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Weather was pretty awful on my days off, to go with really high and muddy water from the several inches of rain we've recently got, but still managed to grind out some nice ones. I do like 1 thing about muddy water, most rods I had out either day was 4. Spinnerbait and jig were doing the most damage, especially on the bigger fish. Got my dad into his first few jig fish ever, including this solid little chunk. Bonus that his store bought jig wasn't working, then he started catching when I gave him one of my homemade jigs.

I've been catching crappies on a 5" wacky rigged stick worm in the neighbors pond lately. Last week they were hitting everything I threw, so much so I got frustrated with catching them and left. Caught crappie on a 1.5, 127 slender pointer, 3/4oz football jig with a Rage lobster, shakyhead, ned rig, spinnerbait, didn't matter they ate it all. I had a guide trip today and got on one of the craziest, funnest bites I've ever found. There was what I thought was wipers blowing up on shad inside the off limits area on a power plant lake, just as far as I could cast a jigging spoon. They were big fish alright, but I was pretty shocked when we started boating blue and channel cats that were busting shad on the surface on jigging spoons. No monsters, I had one 14 pound blue, all the rest were under 10 pounds, but they were some of the hardest, jarring strikes I've ever had and of course the fights were great on bass gear. And of course we had several big drum throughout the day too.

Had a guide trip yesterday and we ended up with my 3rd 100+ fish day of the year. We were catching them so good, I decided to do 2 at a time. If you've never fished the big Shine Glide, it's a killer gizzard shad imitation and the fish crush them.

Very windy out today up here in northern IL. This is the biggest of the day at 2 1/2 pounds SV105 reel, 16# sniper, 7' M/F Helios rod.

We all have those big fish stories.....this time it was my turn. I was fishing last night out of a canoe on a small pond. We had caught a couple dinks, and I decided to try for some topwater action towards the end of the night. I had a fish hit my buzzbait and head out towards the middle of the pond, taking drag. She paused to jump right after getting past the boat and spit my hook. She was so enormous that my best friend thought it was a catfish at first. I've seen a lot of big bass, and have caught a 7.12, but this thing blew any of those fish out of the water. She was enormous. My friend and I both agreed she was probably around 9 pounds - certainly way bigger than a 5 or 6 pounder. I even had a trailer hook on the buzzbait

Picture of grandpa after a day of walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods.

As I am trying to get myself motivated to give my tackle corner a greatly needed cleaning, I find myself thinking "I wanna start over". I am about to begin my third year of bass fishing and only last summer/fall did I really begin to get a handle on things and feel confident. When I would catch a fish I started to understand why I caught it, rather than just chucking a lure in and hoping for the best. I now find myself with piles of lures, mostly plastics, that I am, if I am honest with myself, am never going to use. I have so so many lures that will never see water. And now that I am getting a hang of things and figuring out what styles and techniques I really enjoy and work in my waters, I want to buy more tackle, but it feels silly to do so when I have so much already. I also am so distracted by wanting to try everything that I never get really good at any one thing. So more and more I am thinking about selling everything and starting over. I would keep my rods and reels and the dozen or so "kits" I build in 3600 boxes for grab-n-go trips, but get rid of everything else and, once my kits become depleted, start over just a limited selection of lures to focus on. So like, get rid of the piles of worms I have just buy a few of the "classics" and really learn them, so like buy a two colors of Trick Worms, Culprits, Robos, and Senkos. Just those four worms could keep me busy for an entire season. Same thing with other plastics, just pick a proven brand/color and only fish that until I learn it and develop conference. Hardbaits will be done the same way, a few proven lures/colors. It will be hard to get rid of it all, but if I just pick and choose I will never get rid of anything. I know I will loose a ton of money selling everything off, but I think a more or less fresh start with the bit of knowledge I now have will make me a more focused and productive fisherman. My most productive and enjoyable days are when I bring the least amount of tackle with me, so I think I would really benefit from a refresh. Has anyone ever done something like this? Am I crazy with cabin fever from the currently rainy weather?

...one of those days were you wake up craving for some big bass, go to your favorite lake, and manage to catch almost everything that swims and will bite a lure in that lake... except a bass?

I'll admit it; I'm a tube junkie. I know it isn't a popular bait, but that isn't because it doesn't produce results. Just the opposite, sometimes it'll outproduce other, more conventional, soft plastics. One of those times is when it's rigged on a C-rig and allowed to float off the bottom. There is a way to get all but the smallest tubes to float, even if they don't do so on their own. Poster boards made from pressed styrofoam make for great, small inserts that will float almost any size tube. Just cut a strip about 1/8in. wide. Insert it halfway into the tube of your choice and cut, or break it where it exits the tube body. You can add a drop of super glue to hold it in place, or if you're T-rigging it the hook will hold it in place. This also works great for using a tube as a soft topwater presentation if you ever run out of hollow body frogs, or you want a smaller profile topwater.

