WRB-2.0

It comes down to Inches Per Turn IPT vs reel spool diameter/line capacity. 100 size bait caster with 8:1 gear ration after casting 30 yards the IPT is about 20 inches actually lower then 5:1 gear ration . Larger reel and spool the IPT doesn’t drop but a few inches after casting 30 yards. If you are comfortable casting and retrieving your lures with 8:1 that’s good. Tom

Missed Roger RIP🙏🏻 for his family. Tom

From the damage it looks like the bass boat center punched the other boat went airborne knocking the OB and anchors. I have been concerned with the big sonar screens blocking visibility at speed, can’t see over them. These accidents will or should impact bass tournaments. Move the big screens that block vision. 🙏🏻for everyone evolved in these accidents. Tom

Retire the repaired prop for a back up and get the new SST prop, Tom

🙏🏻 for Ken, if possible get to Mayo! Tom

It’s called fishing not catching for a reason. Tom

Jaw Breaker😎

If the soft plastic trailer is in good condition it goes into a zip lock bag and gets the head end repaired / melted. Pork trailers go back in the bottle. Most used soft plastics go into the trash bag. Tom

There is a reason drop shot weights have a swivel molded in; to reduce line twist when the rolls on the bottom. You increase weight to over come line resistance from moving water. I use small diameter 7 lb FC fr for drop shot, Tom

Correction 3BD vibe No, jigging a lipless use a cheaper Trap. Tom

Currently Yo-Zuri 3BD Vibe, very good dead fall action. Tom PS. All favorite Was Smithwick Water Gator bone color.

The LMB from our deep clear cool water reservoirs gave firm white meat and taste good, but still have a distinct bass flavor. Never eaten Smallmouth and can ‘t tell the difference Spots vs LMB. The water quality and prey source affects how fish taste. IE Rainbow trout from Big Bear lake caught during the warm summer months are a algae taste but during colder water periods are excellent eating. Texture is important and if the bass in your area are mushy don’t eat them. Keeping any fresh caught fish to eat put it on ice quickly after catching it. I prefer ocean fish over fresh water fish for eating. Tom

When you take up line fast using your reel at whatever IPT (let’s use 24”) 4 fast cranks recovers 8’ of line, your rod may move the 3’. I keep the rod down pointed at the bass during the fast reeling part of this hook set. The hook has already started to penetrate the mouth tissue followed by the firm rod sweep that drives the hook though to the hook bend. The us now used to help control the hooked bass MHF rod is better for jigs if you can effectively cast the light weight. Tom

I fish jigs horizontal making long cast over 40 yards on average using a custom 7/16 oz and 3” to 4” trailer. The hook set suggested works. A 6’10” MF rod rated 1/4-1/2 will work for 3/16-5/16 oz finesse jigs. A MHF will also work but making longer cast requires some practice with finesse jigs. Good fishing, Tom PS, I use a 6’10” Custom MHF w/12 lb FC today, mono 25 years ago.

You can contact our site sponsor Siebert Outdoors and ask Mike what hook is used on his finesse jigs. I don’t know any finesse jig using flipping style hooks with wire dia over .050 for finesse jigs. Your hook set technique and sharp premium hooks are important. I use the reel set w/ firm rod sweep hook set and don’t rely on the rod alone very successfully. Tom

You have the right lures just competing with bass targeting Shad can be frustrating. Shad colored Splash-It, Hologram Shad worm and 3 1/2” Reaper U.S. Bait Co. Slip shot* (finesse C-rig). 5” 301 Senko wacky rigged weightless. Tom * search site “slip shot”

Tied not banded. The old flat rubber we used baby talc powder to keep it dry, desiccants will do the same. Don’t spray the living rubber with scent, use scented trailers. Tom

Never had a problem storing living rubber jigs in a standard Plano 3600 or 3700 box. I don’t leave trailers on stored jigs. Tom

Silicone skirts that I made are tied to the jig with hook end of the tab long enough about 1” passed the hook bend, the forward end gets folded back. My method is make a circle thumb and index finger, hold the jig head then pass the jig head first folding the forward skirt end back towards the hook bend. I trim skirts end longer then my circled fingers, about 3/4” beyond the hook bend. Sometimes do a second trim holding the head upwards skirt hanging down and trim about 1/4” to 3/8”at an angle so the center strands are longer then the top and bottom strands. The result is more flare when the jig is falling down through the water column. Tom

Suggest upgrading the drag disk to carbonatec and Carls drag grease for salt water fish the run fast and hard. Smoooth Drag. Tom

There are 2 Kreh knots; braid to leader and loop knots. Knots I use regularly. Fresh water Palomar San Diego Jam knot Kreh braid to leader knot Original braid knot.( double line clinch). Salt water Perfection loop knot, live bait. SDJ knot most lures. Bimini twist double line loop knot Tom

I have a Lee production 4 lead furnace pot, well used but works good plus about 10 lbs of RCBS pure lead if you want it! Cost of shipping around $30. Tom PM if you want the above.

Jigs Soft plastic worms ” “ creatures Top water, walking Top water, poppers diving crank baits lipless crank baits Spinner baits Buzz baits Spoons Tom

Once a week we had a lunch group meeting at a local tackle shop. Several local pros gathered there swapping fish stories and what was going on in the lakes. Met a new friend that was a tournament angler who wanted to learn how to jig fish and offered to go with him the next morning using his boat. Our 1st stop had a boat on it and waited for by them move on and they did working the bank. Pointed out to Dana where to cast and how to detect a strike by watching the V as the jig fall through the water column. Standing next to him I could see the line stop before it hit bottom and said set the hook! Dana 1st bass was his new PB 10 lb bass. We fished about an hour without catching another bass so I decided to run up another lake arm when noticing 3 Blue Herons stand an a point catching fish being pushed up onto the bank. Asked Dana to stop, pointed out the activity and got out my Scrounger jig w/trout colored Sluggo, only had 1 with me intended to use that rod for back up jig rod for Dana. Got on the TM within casting distance and started catching big bass nearly every cast the offered Dana my rod but he just wanted to watch. The bite continued none bass until the Sluggo was beyond repair and the bass stopped feeding. Dana had kept count saying I caught 18 big bass in that hot bit. Never heard or witnessed anything like it unreal. The next lunch group Dana shows off his PB photo and tells about the crazy hot bite eyes rolled and they say sure Dana…great BS story! Tom

Line twist creating “wind” knots shouldn’t happen initially spooling braid line with zero memory. Everything stated above is true after several trips fishing without a good micro swivel. To untwist any fishing line run 50 yards of line behind a boat at walking speed without anything tied on the end for about a minute or so. Tom