Leaderboard

Actually didn't pay full msrp for once and got a great deal. $5.50 each for this assortment of new Lucky Craft lipless cranks which retail for 18-20$ each. What a steal.

I get a call from a buddy about going up to Georgia for two days of fishing our most favorite pond. I jump on the chance because I have fished there before & know the potential for a new PB is looming. Besides it means fishing on my birthday a tradition I always try to maintain. We had a 6.5 hour drive to get there and didn't arrive until about 5:30 pm. We headed down to the back pond about 7 acres in size. Justin spread out to the right casting as he went. We all spread out as we started fishing. On Justin's fifth cast with a white spinnerbait he got bit. He yelled out I got a good one. Little did he know how really good it would turn out to be. We all headed over in his direction to see how big it was. Justin is a very accomplished fisherman in his thirties but has fished almost all his life. His biggest PB weighed was a big 9lb class fish until this trip. When he stepped off the bank with one foot to grab her he realized he had just caught a super pig. He put her on a digital scale that showed 14lbs-7oz. I weighed her on my digital and got 14-lbs-8.5ozs. She measured out at 25.75 inches long with a 24" girth. We finished the trip with a full day of fishing after that trophy day. We ended up with two fish over 8lbs, two over 7lbs and four over six with some fives. One unlucky angler lost a DD on a Hudd 68 when she wallowed at the bank. Shame on him.

Went to a local res (walnut creek) after work for an hour. Cold and muddy water with 15 mph winds. Caught three babies from shallow cover, and then a couple bigger ones much farther out (~100 ft offshore). 3/8 oz jig and craw fished on 12# Tatsu.

I and some other guys went to a certain lake To start out the morning, it was raining, and we got there about 7:20. About 10 minutes after that, i was throwing a white KVD Elite series spinnerbait(i think that is what is was), when this exceptionally large bass hit. I didn't measure, but it weighed 5.9lbs. Nobody else caught anything for some reason at all.

Well now, our newest and biggest sponsor ever. Welcome aboard! -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global Moderator

First win of the year! gardnerjigman and I teamed up for 14lbs 11ozs and I caught the big bass at 4lbs 14ozs. They were slamming my bladed jigs, which is always a good time. Took us about 30 minutes to get a fish, which feels like an eternity in a 2.5 hour weeknight tournament. Then I got my heart broke by a 5lb channel cat that slammed the bait 15' from the boat. Finally got on them good in the very back of one of the main lake arms in less than 2' of water. Both my bigger fish were right on the bank in less than a foot and hit the bait almost instantly. The biggest fish had a massive gizzard shad tail sticking out of her throat. I fished a few different colors but 2 of them were by far my best producers. Had a few on a spinnerbait also but nothing that got weighed in. \ The big girl fell for Bream with a Zman Diesel MinnowZ in Houdini Our other two biggest fish choked the T-rock with a black and blue YUM swim 'N dinger on the back. Coty snagged a massive grass carp with his bladed jig for a few seconds, looked like a scene from Swamp People with muddy water and weeds flying everywhere when it exploded the surface when the hook dug in, thankfully it popped loose. Had a massive 18" crappie caught by another team, never seen a crappie that big in person, it was a giant! Second place had 9lbs 7ozs and were both also fishing my bladed jigs. We watched them catch their kicker fish, 4lbs 12ozs. Kind of bittersweet to have someone else doing well with your baits when you're fishing against them

Heard this one today: So fishing with my friend the other day, he catches a big ol' bass, takes it of the hook, reaches down under the seat and pulls out a bottle of whiskey. He takes a shot, swooshes it in his mouth and then spits in the bass' mouth and releases it. This continued on for quite awhile. Finally I asked him why he was doing this? He replied by saying, "when I let the bass go, he is going to go tell the other fish that he was caught and not to bite, but they won't believe him if he is drunk."

Simple, diameter and shock absorbing qualities. If you backlash with a 1oz bait on a good cast with 30lb braid, it's GOING to snap. Not maybe, GOING TO. You start upping that to 2, 3, 5oz baits it only serves to magnify the distance with which your bait is gonna travel without your line attached to it.

4" Swing Impact on a 1/4oz Bullet Head catches everything that eats other fish.

That is Such a TOAD of a Bass ~ ! A-Jay

They work on lake trout too.

