Leaderboard

Caught this one and a couple others and some stripers bank fishing after work. 1st stripers I'd caught. Burning a 1/4 oz yamamoto lipless in some kind of shallow water

Thanks so much to Gary and Brian at The Tackle Trap for getting my little slice of rod and reel heaven on earth shipped my way this week. 843s SJR and a C3000XG. Can't wait to test this thing out on some smallies!

Loving the cooler weather

Just stumbled across this thread today... for some reason it never caught my eye. Some good photos, some funny ones, all interesting. Thanks to all who have contributed. Since it's Veteran's Day, here is my first contribution to the thread:

Winterize it when your season is done. Until then, drain as much water out of the motor after each trip as possible. I will trim up and drain, trim down and drain, then up again and down again. Each time out, make sure the engine warms up before you gun it. I'd let it idle for 5-10 minutes before initial take off and then 5 minutes after each restart during the day. If you use your livewell during this time, make sure you drain it. If you have cartridge style pumps, pull the cartridge and dump a little RV antifreeze in them and put the cartridge back on. Keep the livewell door open or it may freeze itself shut. Lastly, I wouldn't ever recommend draining oil out and not refilling. Why run the risk of forgetting to refill it when you head out in the spring.

Haha that's awesome! Glad you went back and got em. Thanks for the invite and ride on your boat! Was a fun time. Till next time!

Quick update. Gave jigging mode another shot yesterday. I definitely noticed a difference this time. Just have to fine tune the sensitivity to be able to see the jig without cluttering up the screen with returns from weeds and bait fish. Made it easy to track quick depth changes of the jig. I'll be giving this another try with jigging spoons when I can get out again.

not exactly what I was fishing for but another first. Bank fishing cuz I didn't have time after work to get the boat out. Caught 2 about this size and a couple 2 lb lmb. Man what a fight!

It's a jon boat. Fill it with water and see if any leaks out. If not, you're good.

Xcalibur has only been gone for 2 years. It may not be an old lure just made by a brand that no longer exsists. My favorite Squarebill, Lipless and Jerkbait were made by xcalibur (XR50, One knocker, EEratic Shad). I believe the Heddon is the exact same with a different brand and packaging just like the Booyah One Knocker is the same. Edit: The bait you possess is "Excalibur" not "Xcalibur". Those are two different companies. The brand you have is a knock-off of Heddon products. They were normally sold at chain store or "discount" stores. Just use what you know about to Heddon baits and you'll have success with your bait.

Had a half hour to fish today between work and sunset, so I raced over to a local pond. The bass were going nuts all over the place chasing little fish. I threw out a Menace grub and caught about ten 1-2 pounders in 15 minutes. I then tossed the grub to a wooden retaining wall and something big grabbed it, but I lost the fish on the hookset. I tossed to the same spot, and same result! Third time I had him, and after a spirited fight -- he was pulling out drag on 17 pound fluoro -- I landed, to my great surprise, this huge blue tilapia. Must have been at least 5 pounds. I should have weighed it but it didn't occur to me at the time. The gash in its flank may have been from one of my prior hooksets. It is unusual for tilapia to bite a lure, so my guess is that the fish was defending a bed and not trying to eat it.

Love chasing crappie this time of year about as much as I do bass. Buddy and I picked up over 100 today.

Side view looks like he’s got a nice scar across his back. Assuming that’s why the dorsal is abbreviated.

Caught this morning around 10:45. Hardly any bites rest of the day. 3.6lbs, short and stocky. T-rigged black/blue Yumdinger. Interesting dorsal, or lack thereof.

This is easily my favorite, great background and my personal best at 7 - 4.

Giant drum on a finesse jig Monday. Couple of wipers on Keitechs Tuesday.

My son fishing with me yesterday morning before I had to leave to come back to Shreveport. Wish we woulda caught something. It was really nice being out at the smaller pond with him though.

I got curious about building my own baits and have watched a ton of video's from all over. This guy is making swimbaits and the time that went into carving the "master blank" was crazy. I have seen the video's from duo about there master craftsmen, but there getting paid a lot to work while this guy is at a very high level IMO but does it for the love of fishing. I have a new found respect for bait makers and now also have a much better understanding of the "costs" and "value" of a hand crafted bait. No easy task.

I have put the Septon PG II knobs that have come on many Shimano bc reels on my Shimano spinning reels. They’re only a few bucks a piece and very comfortable. But you have to order the correct ones for your handle orientation bc they’re contoured for right or left hand grip specific.

