grimlin

X2 same here. Too much of a twitch and you can screw the action up. I'm still learning as a matter of fact. I've been bringing nothing but my frog rod to a few outing just practicing doing nothing but that.My hook up rate is horrible right now....The fish almost completely miss the dang thing.But I tell ya what....This is the first time I've ever had more four pounders or better hit my lure. I'm gonna keep at it...sooner or later I'm gonna get em'.The pay off is gonna be worth it. I've been learning on a paycheck transporter frog....Probably by far my favorite frog right now.

You really have to be careful doing that. I did that with crappie bite one day where I was casting and got hit on every single cast.Helped a family out and they cleaned out the entire school of them.They even called their buddies to come help them do it. Before I realize what I just did it was too late. Even told them exactly what lure I was using and everything.Big Mistake! I have never been on another crappie bite like that again. To be honest I never caught another crappie around that area since that day. I feel sick even thinking about this right now to be honest.

Yeah if only kids come with Instructions on how to raise em'. My brother said the same thing you did.....then his kid decided it would be funny to burn down the school.Came dang close to doing it. Needless to say his little butt was red for a good week or two.I'll tell ya what,his kid never did it again either.

My buddy loves the banjo minnow as well. I met a guy this year who's strictly live bait fisherman,I've seen him like 5 times now and we got to talking.He thinks a lot of soft plastic stuff I use is gimmicky.

Just leave...come back in another hour or so and they will be gone probably.It happens all the time with me. I however have multiple spots where I can catch fish. So I just move on down. It used to bother me awhile back. It don't no more.While I still hate it when it happens,I usually start being a Smart act and say "Oh well,Looks like I caught all the fish,Good luck." You'd be surprise how stupid people fall for that...LOL.

This can't hurt. Kids many of times will tell you what's bothering them without even thinking about it. It might be a whole different issue altogether?

The last one we had sounded very similar to yours.It ain't no joke....I've never ,never been scared of a storm till that day.Heck I stood outside down in Texas when a tornado went through. The lighting was so close and so many that it scared my wife and kid so badly they wouldn't get out of the car.I had to run up to the house to open the door so they had a clear shot straight into the house without delay.I almost crapped myself on that trip to the house. Lighting went just over my head when I was trying to get the door open. I ended up ducking down on the steps.It was not a pleasant experience. And since I work with steel I had it in my head I was probably attracting any lighting.Silly thought,yeah...but that's how bad it even got me. And I love storms.....except for that one time.

Sounds like you already got something that works well for you. 16 and 17" smallmouths are nothing to look down on.I'll take those size all day every day. I recently discovered a 3/8 florida rig weight on a T-rigged plastic works well.I've been doing pretty well with the Rage tail space monkey. This rig doesn't get hung up in the rocks as bad compared to one where the bullet weight slides.

Yup...it won't survive....not where you live. I had 3 of them in a fish tank. They do get BIG!

This is why most companies are going out of business and Online retail does so well. I haven't brought anything from Bass pro or cabela's in over 3 years now.

I would love to rummage through Raul's tackle room.The things I would find I never heard of...

It is way better than your old combo.Follow the weight rating on the rod. I tend to throw carolina rigs & jigs on a MH or Heavy.Usually on a baitcaster. Drop shot,Light T-rigged plastics and top water poppers work great. It's all I carry on most of my days fishing a 7' medium/fast rod with a 2000 or 2500 reel.

Been there done that.....I took mine to see bob the builder in movie. We saw about 25 minutes of the movie before he decided it was better to play games in the game room instead. He's 6 now and he just sat through the entire movie of smurfs with my wife and her sister. He's been to a few movies already.Trust me it does get better.Once your kids can sit in front of the TV and watch an entire movie without moving,there's a good chance they'll be ready for the big screen as well. kids are like fishing...you gotta have patience with em'.

Same here...I got tired of picking up everybody else trash.I cleaned up this dam area once went back the next day and it was right back in the same condition before I picked up. I though to myself screw this.Now they got signs saying "Pick up trash or area will be off limits to everyone." I haven't been back there since.

I'm gonna have to agree here.....It is more of an obsession.I'll rephrase my word next time.Besides obsession does sound better than the word addiction to be quite honest now that I think of it.

Maybe not an addiction,but it can gets you to spend money you don't have or shouldn't be spending.Just look at every post.....spending money on crap they really don't need.If you ask me I'm sticking this with a good addiction.At least it's better than gambling,drugs,alcohol ect,ect.....Right?

My wife can't figure it out either. It's a hobby and an addiction....what more can we say?

Have one. It takes some getting used to(the grips). I like mine,but if I had the choice again...I'd buy a Powell rod instead. I was fishing this river system where I wade in the summer,those rubber grips excel when you are getting your hands wet like I am. I got the 7'0" MH rod.It's a good rod for this. I got mine for around $120 when tackle warehouse had that 15% off deal going.For that price it's a great rod!I wouldn't pay $150 for it though,then you are talking about other rods in that price range a tad bit better. Overall I'm very happy with it,I didn't have my expectations too high when I got the rod...Honestly I didn't know what to expect.This rod will stay with me and will be put to good use.

Space monkey(Okeechobee Craw) 4/0 wide gap hook and a 1/4 oz bullet weight.I've grown quite fond of this bait.

ugly otter...by gambler lures. I prefer these over sweet beavers any time of the day.

You'd probably have to order a few hundred packs to get that wholesale rate...lol Big O would be the man to talk to.

My personal experience with eagle claws and bass wasn't a good one. I refuse to use em' for bass fishing. Owner's or gamakatsu only for me.I won't even use trokar. I'll use eagle claws for panfish and bluegills....but that's all I'll use em' for.

I wouldn't be surprised if I'm getting a different action using a braid that sinks with topwater lure.But it's working for me....

I love that story! Too funny! Try wading the water fighting a good size smallmouth and trip over a rock you didn't see.The fish got off and a cell phone in the pocket got wet and ruined.It happened to my buddy 3 weeks ago. I couldn't breathe because I was laughing so frigging hard....Literally crying that I almost fell in the water myself. To me,That's what makes fishing so great.I can look back and tell these stories.

I highlighted that part for a good reason from K-mac. I'm in agreement with everybody here too. Do you really need high end tackle? I don't think you do. besides after college you probably won't have any problems affording all the high end tackle you want.