Nice ~ Go Big or Go Home . . . . . A-Jay

I have the E6X 845C CBR 7' MH MF. I used it briefly so far. It is very light weight & balances nicely with a Curado I. It transmits vibration well so you know how your crankbait is working or not. I think it's a good rod for the price based on my experience. I caught a 7.5lb bass on it and it handled that fish fine. Mine is rated up to 1 oz baits but I was lob casting a LC SKT Mag MR on it which weighs 1.5 oz.

Wait a minute, 2 of the Arkansas bodies of waters are named "Peckerwood lake" & "Nimrod lake"? Either that link is an April Fools joke or my appreciation of Arkansas humor has grown threefold...

He ain't the only one with that many.

Just pick a program you'll finish.

Finally!!!! After a couple of months of cabin fever and sick of watching DVR'd fishing shows, I finally got out on the water. Went out with my dad last Saturday to fish the strip pits - surface temps were below 50°F. Fished 3/8oz. jig & craws and it was painfully slow, not that I expected it to be on fire seeing how the ice had only been off about a week at most. Did manage to stick this 4lb 5oz later in the day. It hit on the initial fall, as most of these fish typically do. I believe the air temps were in the upper 50's last Saturday and I'm planning on going back to the same pit today - highs aren't supposed to get over 40 today, so we'll see if the insulated bibs still fit and if Mrs. Fatbottom is in a mood to tangle with Mr. Jigncraw or not..... Pics:

Wow! That is dedication! Would love to see a pic of those beauties! Jeff

I have used them since I was 15. Still loving them today. The Black with 2x yellow stripes was a killer at my In-laws farm pond. Beetle Spin, Tube Spin, grub spin, and Mepps Aglia 3 & 4 are beauty...because they can be fished so slowly yet still stay up off the vegetation and snags. When the fish are hitting slow or the water is cold, slow is gold. For a while, I had a hard time finding the 1/4 & 1/2 oz versions for bass...only the smaller crappie version...so I started making tube spins. I use a brown 3.5" Berkeley Powerbait tube with either an 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig head and a gold Betts jig spinner #4. (FYI...don't use the BPS jig spinners. They are trash. The plating chips off instantaneously, and they rust extremely fast!! Use Bett's when building your own.) This has become a deadly bait for my local bank fishing. Now that I've found the 1/4 & 1/2 oz beetle spins again...I still go to my tube spinners often. Heck...I've even made a 2.25" mini version of my tube spinner for my light tackle setup for when the bass aren't biting. I can use them to catch smaller bass and Panfish. To add to this...the other day, it was 44 degrees, raining, murky water, and crappy out. I used a smaller 1/8 oz beetle spin (white with red dot) and got a 19.5" fatty. Small baits can produce nice fish in adverse conditions. This was my replacement until I could find full size ones back in stock. I made gold and silver, but gold seemed to produce more. The weedless wire jig head was a good idea, tricky to rig through a tube, but fairly ineffective in avoiding under water limb snags. Don't waste your time with them.

I found one of that sized jitterbugs in my grandpas tackle box and took it up the street to my local pond just to see how it worked. This pond has small fish so I wasn't expecting much. Start throwing it around and bam huge explosion, I wait a second, set the hook... then I bring in an 8........ inch bass. the trebles were so big on this bait one treble could barely fit in this things mouth. This pond it is a miracle to catch a bass 12 inches but was super excited when I got bit.

I know there are 7 lb. smallmouth swimming in Quabbin Reservoir . . . If it's not asking too much I'd like to catch one on one of the jigs or blade baits I've made.

My second day of the season, yesterday, 4/1/15. The numbers aren't growing, but the fish are. This one was a shade over 20". Weight? I don't know, didn't have my scale. I'm guessing maybe 4#. Feel free to make a guess. I won't dispute any of them. Both picture are the same fish. Hootie

I throw mine on a 7'6" MH/Fast action and a 7.X:1 gear ratio.

As long as the water is wet, jerkbaits of all flavors and types will work.