Landau mde some pretty solid boats. $500 for a boat, trailer and fishfinder isn't bad at all if they are in good condition, when you consider that a cheap kayak or canoe will cost you at least that. I would hope to get a trollling motor included with that , but you can get a decent transom mount Minn Kota abut 40 to 50 lbs thrust for under $200 if you shop wisely. Less if you buy used. Figure another $80 or so for a battery. That should push the boat around well enough for a day of fishing on a smaller lake. If it doesn't have rod holders, figure about another $60 for a pair of Berkely or Cabelas rod holders. Once you add all that that you are still parking a pretty good fishing machine for about $800. Eventually you may want to add an outboard. Even used, that will probably cost you well more than the boat and trailer combined but it would certainly add to your fishing possibilities. Something to consider down the road. But we all know that untimately the outfit only cost you $500. The add ons don't really count.;)

Steve, the rod is pretty incredible. This was with my Stella 2500FE before the FI arrived. You can see the balance point.

I have a 1984 Landau Magnum TR (Very similar to a Bass Tracker of that era). I would say that the quality of the boat was good compared to other boats of it's day, but mine was in very rough shape so I needed to do a lot of work. There is a thread around somewhere. I also didn't find much of anything on the internet about them when I was contemplating it. Landau only makes "luxury pontoon boats" these days. Here's how I see your possibilities: 1: The hull and trailer is good, the electronics are relatively new and of good quality, and working, the deal is good (at least compared to prices in my area). 2: The hull and trailer is good, but electronics are old and you wont be happy with them for long if even working. Electronics start around 100 and only go up. Used could save you some money. Deal is still decent. 3: The hull and or trailer is not good, still could be a good deal if you can do any and all work to repair. If you can't, I would walk and just buy new. If electronics are old, don't let the seller try to use it to price it higher. Small things add up quick, new batt for electronics, trailer needs rewired, new winch, and on, and on, and on........ Alumacraft 14ft jon $740 Jon boat trailer $500 Lowrance hook 3 $100 battery $100 cheap seats $40 Misc wiring, etc $20 That's the retail cost to buy new, what he is selling used. TRF

The spittin image is a really good top water bait. I have some of them along with the bill dance swimmin image.

Jim, really nice looking Rod and Reel (even though Scott may differ on the beauty of the rod comment). I can't wait to hear your opinion of how it fishes. I am a big NRX fan and could feel the difference of the GLX compared to the NRX in terms of sensitivity. I would be curious if that same difference is noticeable between the NRX and the Conquest. I will say that the old GLX were so much more balanced than the NRX rods (I still can't get over how tip heavy those NRX rods are) and I am hoping G Loomis corrected their error and balanced out the Conquests like they had the GLX.

Two hours is no big deal for something that is done once a year, particularly if will give you peace of mind. It shouldn't take more than an hour or so for them to winterize your motor.

Looking good

Looks like a Biovex Joint Gill.

B Fish N Tackle B3 blade bait. vibrates a little easier on a slow fall than a silver buddy and they make a lot of random sizes if you want

Admittedly, I have only tried a few blade baits (gay blade, thinfisher, bps brand, and silver buddy), so take this with a grain of salt, but my favorite out of the ones I've tried is the silver buddy. 1/2 ounce, gold in murkier water and silver/stainless in clearer. I cut the cheap hooks off them and put a split ring and #6 gamakatsu magic eye trebles on them, seemed to help the hooking and landing percentage quite a bit.

I'm on my second set and I think they are the best. Enjoy them & stay warm & dry.

Thanks for the updates. You are correct: Fishing in the rain is OK. Fishing in cold weather is not. Enjoy the rain gear and let us know how it performs.

Silver Buddy all the way. Blade is thinner than anything else I've used, thus gives more vibe. You can replace the hooks on the 1/2 oz with #6 bronze (and #4 on the 3/4 oz) either by snipping the eyelet on the hook & bending slightly or add split rings (which I don't do). I've caught thousands of fish on them that way and maybe once or twice the hooks bent out and they were from giant Potomac catfish. You do have to use bronze hooks though (Gamakatsu round bends are perfect) as the nickel hooks will break if you try to open them up.

Jigging spoons and ice jigs often out fish blade lures. Tom

I've only ever used the chrome and white models.

Water temps are in the low 40's up north . Air temps are in the 20's in the morning . Enjoy it while it lasts fellas . I would think ice season will be upon us before we know it .

For me the Menace is the only "essential" plastic in their lineup. It is so versatile and there isnt really any else out there quite like it.

I think fishing from a kayak has helped me. When fishing from a a kayak you have to plan, you can only paddle so far and you can only take a limited amount of gear. You cannot run and gun. You pick apart structure, because new structure is a paddle trip away. You are in the water and more aware of surroundings. Stealth is easier. I have caught fish under the kayak. I just started bass fishing in late middle age/early old age and come from a trout fishing/fly rod background. It all crosses over. Now, would I buy a big bass boat if I could--of course. But I honestly think wading streams and kayak fishing have helped me become better, because it forces me to plan, slow down and pick apart structure. I may get a bass boat when I get some more kids off of the payroll!

