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The slow-rolled spinnerbait bite was wide open today! Lost two nice brown fish that shouldn't have come off, not sure what went wrong

Found a quiet corner of a pond that’s never fished. T-rigged worms and wacky Senkos are nailing it.

First striped bass caught Monday! Bonus video of the catch. And a dinky largie earlier that morning

Some solid pre-storm topwater action today...

Hi folks, been lurking here for a few months. Thanks to everyone for their contributions as I've learned a ton from what you guys have shared! I moved to NY (westchester) a few months ago and have been putting in some time trying to figure out freshwater. I used to live a stone's throw from the salt in NJ and spent the past 3 years hitting the surf for stripers, bluefish, and fluke. It took a little while but I finally found a good body of water for fishing from the bank. I poked around some reservoirs, ponds, lakes with little luck for 5-6 outings. Started off catching a few perch so I switched over to the perch pattern squarebill. Caught 6-7 perch, 2 pickerel (1 on topwater, 1 larger one on the crankbait) but I kept moving around looking for some bass. Found a spot that was holding them and landed 4 healthy LMB (all over 2lbs) including my new PB! Didn't have a scale on me but guessing the larger one was in the 4-5lb range

High water level...can there be too much? Nope! Fishing well be great... catching not so much!

This is my new PB. Got her in Virginia at 730 am, it was 40 degrees out, and the water was misty/foggy because water temps were warmer than outside... Tossed the topwater frog out by a stump and she came ALL THE WAY out of the water and inhaled the frog. Insane fight. You can see how happy I am. I left my scale in the truck, but she measured 24 3/4" long. A Virginia citation in length (state is 22" or 8 pounds). My previous PB was this July, weighing 6.10. This fish was far longer and heavier. Amazing fish. Tight LINES!!!!!!!!

The rods are in the rack and the vice is on the bench. Here are a couple of photos of recent creations intended for Quabbin Reservoir's smallmouth next April: The heads are cast from Do-it's Poison Tail mold. Alloy used is 88% bismuth/12% tin. Powder paint is cured at 300º for 45 minutes. The adhesive backed eyes are further secured with a coat of HARD as NAILS polish. Thread is UTC 140 denier which most jig tiers consider light. My head cement is unconventional as well: Caliber Super Glue liquid (thin formula). My wrapping procedure is to start at the top and then apply a drop of glue. If I'm heavy handed I absorb the excess with a small piece of paper towel immediately. Next I tie a side and repeat with another drop of glue. The opposite side is next and then the bottom. Finally each side gets four strands of Wapsi Grizzly Accent. The last step is dragging a drop or two of super glue around the completed wrap with a scrap of paper towel. This renders the jig nearly bullet proof but, sadly, not rock proof (which other smallie chasers understand all too well). Here's a testimonial from a 4 lber:

Last weekend in Northern NY was incredible. These were my biggest five of a 70 fish Friday with my dad. Just under 20lbs and Dad had 18.5. We fished ABA early bird tournaments Saturday and Sunday which were even better. I'm at my max for pics so I'll have to make a separate post.

Best Smallmouth Bass I caught in October was this 16" pound and a half girl. Weather and life issues have kept me off the water since October 22nd. Hope to get one or more fishing trips in before Winter forces me into fishing hibernation.

And it happened in .....wait for it......practice

Caught my PB Chain Pickerel a few weeks ago. I was topwater fishing with a Bluegill colored 90 Whopper Plopper and she slammed it! 2lbs 7oz

Most of the time I just drag it like a shaky head but last night I was shaking it pretty wildly, water temp was 60 and I figured they should be active. I was trolling a crankbait 3 mph and getting bit so that was another clue they were active. Eagles are very abundant nowadays, my buddy got a great photo of one in downtown knoxville the other day. I camped on Norris not long ago and got my first ever skunk on that lake, they were blasting shad at daylight though

Hadn't gotten the boat out in a while, but I finally have my college things at bay and had some free time this afternoon. Water from the river had pushed down into the lake with recent rains, 48 degrees at the ramp! Found some 55 degree water and got to work slow rolling a spinnerbait

This 6 pounder isn't my PB but I caught it about 30 seconds after my Ned-rig-hating friend declared that Ned doesn't produce big fish. He was at BPS the next day buying Ned rig tackle.