Interesting, while on standby duty aboard USS Nimitz, @ St.Thomas,V.I. We left around 1500 sailors on the beach. Cuba had taken a coast guard vessel that apparently broke down, drifting into Cuban waters.. I suppose they thought they would take it hostage, Uh, not under our watch! We steamed & were loading Phenix missiles & sidewinders while in port! F-14's were ready one mile outta port.. We sent a small attack force. Cuba released the vessel quite quickly.. We were back in port in a few short hours. Reagan didn't play.

Slow ticking grass or the bottom. I fished the rig with Big O using an Eliminator for the trailer. We trimmed the sides so it looked like a long eel. I also fish it with the Rage Structure Bug and skirt removed with a Cut-R, tail down.

I was watching some fishing shows and one came up on punching.... 2 hours later I have a TW order for 160$ on the way for a bunch of punching gear along with steel and tungsten weights for plastics. I am weak!

Yessir. Custom ROFs too

We did it! Still hasn't sunk in yet, but My Hubby (Fishing Cowboy) and I, won Anglers of the Year in our tournament trail. It was a close race going into the final tournament on Saturday, with us 1 point ahead of 2nd and 2 points ahead of 3rd. It is such a great club, of 27 more or less teams. Saturday was the make it or break it and Fishing Cowboy couldn't fish it with me, because he was hired by the PRCA to work in the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. The race was on for more than a month to find a partner to fish with me. It seemed everyone had another tournament, or other commitment. We found Austin, a son of one of the other club members, who could. fish with me. But on Saturday, we all meet at a Restaurant to eat and draw which lake we fish. (No exemptions, 14" minimum, only one over 22" per angler.) But Austin didn't show up until after the 5 AM drawing time and everyone was figuring I would fishing solo and offered to help with launching the boat. I would just say, put my head down and fish. (Some ramps are pretty small). But he showed and we had a great time! We had a large lead over 4th place and knew we just had to catch a better bag than the the other two teams. What a great year and great club. From freezing cold, soggy rain days, 100 degree days, stormy days where the wind and rain was blowing so hard, trying to get back to the ramp, we weren't the only team running through areas and saying we"didn't remember seeing those Shiner poles before!" Me throwing my "oh why not baits", from what the director called a "crackhead looking worm" to an Ospry nearing dropping a bass on my head, bird's getting tangled in the line, gator fights by the boat, me hand lining in a 4 lber because the line wrapped around the eyes of my rod, to falling out of the boat going after a rod, (me again). I think that is just the bonus parts of being able to fish. The scenery, camaraderie, and pitting yourself against the fish. I guess it will sink in next month at the Classic when we get the plaques and jackets. http://weekendwarriorsbassclub.net/

Congrats man! Nothin like being able to drive your self to all the local ponds!

My favorite jerk is the olive colored xrap, which IMO imitates a distressed baby bass when fished fast. Something every pond has! Usually half or more of the bass I hook are hooked outside the mouth with jerks. They like to hit the bait broadside when it walks sideways in front of them, and they get stuck on the side or bottom of the mouth. This is why extremely sharp hooks are crucial when jerking.

This is a very well made lure.

That is so awesome! Bank fishing strikes again.......

Amazing fish!

What he said! Where in GA where you? Drop me a PM if you prefer to keep it on the down-low.

Sorry about that...lol. I'll get better for sure. I'm really not mean. In fact, I'm a heck of a nice guy. Just ask my wife....wait, don't ask her. Oh,...the old man part,...there's not a thing I can do about that...lol. Hootie

Every year come Lobster season, the FWC and marine patrol start posting up in the channels to pull over and randomly check boats for bringing back short lobster. It's a horrible pain in the butt. Especially with the less experienced boat operators. People get irritated, aggressive, and down right mean with the officers. And I love the fact that they're doing it. I have nothing wrong with them taking a few moments out of my day to inspect my safety gear and the legality of my catch. There have been some major busts over the years because of it. Programs like that are what we pay for. They help keep the fisheries intact, as well as help with the safety and education of all boaters. I for one have never had a bad experience with any of the officers on the water down here. If you're polite and patient with them, they generally are in return.

I just added a similar post except it was at www.sierratradingpost.com and it was for the smaller spools, 275 yards and with a coupon, it is right around $5. I never tried the stuff but i was ordering a few other things so i figured i would give it a whirl.

I have no idea what having a bad day on the water due to tackle has to do with the spawn??

Bait monkey is not happy with what he sees;

I always use the wind like a trolling motor. When it's really windy I use it like an outboard.