Ya really wanna start over? Here's where you need to start! Understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively. Understand what the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night. Understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure. Understand that to consistently catch bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive. Understand the #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

Fishing license for my wife.

At least you know where she is go back!

Well at least you had a witness. Either way, Always a tough pill to swallow ~ And this may not be much of a consolation, but at least the big fish loss was not the result of some kind of tackle failure. Loosing a true Giant because my line or knot fails Really makes me grind my teeth. I end up talking to myself for hours afterwards - which seems OK as long as there's a dog or two around. This experience may will help keep your big fish fire burning though . . . . . . A-Jay

Not... My cave has pegboards and shelves for everything. Then I have a large Plano tackle bag with all the stuff I think I might need. Next is a smaller Plano which contains the tackle I plan to use on a particular day. And finally, my rods are rigged and ready and sometimes I never open the tackle bag.

I was hoping for a Magnum Menace

Similar slack-line snap, but smaller and more rhythmic with walkers, bigger and more erratic with pauses for the jerkbait.

Happy Senko de Mayo everyone!

Hello to the members from far western Massachusetts! I'm an old retired guy (I hold the patent for dust!) who has gotten back into bass fishing after a thirty-year hiatus and wow! Have things changed ... except for those sneaky bass! Retired and have the time to really enjoy fishing so am slowly getting back into it. Acquired a kayak and have spent many relaxing hours modding it to meet my specific requirements. Then I started to acquire my tackle. Man! Has the bass-fishing world changed! Back when I was fishing, if information wasn't passed on, there was no Internet or Bass Resource. The info floodgates have opened. And all these new (to me anyway) techniques, not to mention equipment, boggle my mind. Sheesh! Talk about feeling like a complete beginner! And when I saw the prices of my beloved Shimano reels, they made my hair stand on end! But now I've started over and frankly, thanks primarily to the Internet; Bass Resource; and, to be fair, the Informative Fisherman I am off and running, er ... paddling. Glad to be a member!

What is this all about? I have been on this site for over a decade along with Alpster and we both have low Rep numbers. Looks like Alpster and I need to shank someone on the yard with a spinning reel handle sharpened on the boat ramp. Allen

Good guides.

Slow down the retrieve as you get closer to the bank......Add a pause and let it raise a bit too Crankbaits do best running parrell the banl

Yes , if you let them sink in the rocks . I try to keep them above the rocks .Ideally , I go with inexpensive lures that sink , like 1/4 ounce beetle spins ,pre-rigged swim baits , cheap spinnerbaits , jig and grubs ... I let then settle initially then as soon as they touch down ,i pop them off the bottom and try to retrieve them just above the rocks . Some snags are inevitable .

38 super fan has a good point in mentioning the effect of braid on the system. If you are now using braid, try either a longer FC leader, like 10-12 feet to get some give in the system, or go to mono. You may find the XF feels right with some give in the system. Although with ML power, it may not make enough difference. You'd notice it more with more powerful blanks. If you're already using mono or FC, there is no way to significantly soften the system further. As a comparison, I have 6 1/2 foot Avid medium power fast actions, and 7 foot medium power Legends, all used with braid, and in my opinion they are not "too fast" at all. St. Croix power ratings usually are different than other brands, too, with a medium power St Croix being a little more powerful than other medium powers.

I feel your pain bro. I lost a 5 pounder earlier this year and was in a bad mood the rest of day...The bigger they are the worse it is. One way to look at it is that you made the right lure choice and presentation to get a hawg to bite.Thats a victory right there!!?

I've been doing this for years, mainly on blade baits like the Silver Buddy. We drift jig for smallmouths and lake trout here on a deep, clear water reservoir. Started out loosing maybe a half dozen blades each day when jigging 25' down to 65' of water. This predicated my switch to single hooks. I started out using 1/0 Siwash hooks, 2 on each lure. Snagging was reduced until I switched to only one siwash on the rear hanger. Now I loose maybe one to three blades each trip. So...I've made another switch. Now I'm using the VMC In Line Single hook. What this does is to keep the point more inline with the center of the bait, as opposed to off to one side or the other with the siwash. This "In Line" feature has the eye of the hook in line with the main shaft, not 90 degrees off as with all other hooks. This will be my first season with this arrangement and so far, I am impressed. I will now post pictures, in succession, to these modifications, followed by some of the fish I've caught on them. Usually I would post a picture, then write an explanation, then post another picture. But this new format prevents me from doing that, so here are the pictures. The first is with the Siwash hook and the second is with the In Line hook. Unfortunately, these posts only allow two pictures, or I'd have included some of the fish I've successfully caught with these modifications. That being said, one other caveat I've incorporated which is that all my barbs on all my lures (trebles included) are crushed down. This reduces the injury to the fish, as well as the fisherman. Finally, I just want to say that barbless hooks (which I've been using for over a decade now, have not caused me to loose many fish. After I hit the "submit" button, it reversed the sequence on me!??? Anyway, the first is now the In Line and the second is the Siwash! This is very aggravating in trying to post here any more! Disappointing to say the least!

