WRB-2.0

Casting accuracy has nothing to do with seeing the line. It takes practice to develope hand eye coordination. You look at the target and train yourself to land the lure on the target using your thumb to control when to land the lure using a bait casting reel. Spinning reels are harder to feather the line using your index finger to slow down and land the lure on the target. Practice, practice, practice . Tom

Before jumping head long into the traditional bass jigs try Texas rigged worms with bullet weight. Start out using “6 to 7 1/2” worms and 3/0 worm premium hook. After you have successfully learned to detect strikes and catch bass then fish the jig using the same presentation. For the jig trailer start out with 4” Yamamoto twin tail grub on 3/8 oz jig works everywhere. The basic cast let sink to the bottom watching the V in the line as the jig sinks, this is a good strike indicator when the V jumps slack set the hook. You left the rod tip 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock followed shaking the rod tip letting the jig fall back to the bottom and repeat. It takes time to train yourself eliminating what isn’t a strike vs what is. Welcome to jig & worm fishing, Tom

I think this is a contradicting thread grind a square bill vs finishing a square bill through wood branches. Any diving crank bait that dives deeper then the bottom can grinded on the bottom. a square bill is designed to roll over branches something a rounded bill can’t do well. Tom

6’-8’ of leader I can’t feel any difference in strike detection. There an advantage having you line sink at the rate as the unweighted soft plastic (Senko) ROF is but strike detection is more visual with that specific presentation. Straight FC vs Mono for weighted jigs and worms FC has better feedback, just don’t trust 2 knots using braid with leader. Tom

You may need a swimbait rod rated 1 to 4 oz approx like IROD IRG793SB. The technique described is good for slow sink glides/swimbaits. A slower motion jerk bait retrieve. The floater glides are more like a wake bait where a reel retrieve with flow rod sweep side to side and a few pauses tends to work good. All I can say is be patient and slow down you cadence to dance with the lure watching for followers. Tom

I always used premium 91 octane gasoline in my Mercury OB’s for decades without any issue's. When 10% ethanol additives came the pumps had to add labels that said this fuel may contain ethanol but corn ethanol was rare up until around 2000. California didn’t allow the sale of unleaded gasoline for vehicles however the majority of gasoline sold was 87 octane and ethanol supply was more prevalent in lower octane gasoline. If your engine is used for racing 101 plus leaded gasoline ( Aviation ) is what I ran back in the day To answer the question use fresh 91 octane. Tom

1st things first, what size is the lure and how much does it weigh?? 2nd thing does the lure float or sink slow? Everyone has there own technique retrieving a glide bait, did you new friend offer how he fishes the lure gifted to you? Use what the gift horse used. Tom

Try your confidence lure the same place and time for comparison. LC pointers have sharp good hooks out of the box. Lot members here change the front hook 1 size up using Gamakatsu or Owner on jerk baits in general. Tom

Handed the rod to my partner and landed it,

You are a Lowrance user why change? Tom

No reason to pre make drop shot leaders. Just make up a new leader when the leader gets to shot from re tying using a spool of line. If you have an issue tying knots use a loop to loop connection. Tom

You can make the “leader” length as long or short as you want. Spinning tackle the knot to leader goes through guides an onto the reel spool with no issues. Casting reels the leader knot going onto the spool or micro guides can cause a problem so the knot located between the reel. Leader length between first guide and reel is a common set up. From shore the drop shot rig isn’t as effective (imo) as a slip shot (finesse C-rig) using mono line as it stays off the bottom better then FC. Use soft plastics that float and light wire hooks like Owner #5133. Drop shot weight to hook length should be increase when shore fishing about 12” to 18” to compensate for bottom slope. Tom

In the 80’s a similar jig or a dart jig was used what is being sold as strolling or ozark jigs, or Ned jig, all work good whatever you name them. Tom PS, keel weight hooks also date back into the 80’s

Using a clear casting bubble with a bobber stop set at the desired depth has been very effective rig for big trout for a long time. Fill the clear bubble with enough water to add weight and you make a long cast without a long leader. 1/8 oz dart head works good, enough weight to sink the soft plastic to the set depth. I am sure the FSS guys have figured this out! Tom PS, sent from Seward AK

Hook for live night crawler nose or tail hooked for bass suggest Gamakatsu Octopus light wire circle hook size #2 for medium 4”-5” Canadian nightcrawlers. Bobber casting Thil slip so you adjust the depth that is working. Casting bobbles are also adjustable and adding water increases casting distance. Tom

Most of the DD bass caught on utube weigh 7 lbs😎. Guide using shiners is one way to achieve the goal if that is what you want. I would do as much research as possible, offer Roland & Scott Martens a free chef table meal would hard to pass up! Agree with Catt, look close to home 1st, got to on the water at the right time and to these rare DD bass. I would use 2 lures, Rick Clunns large gold willow leaf blade spinnerbait and 10” to 12” June bug T-rigged ribbon tail worm w/sliding sinker 3/16 oz. The spinnerbait keeps you busy, the worm slows you down helps you concentrate both work in Florida. Tom

👍support your local tackle shop! Tom

The bass are basically virgins so nearly anything should work. C & R single hook lures are your best choice like Chatterbaits, swim jigs and weedless soft plastics T-rigged or C-rigged. Suggest using light wire circle hooks with weightless Senko. The Bluegill maybe Red Ear sunfish, look it up. Tom

Pink is thought to be less visible to fish, chartreuse/bright green more visible on the surface to anglers. Tom

Beg to differ glides have a single joint whereas hard swimbaits have multiple joints like the smaller lure chosen by the OP. The rod chosen and line may over power lure, moderate action is preferred imo. Tom

Welcome to BR 😀 we have lots of kayaker’s on this site, ask your questions in the Boat forum to save you time and $$. Tom

There are all types of jig none can do everything everywhere and that is the reason so many have been designed. If you had to choose 1 out of hundreds pick 1 you catch more bass on. I use several different jigs but only 1 stands out where and how I fish jigs because I design it to perform where I fish in deep steep rocky terrain highland reservoirs. Tom PS, a jig is only as good as the hook used to make it!

Been using my Viper head jig since 1971, caught all my giant bass using it and not changing. Tom

Looks good, thanks for sharing. Tom

With it it’s a SWAG Tom