Darkness covers up an angler's presence and most of all his mistakes! Fish the same baits, the same locations, and techniques you would during the day. My best trip ever with a Drop Shot was at night. The only thing different I add to my repertoire at night is a Q-Beam! Give special attention to night lighted areas; lighted docks, lighted boat ramps, a row of camps with lights along the bank or a single camp with a light near the water. Shallow vs deep; I have not noticed a distinct advantage one way or the other. I will normally fish both areas thoroughly staying with the one that produces the best results. However shallow water does offer a greater opportunity to use different techniques.

The list of factors that make Night Time Bass Fishing Operations attractive to me is long & varied. In no particular order: the lake is usually empty, the winds are usually less than during the day, the bass are often a little shallower, Top water baits are pretty good at night, the bigger bass are often a less wary under the cover of darkness, a spinnerbait is like magic, and to key in on the present for you personally - a moon burn is highly unlikely but do bring insect repellent. As for tips & techniques - fish the same type of productive water & baits you have success with during the day. However, drop shots, & super finesse stuff may not be necessary at night. Fish places you know well, wear a PFD, tell someone where you'll be & when to expect you home. Bring at least Two Lights (headlamps work well). Keep your gear & boat deck neat clean & organized or you'll find that loose plug stuck some where bad. Have Fun and bring a camera with a flash . . . Good Luck A-Jay

Well my fishing marathon has unfortunately come to an end , it was a good time though. Started it off at Melvern with Dad. Windier than they said it would be by at least double, supposed to be 7mph, but I've never seen 7mph wind make white caps. I was just hoping for a fish, any fish. Didn't take long before I caught one and a few more across the dam. Dad got his first one by the support post of the outlet/inlet, to my surprise it was a chunky largemouth, and he actually caught another largemouth a couple cast later. One of my smallies off the dam was nearly square, 16.5" and 2lbs 13ozs. We ran to a spot up the lake and got several more smallmouth, a few whites, a walleye, and a couple largemouth, including this one that was 4lbs 7ozs which is my second largest from Melvern. All the smallies (and most the fish for that matter), were busting at the seams. Sunday Nicole and I went to Shawnee. It was tougher than anticipated but we still got some trout, a bunch of bluegill, a few bass, and Nicole caught a drum. I managed to sight fish a little golden rainbow with a micro jig under a bobber. It took a lot of trying and swapping out spools on her reel but Nicole finally caught her first fish from the new boat. Her mom's boyfriend wanted some fish to eat so we brought them 6 trout home, yuck.

The benefits far outweigh the negatives of home ownership. Tax write offs and appreciation are just a couple of the benefits. If you can swing a small house over a condo I would recommend that. condo's don't appreciate as quickly as a house does, and if it's a fixer upper that you can make repairs to over time you'll make money on it when it comes to sell and upgrade.

As a Rangers fan, well I can only hope that they don't finish in the cellar.

Monday I was back at Melvern, someone had turned the switch on. Lots of them like this. Then my jerkbait got trucked by this tank, 4.5 pounds. Then this happened. I've had them chase my bait but never actually try to eat it, released unharmed and hopefully a little more wary. Seems early in the year to be talking about football? Oh, and there was some walleye on the dam I guess. After a good anti zebra mussel spray down, I was on Lone Star Tuesday morning. Water was dirty, weeds have exploded, and junk floating everywhere, fishing was tough. I had one good one to the boat on a bladed jig but it came off while I was playing with it trying to get it to jump. Caught a fish here and a fish there but no good pattern other than a bladed jig and jerkbait were about all I could get bit on. Got to the dam and was about to call it quits when I got hit by a fish that was noticeably bigger than anything else I'd hooked. Gave me a heck of a tussle on my jerkbait rod before finally coming to the net. My first Lone Star wiper ever was 6lbs 4ozs. A few cast later I decided to do it again, only bigger. Never seen a fish eat a jerkbait to the point that I couldn't see it. 3ozs shy of tying my PB for wipers. Even managed to get a video of a portion of the fight.

I occasionally see them in my garage in PA. I love to take my grill starter torch & light them up.

All sizes work. If your predominate bait is small minnows use the smaller size. If you have bigger bait fish use the regular size or the mag size. Try & match the forage size.