WRB-2.0

Worms between 5" to 7", 3/0 hook, 3/16 *oz bullet weight, 7mm glass faceted bead, T-rig. Worms between 7 1/2" to 13", 4/0 or 5/0 hook, 1/4 oz bullet weight, 8 mm glass faceted bead, T-tig. T-rig to be means a Texas rig with sliding bullet weight, not pegged. If you peg the bullet weight it's a Florida rig. Lighter weights I use slip shot rig, mojo weight, heavier bullet weights for punch rigs, may use a 3/8 oz T-rig if the wind is high, however rather use a jig for heavier faster falling presentations. * 3/16 oz about 75% of my T-rig fishing and always use a glass bead same color as the weight. Tom

When any thread morphs into how bass see color you are standing on quicksand. The references like Dr's Loren Hill and Keith Jones are good examples. Two experts in their field, Hill also being a touring pro at one time, having opposite conclusions, both agree bass can determine colors and it ends there. The bottom line is we bass anglers don't have a clue and rely on our experiences to determine what works when and where. Today's hot new color is forgotten next year and the beat goes on. Bill you don't tournament fish and that limits your exposure to other good bass anglers fishing the same water at the same time, which can impact your perspective. Like you I rarely tournament bass fish anymore, only a few charity events, however derbies are a good way to keep up on what is catching bass where you fish. Catt is our resident night bass angling expert and he always says use the same lures at night that you use in the day. The fact he fishes with black-blue soft plastic during the day may be the reason. Catt is right with this statement, my tendency is to use dark colors like black, purple, blue and red combinations to add contrast, another of Catt's recommendations; use lures with contrast at night. Where I fish the bass are mostly Florida strain largemouth bass, look like northern strain largemouth bass but don't behave the same. FLMB are more difficult to catch on artificial lures. We also have NLMB, spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Both spots and smallies are more aggressive bass than NLMB or FLMB preferring different lures and colors. We shouldn't lump all bass together when suggesting how to catch them. Out west in gin clear water you don't fish lures fast very often, slow is often the best presentation. Natural prey colors that look like the prey, the same size as the prey with the same movements will catch more bass, day or night. Tom

7'6" hvy-fast with Pflueger 7' Carbonite with Chronarch 7'2" Morris with Morris Tom

Put the reel with braid on the MH rod. The medium rod could be used for casting lures so a wag would be 12 lb mono or copolymer line. I would avoid FC due to knot and casting issues. Tom

Bass fishing isn't a lot different than other fresh water game fish, with a few exceptions.1. Bass can be caught on a wider variety of lures than any other fresh water game fish. 2. Bass are easy to catch when they are active, very difficult when they are not active. 3. Bass location is dependent on seasonal periods and prey type. Because bass can be caught on a lot of different lures choosing a lure that is similar to the prey the bass are currently eating simplifies how to present it to the bass. You need to understand what the prey types are where you fish. Active bass are easier to catch than inactive bass. Understanding structure and cover elements helps to find the bass. Using lures that replicate what they are feeding on helps to find active bass by increasing your odds. Understanding basic bass behavior and seasonal periods helps to eliminate water where the bass are not and locate and focus where they are located. Bass are predators and stay close to their food.source, locate the predominate prey, the bass should be nearby. Tom

Bill, thank you for sharing you experience. The old saying no good deed goes unpunished is applicable to bass fishing forums. What makes bass fishing so much fun is the fish are willing to strike artificial lures of a wide variety of sizes and colors. Nearly every bass tournament proves that no one lure, color or presentation is dominate as anglers catch bass on a wide range of lures and locations. Tom PS, the secret is .......active feeding bass are catchable inactive bass are not.

If you think about what you wrote, the bite was tapering off, the Yamamoto twin tail rejuvenated the bite. The question should; should have started with the GY twin tail! Tom

If you rely on the rod to determine what is going on with your lure....you are missing multiple strikes. Today's rod blanks may be lighter or may not, having lighter weight guides and less handle materials. A typical 7' jig/ worm rod in 4 power or med-hy rating may weigh over 4 oz., few weigh less than 3.5 oz. Scrimless or Scrim double wall construction...how is your rod made? Makes a big difference in detecting line movement and line movement is what everyone thinks of as sensitivity. Your brain translates line movement as vibration through the rod, it's far better to keep your finger on the line so the movement is translated faster. Tom