I recently took a new job heading up and MS4 stormwater inspection program. After years being behind a desk in the tech industry this is a huge change. Among other things I get to spend time out in the field and in our area of SC retention ponds are a major component of stormwater management. In our county alone there are THOUSANDS of retention ponds and the older ones all potentially hold bass. But right now most of these are virtually inaccessible because of the vegetation that has grown along the banks. The good news is that in order to be in compliance land owners need to make these ponds at least partly accessible. My hope is that since there has been almost no fishing pressure in these ponds that when their opened up there will be some great fishing - and maybe even some big lunkers that have never seen a lure before. For me, the even better news is that I'm heading up the nationwide program and while there won't be a lot of field work for me, the potential is there to get in a few hours of fishing now and then.

Fish were a little bit smaller yesterday. Got out after work and the river was much more stained and pretty fast downtown. Ran up to a tributary and it was crazy clear with no current. Trolled cranks through there and picked up some. I started seeing crazy ledge rock and grass clumps so I dropped trolling motor and caught a couple with a poor mans ned rig. Then trolled back halfway to the ramp in he dark before hitting the fast water and got the best one of the evening, maybe 16-17"

Launched at Plymouth just after sunrise to meet two poor guys coming off the water because they had to go to work. They reported low numbers but quality fish. I paddled across to the 'spot' and gave it a go a few hundred yards to the right of the launch. I got a nice SMB on a perch colored Zara Spook. Shortly thereafter I felt my line get a little heavy and pulled up, to my surprise, a 3-8 LMB who inhaled a 4" wacky Senko I'd let sit on the bottom in 8-10' of water. I worked other areas with the Rapala DT16 I'd witnessed another fisherman kill SMB with, but to no avail. I tried a few more baits, including a perch lipless that's at the bottom of the pond because of knot failure. The wind picked up steadily until I packed up and left at noon when my spinning gear was nearly useless. Water temps were 60.x Still not done yet! Oh yeah, I saw a Bald Eagle early in the AM. He watched me for a few minutes and flew away.

I agree with Catt, any rise in water level is usually a good thing... in the long run. It's a God send here in Southern California on any body of water. However, it is usually associated with tougher "catching" conditions as it seems to spread the fish out and give them new forage to key in and basically disrupts normal feeding patterns. I'm a firm believer, in general, the most productive catching takes place within a stabilized weather/ conditions window the majority of the time. With this being said, of course I have experienced the complete opposite from time to time. Only one way to find out you know...

When I used to fish Lake Shasta I would use a small Rattle Spot from Cotton Cordell in the 1/8 size. Oh my gosh it was deadly on everything in that lake. Light line...long casts and violent bites.

When they're following but not eating, I use a Turner Jones micro jig under a small bobber. Cast it out where you've been seeing them and just let the waves incorporate the action. Be ready though, they'll shoot that bobber under fast and let go even faster. 4lb test is key to allow the jig to move naturally.

Hate it when our kids are sick, but I could never get enough of this.

I rarely fish them, so I don't have to worry about losing them Now jigs on the other hand

Thanks Darren, scale is on the way. Want to avoid the 'how much do you think this weighs' threads haha Thanks fellas

Looks like Florida is winning the poll. Iv'e caught big bass in Ca. and Fl. but would pick Fl. for the fact like mentioned that you can catch a 10+ in any given pond or lake and there is no shortage of them that's for sure. This DD was caught in a neighborhood pond in central Fl while on vacation.

Hopefully sunday, I told my wife is stay up with the baby on Saturday night if I could sneak away for a few hours on sunday.

Whats the state creel limit? 50 per person?

Yes, I tie several patterns. I have what I call a "staging" bench, a 4' X 2' folding table, on which I spread out my bucktail and flash materials and then just put different colors and materials together until I find patterns I like. Then they go to the tying bench. Consistency is what I'm striving for and am finally starting to get. When I first started, a couple hundred jigs ago, I'd look at the closed window with certainty that my vise had the weight to go through it, no problem. I got up and left the room until I cooled down then came back and tried to analyze the particular difficulty. Gradually my ties improved with patience, practice and perseverance - and study. I'd find videos on the Internet that were helpful and I'd review them, some several times. Here are a few I particularly like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27mwz6JcV64 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5ewaCNSZVk&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efo7gblZj0s By picking up on details in videos you can find solutions to problems which will collectively improve your technique and develop your style. If you work patiently you'll find over time that you'll find a pace that's optimum and your work will proceed smoothly. I'll go so far as to say that jig tying at its best is a meditative activity. Alright then! I've intentionally been this long winded because it's the beginning of the tying season and I know there are fishermen out there who are thinking about getting into the craft and I want them first to understand that some amount of patience and practice lead to very satisfying results.

