WRB-2.0

A major cold front follows a major low pressure storm that produced flooding and freezing temps. The water will be cold and off colored, the bass are not feeding after the shock of this storm, they are trying to survive. Stay home a week or so and let the ecosystem settle down. Tom

It’s not the Josh’s fishing skill or use of available technology that bothers me, it’s his or anyone else that uses success to self promote themselves $2K an outing with JJ is ridicules. I don’t know a single trophy bass angler who fishes with a partner, most are loners, let alone charge to watch them catch bass. Just my opinion. Tom

Merry Christmas?? Tom

1 layer about 6 to 8, 2 layers with the mat as a shelf up 12 hard swimbait, wake baits 6” to 10” . I used 3 containers with I layer. For soft Hudds use the tall storage unit with snap swivels through the lid so they hang straight down keeping the tails straight. The 12” Tall 6” square holds 12ea 8” Hudds, 8” Tall 6” square holds 12 ea 6” & 68’s. Tom

Spro BBZ-1 Rat In Ninja now Morning Dawn color is bizarre and popular, that is what video can do! Tom

Today redhead/white is considered odd when back in the 40’ to early 60’s was most popular bass lure color. Clown remains popular for Smithwick Devils Horse and Rogue lures. Still a excellent bass catching color but not bass anglers. Tom

Shimano Cardiff 300/301A is ideal for your application, 5.8:1, 8 oz, holds 165 yards of Sunline Defier Armillo 25# line. Tom

Merry Christmas all and Happy News...catching bass? Tom

?.....and your choice is..... Tom

I made a glass crank bait in the 70’s using a salt water popping rod blank. The term sensitivity is confusing and should be strike detection when using crank bait rods or any rod for that matter. A glass crank bait rods tip bounced more with the lure movement then graphite rods, it’s more flexible. The tip movements alert you to when a bass has the lure in its mouth or hitting bottom or cover. When you see the tip stop bouncing crank and sweep because that is your strike indicator. Bottom lure you need to be in touch with line movements and changes resistance indicating strike detection. A light weight high modulus rod blank helps to detect strike strikes do to less deadening of line movements, they don’t amplify line movements. Tom

Bottom line is you only need 1 that is working at the time you are on the water. The question know one can answer is which 1? Tom

OP Make a decision ! Tom

The line coming off the spool in coils gathered by the 1st and 2nd guides to help straighten out the “spirals”. The big difference in casting accuracy is the the control during casting motion for me, baiting is a slower motion loading up the rod, Spinning is faster rod snap less control. Tom

That takes the rake?

Typical robust habitat when a lake is drawn down for a few years then flooded the new shore plant growth. O.H.Ivie had a decent population of Florida strain LMB before the current boom. With all the hype the lake will be subjected to extreme fishing pressure from all over the country seeking giant bass that usually results in a bust period. looking at the video posted it appears Josh is strolling his swim jig (using the TM) then reeling as a bass approaches with Live Target. Also noticed his line is heavy test with high memory after casting and stripping off line so the swim jig sinks straight down to the bass. Give credit where it’s do, congratulation Josh! Tom

For hard swimbaits I used 12” x 6” x 3” deep food storage containers with drain grid bottoms, snap lids. The Container Store carried them. Tom

Do you have length and weight in mind, 2 treble hooks? Lucky Craft B Freeze 78, 3” runs about 5’ Owner Cultiva Rip ‘N Minnow 65, 2 1/2”, runs about 4’, 70, 3”, runs about 5’. Daiwa TD Minnow SP 95, 3 1/2”, runs about 5’ deep. All above have 2 treble hooks. Tom

Owner Cultiva Rip ‘N Minnow 65. Tom

Suggest contacting Dan Isaac @ ReelEx 650/454.4938. Dan super tunes Shimano reels for $30 plus $11 shipping. Ask Dan What he thinks. Tom

Toro Beast weights 13.8 oz, heavier then Calcutta 400 (11.8 oz) the OP thinks is too heavy. Tom

Like Butch Brown did, it’s been on utube for years. Tom

The heaviest 5 bass limit I know of was Bill Murphy @ 72 lbs. San Vicente a Public lake. Western Bass tournament at Lake Casitas produced 63.26 lb bass limit by Dana Rosen. I caught a 62+ lb 5 bass limit at Lake Castiac topped by a 17.6 lb bass. Butch Brown caught a 65+ 5 bass (topped by 18.5 lb) limit on film at Lake Castiac lagoon. Josh can claim a Texas 5 bass weight limit record. Tom

Old thread now, the OP hasn’t been evolved for a long time. If I was buying a swimbait rod today the IROD Gen 111 IRG 794SB, 7’9” Heavy/Mod, 3-6 oz swimbaits would do everything the OP wanted and more near his budget. Swimbait rod are 2 handed casting trying to achieve maximum distance. You want the rod to be fully loaded to launch the heavier lures without being concerned about the rod. This rod will cast everything from 1 oz to 3 oz S-Wavers to 68 & 8” Hudds, rats, etc. Tom

High protein slender prey that is easy to catch and digest are preferred. Golden shiners fall into this category and hatchery raised Rainbow trout are top food growth food. Crawdads are high protein are abundant during pre spawn when coming out of winter mud burrows. Blue Gill are talked about a lot but actually poor prey for bass do to wide body with lots of spiny fins as adult size prey. Crappie on the other hand are narrower body width, less spines and abundant during pre spawn as they spawn before bass. Younf of the year bass are also better prey source then Bluegills. Bass attack Bluegills because they are egg eaters a threat to the bass nest? Tom

Yep, $190 is extreme until you try to buy a wooden Black Dog slow sink today. Nearly every big bass lake has a crappie population that those bass target. The 9” length bothers me more then the price. Tom