Nothin' But Toads Bass Club
We are a Bass Club based out of Independence, MO.
and we would like you to join!
© NBT 2009
Cliff's Column
03/06/2011
It’s that time again. That’s right, time to pick up your fishing license (reminder). Time to license your boat again (reminder). Time to check the weather multiple times a day to see when you can finally hit the water (reminder not needed for this). Time to weight those dusty jerkbaits in the sink or bathtub (If you don’t do this you should). Time to realistically think about fishing again in our region. As I like to say “Time to Get Paid”
This also means for many it’s time to make the trip to Bass Pro to pick up some lures and most importantly fishing line, That’s right, time to ask your self these questions, “do I want mono on my spinning gear again, what about fluro on this combo, is this the year I try braid?” Many anglers don’t take advantage of the luxury of different lines. I myself am still learning and experimenting. Remember this is an opinionated article so I will give my input, but in no way am I saying that anything else is wrong.
Monofilament- I would say this is the most commonly used line by many anglers, it is a versatile line. Mono stretches, in some cases this is good and in some it’s bad. It’s good for when a big fish makes a run on tight line, possibly preventing your line from breaking. It is also good on some topwater applications where it takes longer from time of hookset, to the baits reaction to your hookset, such as a buzzbait. It is bad in the fact that it’s harder to set the hook, or isn’t as powerful. It is easier to tie knots safely for one with not much experience where knots don’t slip as easy. Mono isn’t quite as tough or abrasion resistant as the other types, it also doesn’t have the memory some other lines do. Mono is however cheaper than the rest, you can pick up a box of 12 lb mono Stren for about $6.00
Flurocarbon- This line has the best invisibility of all lines and can also last longer which is important to some anglers. The biggest plus to Fluro is it’s durability. If your like me and every other normal angler in the world, you don’t retie enough. Fluro might save you from this bad habit when that fish of a lifetime rolls over on that Zara Spook. Fluro also has very little stretch to it, giving more positive/stronger hooksets than mono. It is more sensitive, so when you’re letting that 10” worm lye there you will feel the smallest of bumps where mono might not catch it. Flurocarbon sinks faster than mono or braid. So if you want to get that DD22 on the bottom fluro is your friend, if you want to walk the doggy, it isn’t. When I first started fishing Fluro I had problems with knot tying. I was constantly breaking things off blaming it on the line, when it was me. Do your research on tying knots. It can also become annoying how bad the line memory can be, where mono line memory is almost non-existent. Fluro is rather pricey, for a 12 lb box of P-Line Halo you can expect to pay about $22.00
Braid- I don’t have much experience with braid but I have given it a chance. I will say the first thing that jumped out at me was it sensitivity. I put it on a flipping stick and I thought I could feel a lot with fluro! I felt things never imaginable with braid. To be honest, it was to sensitive for me and I probably didn’t give it enough time before taking it off. I also got very frustrated with the line burying itself in the reel and constantly having to pull it free, much like a backlash. An advantage is it’s toughness; I was pulling up trees you couldn’t ever bring up with other lines, with no fear of losing my bait. When retying you have to have scissors, because clippers won’t cut it. As I said it was extremely sensitive to the point I’m not sure if it’s considered a good or bad thing. You can pick up some Power Pro Braid for about $28.00
There are tons of things not covered here, such as using the proper knot for the proper application. Here are my setups and what line I use for each. I’m sure what I use would vary from many other anglers, I am just very comfortable and confident with these lines and Confidence is what it is all about.
· Spinnerbaits- 12 lb Stren Mono
· Shallow Crankbaits/ Jerkbaits – 12 lb Stren Mono
· Lipless Crankbaits / Buzzbaits – 12 lb Stren Mono
· Spinning Gear – 8 lb Stren Mono
· Flipping Stick – 15 lb Trilene 100 % Flurocarbon
· Deep Crankbaits – 15 lb Trilene 100 % Flurocarbon
· Jig & Worm – 12 lb Trilene 100 % Flurocarbon
· Jig & Worm / Misc – 12 lb Trilene 100 % Flurocarbon
Till next time Gentleman, It’s your favorite fishermans favorite fisherman
Cliff
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Comments
When you fish one lake you get to know it and you catch more fish. When you change lakes the next time you fish it every patteren you ever knew has changed.
