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Finally finished up a few near identical twins!

Last week, I missed a big fish in a tiny pond that I never would have guessed was capable of producing a big fish. This week, I went back armed with my swimbait rod and box. I can literally cast across the pond in any direction from where I was standing. I combed the water with a Dep's 175 first, no dice. Last week she crushed a 5" Stick O that I was reeling in to make another cast right as it broke the surface. With that in mind, I switched to my trusty 7" Slammer. I did several slow straight retrieves with no interest. There's one spot where there's a big laydown and the roots of a big tree growing out into the water so I pitched my Slammer over them. I let it deadstick for probably close to a full minute before I gave it a couple twitches, BAM!! The water erupted! After a brief but intense battle, she was in my grasp. It's been a slow year for swimbaits, especially for big fish, but this one makes up for all the days I've thrown them with no interest. I didn't have a tape, but she rang up at 6 pounds even on the scales. Felt good to get my redemption after the near miss last week. I fished for another half hour but I felt like I'd accomplished what I came for so I decided to pack it in, but not before catching another future pig

Put the Daiwa PXL-R on my new LTB 68MXF. I added blue dress up parts from Hedgehog Studios. And, as shown in a previous post, my new dropshot setup. Love this combo so much!

Short answer... maybe. In my experience, most of the time, The bigger bass are elsewhere. Sometimes you do have to leave fish to find bigger fish. If all I'm catching is smaller fish, I'm gone to look for the big gals.

Went up to Minnesota for the weekend and 3 hours in the morning on Monday. Was expecting the water temps to be 60 degrees and was quite surprised to see it read 49 degrees. I have never been up there after early September so I really had no idea what to expect. First 3 hours I snagged a northern, caught two more northern, and had one of them snip off my lure. I was a bit nervous and was not quite sure that the bass would bite. So I pulled out of the coves, secondary coves, and culverts, and fished a different depth at the main lake. As I was trying to pull my jig out of a weed line, the weed line started to move...it was a giant bass, had him on and then he pulled and came unbuttoned. While of course I was upset for missing him, I was quite happy that I was on to something. A few casts later, I caught a 4 lb 15 ounce bass. Then I found a point that was loaded with big bass. Pulled off the point for a little bit and started having an incredible time. Ended up camping on two points for the whole day throwing the jig and rapala shad rap. Was by myself so there may have been better lures to use at certain times but I was having great success. It was incredible fishing. Every fish was fat, energetic (not jumping though) and would bite super softly. Here was a list of my 4 pounders: 4.3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 4.8, 4.10, 4.10, 4.11, 4.15, and 4.15. Here was my top 5: 4 lbs 15 ounces 5 pounds 0 ounces 5 pounds 9 ounces 5 pounds 10 ounces, 6 pounds even Total 5 fish limit was 27 pounds 2 ounces. Not bad for Minnesota! Went out the next day to another lake. Fished for a few hours but was blown off the lake and batteries eventually died. Jig did nothing, shad rap for the win ripped over grass. Top 5 were a 4.0, 4.3, 4.7, 4.9, and 6.1 6 pounds 1 ouncer Went out the last morning for 3 hours since I needed time to charge the batteries before I made my 7 hour drive back to Wisconsin. Had an incredible morning. Was able to pinpoint the bite a bit quicker than prior. Fished slow and things just worked out. Top fish were 4.0, 4.3, 4.7, 4.13, 5.1, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2. Total 5 fish limit 27 pounds 8 ounces. Another great 27 pound bag. The fish were super active still but it was time to go. Great weekend. Will definitely plan a longer trip next fall. 4 pounds 13 ounces 5 pounds 1 ounce 5 pounds 7 ounces 6 pounds 1 ounce and 6 pounds 2 ounces Fishing is such an incredible thing. Minnesota fishing is truly something else. Shimmy

So what you're saying is I should buy the item with the lower price? Interesting concept.

Rods aren't evolving as much as you are behind the times. You're getting closer to getting this action/power thing figured out though.

Shimano on a Daiwa...Because I can I've been using a Core 100 on my dock skipping rod for a while (and a Curado 100B prior) but wanted to try something a little different so I treated myself to this Scorpion DC. Figured I should pick one up before they are gone, they won't be around forever...Right? -Shimano Scorpion DC 6.3 -Gen1 Daiwa Zillion, 6'9" MH/XF

If you ask any Elite bass pro who is the best pro angler with a drop shot rig the answer would be Aaron Martens. Aaron won AOY in 2015 earlier this year than anyone else has ever accomplished winning the AOY. Hint....go online and watch Aaron's drop shot seminars and vedio's. Tom

I sold my LTD and the next day grabbed this one after i regretted putting the LTD up for sale. Hate the knobs, but that's an easy fix! Oh and got a heck of a deal on it too!!

I've always been baffled as to why so many put their boats away so early. I know there's a lot of people up here who start winterizing things right after Labor Day weekend. There's still a ton of time to fish, not to mention fall is one of the best times to catch some of the biggest fish of the year. This year I've been lucky enough to do just that. Although our fall hasn't been really warm, it's been consistent. What's more, the night time temp hasn't been dropping out enough to cool the water significantly from week to week. The last two weekends the water temps have been hovering in the low 50's and has made for some good fishing. I haven't been doing tremendous numbers wise, but what I've given up in quantity, I've more than made up for in quality. Most fish have been falling for a crankbait, but a jerkbait and jig have also brought in some good fish. Here's the highlights of the last two weekends:

I'll be on the road EARLY tomorrow morning. Going to be a long drive but at least it's through some areas of the country I've never seen before. Looking forward to meeting some new folks.