This ^^ Works pretty well, but if you really wanted to, you could buy a bunch of small Z tabs or similar and place one in each bag along with the jigs. All ideas above will work fine, just comes down to personal preference on storage. I prefer compact and consolidated, so a bunch of baggies placed into one space/container works better for me.

Wall street. I have a few fishing buddies that work or used to work there and they fish 150-270 days a year, and drive cars and boats that cost more than my house.

Pretty expensive lure for anyone, but especially surprising for someone still in high school.

It's not done for good. I'm guessing he's out shooting next seasons episodes. It's just the long wait until the new season starts that's a bummer. Thankfully spring has sprung, the days are longer, and the fish are biting so time will fly.

Bdnoble84, dry them completely before storing with whatever method you use. The past couple of seasons I've used slit foam in a Plano. Note in the last photo the top 1/4" foam to keep them snug when traveling in a chop. I keep all the foam in place with double sided tape. I prefer this system to plastic bags because I can see my entire inventory at a glance rather than picking through multiple ziplock bags in Plano compartments. To tame fluffy marabou, moisten fingertips and compress the plume. Then it will be narrow and you can place them side by side in foam slits 1/2" apart. There are boxes that fly fishermen use designed with "nubby tack" rubber or slit hard foam that would work with lighter jigs. These are not inexpensive. I'm going to stick with the slit foam in a Plano storage system.

Flipping switches are a useless feature and mechanical weak point imo.

Fish don't have mirrors, they have no idea how big they are, or aren't.

Love his show, especially the ones with Hackney. The guy just always seems to be having so much fun and loving life really. It's a nice break from the usual kind of rigid show host. Always does something every episode that gets me laughing. I'll be missing his show for sure.

There, I just added a like to your post. We can't have you jumping off the roof of your double wide. You might sprain an ankle.

You're not crazy, you've just reached the inescapable conclusion that bass are unpredictable. "Anyone ever "started over"? Frankly, at the beginning of every fishing day I feel like I'm 'starting over'. Do not sell your stuff, you'll only wind up buying it back a second time. Make your new decisions & apply your new ideas, but keep all your current stash (NO, not pot) Roger

I'd have to agree that 14# is a bit much on a reel for bass. I personally wouldn't go over 10# for mono type lines. The heavier lines don't want to lay on the spool very well. You could try a line conditioner first before removing the line. It will help some. Whether enough or not I couldn't say. There are a few guys on here that are exclusively (or almost exclusively) spinning reel users. They could give you a better answer than I can. Even when I fished nothing but spinning reels I used 4-8# XL. I did use a 10# leader on one rod that was spooled with 4# so I could keep from losing lures on the cast. EDIT: If I remember correctly, smalljaw67 said the line (10#, I think) did have a bit of memory, but he was using lighter lines with no problems, and felt it was the best mono he had ever used.

Bassroid, gillroid, ayuroid and gillpop all look sick. Wish I lived in an area it really made sense to throw them!

One more week, and this will be my home away from home.

My 2nd oldest boy caught a gorgeous 4 pounder from shore when I was teaching him to drop shot. Can't quite remember how young he was, but he was in elementary school (high school junior now). His very first cast with a drop was that 4# bass. Awesome.

http://www.jjfu.com/

I don't get many crappies on Cut-R's

Live Target baits are the best thing I have ever seen at catching...................fisherman. Meanwhile some where else today, the 15th billion bass was just caught on a plain old boring chart. w/ black back squarebill that cost $5.

I will be happy if they would teach people how to go thru a round-a-bout....its not that hard.

My new job has me out and about in public in big trucks. I have always wondered why the DOT has never made it mandatory to festoon the sides of these big trucks with warnings to the idiot drivers of the world. Something like: "WARNING: THIS TRUCK IS 10x's BIGGER THAN YOUR CAR AND WON'T HARDLY BEND THE BUMPER IF IT RUNS OVER YOU, BUT IT WILL TOTALLY DESTROY YOUR VEHICLE!!!!"

I think you know where I stand on this . . . . . . A-Jay

Setup for this year. Chronarch MGL paired with Gloomis IMX

Not exactly what I was looking for while I was trying to fill my limit during my tournament on Sunday, but it was my first spotted muskie that I've ever caught, so I was pretty proud of it.

Natural Light by Anheuser-Busch

If I were a doctor, I'd definitely recommend playing switch. Warm moist heat is good for the healing process. For the first 12 hours of the day, keep the affected thumb in your mouth and the unaffected thumb up your rear. After 12 hours play switch. Continue until the numbness is gone.