G-Man, I’m not sure how this offended you or anyone for that matter. I didn’t directly call anyone out. I simply asked a question. If you think I did then I am sorry but there is many anglers out there and I don’t have time to write one regarding just one angler sorry. If you read my other 2 columns they most definitely did not lose sight of what we are fishing for. I branched out one week and I guess it offended you. I am sorry for that, like I said this wasn’t written to offend you or any others. I have never once said a word to you or anyone else for not fishing NBT so where you come up with you being complained to by me all the time is bogus. If you don’t want to fish don’t fish, we don’t want boats that don’t want to fish with us or are forced to be there or unhappy to be there. Fishing is a relaxing affair you should enjoy and when you make it a tournament with points it takes it to the next level. Like I said above I never called anyone out if I started saying names or “the people at Jacomo” better start fishing with us or else then I understand what you are saying. I love Jacomo and I plan to fish there myself so for you to make it sound like I am disrespecting the tournaments held there or the anglers there is ridiculous. I am sorry if you are “seriously doubting your commitment to the NBT after my bold attempt to draw more anglers!” but I think you are taking a simple column way to far. For a column written by a guy that is your friend and a friend of several Jacomo and NBT anglers to persuade you not to fish might be a bit of a stretch. If we can’t agree on anything I can agree with you that the adrenaline at the take-off is good enough for a man to be happy no matter what tournament you fish. I hope to see you and several other anglers Sunday at Longview, if not I understand.
Your Friend,
Cliff
Cliff
I don't know how you meant this and frankly I don't care how you meant it! All I care about is how I took it and to be honest I was offended! I think the more people from "over the hill " that read this, the more you will NOT have.I understand that this is a column of opinion and created to encourage feedback! I hardly think that it is a column to loose sight of what we are all fishing for. I will answer your question directly "why do I choose to fish Jacomo over NBT"? For this reason exactly! I don't have to listen to the founder or Jacomo's "Cliff" complaining all the time about how the guys that fish other tournaments are directly affecting the turn out of the circuit. To make this work you have to develop a following, and calling out the anglers of a competing circuit, ecpecially one that has been around for the time it has is not a way to encourage a higher boat count! We all have dreams of being the best and YES fishing other lakes make you better! Tournaments have coexisted for years! This is nothing that hasn't been done before. The group of guys that I fish with at Jacomo are the guys that I learned to fish from, the guys that I strived to be like when I was just starting. They are all friends and I would do anything for them just as I would anyone in NBT. I have to admit that I am seriously doubting my commitment to NBT after Cliffs bold attempt to draw new anglers! The fact is that after last weeks tourmament there is no other clashes between circuits. This point is irelevant from here on out and if the subject is going to continue throughout the year I am out. There comes a point when just the adrenaline at take off is good enough for a man to be happy at the end of the day and that Cliff is what it is about, that is what makes you a pro angler! At least in my book!
Sincerely
A friend with a opinion!
Steven, I am sorry you feel this way and you obviously took this article the totally wrong way, in a very defensive manner. I was calling no one out and I have no intentions of making anyone come fish NBT. If we lose boats because of a column like this I think those kinds of people need to grow up if you ask me or the NBT is better off without those kinds of people. I love Jacomo as a lake and the weekly tournaments they hold there are very fun. I myself and many of the NBT anglers plan on fishing there periodically throughout the remainder of the season. I am glad you were/ are excited to read my column every week, thank you. I type these hoping to get feedback or start a discussion of some sort. Columns consist of an individuals views on things, that is what makes them entertaining. At times a person will agree other times you will disagree but that is what makes it a column. I have no hard feelings for anyone who chooses another lake over an NBT tournament I typed this article with one thing in mind, hoping to get an answer why people choose to fish other lakes over an NBT tournament? If a person has prior engagements I completely understand that. I’m sorry you think I am like the little kid up the street that throws a fit, I personally don’t view myself as a kid or that kid up the street for that matter and I can’t remember the last time I threw a fit. I appreciate you reading my article and it bringing out a interest to discuss what you read. Thank You, Cliff
If it makes you feel any better I think they only had 9 or 10 boats at jacomo that day. I think alot of the other guys were fishing tourneys at LOZ or other lakes down south that day ,while some of us just had prior engagements. If this is your way of getting more people to show up not I am not sure its gonna work, you cant call people out and make them come fish NBT. This is a good way to lose the small following we have. Keep in mind I am not standing up for everyone at Jacomo because I think some of them are @ssholes anyway. If anyone thinks that Jacomo is full of local pros, they are full of it. I thought your column would be interesting to read every week and I was excited when you posted a new one. Seems like that you are just mad that there was only 3 boats when you won the elite tournament this past weekend that resulted in a low payday. I guess this is my final question: Are you and Brent gonna get mad every time someone chooses to fish another tournament that is on the same day of the NBT ?? Or maybe they have other things going on the day of the NBT?
This is the 3rd week of the NBT season and I am already sick of the whining between both circuits. Its like the little kid up the street that cried and threw a fit anytime you decided to play with someone other than him.
Hippotoadamus
Gator Kong
Fence Panda.