12 pound mono line. If you can't use a baitcaster. If you can use a baitcaster, or are going to learn, then I like my Lews Hank Parker 6'10" casting rod and a BPS Pro Qualifier reel. I use 10 and 12 pound mono normally, but for FL and some heavier cover, I'd probably jump up to 14 and 17 pound line. •Zoom super fluke weightless rigged with Gamakatsu 4/0 round bend hook, watermelon red and junebug colors •h20x and kvd 1.5 squarebill crankbaits in gold and shad colors •1/2oz Rat-L-trap in chrome/blue and gold/black and orange crawfish patterns •Zoom baby brushhogs, 2/0 gamakasu round bend hook 1/8oz and 3/16oz bullet weights. color green brushhog and okeechobee craw •whopper plopper •3/8oz jig in green pumpkin and black/blue, use the tail section of a baby brush hog for a trailer •5" senko green pumpkin 297 •topwater frog. I like the H20X, but any will do.

This is really neat. Drilling a hole in a crankbait causes hunting action. Might be worth experimenting with on a few crankbaits.

Swung by the pond today, and it was a little slow. Took a while to get the first bite, which was a shaky head. Not something I fish much. A while of getting nothing else, trying various things, and I ended up fishing a jig, and started getting some. Then, I tried the blade bait, which I've never had success with before. I had tried it a time or two, but only briefly. Having learned the Rat-L-Trap earlier, I thought that the blade bait probably would be similar, and I was able to get a few on it. Interesting lure.

Thanks @T.J.

Thanks for sharing. I had not heard of them. I like the looks of that dragon fly.

Howdy @gillrich! Welcome to the forum. What is this 3 day course you mentioned? Like a bass fishing primer?

I always associated the term jig & pig with a silicone jig.

Interesting. I've not gotten into tubes yet, but it's something I do want to learn. I have a pack, and I've fished 1 tube until I lost it.

@T.J., that BPS Graphite MH 2 piece casting rod you mentioned, how do you rate the power of it? I am wondering if it's actually a MH, or if like the M it's underrated? The BPS website says it's got a weight range of 3/8-1.5 oz. Will it cast a bit lower than the stated 3/8oz? I'm thinking about getting the 6'6" MH/F 2 piece, which is rated 3/8-1 oz. It'd probably be a bit more useful to me for jerkbaits and flukes.

Nice looking spot @DaubsNU1. Nice bass. Fine crappie @Lottabass!

Thanks @Choporoz. I have, or had one of those in firetiger. I'll have to check the extra box and see if it's still there. But I looked up a picture and it doesn't have a twisted hook hanger. The quality of this seems to be better than "the cheapest money can buy". I haven't hooked it to see if it is suspending or not, and that will help narrow it down.

Sorry to hear it. I will keep her in prayer.

The new 6.8 reel and the spool that came in it. ----------- The old 7.5 reel, and it's spool. I apprciate everyones insight.

Better pictures of the jerkbait. I appreciate the help if anyone could identify it. Note the shallow scoop in the bill.

The 6.8 is the one I just got. It was used off ebay, so I have no clue as to what it's been through. @FloridaFishinFool I don't know what your talking about. I am not familiar with the names of all the parts of the centrifugal brake system. I will see about getting a picture though, of the spool and the side plate. I did not try swapping side plates. I considered that the centrifugal brakes might not be working somehow, but the springs feel the same to me, and the little pins move freely and stick out the same distance. But, I can cast without them if I choose to, and I had been running only 1 pin on the 7.5 reel for the weight of lure I was casting. When I put the 6.8 spool in the 7.5 reel, and after having removed some of the line, which calmed it down some, I had 2 pins on and the mag brakes a little higher than normal. I don't oil the magnets. I wipe them dry, and none are missing. I got some pictures that'll have to wait a bit for me to upload.

I have a wise old aunt that says concerning spinders, "They won't hurt you, they'll make you hurt yourself." Glad that I ain't afeared of spiders, or snakes either for that matter. A lot of mishaps have been avoided as a result. I believe it was Tom that suggested that one of those chain stringers with the clips open makes a great rod retrieval tool.

Thanks @TnRiver46. I'm not sure what to look for @MontanaBasser. I see bluegill beads and bass beds.

I use this Frankford Arsenal scale for weighing lures. I originally got it to weigh bullets for my catalog, but I use it for weighing lures and sinkers, as well as cartridge cases, loaded cartridges, bullets, and occasionally powder. It will weigh in various measurements, but I mostly use grains. I verified it against my RCBS 505 scale and it's dead on across a variety of weight ranges. https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/presses-and-scales/scales-and-powder-measures/ds-750-digital-reloading-scale/205205.html#srsltid=AfmBOoq-1Tvl6dFvfTWaFooe1bEFy8WV5LnApeI8F7DD85tJKB9p7UFN&start=1

Sorry to hear of the loss. I don't suppose there is any way you could go back to that spot soon (so it's fresh in memory) and dredge around for the rod? You consider a 23 acre lake a small pond? I consider a 1 acre pond a small pond, and 2 acres to be decent sized pond.

Found the crankbait, it's a KVD Shallow crankbait https://www.strikeking.com/en/shop/hard-baits/hckvds1.5sh?srsltid=AfmBOooOUsjlr9GwV_5Tlx4QmKxUYRLinWV5FO5uxx05Kh8E7eveipLzThat's a fine score. I don't think the jerkbait is a KVD 100 or 200. The gills aren't right.

We saw some great northern lights, but weren't able to get a picture. It's the first time I ever saw them. Specacular!

Found another pair of needle nose pliers today. That makes 3 pair this year. Anyone have an ID on the wake bait or jerkbait? I'll get better pictures if need be. Postscript. I got home and cleaned the jerkbait up (the crank too) and I see that it has the front hook hanger is turned 90 degress to normal. That should be a dead giveaway to someone familiar with this model. I'll get some better pictures tomorrow in the daylight.

Tough day yesterday, I got one little guy. Didn't get any today but found this dead gizzard shad.

I have a bit of apprehension checking out new water as well. For me, finding access is what I'm unsure about. I'm never sure what is private, what is public, if there will be parking, and so forth. Course being mostly a bank angler, it's more challenging to know if you're on private property.

I don't care one way or another about split grips, I like them both.