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From yesterday, possibly the last open water boat trip for me this year...

I seldom see a need to go smaller than a HJ 8, but they do make a 6. A split shot (I usually use a small swivel) original floater 7 is old school spy vs spy...

Country and city for me. Mother raised me in the city until about 10 when she passed and I moved in with my grandmother in the country. 125 acres to roam and a fishing pond. These were my teenage stomping grounds and made the most impact on me. I now own a house 30 miles outside of the closest town. And about 10 miles from rhe Chattahoochee river. Can't even get internet or TV unless its satellite and I wouldn't have it any other way

Most likely become a slow riser...though other things like line type and size come into the overall equation. jerk bait physics - You can do what I did, if you want, to replicate this and see exactly for yourself. Simply fill up a large bucket or other container with water of varying degrees, then drop your baits in there and see what happens. In this case, I used a very wide range of water temps (42 - 110 F) to try and exaggerate these differences. Every bait, at a given temperature, will either float, sink, or suspend somewhere in the water column. The important thing to know is how to adjust for whatever a particular bait happens to do. Here are the basics; The colder the water, the slower a bait will fall through the water (if your jerkbait sinks), or the easier/faster it will rise if a floater. The warmer the water, the faster your sinking bait will fall through the water, or the slower it will rise back to the surface if a floater that is pulled under. So, for example, in any given water temperature, if you have a bait that sinks slowly instead of suspending, you can A) mark that bait to be fished in colder water temps, B.) change out the hooks to some that are slightly thinner and lighter, C) increase the size of your line to create more drag, or D) use a mono or braided line instead of fluorocarbon. On the other hand, if you are fishing a bait that has a tendency to rise slightly, you either can, A) weight it slightly with suspend strips/dots, B.) increase the size of a treble or two to add weight, C) Change to fluorocarbon line (if not already using it), D) or mark the bait to be used in warmer water temps. Some baits are much more sensitive than others in regards to all these factors affecting their buoyancy. As an interesting side note to demonstrate this concept and how it applies to many more things than just jerkbaits in water. I know a guy who is a small aircraft pilot, and he recently recalled the following story:

A spinning rod

You're Welcome and Good Luck. While most of the baits you've listed are 'moving baits' - a jig for the most part, is not. My advice for any new jig fisherman is to do less with it. After the cast, and once it settles to the bottom, slowly ( and I mean slowly) work it back to you like you were trying to sneak it along WITHOUT being detected. Really, just inch it along. No big hops, no big wiggles or jiggles - just a sneaky & sloooow track (with plenty of lengthy pauses) back to you. Don't worry about a bass 'knowing' it's there. They know - it's their world. I bet you get bit. Be careful though - you might get your arm broke. A-Jay

Was prefishing yesterday for a tourney and first thing in the morning caught a very nice walleye. Now usually the last thing I want to do is keep a fish for dinner but my inside voice was saying my wife would really really like some walleye. Hardly ever bring one home as I don't care to clean fish after a day on the water but....I did it....points....got lots of points.

I think after reading this it occurs to me why I have much better success in winter than any other season. I'm guessing I just fish really slow

Grew up in the country, only wood heat until I was 12 or 13, no ac ever, water from a cistern, had about an acre of garden, raised/butchered our meat that was not from hunting, fishing during the warm months.

Born on a ranch, grew up in a small town, will now live the rest of my life on the ranch. Wouldn't have it any other way.

A great beginner non-fishing kayak is the Pelican Trailblazer. $199 not on sale, I have seen it as low as $150 during the offseason which is now. Plenty of YouTube vids on how to install rod holders on it when you want to mod it for fishing.

There's a dangerous place on ebay...ilovehardbaits Tread carefully...don't say I didn't warn you

Begins on the 7th and runs past the 1st.

Megabass destroyer

I'll pass .?

Rapala x rap comes in a tiny 1/8oz version

I'm the biggest fish eater in the family. I dont care if its bone-in or filets. The rest of my immediate family like filets only , except my wife does love bone- in catfish. So I make sure there's a good supply of filets or catfish so I dont get " that look " from the wife. I meat fish for a variety of fresh and saltwater fish. The only fish I throw back with any consistency are bass. But Ive kept 147 of them this year out of the lake since there are too many small bass. I keep the 12-15 inch fish and the rest are released. Bass are good fileted but to me the skin gives them a muddy taste with the bones .

