WRB-2.0

I personally don’t like to use braid with a leader for swimbaits or glides. FC knot strength and impact strength is less then Mono or Copoly line. When you backlash a reel using braid the shock impact to the leader knot is high and often results in knot failure. For that reason my line of choice was Sunline Defier Armilo 25# / .016D line for lures between 2 oz to 7 oz. During 5 years never had a knot failure. Where I fished the bass are boat shy so making a long cast was essential. When loading up a rod to cast 50 to 60+ yards a backlash can be catastrophic. Armilo is extremely good casting line, very smooth and easy to manage, opposite of Braid imo. Tom

The OP hasn’t come back and replied to questions we all have expressed. We don’t know if he is a boater or a back seater. We don’t know the OP’s skill set, tackle being used or ability to accurately read a sonar unit. We do know the OP catches smaller size bass then he wants to catch. We know he bass fishes for about 3 years as also tournament fishes. I can only guess the OP catches smaller size bass because of the location and lures being used. Tom

3 years on the water is enough time to learn the basics of bass fishing. Let compare quality learning to time under competitive pressure. A tournament angler is expected to know how to catch bass or he wouldn’t be in the derby. Like a new golfer who wants to learn golf and buys a bag of clubs and few dozen balls then sigh s up for a club tournament. Having zero golfing skills it doesn’t matter how many years he golfs his score may never improve. The new golfer needs to go to the driving range and hire a skilled instructor and develop his skills before entering a tournament. I am offering to be the instructor. Tom

Gut hooking is very rare using a drop shot, you would need to be asleep not to detect a strike. weightless Senko’s it can happen. I have tried various wacky rigged hooks over the years. Gamakatsu weedless with the nylon hook guard isn’t very weedless. Owners original weedless wacky hook worked good but tended to snag brush. Owners Jungle weedless wacky hook with wire weed guard has a wider hook gap using Zo-wire small diameter wire very strong hook and is weedless. Cut off about 1/8” of the wire improves snag-less in brush. I use size 1 #4109 for all my wacky rigged soft plastics. Tom

Don’t gloat August is coming. By mid March we will be back to normal with mid 70’s and no bugs all summer. Tom

True if you are the boater, otherwise you are along for the ride and must fish where the boat is located. Tom

Are you a boater or back seating? What type of rods, reels and lures do you use? I am trying to learn something about your bass fishing skills. Tom

I use the reel to pick up line much faster the swinging a longer rod can. After the line loads up then sweep the rod back firmly. When casting over 100’ You need to recover a few yards of line not a few feet. 1 reel handle turn recovers 2’ of line 5 fast turns recover 10’ of line! Swinging a 7’6” rod 45 degrees may move the line at the hook the line 3’, if the rod tip doesn’t bend. Shorter cast under 60’ just reel the rod tip down before hook setting. Longer rod can launch a lure further depending on casting skills etc. Tom

If we’re looking at our weather today it’s a NW wind with low pressure and rain....ideal except a few other factors. Wind 30 mph with gust to 70mph, temperature cold snow level down to 1500’, normally above 5000’. The weather coast to coast today is forecasting cold snow blizzard conditions, Midwest 40 below? Tom

Springfield 1300902 adjustable pedestal post should work. Tom

TT has a review on both SLX 70 MGL and Curado 70 MGL. The Curado has a smaller frame and smaller spool, everything is nearly equal regarding casting performance. You pay $$ for the smaller reel. Tom

You are required to have a throw cushion on public waterways. If you have a glass boat use it under the stern to cushion the stern when changing a prop on shore. Will you get your feet wet...yes, will you get back to the launch ramp yes. Tom

Agree the Victory Marshall 7’3” MHF May be a better all around use jig & worm rod. 10% discount available. Tom

Welcome to bass fishing. Your tackle is critical and “glass trout” rods are not suited well for bottom contact soft plastics for bass. Based on your line description 20# braid w/ 12 lb leader a Medium fast action spinning rod would work. Do you have preferred brands? St. Croix is American made and offers a wide range of bass rods. St. Croix Victory series like VTS71MF is a good choice. Tom

Do you have KD734C ? Ask Dobyns if a DC 733C would be a bit slower to load up. Tom

Daiwa TD SS1300/1600 spinning reels are old dogs still in production over 30 years now! Tom

Always carried a spare aluminum OB prop and plastic TM prop with tools to change both. Kept 100’ of 1/2 rope and anchor in a plastic milk create along with the props and tools. Flash light was another Item in the box. All the needed Coast Guard items on board, spark plugs, parka, etc. Tom

Sold over 500 back in Sept 2020 in the Flea Market. Today I have 5 crank baits. Tom

All my custom jig & worm casting rods were 6’10” because that length fit my boats front deck area and rod lockers back in the 80’s. Todays 7’ rods are not longer from the front of the reel to the tip, handles are 2”- 3” longer. Tom

Any decent 5 or 6 power Jig rod will work for big worms 10”+ with 4/0 or 5/0 worm hooks. Why do you want a longer rod, it’s heavier and slower hook setting unless you plan to cast a C-rig? Tom PS, Flea Market you can find what you need at good price.

I imagine it’s warmer. Tom

To clarify bass behavior they act as individuals, not a school fish, each bass has it’s own rhythm. However....bass often group up to take advantage of prey fish, that group is on it’s own rhythm triggered by a feeding opportunity. Yes someone somewhere landed on active bass, it could be you if you spend the time on the water to determine when and where to fish or just get lucky. Tom

Yes, there are times when bass are inactive and these bass can’t be caught. During any 24 hour period bass are active feeding about 20% of that time period, the same bass is also inactive about 20% of the time. The balance 60% that bass is transitions between being very active, active then neutral followed by becoming inactive. You can easily catch very active feeding bass, active bass are catchable on a wide variety and of lures and bait. Neutral bass require the lure to be close to them, not willing to case it. Inactive bass are in a resting/ sleep mod, not interested in eating. Each activity level is in constant changing cycles during the 24 hour period and every lake developed it’s own rhythm of activity. It’s up to each angler to figure out how to locate and catch those active bass...it’s called fishing. Tom

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Wind from the NE in SoCal means Santa Anna’s 30mph to 70 mph. Westerly is on shore light winds. Tom