In this digital life we now live in , there is no reason to not be doing your HW and checking comparable prices. Kind of goes without saying doesn't it?

Everybody has the right to be wrong and we respect that.

Nah, nobody's gonna pay any attention to ya! Hootie

I saw his post earlier before anyone commented on it. I think Bill might be sippin' the hooch.

Another vote for the 75X squarebill. Seems to work, catch fish...

Pond fishing could be really fun or devastating. There is a local pond I fish at when I can only go out for 1-2 hours, and someday I can pull out 10-15 bass within an hour or I get no bite at all. I have found down size your lure really helps, and I am talking about using inline spinners or 3 inch grubs. Fish relatively shallow and don’t stay on the edge of the bank, You might spook the fish if you are too close to the water, I am at least 2-3 feet back when I am casting. Ninety percent of the time, I just bring a pack of plastics and few hooks. No need to bring the entire artisanal when you are fishing a pond. At least for me, reaction bites doesn’t work so well for me in a pond.

There are a few different methods for determining how much braid to spin on a casting reel. Here's two : 1). Fill your reel with your backing. Then make a long cast, from there you pull off more mono of a length equal to the length of that cast. Now cut the mono there and attach the braid (uni to uni knot works well). Now fill the reel with braid. You'll end up with a length of braid that is close to two casts - completely sufficient and economical. You could even retain the extra mono to use a leader if that's the way you're going. Also when it's time to replace the braid you'll only need to remove back to the knot and them re-fill, Easy. 2). Fill the entire spool with briad. Braid does wear some over time depending on your useage & the conditions you fish it. When it's time, simply "end for end" the line on your reel so that the bottom line on the spool becomes the top and you're good to go with fresh line. Hope that helps btw - I do like a glass rod with braid for some cranking - they compliment each other very nicely. A-Jay

Warning. When you buy your first 110, you're done. Within a few years (or sooner) you'll look into that 3700 and all that'll be laying in there are 110's and their variants. You'll be scouring the internet for colors, ordering customs, etc. Years ago it was the Husky Jerk, then the Pointer 100 came along. Both of which are great baits too, but man, they ain't a 110........ Just saying.

Hootie, I knew people wouldn't be able to resist

Why would you rip hooks out of a fishes mouth? The soft flex of an ultra light rod will soften the hook sets. No need to use a huge hook set with braid. Just a short, firm set will do the trick. No stretch will be a nice improvement over the stretchy light mono.

Typically I do not fish a rattle. About the only time I do would be muddy water or night I will give it a go if a standard jig is not working.

The 6.1 I caught right before the 8. Broke my PB twice in less than an hour!

Talk to her about a personal budget for both of you. Neither of you should need the other's permission for occasional small purchases.

Fun combo I'm pleased with the k2. Handle assembly/ reel seat is clean and much nicer and a little less "chaotic" than what I've come to expect from phenix. Blank as most of you know is excellent

Got my personal best largemouth last weekend at lake trinity ca on a 10xd! 8 lbs even! Gut: Not the combo I caught her on but a new favorite: phenix k2 7'1 ml/ shimano sustain 2500. Fisherrw making her look like a 12:

Sweet toad, nothing like a swimbait bass

What a fattie! Bulging eyes... Congrats!

Congrats on a nice catch.

I leave at O-Dark-Thirty on Friday morning. I'll see ya There! Safe travels, everybody.

Nice fish! Lol, It's hard to take a selfie with a 6 lber, good problem to have.

Gratz

I have fished jigs with and without rattles. I have better luck without the rattles.

I fish in very muddy water most of the time. I bought a large quantity of Stanley rattling jigs in various weights last year... they have twin rattles hanging from the collar. I like 'em! Tight lines, Bob

Yes I always use rattles. Most jig rattles are very subtle anyway compared to a crankbait and not constant noise, which I like. I wouldn't want my jig sounding like a crankbait or anything.

A fleeing Baitfish makes a rattle noise they say. Or a clicking noise. I don't know if it's a warning to the other fish but it's a dinnerbell to the bass. I have stopped my bomber model A CRANKBAIT in red Apple craw over submerged weeds in the open pockets and just twitched it. Just twitch it a little so it almost stays in one spot. They come up to hit it most of the time. It has a different tone with bb sized balls. Seeing this rattles work.

I bought micro rattles off ebay that are intended for fly Fishing. I put them on a couple of my skirtless football jigs by melting a ballpoint pen cap around it. Works well, but not a huge difference maker. Made of out boredom more than necessity.

Great fish and great pics! Love the eyes on the big gal!

Nice fish

That's a good looking bug-eyed chubby bass.

As I mentioned I'm looking at the IKE series rods Abu Garcia is making. The rods looks great in the pics, not many reviews.. I took a shot and bought one this morning.

Good fish, way to go.

Those eyes! Matt

You can use it, but it may not perform ideally for jerkbaits. I prefer an XF action for jerks.

I voted wrong. But to tell the truth, CA's laws are so stupid I'd disobey most of them whenever I could get away with it. That state's elected officials have decided to screw the entire state into the ground forever. They always choose the stupidest, least logical, most expensive option and put the pedal to the metal.

I use Google translate. It translated a Japanese Diawa manual for me enough to understand what I needed.

There's a rebel hump back crank?? I think there gold finish looks great

The old Rebel minnow with the thatch work pattern on the side. I have snetched many up off ebey. Them things are killers.