WRB-2.0

FYI Off topic I have a fly rod, reel w/line in the Flea Market. Suggesting you learn to use a fly rod before wasting money on a custom build fly rod. Tom

Don’t scream sacrilege when I suggest light weight canoe stabilizer floats so you can stand safely to leverage those bigger bass out of the weeds Tom

^^^^this if you can find it! Tom

All single filament or “ monofilament” lines yield about 30-35% of the ultimate strength. Stretch is yield the point the line starts to elongate. If the fishing line has high ultimate strength it becomes harder and stiff with memory making it a poor choice for fishing line. Lower ultimate strength the line is softer decreasing memory and abrasion and knot strength but performs good as fishing line. The ultimate “mono” is smaller diameter per lb test (ultimate strength) lower memory with good abrasion and knot strength. Sunline Armilo Nylon was that line but no longer available. Back in the 60’ Royal Bonyl mono was popular with smalller diameter but high memory. Maxima came out in the 70’s early copolymer “mono” line with good abrasion, knot strength and average diameter with improved memory per lb test. Maxima was followed by P-Line CXX at a lower price price point however lower abrasion and knot strength per line dia. Line diameter is extremely important regarding memory and yield strength. Today since Armilo isn’t available my choice is Maxima UG for bass fishing. Tom

Welcome from SoCal

Back in 1993 few weeks after I caught my PB 19.3 lb bass I stopped at Gallions in Castiac to get a deli sandwich after fishing and Gary Harrison was ordering his lunch. Gary loves to talk and told me Ken Huddleston was delivering his hand carved Trout lure in a few minutes. So we stayed and ate our lunch outside, I was curious why Gary was so excited ( he was known to snuff coke) so not sure what is saying. Ken shows up with a shoe box of his lures and Gary wants to buy all of them but doesn’t the cash. Ken wants $60 for the 7” trout and $75 for the 9”. Gary ask Jim Gallion to set aside the 9” until he gets some money. I but buy one smaller 7” not knowing anything about this new secret lure. Should of bought all them! Week later later I go into Gallions for a sandwich and Jim ask me if I want to sell the wooden trout I bought, he offered me $90 and a free lunch. Haven’t fished the Castiac trout yet but turn the offer down. I lost the lure to a Striper at Pyramid that summer, got into a debris fence by the dam. Today the early Castiac wooden trout sells for over $800 if you find it. $1,100 Limited Mother could be a very good investment! Tom

Clear water lakes like Lake Mead on the Colorado River bass often strike top water lures in very deep water. The bass are suspended in 25’-30’ and chasing Shad schools. Top water lures may not be the best shallow water definition. Sometimes it’s necessary to cast onto the bank working the lure into water not to spook the bass. I do this a lot at night but not intensionally. Tom

As you may recall my 1st reply was you were too late hook setting. Catt is trying to help you and getting helpful feedback. Strike detection is an art learned by time on the water and each of us develop our skills by trial and error. Seeing line move is important but doesn’t happen very often so you are missing a lot of strikes when the bass simply engulfs you lure and doesn’t move before rejecting it. My technique is keeping in touch with the lure detecting any change by feeling the with my finger tips. The Palomar knot is ideal for hooks. When tying a Palomar knot aviod twisting the loop when putting the hook through. Tom

Welcome to BR we are here whenever you feel like talking. Condolences losing your wife🙏🏻 Tom

The SST prop is more expensive but easier to repair when damaged. Welding aluminum props can be done wouldn’t advise that for a primary prop, good back up as John noted. What year OMC? I would check the prop shaft for any leaks or wobble. Tom

Aluminum prop is ok for 70hp OB. SST is more rigid flex less but why change if you are satisfied? Tom

With vinyl rubber you should buff the area with 80 grit sand paper, clean with alcohol before putting on adhesive decals. Slime vinyl glue works if the decal doesn’t have adhesive. Tom

Our local public lakes are closed to fishing 1/2 hour before sunset unless there is a night tournament. They open 1/2 hour after sunrise this gives the bass quite time all night, no boats on the water. I prefer early mornings because it’s a slower pace with lots of choices were to fish before recreational boat show upon mass after 10. Gives me time to figure out the bite and a chance at big bass. Evenings are more hectic trying to cover water before the lake closes. Plus it’s windy most of the time in the afternoon. My favorite time to use deep diving crank baits and rat wake baits the last 1/2 hour. Haven’t spent opening to closing time for several years, just not worth fighting boat wakes and crazy drivers. So mornings and off by 1 is my normal routine. Tom

The late Dee Thomas said “Shallow bass are Biting bass”. I always take the thermocline into consideration where I fish. Hot water over 90 degrees doesn’t hold enough DO for bass to survive very long. Green weed beds produce DO via photosynthesis and provides Shade cooling water. IMO bass need comfortable water temps, DO levels and a prey source to be in shallow hot or deeper cool water. Tom

You see the line moving your are already late hook setting. I use my reel set with rod firm sweep hook set. Set the drag at 4 to 5 lb and trust it. Today’s hooks are extremely sharp and strong. Your rod MH or H power rod can’t withstand more then 5 lbs of force. Don’t believe me… try lifting 5 pint plastic water bottles in a grocery bag that weigh 1 lb ea. Tom

Go with a RAM mount! The Eagle 4X sonar only suggest upgrade to Eagle 5 combo w/GPS, Tom

Bill Murphy colored his mono line with a series of dashes to help his line blend into the background. Was it necessary? It mattered to Bill. Tom

Yes! Few years back we discussed this topic of intuitive thought helping to make decisions. Trusting your gut has been a big part of my bass fishing. To do this you need to be focused on your environment and distracted by activity unrelated to bass behavior. Visualizing where the bass located and trusting your intuition to lead there is being in the zone. I often got if my vehicle while waiting in line for the lake to open looking at the lake trying to get in touch with the ecosystem. Wind direction, birds anything that helped to decide where to start. Some days nothing jumped out other times a clear intuitive thought came to me. Follow your intuition. Tom

Unsettled markets during an election year is always problematic. Remember the total cost of buying a boat includes taxes, license fee’s and insurance that are all going up! Tom

If the Storm strips or dots are not enough weight 1/16D solid core solder wrapped around the treble hook shank works. Start with the center hook to keep the lure balanced. Tom

When transition from “clear” to translucent like smoke hundreds of off the shelf options are available. For example 50% of Roboworns are translucent few are solid colors. Tom

In-Fisherman Smallmouth Bass, Linder. BR reports by AJay Tom

Top water walk the dog hollow body frog Poppers Mid water Diving crank baits Jerk baits Lipless Structure spoons Swim jig Swim baits Bottom T-rig w/bullet weight C-rig Bass jigs Essential Dozen Tom

IPT is based on fully spooled line (pi x d) Most anglers never fully spool line on their reels, usually about 1/16” to 3/32” below full spool. Mfr’s stated IPT is rarely true because we don’t fill the spool to the rim. After making an average 30 yard cast the spooled line diameter is reduced using small bait casting reel about 1/3rd of line capacity reducing the IPT significantly. The higher gear ratio helps to off set the IPT loss, Tom

Bobby Garland (Canyon-Plastics) makes a clear soft plastic w/red flake grubs and Gitzits. Frank Pasalich US Bait Co (868/395.0198) makes custom color soft plastic in grubs, 4” Flutter Craft worm, Little Fishy and Reapers etc. Tom