WRB-2.0

BPS sells major brands of fishing tackle for both fresh and salt water anglers. The issue is a BPS store is located 50 miles north of Irvine and Anglers Marine who sells both boats and popular regional bass tackle I’d only 25 miles from Irvine. Maybe they plan to close the Rancho Cucamunga store? Tom

Suggest using a different attractant like Mega Strike in lieu of WD-40 that isn’t fish oil it’s a solvent! Tom

I wanted to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to a few BR members not currently active on this site. Paul Roberts, Rolo (Roger) and SenkoSam come to mind. Tom

WBass don’t seem to be aware of the hook size difference, the size #1 has a wider gap to stick 3#+ size bass through the upper lip when the worm is nose hooked. I don’t see much difference between Gamakatsu Drop Shot hook and Owner Mosquito hook and use whichever hook I have with me. The Mosquito hook beak point doesn’t affect strike to hook set ratio imo. The newer designs have wider gaps with slightly longer shanks, hard to compare sizes. Tom PS, the late Aaron Martens didn’t nose hook with the hook point exposed, he pushed the hook point to the tip of the warm nose still covered with plastic to make it more weedless.

3”-4” finesse soft plastics nose hooked Owner #4 Mosquito. 4 1/2”-6” finesse worms nose or wacky hooked Owner #1 Mosquito. 6” soft plastics wacky weedless hooked Owner Jungle Wacky hook. 41/2”-6” Finesse shift plastics weedless (T-rig) Owner #5133 down shot hook 1/0 & 2/0 depending on the diameter. Tom

I was very disappointed with the rolling fight of Pike, they don’t jump and give up after a short fight. Musky on the other hand live up to their reputation and fight harder, faster and jump, big fish and exciting to catch. Anyone who thinks giant FLMB are lazy never hook into one! I hooked my PB 19.3 lb FLMB after casting about 40 yards. This bass was in about 17’ of water when hooked and jumped a body length out of the water the ran straight at the boat and underneath out the opposite side another 20 yards, nearly a 180’ run! This old bass didn’t give up and fought hard but was in deep open water where I had the advantage of wearing it down before landing it. If a tree or rocky structure came in contact with the line the bass would have won. If this bass choose to run the opposite direction it would have freight trained me into trouble. The tackle you are using has a big affect on how a fish fights. I was using standard MHF bass rod with 10# mono line. Same fish in Heavy 8’ swimbait tackle with 25# test line the fight is very different. Tom

Since the introduction of out of the box sticky sharpe hooks we have forgotten the dull hooks of yesterday. Who today owns a electric hook sharpener? Standard practice back in the day to sharpen hooks before using them. Some have diamond hook hones to dress up a sharp hook, still a minority today. Keeping treble hooks organized saves time and time is important to tournament anglers. I am OldSchool and constantly check hook points and knots. Tom

Simply judging by the straight road way adjacent to the structure feature it appears to relatively flat to gentle sloping terrain. This makes the structure nearly un noticed and more then likely less fishing pressure.

The OP had a specific question regarding where he fishes and added the lake-dam name. It’s helpful to read beyond the title before adding a response, otherwise we get everyone’s local lakes reply. Interesting reading but doesn’t help the OP, does make for interesting conversation to learn about everyone’s opinion’s. Tom

In the west we call those a ravine, some call them a drain or cut. Tom

In generalI agree that Smallmouth fight harder then Largemouth, Spotted bass are faster but rarely jump. The health and condition of the individual bass affects their strength and ability to fight. The size of the lure and where the hook has penetrated impacts the bass ability to fight. Lots of factors. Hardest fighting fish and fastest swimmers are salt water species like jack and tuna family pound for pound imo.

Flood control earthen with rip rap dam and over 7,000 long! The lake more then likely has turned over so the bass could be any depth they prefer. I would fish birds to locate baitfish schools using structure spoons. Also fish soil breaks clay to rock with wood using jigs and drop shot wacky hooked finesse worms etc. crank baits along the rip rap dam face. Run off water during the winter is usually colder water near the air temps. Tom

If the dam is used for hydroelectric power generation the outflow is taken near the lake bottom deeper water. Power generation lake tend to have multiple thermocline layers created by the lake turning over every time water is drawn to operate the generators. Inflow water gets pulled along the lakes original channels in lieu of dispersing and mixing the lakes upper third water. Deep water is usually low in dissolved oxygen but mixes with upper layers during power generation. Below the dam the water water temps are actually around 50-60 degrees warmer the lower river water attracting bass. If the dam face is covered with rip rap should be good. Tom

The current seasonal period is the cold water winter period when cold weather impacts water temps do to cold night temps. Understanding weather fronts consider a cold “front” is actually a low pressure “backend”. The low pressure front is associated with a positive weather change whereas a cold front is generally a negative time to bass fish. Add colder windy weather to already cold water period and bass fishing gets difficult. Tom

Started rigging reapers and hand poured worms flat side up years ago because they have better motion action with round side down. Tom

Horizontal jigging was unconventional in 1994 when I wrote the article for In-Fisherman and remains unconventional to this day to make long 40 to 50 yards casts using 10# to 12# line and the reel to move the jig and hook set followed by a firm rod sweep. Today it would called be swimming a jig along the bottom. Tom

You don’t need to guess, just call Gary Dobyns with your questions. Tom

Search “Cold Front” upper right corner only 53 pages on this topic. Tom

Nichols blades are average thickness, not heavy plus the cup design affects spin start up and rate. I don’t have any spinnerbaits to measure today after selling everything. I know there are differences in blade thickness and design within the same names Colorado, Indiana, willow along with proprietary blades like Stanley Wedge, French Mepps and Helderbrant If the blades startup and feel right to you and catching bass is the bottom line. Tom

Today look at composite graphite-glass. Tom

You don’t want pay $57 to do it properly? Tom

My version of a Texas rig includes a bullet weight, not just a weedless hooked soft plastic worm or creature. I use Spinning a lot for finesse worm fishing but not T-rigs, only bait casting tackle. Reason feeling line easier with bait casting reel and using line diameter exceeding .010D, usually 12# test daytime and 15# nights. Tom

Helderbranbt blades are heavy gage brass vs most other brands another factor to consider. I preferred Nichols Indiana blades in holographic colors. Tom

The bucktail and most skirts were tied so short and too sparse the test was of little value to compare. Very well done video imo. Keep in mind that attractants tend to mat hair or fine fibers killing any flare movements. Living Rubber and silicone are not affected by attractants. Tom

Perry wouldn’t use sonar / flasher when it was available in the 60’s. Tom