WRB-2.0

Best mono I ever used stock up now while you can! Thanks AJay👍 Tom

Greg Hackney has a video Why I don’t miss jig bites. He talks about the reel set and rod sweep. Tom

Bass in reeds/cattail etc I use straight braid and rods strong enough to keep the bass coming towards me. Sitting in a light canoe you don’t have any leverage so over powering the bass isn’t an option. We have a few lakes I fish with that have heavy reeds and using standard tackle with 12 lb FC line. What I have learned is the harder you hook set the faster the bass wants to run into the cover. When I use my standard reel set and rod sweep hook set the bass often follow the reeling pressure coming towards me while I do a firm rod sweep and keep reeling. The bass tends to run sideways or towards me out of the cover. Tom

The original split shot rig used 8# mono line #4 lead split shot with size #1 straight shank worm hook. The trick is pinch on the round split shot then pull about 18” of mono so it cuts cuts a groove in the shot. Cut off the damaged line then move the split shot upper the line and re pinch the shot so it stays put. Tie on the hook and you have the split shot rig. Slip shot rig ; used a mojo cylinder 1/8 weight followed by a Carolina keeper for a weight stopper. I use a 8 mm glass faced bead in between the stopper and weight. Adjust the stopper beeeen 18” to 36” above the Owne #5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on work diameter. Mojo rig; pegged cylinder weight about 14” above the worm hook. Tom

The 2024 model SLX comes with upgrade MGL spool! Tom

I don’t consider missing strikes as losing fish! Hooked fish the get away to me is losing a fish. I lose very few bass that are hooked but it happens occasionally. The number is very be low and remember 2 bass last year that I farmed. The lakes I fish are deep rocky structure with sparse cove, not much the hooked bass can get into. Tom

What are the causes of braid wind knots? 1. Cause with spinning reels is the line has a loop caused by not closing the bail manually. Using the reel to close the bail picks up loose line forming loop that the line retrieved on top of the loop with come off the next cast in mess of twisted looped line. 2. All spinning reels operate the same way by wrapping line onto a stationary spool via the bail rotating twisting line with every rotation. The length if the spool and bail roller design helps to reduce how tight the twist is. What some anglers call wind knots is actually twisted line wrapping around itself forming a knot. You untwist the line by running the only without anything tied on behind your boat at walking speed for a few minutes. I used this method for decades when owning a boat. Now without a boat untwisting line required walking off 30 yard of line without anything tied on. Using a Terry towel wetted with water then put the line in fold near the rod tip, close the bail by hand. I hold the line between the reel and 1st guide to apply light pressure as the the line is retrieved through the folded wet towel. This works OK but not as good as the boat method. With FC line use line conditioner KVD if over night or Tangle Free while fishing, avoid Reel Magic. Tom

Braid Surgeons loop knot works good. Tom

You will need to use a larger diameter slit ring to install onto a frog hook large dia wire. Another option is use a strong surgeons loop knot. Tom

Regarding crank baits the same brand lure can vary in bass catching numbers. Back in the day I would buy 6 each (1peg full) of the exact same lure and color. Testing by trolling each lure to determine which ones had more strikes. One or two would always out perform the others. Those I kept and returned the others. So no crank baits are equal regarding fish catching of the same color. Changing colors often produces results when the color you are using isn’t working. 50 years ago I decided to tie a 3 color hair jig; black, purple and brown were my go to colors. With the 3 color jig I could change trailer colors without re tying using black or brown or purple pork rind trailer in lieu of 3 different jigs. The 3 color hair jig was a game changer for me. 50 years later I can attribute the majority of giant caught to this hair jig….color changes can make a big difference. Tom

20” of 🌧️ are you keeping dry? Tom

The coffee statement was incorrect as the water content outweighs the caffeine. Tom

Learn to tie the Lefty Kreh Leader knot. Important to make sure the initial loop is sway from you. Very simple and compact easy knot to tie. Tom

I am not fishing in 100+ degrees in the sun, those days are long gone and turned into cooler nights. I keep water in the car in a cooler for trips and take water in the boat it’s a habit that don’t leave home without it. Don’t like sweetened sports drinks either. It’s summer soon so stay cool, sunscreen and wear SPF light clothing and a wide brim hat for shade and drink water. Tom PS coffee dehydrates you, not good!

You can always fish but can’t always spend time with your family. I am 80 and can still fish but can’t spend time with my family except my wife and daughter, everyone else has passed away, parents on both side is expected at my age but 2 brothers and my son are gone. Enjoy life don’t waste time it can’t be turned back. Tom

7 lbs +/- a few oz . Tom

My brother Bob couldn’t cast a bait casting reel and bought a Johnson Century reel and his Mitchell 300 spinning reel. The Johnson had issues with line twist and line capacity. Very smooth operating small reel and easy to adjust the drag. We didn’t realize the Johnson spin cast was line diameter sensitive and changing the line to .010D resolved the problems. Bob preferred his Mitchell spinning reel rarely used the Johnson Century. Tom

The water by pass is what you all refer to as peeing. The bye pass indicates the water pump is working and over heating indicates the thermostat hasn’t opened allowing water to cool the power head. Tom

Silicon clear 1/4 ID tubing. Cut about 1/16-3/32 wide and install with o-ring tool for 5” Senko. 10’ length is $10. Tom

Given permission he is good to do what he was OK’d to do! Tom

Fishing is a hobby time with your family is far more important, enjoy both.

The Dobyns will be well balanced but heavier overall. Megabass add more expensive, lighter weight and faster response. Performance. Is how you feel about each rod . Tom

Way back in 1974 put together my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar. I believe in seasonal periods and bass activity levels directly affect the lures you choose should be based on where the bass are located and their activity level. 50 years later the bass haven’t changed their behavior. The lures you select should be based on where the bass are located and timing when they are active and willing to chase faster moving lures vs slower moving lures. All bass are not on the same schedule they are individuals and we need to understand this fact or pound unproductive water with lure we like to use when the bass want something different. Tom

The 1st B.A.S.S. Tournaments were open to anyone who paid the entry fee and had a bass boat. Partners were blind draw with 2 contestants sharing time in boat. Limits were 15 bass on a stringer, later changed to 10 in a livewell for 2 contestants. The term “Pro” wasn’t in play yet. I thought about fishing B.A.S.S. tourney’s but realized to be competitive meant moving close to where the derbies were held and giving up my engineering career. Guaranteed income vs an ego trip with little money to off set the cost. Simple decision back then, take the bird in hand. I don’t believe things have changed regarding earning a living bass fishing the odds are very slim vs a working career. Derek made the right choices and realized he wasn’t going to earn enough money fishing. Tom

Normal outing where I fish. Heavy stuff is a Puffball jig with 2 1/2” trailer. 1/4 oz Micheal popper on my Splash -It cast on rod. Spinning rod w/ slip shot 3 1/2” reaper. Spinning rod w/ drop shot 5” Roboworm Spinning rod with 1/8 dart head and 4” Screamer. Set for the day. Tom