WRB-2.0

Good question for a book written for current soft plastics since a lot has changed the past 20 years. I would be willing to answer any questions regarding current worms and creatures presentations, techniques and sure other members are willing to be envolved. Tom

Anytime time you meter bait balled up that bait is being feed on by predators, it’s their defensive mechanism to look big. When you see this it’s structure spoon time. Lob cast the spoon just past the bait ball and let it Pendulum falling thru the bait, strike occurs when the spoon stops. Tom

When the bite shutoff completely at our local lakes I tried with success using Fishlab natural nymph on a 1/8th jig and caught a few bass. Durablecsoft plastic with 4 wings that have good movement at slow retrieve or on the fall. Check them out! Tom

Spinning reel. Tom

Dottie was caught several times and weighed over her lifetime. Back in the 70’s got into tagging bass for a few years at Sherwood lake. 1 bass weighing 6 1/2# to 7# I caught serval times over a 3 year period at the same spot a big boulder near the dam. Tom

You do realize with IGFA line class records the line can’t test higher the line class. Using Yo-Zuri you must select the at the break test not labeled pound test. Tom

Bass normally move up with rising water but they are bass at the end of the day. Tom

Jig & Worm Rod assume you are using bottom contact lures like jigs and worms. With that in mind a sinking braid like YGK would be a good choice. Tom

Learned that extreme cold also ruins mono line. Left a few spools at my in-laws in Canada, returned the next summer and the line was like wire. Soaked the spools in warm water over night and it was still stiff. Cool dark place is ideal, under 100 degrees and over freezing. Tom

If you go with a smaller diameter 1000 size spool reel it will twist line faster the the larger 2500 size. If you plan to use braid with a leader the smaller spool diameter isn’t an issue but drag start up force may be a littler higher. Can’t point out how important a smooth reliable drag is finesse bass fishing. If you have a boat line maintenance removing line twist is easy. The strongest small diameter (.008D) mono/copoly line I know of is Maxima 5# Ultra Green. FC lots of premium line available I use 7# (.009D) Sniper FC. Braid Fins Spin5 10# (.005D) or 15# (.006D) is small diameter quite casting color fast line. Tom

Short arm single blade spinnerbaits were once considered standard lures for night bass fishing offered by several companies. Surprised they are not still available (Strike King Midnight)? The most effective helicopters spinnerbait on the fall was the twin spin, not today’s design with a fixed wire head but the 70’s design with the wobble jig on a S clevis hanger. If interested PM you email and will send how to make this sketch and photo. Tom

The main page has a good reminder article of the importance of the summer period thermocline. Today we have state of the art sonar and tend to forget the basics about bass and bait behavior. Fish seek a comfort zone and during the summer that life zone is the thermocline. Good article read it! Tom

I got into fishing because living on a lake using a cane pole, line, bobber and hook at age 3. Kids lived outdoors until dinner time, we didn’t have or know about perverts in the rural mountains where I grew up. Simple times and simple life. Tom

Kids are the future of fishing, thank you for helping our sport grow? Tom

Boat length isn’t necessarily the most important factor, freeboard height is important in big waves. The typical “bass” boat has low freeboard height so the angler is closer to the water surface when using the front trolling motor. The higher the freeboard the more wind hits the sides making it difficult to maintain boat control. Trade offs. Multi species aluminum boats are popular in your area for god reasons. Tom

Bass Cat Bob Cat w/150, 4” jackplate trimmed storage length is 19’11”. Far better boat and company then Nitro imo. Tom

12’-18’ is deeper then I seen bream beds in very clear water. It’s possible the lake has risen and the beds are old. Tom

Check prices on the Asian portals, new reels with free shipping. Tom

Size and proximity to each bed. Bream beds are dinner plate size and In colonies close together. Bass are usually 2 to 3X the size and far apart. Tom

Tannic water isn’t muddy water it’s stained like putting tea bag in your drinking water. Tannins are leached out from decaying leaves, like the tea bag, not suspended particulates. My 1st experience with tannic stained water was in Ontario Canada on Highwind lake, clear but tea color water. My farther in-law knew from experience that gold/copper spoons worked well at Highwind and he was right. Couldn’t buy a strike on silver or chrome blades or spoons. I had some copper ‘n coal ( smoke with Copper and black flake) worms that worked good, to me the color was nearly invisible in the water but the bass ate them. Tom

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Do it between Dec to Feb and use the yak for a toboggan? Tom

Loops happen with all types of line if you use the reel to flip over the bail on a spinning reel. Bait casters loop can occur if the spool is over filled and is loose on the spool. Line twist is a biggest problem with loop knots and loops created by the bail causes more twisting. I always keep light tension feeling the line while retrieving lures to keep the line snug in the spool, plus it’s a good strike detection technique. If you have enough open water on the trip back cut off the lure and let about 100’ of line drag behind your canoe while paddles a few hundred yards, this will untwist the line. I change mono, Copoly of FC line when it gets more the 1/8” to 3/16” below the spool rim. I cut off any abraded or nicked line and re tie often. Like Kent suggested I use a 75 yard top shot on backing so changing line isn’t too costly. I like fresh line! Tom

Boat/engine with pivot tongue trailer over all length limit? Tom

Over the decades I have fished lots of wooden lures that develop cracks and simply coated the crack with Hard As Nails polish, works great and easy to do with a little brush it comes with. Tom