Haven't been on the forum in a while, but this was discussed a while back. Someone here contacted a biologist, and between him and others here it was determined the indent is an anatomical condition that occurs when the fish opens it's mouth. It's not visible when the jaw is shut. It's perfectly normal and just a function of the mouth opening and closing.

@bigfruits Not missing the point at all, it was a joke. I'm all for buying quality gear. I have a few older Stradic Ci4's and 2 newer ones.. Can't say enough good things about them.

Works well on the iPhone as well.

You got that right. My polarized sunglasses only cost $5 at Wal Mart. Yum brand. The work fine for me. I'd like the chance to fish with at least one experienced angler. I do, however, my best at applying what I learn from this forum, books and videos when I get out to a body of water. Since my move back up here to Shreveport I don't get near the chances to go fishing as I did down in Pineville. Hoping that changes soon. I'm having withdrawls...lol. ?

They're very good rods for the money, but I don't think the specific one you're looking at is their sweet spot. I like their MH rods for an inexpensive all purpose. They're lighter than most other rods based on how they're rated, so a H fishes more like a MH from other manufacturers, ect. At the $100-150 price point, there are lots of good options. I'd include the Bucco series as a nice option, but probably not the model you mentioned for all purpose, especially if you bank fish. Some others to consider: A 6'6 M veritas 2.0 is an excellent rod. They fish heavier than rated. They're clearanced as well. The new scIII MH mojo rods are nice for $30 more. Worth it imo. A MH or H Bucco or Bucco micro is a good rod. I prefer them for moving baits though. Not a huge backbone on them, which is a good thing for moving baits. There are many other options, but those are three I've kept in my lineup even as I've moved onto much more expensive rods in general.

Destroyed[Lost rod and reels!]Here's a story that's almost unbelievable.Back in the early 1960's.Our family was on an annual trip to a small lake in SE Ontario.My father, Born with a birth defect that left one leg almost uncontrollable, was fishing one afternoon with my mother. The spot where they were fishing was about in about 25 feet of crystal clear water. My father tried to reach across the boat to pick a can of pop from a cooler, and in the process, his bum leg reflexes and kicked an almost brand new Pflueger Nobby mounted on a likewise almost new Conolon rod overboard. 25 years later, My mother and younger brother paid a visit to the lady who owned the farm on which the lake was located. The lady asked my mother and brother about my father losing his rod and the location. She went into a shed and came back with the outfit. A pair of divers had visited the lake the previous summer and found the combo right where he had lost it. The rod, other than the guide wrappings was still in pretty good shape. The reel other than the Cortland camo line was still in perfect condition. After a tear down clean and lube, it worked and looked as new. Regrettably, I sold it to a guy who is still using it.

Always! Wear floatation device when the big motor is started! Always!! Wear your kill switch!! Never let pride get your way, I'll beach a boat & get out in a heartbeat if necessary!!! For most anglers being underpowered means slow holeshots & topend speeds. For this dumb Cajun it's about poor throttle response & bow lift in rough water. Learn what your motor is capable of at 1/4 throttle & punch, 1/2 throttle & punch, or 3/4 throttle & punch. Run from lightening! Fear it completely!

Know your boat. Learn how to vary the throttle for conditions. A straight line may not be the safest or driest ride and zig zagging may be in order. Boat wakes on a busy lake pose a problem of a different sort, as do barges. They are potentially more dangerous as the wakes can be unpredictable. If you're following another boat riding in its wake leaving the wake takes some practice, especially when slowing down may not be an option, because you may have a boat following in your wake. Avoid barge and wake boat wakes if at all possible.

I have only one suggestion. Take a boat operators course. It will teach you boat handling, safety procedures, etc. Some states require a license to operate a boat. What you learn will help you avoid trouble on the water.

First, you need to buy a $70,000 bass boat. The bass boat will need to be rigged with $10,000 worth of electronics. Second buy a jersey covered with patches because you must look the part while riding around in your new bass boat. Third, you will need 15 combos consisting of $400 rods and $300 reels ( I realize you can only use one at a time, but having the other 14 rods laying on the deck will allow you to switch setups quickly when you are not catching fish on the one you are currently using). Now, what good are all those rods and reels if you haven't spooled them up with 100lb braid. The 100lb braid prevents you from losing fish under all conditions. You will land 100% of the fish you hook. Speaking of hooks, you will need to replace the hooks on all your $20 crankbaits because, for some reason, $20 crankbait hooks don't hook the fish the right way. They must be replaced. You must also buy lots of scent. I think garlic and coffee work the best because they can be found naturally occurring in most underwater ecosystems. A pair of $300 polarized Costas or Oakleys will allow you to see deep into the dark depths of the fishes soul and shame it into biting your hook. Based on the above advice, all I can say is buy a bunch of Powerball tickets this week. With $650M you should be able to become a better fisherman.

Close, babysitter.

A common threat in my era (even in the Marines) was "pack your trash, you're going to Adak"...