WRB

Tommy was fishing with friend at Castiac lagoon from the swim beach. I wasn’t there Tommy’s friend family was having a picnic and Tommy was using his new outfit Iovino signature Phenix Split Shot rod w/Shimano Stradic 1000 reel filled with 5# UG and rigged with a slip shot and Reaper for bass. Apparently the boys beached the big cat and the family brought the fish home. They put the cat in the bath tub to show us later, still alive! Tommy used that rod/reel until passed away from cancer in 2020, still have the rod/reel. Tom PS, don’t mind sharing the photo.

Put the engine in neutral (out of gear) and use a 12” long piece of 2x4 under the cavitation plate to stop the prop turning to loosen and/or tighten the prop nut. In theory the engine can start turning the engine over by turning the prop shaft several times…only if the prop shaft is in gear and ignition is on. Tom

PM your email I will send you a photo of my late son with his channel cat and In-Fisherman award. Tom

Not really my 10 year old son caught 26 lb Channel from shore using his Split Shot rod with 5# UG mono. Tom

Smallmouth are lots of fun on a fly rod because they jump more very aerobatic fish. Tom

Coils indicate line memory caused by being stored on the reel in cold on a small diameter spool or old line. Can you add the line mfr, test and reel. Tom

Take a look at site sponsor Siebert Outdoors custom jigs Tom

Try contacting Phil’s Propeller Service (look online). Phil’s has knowledgeable customer service and ship everywhere. Tom

If your patents can pass a driver test to renew their drivers licensee who are you to decide if they can drive safely or not? If they are a danger to themselves and other the liability factor usually works! I am 82 my wife is 78 both if use are good drivers and friends have no issue ridding as passengers. I will know when it’s time to stop driving. Tom

Look at the spinning reel spool rim, the line should be at the top where the spool radius starts ( about a penny thickness below the spool top surface. The line needs to be spooled tight not loose! If the line is loose it falls off the spools. Easiest method is running line out 50 yards of line behind a boat at walking speed and reel the back onto the spool while the boat is moving No boat then walk off about 50 yards on line on a lawn source and put the line between a folded wet terry towel and rewind the line back onto the spool to tightened it. Too low line level do what the original reply suggested, then respool the line tight as suggested above. Tom

Rick Clunn 👍👍 4 years ago I predicted FFS would change tournament bass fishing and it has. Your take advantage of technology or get left behind. Younger generation grew up with computer technology and know inherently how to use state of the art sonar units. Still must put the bass in boat and that takes skill regardless of your age. Should happy with skilled youth winning tournaments, life blood of our sport. Tom

You can get a good deal from AJay, Andy was selling all his glides😎 Tom

Good looking baits, like the sweet green pumpkin👍 Tom

50+ lb 5 bass limits are rare, congratulations. California no longer produces 50+ lb limits, but that may change as a few lakes are kicking out some giant bass again. Tom

Right lure Right time Right location. Timing is the key to catching bass anywhere. The bass strike a variety of lures when active and ignore nearly every lure when inactive. If you know the bass are located at your favorite spot and not striking your lures leave and return in a few hours when the bass are more active. You sit on the spot quietly waiting for the bass to become active, that what live bait anglers do. I prefer leaving and returning to spots setting up a milk run between spots during the day. Tom

Never had a bass choke a crank bait in the throat, always in the lips or inside the mouth. Watching MLF I have seen several bass choke jerk baits and few smaller crank baits so it happens. What I am saying LMB engulf prey and reject it fast catching those fish are very low % with crank baits with circle hooks. Give it try, Tom

Wacky rig drop shot or flick shake Jackall jig. Green pumpkin candy and cola top colors

If you believe you have a secret spot on public water that holds big bass the odds are you are wrong! Big bass makeup less than 10% of the population. True giants less than 1%. Every bass angler wants to catch those bass! My advice catch them while you can, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed . Tom

When had a boat big swimbaits were 2nd only to jigs. Sold all of them in 2020-2021 and the rods / reels. Tom

Bass bed on direct sunlight needed to hatch the eggs, Slow down your fishing too fast! Tom

Frustrating loosing 40” of bass during a Kayak tourney🤬 Good report, thank you👍 Tom

Circle hooks are required for some salt water tournaments where C & R is used. Fished 35 years using circle hooks for big game fish. You are talking about crank baits not live baits or soft plastics. Good luck hope it works out for. Tom

Try to forget the other boats and just go fishing, that is what got you in. Make sure you have the needed tournament equipment; throw cushion, fire extinguisher, running lights or whatever the rules require. Fishing license for sure. Catch a big bass👍 Tom

I only been using crank baits for 65 years and during that time never throat hooked a bass with a crank bait. For circle hooks to work the hook needs to catch the fish mouth on the way out. This means the crank bait was swallowed or deep into the mouth before coming back out. I know it happens “ choked it” just not for me ever. The odds are not worth the effort imo. Tom

Send your photos to TFO nothing we can do about a soft tip guide ring! Tom