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Picked up 10 jigs from mike and they came in this week. also picked up a ton of new swimbaits and trailers for them maybe i will get some pics up later tonight i think there were 16 bags total. top to bottom left then right: 1/4 oz fogy chartreuse shad with a silver black head 3/8 oz fogy bloody shad with silver black head 3/8 oz fogy bluegill with watermelon pepper head 3/8 oz fogy pumpkin seed with pumpkin head 3/8 oz swim jig green pumpkin gold purple with green pumpkin head 1/2 oz dredge brush grasshopper with watermelon pepper head 1/2 oz dredge brush alabama bug with candy purple head 1/2 oz dredge brush blue bug with blue sapphire head 1/2 oz dredge brush sweet craw with green pumpkin head 3/8 oz swim jig bloody shad with silver black head also got some skirts in blue craw, bama craw, watermelon red, alimony and smoked jelly

There's still a ton of really good fishing left in this season. Numbers of very respectable and maybe an extra large bass mixed in. Just have to get out there. Not looking ahead just yet. A-Jay

As the waters cool off up here in the northern mid-west, one of my favorite techniques comes back into play - Blade Baits. The air & water might be cool or even down right cold - but the blade bite can be Smoking Hot ! Up until recently, my success with this technique was marginal at best. A few years ago I watched the attached video trying to gain some insite as to why I was not getting the results I expected. Mr Scott Dobson's approach to fishing these baits was a GAME CHANGER. The less is best deal Really worked for me - A fairly weed free clean bottom of sand or gravel really helps here. If you have the right conditions and haven't tried this yet, or have but would like to give it another shot, watch this clip. Reproduce this technique the best you can and have the net, scale & camera rolling. You'll be glad you did. A-Jay

I ordered a St. Croix spinning rod over their website last week. I'm super stoked that it finally came in today. It's a 6' 10" medium xtra fast Rage rod. This is my second Rage. I needed a good rod for finesse applications and some other stuff. I love my other Rage, a 6' 8" casting rod, and St. Croix's selling them of for $89 a piece. I had to snag it up because it's such a great rod at such a good price. So I'm very glad the rod came. I also got a free hat, which was a plus. I can't wait to try this baby out. WOOHOO!!!!

I've fished over 65 years. Ran a sporting goods store for awhile. Down in Louisiana, fishing , for ME, I came to realize, was NEVER about catching fish. It's the total synergistic experience, a revitalization process in my life. It is a time of relaxation, enjoying the beautiful bayous and swamps. I HAVE caught a lot of fish while enjoying myself, also. There is an analogy to riding my motorcycles. We are ONE , me and the bike. There is that perfect moment when all meshes and the bike is an extension of you. Same with fishing rods and reels. There is that pride of ownership, and that perfect moment when you and the rod and reel are one. It becomes a joy! Catching fish is not really in the equation. I've bought a lot of gear, but will eventually ( read NOW) keep what makes me smile when I use it. Some things that make me smile: Dobyns DC702C matched with a Steez 103. Airy Red Pixy on a Jackson Trickster. Megabass IP73C on a X4 Cyclone. NRX 893 with 2015 Aldebaran. Megabass Zonda 10 on a X4 Hedgehog. Megabass Ip79 on an X4 Black Elseil. These are works of art that I put in the boat. Many times I'm casting each one just because I like the way it feels. What those have in common is they are EFFORTLESS to use. Like artists brushes. When the end comes I'll probably leave these to the grandkids as a legacy. So to answer the question: no, I chose this path because it makes ME happy , and I would not changes a thing. But then, I've always been known to be a little "strange."

