My 7', MC Helium has been part of this confidence-building as it allows me to feel the difference between a 'hit' and a tree/stump. I was throwing a Bill Dance Fat Free Shad yesterday in 8-9' of water when I felt the lightest of taps(much like EZcue described in his Bass pic post). I set the hook(btw, I set the hook very 'softly'--the 100% f/c line help's) and got the rod tip up as she ran around a stump about 15' away. Ii kept pressure on her but didn't 'horse' her in. She reversed direction and took a little drag. I got her near the boat and down she went--under my little Basshunter
. A few seconds later, I was able to lip(very carefully) and land her.
I have to admit that she doesn't look like she weigh's 4.5 lbs in the pics but I weighed her twice on my digital Rapala and once on another digital scale. Both showed 4.5lbs but http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=100333&anum=3382 she doesn't look that heavy. Here http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=100337&anum=3382 she is again. And here is the http://www.f150online.com/galleries/pictureview.cfm?pnum=100339&anum=3382 last pic.
Dan
