WRB-2.0

Make sure you have the needed sonar/GPS lake and river update maps. At my age 1800 miles is a 3 day trip each way, don’t extend the drive time if you are the only driver. Have a great save trip, Tom PS, North Dakota is boring with few places to stop?

Edge Rods by Gary Loomis Back Widow series has a 7’6” finesse spinning rod rated 1/16-3/16oz, 4-10# line, BWS DSR 760-1. Tom

This reel isn’t complicated and Mike may be able to talk you through what is binding the spool. Aligning the end plates and seating the spool shaft properly. Tom

Today Solarome Bass Superhard was excellent casting FC slight blue tone color. I used 12 lb for a few years until it became $35 for 82 yards, started out $35 for 200 meters. Sunline original Shooter FC was 1st FC back in the early 90’s Today I use 7 lb Sniper for spinning and 12 lb Tatsu for casting jigs. Both readily available and decent price. Tom PS, Tangle Free line conditioner is a must for me Casting FC line.

There is a big difference between crappie size marabou “feathers” jig and bucktail “hair” bass jig. Don’t know when or where marabou became hair, it’s feathers from the Marabou Stork. Today real marabou is hard to find so synthetic marabou is used as is synthetic craft hair to make flies and jigs. Rods for 1/16 to 1/8 oz small feather or hair jigs should be spinning imo and ML mod/fast 7’ to 7’6” to make long enough cast to effectively swim or glide the jig at a specific depth. Billy Westmoreland made the float n fly famous using small hair jigs at Pickwick lake. Easier to cast a float (bobber) with a 8’ leader using longer rods and keep the jig (fly) at a controlled depth. I fish bucktail hair bass jigs 7/16 oz with pork trailers a different lure then the “hair” jigs Glenn’s video discussed. Tom

Having spent most of my life in pursuit of giant bass it takes dedication to learn big bass behavior, prey they prefer and when and where they target that prey. Pre Spawn is the prime seasonal period. Lures in order of my preference; Hair jig with pork trailer Swimbait 6” to 8” Soft plastic worm 9” to 12” Low light with light rain or night. Tom Bill Murphy’s book In Pursuit of Giant Bass is a good start to learn.

Pistol grip handle is under 8” long, today’s handles average 14” long, the rod length of a pistol 6’ foot is equal to today’s 6’8” rods. Casting 1 handed is all in your wrist, rod length isn’t the major factor imo. Tom

Just tie a simple overhand knot on the end of the tag end to keep the weight from sliding off. The only swivel on a drop shot rig is in the weight. Tom

Fins braid, made in USA offer wide selection to meet most presentations. YGK for sinking braid. Tom

Hook to weight tag end is too long imo, 8” to 16” is more effective. I believe lead is outlawed where you fish. Exposed hooking soft plastics in the nose or wacky hooked both with good with worms 4 1/2 to 6 1/2” long. If your plan is long casting the drop shot rig in lieu of short casts consider the Slip Shot rig where the longer 3’ to 4’ leader length works better imo. cylinder shape weights are good for rocky structure. If you plan to weedless hook suggest using Owners #5133 size 2/0 Down Shot hook and soft plastics that float like Roboworms*. When you tie on the Palomar knot on drop shot hook face the hook tip away from you as the line is 1st feed through the hook eye, then back through. When you make the overhand loop be careful not to twist the loop going over the hook, this crosses the line and damages wreaking the knot when clinch tight. If the hook is point down, run the tag end back through the top of the hook eye to flip it point up. The rod is a MLXF, MLFor MXF? 7’6” is long for drop shot good for Slip Shot. New anglers to drop shot tend to over work the worms, let the rod tip do the work for you! Good fishing, Tom *Sculpin Oxblood lt red flake.

Sent PM Tom

The OP fishes a world famous tidal river system called the California Delta. It can take a lifetime to learn the Delta, some never do! The late hall of fame angler Dee Thomas and my friend Andy Cooch Caccia knew the Delta and all it’s quicks, few anglers today can catch bass consistently on the Delta. The old saying you should of been here yesterday is more like you should of been here a hour ago! Tom

Heddon Pop-R was modified by Zell Roland and the Japanese perfective the faster spitting design. The Splash-It incorporates all the designs plus Owner feather hooks. Tom

Should add that 90%+ bass anglers fish a Splash-It and poppers like it too slow. When bass chase Shad the Shad go to the surface panic to escape and they moving very fast. You lure should be worked fast so it spits...splashes. These aren't Hula Poopers! Tom

Don Iovino’s Splash-It comes in 2 sizes 1/4 f 3/8 oz, Owners hooks, rear tied with feathers. Check out the colors, I use Blue Neon Shad for SoCal. Tom

Use the rod and fish with it before trying a lighter weight reel will make it feel tip heavy. Tom

Spawn cycle depends on lots of factors, your regional area, water temperatures etc. If the aquatic growth is reaching the surface and you don’t see any bass beds but do see colonies of small Bluegill beds the major bass spawn is over. Tom

Always used RIT liquid dye and it works good diluted or not and ends up the same color over night on pork rind. Never tried dying soft plastics wit RIT. Tom

For all you who define a T-rig worm as the weedless technique of hooking, do you T-rig your C-rig? Tom

DC digital control reels are design to slow down the spool speed to reduce over running the line and that reduces casting distance. No breaks and a skilled caster can cast lures further comparing apples to apples, same rod, line and lure. The Shimano MGL system can cast further the the DC. Tom

Start with Berkley’s Dr Keith Jones. Tom

Excellent 17’6” bass boat with good storage and dry comfortable ride. The single console model passenger side rod lock will hold rods to 8’. Don’t know anything about the engine. I would have the engine checked out by a good outboard mechanic, powerhead and lower unit. Make sure the trailer wheels/ bearings are in good condition probable get new tires. Hopefully the boat hasn’t been in salt water and was garaged. Tom

6th Sense Trace Swimbait box looks perfect. Harbor freight has egg crate foam hard plastic gun/tool case the works good and inexpensive. Tom

Try silent or Indian stroking your canoe for the ultimate pyschoacoustic approach. Tom

It’s fun catching bass then just casting. I love to use just jigs for bigger bass, use the Slip Shot (Finesse C-rig) and drop shot to catch numbers of bass when needed. Can’t remember using the original ball & chain C-Rig. Tom