And if the bass aren't hungry you will catch something on a blade. Bluegill, perch, trout, walleye, catfish.......when it's cold enough to fish a blade I don't care what's biting

This is right in my wheelhouse! Thanks for posting this video! I've been making my own blade baits for years, and IMHO they're among the most versatile (and overlooked) baits. I fish them from the bank a lot (exclusively these days) and A-Jay is right on the money. Stay away from brush and timber or you WILL hang 'em up. One thing I do on the baits that I make - I use an open-shank double hook with the points facing backwards. No split rings, I just clip the hook in the hole in the lure. This cuts down on the snags considerably. Tom

You may find more success if you consider the following: Do the fish know you're there? Bass are easily spooked by the presence of large moving bodies above the water. -Try not to cast a shadow over the areas you want to fish -Wear muted colors that blend with the surroundings, green, or camouflage work well -Walk softly the Bass can feel your movement the same way they can feel a Lipless crank bait's vibrations through their lateral line -If you're moving along a focus most of your casts in the direction of your movement, not behind you. How many other people fish this spot? Pressured fish are more critical on presentation, and line visibility -Try to avoid making large splashes when presenting a bait to cover pitch or flip when possible -Downsize your line most ponds can be fished effectively with 8lb mono -Try something that they may not have seen; try a Neko rig with a high flotation worm Do the conditions match your technique? Fish tend to key in on particular colors or presentations during various conditions -Note the water Clarity use more natural colors in clearer water -How is the lighting/light penetration? If the water is shaded or it's overcast try darker colors which create a better silhouette in contrast to the sky -What's the wind doing? if the wind is not blowing or blowing lightly try top water, if your fishing a storm or heavy winds up-size weights and fish submerged or bottom -Cast into the wind or against the current fish will typically align themselves to swim into the current/wind and hide behind any current breaks that are available -Wind also effects the positioning of bait-fish as it churns the water on the windblown banks and increase oxygen and food supply in those areas What were you doing when you caught your fish? Developing a pattern is a great way to find more fish! -Where was your bait in relation to cover? -How fast were you fishing? -How deep? How did the fish react to your presentation? Observation of hook placement gives you clues about the fishes attitude towards your bait -How did the fish react? Was it a hard hit or did he just pick it up? -Was the fish hooked deep in the mouth? Good sign the bait your using is being treated as food, or you waited too long to set the hook. -Just barely on the lip? The fish may have been attempting to move your bait off a bed, or kill and not eat it. -Foul hooked? Maybe try a different presentation, bait, or add a trailer hook. Wow this ended up being a lot longer than I planed. Hope it helps!

For me - once my casts start to Bounce - Yea, then it's pretty much over right there. A-Jay

Depends where you are. Florida they can start as early as November and go on into March spawning more than once.

Downsize for quality over quantity. Had about 36 outfits. Down to about 25 right now. Working on getting that number to around 20.

A Jig. A-Jay

To be honest, if I had only been on that job for a month, I would have shown up sick and let the boss send me home (or not). Tight lines, Bob

LOL

My a$$ is heading up to the freak n tundra to chill with the Eskimos. LOL Flying at 4 am Saturday to a distributor show in Winnipeg Canada-Last time I went last Oct -it was still warm here -up there -all the leaves were down- I got invited to go to Lake Of The Woods fishing for 2 days. This is named the Premier Trophy Lake of North America.. Hopefully we get on em good. Going up trying to catch some world class smallies-Pike -Musky and Walleyes. Im bringing my Giant Roland Martin Spinnerbaits-Shakey Heads and swimbaits. Going to try some Cavitrons as well. I will post pics as soon as I get on the water.

Can't the builder recommend appropriate options? Grip and seat are very personal preferences key to a true custom. What someone else likes or not may be of little help. Split seats are a good example. They're a love or hate it proposition in large part. What are the build details?

