Cybersnow Loc: McCall, Idaho

Going to get out of the mountains this year and learn a bit about bass fishing. I did buy a couple of rods and spinning reels and am putting away my down rigger gear for a few months. I have a few questions…
1. Is 10lb braided a good line to use on a spinning reel?
2. I was thinking of going to a flourocarbon leader, how long of a leader to start with and what strength?
3. What is a good knot to use in attaching the leader to the main line?
4. For whacky worms tie directly to the hook but for spring fishing on a rocky shore, what else should I have in my tackle box?
5. If I go to some other lure/jig/spinner bait do I tie directly or is there some kind of snap to use when changing colors, etc.?
6. What else should I be thinking about?

Sorry for all the basic questions!

Bassthird Loc: Private Idaho

You should be okay with 10lb test unless you’re fishing CJ or Lowell, you might be fine, but you might lose a biggie and some tackle. We live in a world where wacky is good, so you will be okay.
Plastic craws, even chatter baits at the two lakes mentioned.
Fg knot for your leaders (tie before you go, you’ll see why) Yucatán knot also good and easier to tie.
Pictures please, but no skunk shots.
Have as much legal fun as you can.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Not that I’m a good one to take advice from but,
1. Yes 10 lb is good, I use 15 and sometimes 10 on my size 3000 spinning reels
2. Yes fluorocarbon leader 8lbs on 10lb braid,
I use 10lb on 15lb braid
3. FG is a good knot but personally I don’t like it, too much trouble, I used to use the uni to uni or double uni whatever it’s called, but now I use a red phillips knot, so much easier and works great
4. A lot of people like to tie directly but I like to use this…..
Easy to change lures or hooks, had one bend out on me once with a striper but I still caught it

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Forgot to mention that my fluorocarbon leaders are usually between 4 and 6 feet, though many people use longer ones, I don’t see the need in anything longer

But I’m not one to know any better than others
I can catch fish with the way I do it my problem is mostly not knowing where they will be when they will be there and reading water

Among other things lol

Cybersnow Loc: McCall, Idaho

Since I havent filled the reels yet, should I just go to 15 pound braid? Any brand?

Where do I find the knots?

I like the clip idea, I use some small ones for trout and kokanee.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I use 30# braid in casting and 20# on spinning. I can not see the smaller stuff without a magnifying glass. I have seen no drawbacks as I seem to come to the docks doing as well as many and better than most, be it bass, crappie, perch or trout. I will admit I am still figuring the walleye thing out as I get little chance to fish them. I use a 2 to three foot floro leader for most applications. I usually tie everything together with uni knots as that is a fairly easy knot to tie with missing and stiff fingers. The advantage of my rig is that I can use it in both fresh and saltwater saving a lot of $$$. I am a strong believer in KISS. As for successful rigs at CJ, It is tough to beat Wacky 3 to five inch yamamoto senko. My second choice, just because I like the variety of fish it produces, is a Keitech fat swim bait paddle tail on a 1/8 oz. jig. In CJ, that has produced along with many smallmouth, some jumbo perch, a few very acceptable trout and an occasional large crappie to spice up the day. Note: I have had a few good early morning topwater bites at CJ using the old traditional 2" fat rebel in blue back silver color and fishing it like a popper. I guess I should start putting more time into surface fishing again. It is a truly enjoyable way to catch bass. Like many, I have been caught up in the wacky frenzy.

Cybersnow Loc: McCall, Idaho

Thanks, great advice!

Cybersnow Loc: McCall, Idaho

Thanks! Helped a lot!

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

[quote=Cybersnow]Since I havent filled the reels yet, should I just go to 15 pound braid? Any brand?

Where do I find the knots?

I like the clip

Sorry I don’t know how to paste a you tube video on here for the knots

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

[quote=Uncle_T]

Uncle_T, if you want to share a YouTube video,just click on the share button right below the video and then click on copy link. Then paste into your message. It will show as plain text until you send, then it will be a link to the video. Hope this helps you out.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Thank you, I think this is the video of the red Phillips knot
https://youtu.be/WAbXaGYaaIo?si=_Hy7fiE0-cwJL9jZ

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

Yes it is the knot you wanted to send. You did it perfectly. Glad I could help.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Thank you, that’s the knot I use for for connecting flouro to braid ever since someone on here posted it

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

It’s easy to tie and holds up really nicely