WRB-2.0

Nope set the drag at 1/3rd of mono, copoly, FC line. If more is needed simply add force using your index finger tips gains spool. Ttom

Tomato stake?

You covered the water front and left no stone unturned. I am speechless. Tom

What jigs and trailers have you tried?? Pleased be specific; brand, weight and trailer info. I ask to eliminate what you use and focus on what is a high % where you bass fish. Tom

Back when I worked just said talking a mental health day. Tom

Josh Jones is the poster child for technology catching big bass, without the aid of FFS live imaging JJ would still be catching crappie imo. Yes, the angler still needs to apply what they learn. Tom

^^^^??^^^^ Tom

To react you must 1st process in the information that triggers your brain to send the message to your muscles to react. You all discussing the brain signal time and not the process time to start the reaction. It’s my point of contention that few bass anglers never process the initial strike that goes undetected. This happens more often then we think and I witness multiple strikes that go undetected by anglers that don’t react until the fish nearly sets the hook or swallows the bait pulling the rod down into the water. I have watch partners tuna fishing and their line is literally skipping across the water surface and they don’t react to the strike and yelling at them set the hook! This occurs often when bass fishing using jigs when trying to teach friends to jig fish.....your bit set the hook! You are saying not me! I am saying yes you! When I younger my ability to focus on a task was maddening to those around, zoned out. As we all age more and more distractions enter the equation and our skills change. I could simply look at a casting target and the lure landed within inches. Today I see where I want the lure to land and mis often by feet not inches. I pride myself on casting skill and don’t spend enough time on the water to hone casting skills or stay laser focused on what my lure is doing. We all look around to enjoy our surroundings but it’s those moments that distract out attention and we mis strikes. Tom

Sure, give it try! The Fishlab Nymph has 4 flapping little back wings, really cool detail to trigger strikes. Tom

Hooks site like Barlow’s Tackle publishes wire diameter. Most soft plastics are listed by length, weight and diameter are not. ROF rate of fall no standard exists and water temperature affects ROF. We are all fishing for details?

Clear streams sounds like Smallmouth bass and summer is a good time to use bottom baits that look like Darner dragon fly nymphs, everything eats them. Try Fishlab natural nymphs on nose hook short drop shot or 3/32 oz mushroom/Ned jig. Yamamoto 3” Craw is another good choice, 1/8oz ball head jig. Tom

Not trying to sell anyone anything! Vmax Tank site has 2 ea MR127-100’s shipped @ $259 ea or $520 for 2 ea.

Overload is very easy with today’s sources of information and mis information via the internet/utube/fishing forums etc. Back in the dark ages all we had to learn how to bass was time on the water and hopefully a mentor. My education for all types of fishing from High Sierra Golden trout on size 24 flies to Blue water big game fishing for tuna and Marlin. My advantage for fresh water bass fishing was living on the water working at a boat landing and having mentors available to teach me casting skills, knot tying, lure selection and how to add action to get bass to strike. This was and is a lifetime of trail and error and decades of time on the water. Way back in 1974 I put what I had learned my 1st decade of serious bass fishing into:a presentation called “The Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar” in an effort to understand bass behavior as I knew at that time. Basically breaking down Seasonal periods using water temperatures at the depth bass are located and prime times to focus fishing and where to bass should be located. A lot to put into a chart and 2 pages. 40 years later I still standby my original presentation for the regional area I fish, mostly Highland deep structure reservoirs. Tom

The lake needs an aerator system now! Tom

Dobyns has introduced the Sierra Finesse series for BSF casting rod, several good choices? Tom

If you look at the tournament result of 2023 derbies at Castiac and Casitas only a hand full of bass were weighed in; Winning weight for 2 events was under 3 Lbs, the heavier was 7 lbs with 90% of the field blanked! Tom

Multiple drop shot lures is called stacking. Tom

Tradition wet cell lead acid battery requires a lot of maintenance and can’t imagine adding water in a bow mounted location. When I ran Trojan SC225’s wet cells used a watering system to maintain the batteries in a stern open location. Wet cells creat fumes and corrosion to everything nearby including wire connection. AGM’s are maintenance free, no fumes or need to check for water level. The last set I had were VMax Tank Marine AGM* and still working good after 15 years when I sold the boat. I also suggest replacing the onboard charger to Norco Genius if your current charger came with the boat. Tom * MR127-100 is gr 27

Before you can react you must detect the strike first and most bass anglers of all ages mis detecting strike a high % of the time. The average reaction time when measured is about 3/4 of a second. I had my reaction time test by earning a class A drivers license. The test is driving at 35 mph and at some point the tester sets off a shot that marks the payment and you hit the brake stopping the vehicle, a second shot marks the payment when you hit the brake. The total stopping distance is a lesson in keeping a safe space to stop. I was 18 years old and reaction measured time .17 seconds. Today I am sure it’s well above average. Tom

You should hold the spinning rod so your index finger is even with the reel spool rim. This hold allows easy release of the line and easy feathering of the line to control casting distance. Always open and close the spinning reel bait manually. Preferring to the photos the reel stem would be between the little and ring fingers, 3 fingers forward. Tom

I always preferred 6’8” Medium Fast for surface lures or heavier lures over 5/8 oz a 7’ MH crank bait rod. It’s fishing we don’t always win. Tom

Sometime in the early 80’s my off shore fishing partners and I were at a awards banquet for winning the 3 B light line tournament and earning a World Record line class. We were seated with the Scotts, John and Lillian who owned all the Giant Black Sea Bass records. The conversation we had is how do you manage to catch those Giant Black Sea Bass. We knew where the Scotts fished and it was a deep rock wall with caves and the surface had a Kelp forest over the area. It’s impossible to turn a 300-500 lbs Black Sea Bass if it wants to run into a cave or Kelp forest. John said you don’t try to force them out, you let them swim out. The secret was positioning the boat next to the rock wall and cast a fresh dead Bonita out to the kelp edge and let it free fall down and wait. The Giant Sea Bass would eat the Bonita, then Lillian would set the hook and pull as hard as possible until the big bass pulled back and pulled the boat out into clear water while maneuvered the boat where the Scotts could fight and land the fish. I can share today because both Scotts have passed. I used this positioning trick on big LMB and let them swim out trouble, it works! Congratulations Kate going against your instincts and catching those big bass?? Tom

Probably be turned into a private home community, buy property or get to know an owner. WhenI 1st moved to:where I live now I owned a parcel at Lake Sherwood and got nervous and sold it.....big mistake! I don't recall how I met the gate keeper at Bard water supply reservoir after moving to Simi. Bill didn’t know how to fish and told him that I would teach him and demonstrate how to fish a plastic worm. Bill was exited and we had about a 5 year friendship until he retired and moved to Oregon. Bard has a population of big hunger stupid bass, it was off the charts while it lasted. Nothing lasts forever so enjoy it while you can. Tom

Good news you enjoyed it while it lasted. Tom

The OP’s problem may be do to retyping leaders often after snagging lures and breaking off. Suggested filling the spool and using smaller stronger line. Don’t recall what knot the OP uses to connect braid to leader? Blood knot, Uni to Uni, Lefty Kreh leader knot use about 6” of line tie and Alberto, Albright can use 12”. Also don’t know high tight the braid is spooled initially? The simple solution is buy a standard spool. Tom