I'll be out this weekend-my fishing schedule looks something like Saturday through Wednesday, rain or shine/sleet or snow, and sometimes on Friday to...

Some of the higher ratios are necessary since some of the new spools are so small in diameter.

planning on fishing jigs really slow this weekend and i'm out of my usual siebert footballs so i had to get something to use this weekend figured i'd try tungsten and then maybe i will be ordering tungsten footballs from siebert this winter and some kvd chunks because i want to try them out

Last week I caught 38 rainbow trout( including a beautiful palomino trout) and my better half caught 4 for a total of 42 rainbow trout in less than 6 hours of fishing in a pressured body of water where they stock trout every Fall and Spring. This was in a northern state and it was my first time in my life that I have fished for trout. It was a lot of fun and I will consider making another trip up north for these fish. I used 6 pound test line and found that small inline spinners to be a very productive lure for trout.

Never, but I dont throw them either

The bass makes that hook look like a Gaff ~ A-Jay

First ever fish on a glide bait. Skinny fella but still pretty awesome.

Gotta love the footballs of fall...

Here is mine.

Aiden & Hawgzilla ?

This fish deserved its own post, I would rank it as top 5 in my craziest fish catches ever. I was on the Ohio River near Weirton, WV, on the WV side. I was walking beside a set of train tracks to go to a spot where my friends and I fish for walleye, hybrid striper, and white bass. It is a pretty good hike so we have to carry in a lot of gear, all of which is packed away. My friend lives in the area and had never caught a bass from the area we walked through, and he is an EXCELLENT fisherman. As usual, my eyes were picking apart the shoreline while we walked, and I spotted a pretty nice largemouth as it cruised up to a weed edge. I didn't have anything rigged up, and the only suitable rod I had with me was a 7' medium action baitcaster with 12lb fluoro. I scrambled as fast as I could to open my bag, get a finesse jig out, and tie it up. Shockingly, the bass stayed put. I was standing on the side of the train tracks at this point, a solid 10' above the water level, and flipped my jig way out in the river. I swam the jig back in to where the fish was, and let it settle on the bottom before I shook it. I instantly felt two sharp taps and set the hook. The fish went nuts, and my buddy somehow slid down the extremely steep bank feet first, and scooped the fish in the net as soon as his feet hit the water! The fish was absolutely gorgeous and weighed 5lbs, 7oz, my biggest WV bass so far, and I am pretty sure that is a large fish for the Ohio River. She didn't look like she had ever been caught before either!

You can do a bobber rig, or do a mini catfish rig. Basically, it's a light Carolina rig, without the beads.

Leader and weight depend on the conditions but the stocked fish I catch in the ponds or "lakes" around here I use 1/4 ounce slip weight or lighter, leader depends on the condition, again, and size 14 treble hook with power bait doe.

I just bought some powerbait and set up a rod for it. How are you guys fishing it? Just casting it and put it in a holder for a bite? or do you so a slow retrieve? I'm used to bass fishing or fly fishing so the sit and wait kind of tortures me. However, I did see some people catch a ton of trout with powerbait while I struggled with a fly.

nightcrawler hanging from a #4 hook

Once you have the location just wait and go back. When i see them roaming like that i rarely catch them. As for the lures just throw whatever the conditions dictate.

Largely uncatchable in that situation. If you spotted her under a log or lily pads then she is in a feeding position. Can you catch a bass roaming...yes. Most effective way Ive seen and heard of is a wacky senko thrown far ahead in her path...preferably where the bass would be out of sight. Then deadstick it and hope she finds it.

Mark the spot, and wait her out, or come back later. Big fish are usually a timing deal. The important part is you found her location. I have no recommendations for magic baits or techniques. Use what you know, and wait it out until it's not in a suspended, negative feeding mode.

I would try the wacky senko or a drop shot fished painfully slow as well, no shaking just holding it on a semi tight line. Bait choice would be a roboworm or gulp minnow