Since you are a beginner, I would actually suggest limiting yourself to just a couple baits/presentations. This way you can become familiar and build confidence with them. For only 2.5 hours, I feel that you switched lures too fast to work them properly. Try taking that chigger craw and a moving bait of your choice like a spinner-bait or topwater and only use those the entire time you are there. Then the next time you are out, use two different baits to slowly familiarize yourself with them. Eventually you will figure out when each one works better than the others. As for changing spots, that can be tricky, for now stay efficient and cover water, hit high percentage targets, then move on. Don't be afraid to revisit spots like you said, fish move in and out. Also, when it comes to bass fishing, remember a lot of bass will be right up on that shoreline so cast close and make parallel casts to get them. When it comes to hooksets, since you are not used to them, when ever you feel a bite or feel a fish is on, reel in slack if there is any, then let it rip. For now it will be better to set the hook too hard rather than not enough as you are learning, you will eventually dial it in.

Was up on Ossippee last weekend and the water temps were a consistent 66. The weekend before, the lakes on the MA/NH border were 74ish but falling fast.

For some reason I insist on using a San Diego jam knot for all of my fluorocarbon too, but truth be told I have one exception. I fish a drop shot, usually on 6lb fluoro, and I always use a palomar knot to tie it. The palomar has never been an issue for that. Fluorocarbon can also be pretty brittle, and little nicks in the line can become very weak. I lost 1 good fish before I started checking the line frequently for nicks/abrasion.

I am consistently amazed at how small a fish will swallow a 7/0 worm hook. Every time I bust one out with a 10" worm I end up with a 1lb bass with a spear sticking out of its head.

Ravens v steelers... That was a good deep ball by vick that brown just flat out dropped for a TD.

She can operate the front of the boat. The views are better from the back of the boat anyway.

Just reading this thread has exhausted me. I am going to bed.

i married too soon......

SIX DAYS of First Launching and then Grinding in a Lucky Craft SKT Magnum 120 Mag DR Crankbait got my attention. Especially in the 105 degree heat of the Mexican Summer Sun . . . . A-Jay

Why do you guys keep replying when the OP posts are obviously not intended to give advise, share what he's learned, or just join in a conversation? It seems to me the intent is to elicit a reaction, sit back and giggle..Nothing else. I left the playground years ago. Done here Mike

I wouldn't have any spinning outfits save 1 for trout in winter.

If I could do it all over again, I would have bought higher end stuff sooner.

One word: smallmouth!

What he said. I went from cheap combos, to moderate combos, to high priced combos. For the most part, higher price comes higher quality components and fun factor.

Yeah, if anything I would do the opposite. I would have saved a little longer and bought better stuff. I have nice stuff now but I went through a period where I was worried more about adding rods and reels than adding the best quality rods and reels I could afford. It cost me more money in the long run.

Had an hour to kill after school, the rain was dumping so the current was picked up in the river and fish were holding by runoff creeks. caught 8 on a chatterbait, these two were the biggest.

What, in your opinion, are the most physically demaning lures or techniques? I guess I would say the larger deep diving crankbaits and jerkbaits. Both leave my forearms and wrists worn out and sore after a few hours-especially jerkbaits. I'd fish them more if I wasn't so beat up by them.

BPS Stik o worms 7 1/4" Does anyone use these? They are the largest senko type bait there is. You do need bigger hooks. My story is I took them fishing without looking at them. I figured they were just longer. I was wrong. I put the biggest hook I had with me and casted it out. My c-rig was almost to shore at the drop off. I seen a very large bass with my stick o in his mouth he was that close. I prayed, waited and prayed some more before setting the hook. Remember the small hook I had. Well I finally tried setting the hook and she spit it. She waved her tail at me as my new state record swam off. I wasn't mad, broken hearted maybe. This big record bass is what some fish for and I was ready to lip grab her. On the other hand it's a good feeling to see them up close yet so far away. The bass won on that day. I never expected the stick o worms to be that big in diameter. Just want to pass on lessons learned. I'm better prepared ever since. Check and assemble your plastics before we go fishing. I now go up one hook size larger in my plastics. My catch rate hasnt changed from the smaller hook. The bigger hook doesn't scare them away. Just some food for thought. Hook size go larger. My motto is big bait big bass. Don't be afraid to upside you baits.