Nothing in nature is absolute, these animals have evolved and the ones that survive continue the species. The spawn is an act that continues the bass species, not all are successful. The misconception that all bass spawn at the same time or that a female bass only lays it's eggs in one nest is false. If all the bass spawned at the same time and females deposited all their eggs in one nest site any catastrophic event could end the species. The fact bass are in your lakes should prove they are successful at procreation. The fact bass are limited in latitude where the water doesn't warm above 50 degrees should make it clear that water temperature is important. Believe whatever you are comfortable with. The moon has no affect on the spawn, water temps don't matter...whatever. Tom

www.moonconnection.com/tides.phtml

Full moon is a big factor, the first wave of spawner's almost always coincides with a full moon cycle.Tom

Sometimes the spawn cycle goes off like clockwork, the weather warms in a steady manner, the water column warms, the ecosystem is stable. This isn't one of those years out west. 6 weeks ago my local lake was about a week away from the spawn based on males selecting bed sites, females cruising. 2 weeks of colder than normal nights in the low 40's and days in the mid 50's dropped the water temps about 5 degrees, the bass pulled back and dropped down into 15 to 20 depth, no shallow bass anywhere. The only thing that changed was water temps, the bass were ready. This week the water I has returned to the low 60's and the bass are back, spawn should begin any time now. The eggs were ripe, the length of day was right 6 weeks ago, the water temps changed...spawn changed. IF we get another long cold spell, we may not have a good spawn this year, this has happened in the past where nearly the entire year class is lost from cold weather....and some of you still think temperature is a minor factor! With the warm weather we have now both the early first wave of spawner's join the second wave and a massive group of bed fish share the same bed sites, good for sight fishing, not so good on the bass population in our small clear water lakes. Yes the bass need developed eggs to lay, longer days help warm the water, if the water temps are not right, poor spawn can result. Tom

It' very difficult to catch big bed bass on artificial lures and a reason I don't target them. The big girls are very uncomfortable in shallow water during the day time. When they are up to spawn, not eat, it is frustrating!! What type of lures did you try using? Tom

Chinese are counterfeiting everything made in China....no laws against it in China. If you buy counterfeit products you are supporting this underground or black market business activity. Tom

It appears your budget is about $200 with the reels you listed. The Shimano 51E would be the smallest, light weight reel of those listed and a good choice. I would contact Ron at Valley Tackle for a price. I have the Tatula R-100XS and like this reel, however it is wider, slightly heavier and higher speed. Tom

If it's new there should be a warranty......return it! Sounds like a bad bearing. If there isn't a warranty you can replace the bearing, clean and service the reel, contact DVT site sponsor.Tom

Clear water isn't a big deal to bass, they are sight feeders first. If you ignore this fact it will be difficult to catch them. Power fishing techniques may work at night, think finesse during bright light conditions. Catching active bass is easy, catching inactive bass is difficult.....think targeting active feeding bass during low light periods using power presentations, finesse during day time. Tom

Take a look at Okuma rods & reels for stripe bass coastal rods rated for 1-3 oz lures. Tom

What are you currently using? Tackle, rod & line? Tom

Every time I read a post on flipping it turns out to be pitching. You don't need a reel to flip with, the rod is everything, the longer and stronger the better. I wouldn't change anything until you fish Rodman with the tackle you have! Tom

Are you taking any tackle? T-rigged 10" Paddletail worm day or night and a buzz bait at night should do it. Tom

I didn't read through this thread, but got the gist of the pros and cons. The old saying you get what you pay for is mostly true, however you may not get anything in this day and age. Hard body swimbaits that catch bass are hand made and hand tested small production run lures. Very few mass produced swimbaits work good. Like a bass producing crankbait, not all crankbaits are equal, swimbaits are similar, some work and some don't I didn't see any reference to 22 Century Triple Trout and they make a reliable hard swimbait. Black Dog wooden Shell Cracker are good, the plastic models fall into the "try it" category. Save your money for a hand crafted swimbait. Tom PS, the big lure big fish syndrome isn't always true!

Bass are curious fish and just because they are interested in a lure doesn't indicate they want to eat it. If these bass were 3+ lbs! they may strike a jig! smaller bass maybe not, do to the large size claws. If you dead stick the jig, the bass turn and leave, they are just curious or they see you. Live nose hooked big night crawler fly lined would be a game changer, if these bass are hungry! Tom

Sounds like you are shore fishing...from the bank!You are not far from the Delta where flipping and punch rigs are standard practice. Read Dee Thomas books and articles. Cat tails and bullrush aren't tules, they are not as dense and don't grow nearly as deep. As mentioned look for coves or inlets in the tules and rocky bottoms where the tules can't root and fish the edges or pockets first. If you are trying to break through floating reed mates a bullet shape heavy punch rig is your best bet and use soft plastics with less bulk and length. Tom