I use use Gama's 7/0 or the VMC in 7/0. I have also used the Pumpkin ED 3/8 shakey head with 6/0 wide gap for a totally different presentation. I've caught some good ones on it!

A couple weeks back I was fishing one of my favorite smallmouth lakes, tossing a Ned rig on a 6' 10" ML/XF St. Croix LTB spinning rod when I set the hook on a fish and the hood on my foregrip popped loose and slid up the rod. I was pretty disappointed as it's one of my favorite rods as well as one I use a lot on this lake but it was done at that point. Not a big deal though because I knew I could get home and ship it to St. Croix and get it replaced. Got back and shipped the rod out with my check to replace it. A week later I got a letter in the mail from St. Croix to call them because there was an issue with my claim and I'd sent no contact information minus my address So I called and spoke with Vicky at customer service. Long story short, she went on to explain that they'd received my check and explanation of what the issue was, but the cap was missing off one end of the tube and there was no rod inside I'm not going to say I think that someone at FedEx stole my rod out of the tube, but I dropped it off at their store with both ends capped and duct taped shut with enough tape to keep a rabid honey badger from being able to get out, it didn't just fall out. So she gets my information she needs and says she'll talk to her manager and see what they're going to do and give me a call back. I was just sure I was going to get a call back to tell me that I'd have to pay the replacement fee like you do if you break a rod and want it replaced when it's your fault, something I just don't have the money to do right now. Much to my relief I received a call back 20 minutes later and was informed they'd be replacing the rod like I had originally intended for them to I knew they have great customer service, but I also understand they had no obligation to replace my rod at that point, doing so was going above in beyond in my book. Makes me really glad that most of the rods I own are St. Croix

Flipping big 1-2oz weights in heavy cover all day can put a hurting on you if you ain't used to it!

The pump out "outlet" would be above the water line, to prevent siphoning. If what you see near the plug has a screen, it is undoubtably an intake for the pump or gravity feed, both for filling the live well. Screens are almost always removable for cleaning. Sounds to me you need someone experienced to help you onsite. Anyone close by to give the man a helping hand?

I do not fish beds, let them breed we need the fry. Some states open there season after the spawn. For me the best fishing is post spawn. The bass fry feed the food chain so the more there is the better. Bash me if you want but my hot spots remain full of bass. I'm thinking about the future generations of fisherman. I'm sorry but my older brother my mentor taught me we don't shoot game birds on the ground. Good ethics. Set good examples for others to live by. The bass weren't natural here we had bass hatcherys to keep the population up. These bass hatcherys are dormant today. I hope we never need them again

What a revelation Aldo, big female bass stage near bed sites. Can't wait to learn how to catch these staged pre spawn big bass...... Tom

I've had my Terrova for a year and have had none of the problems you've had. If I did, I'm sure I'd be unhappy too. I upgraded from a Power Drive model and noticed a big improvement on the speed that it turns from the old motor. The turning motor isn't silent, but I never noticed it being loud either. My only complaint with the Terrova is that I use my toe to operate the foot pedal and it's easy to hit one of the turn buttons while trying to use the monentary button. I put a rubber piece on the switch to make it a little taller so I can hit it without turning the motor left or right. I seldom use the remote as I need two hands to fish. I love the low profile foot pedal. I think it's ridiculous to have to put a hole in the deck of a boat to accommodate those huge, tall pedals on a cable steer motor. I switched to electric steer just because of the poorly designed pedals. I've never seen a MotorGuide X15 in operation. I never met anyone who owned one. I'm sure they are perfect and will never break. Glad you are happy with your purchase.

Been doing it for a long time and never had a problem. I fish 80-100 days per year and never turn the thing off from unload to load.

Congrats. Enjoy the new reels.

Congratulations, lineslinger and tight lines! Tom

There, I fixed it as well to add my preferences. but as mentioned, congrats lineslinger.

I guess I didn't win... Congrats!

Fixed that for you. And congratulations to lineslinger. Great thread.

Congrats