Not done here. 42 degree water and they were smoking lipless cranks today.

They are in the crock pot . Fried then made some gravy then added some mushrooms and dumped in the slow cooker .

^^^ this^^^ Yup not done here just yet. New lure same place this morning lol.

Wow Report:....Was a good day with good company. We had eight guys fishing on Norris and only four caught fish. Very tough. I had big smallie and third for 2.10. Four and change won!! Was kind of funny....was throwing a small football jig on a spinning rod (1/4) When I landed fish the hook fell out....so....put it on a level wind to get better hooksets....#@$!....lost the next four keepers. Sadness....but was a beautiful day and ended up getting Angler of Year for club and get to go to Cumberland I believe as a boater for semi finals....whooohoooo. Now the research starts. Tight Lines

Didn't catch any picture worthy bass, but this rainbow was a nice unexpected gift and looked more like a steelhead than the trout we usually have around here. Weighed in at 4.5 lbs.

No bites to be had at the first pond I dropped in on. Spent about 1.5hours there. Went to my current hot spot and threw the wading boots on. Landed one on the first cast, then 4 more in about an hour. Largest(bottom right) was probably in 2.5-3lb range. T rigged junebug Yum Dinger...again.

Then I go and take guys for free and they catch their new PB, on one of the baits I make to boot!

Water temps 44 degrees and change, but they're still biting. We'll be catching them with ice on the lake in about another week to 10 days.

Caught way more bass than I expected to yesterday, considering I set out to chase wipers. Those weren't cooperating like I'd hoped so I chased the green ones while looking for lost baits. Found 14 baits, including a Pompadour Jr, and caught one of the fattest/thickest bass I've ever caught on a homemade finesse brush jig. Only 16 3/4" long, but 3.26 pounds. Caught several nice ones on a wart my buddy painted up for me.

I'm sure this has been asked before but maybe its changed for some. What shoes ( if any) do you wear while fishing? I personally still haven't been able to find a pair of tennis shoes that are comfortable enough to stand in all day fishing so I've been wearing crocks. They are very comfortable but they get slick quick and are not the most agile

Lox Road Ramps Sunday 12/3/17 6:30-10:30 Sunny Water Temp 73* Clarity Clear Wind NE 4-10 Went this morning solo. Noticed right away that the water was up from last week. The Big O has dropped over a foot recently, and they must be pumping it south into Lox and the glades conservation areas. Ran west and fished back to the east. Started with a Rage Craw with little interest. Then went to a U-Vibe pulling in a couple of bass close to the spoil bank. Went to a weightless senko and produced good numbers but not much size. Long casts helped some, if you could stay off the T/M. Fluke, frog, and swimbait got little interest today. There were some guys flipping the north wall and didn't see any action up there from them. Finished the day early with 13 caught, a gar, and a mudfish. Numbers were good for a short trip, but not much size. Biggest bass was about 1.5 lb. Beautiful day, not much boat traffic, and no signs of bedding bass anywhere I fished today. I thought this super moon might put them in the mood. Should not be long if the weather cooperates.

I picked this up at bass pro. Holds 7 3700 series boxes: http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-utility-box-carrier

You guys are doing Jake a huge dis-service. Every bass fisherman should have to spend a thousand bucks on plastics to finally figure out what really works for them. Or, he could get some Space Monkeys, Rage Bugs and Craws with a few Rodents thrown in and save a bunch of money.

? Fished them on both and they both work. Don’t have to worry about backlashes and slack line on spinning though.

I use the 7’3 medium Cronos for tubes and love it. Great rod. Had the 7’1 ml and loved the rod just wanted a medium. Preference. My opinion unless you go Tatula Elite AGS go with the Cronos rods. If you like the AGS rod I’d look at the 7’6 Feider and Ehler dropshot rod.

I would also look at the Fuego CT. They can be found for less than $70 on ebay. TT gave it a best value award. Has an aluminum frame. Probably what I will be giving my sister-in-law. My brother will have to make do with a used reel...an original Fuego. Got to give a new reel as a Christmas present, but there are some excellent buys in the used reel market. I picked up a Patriarch XT (older blue model) for $65 in very good condition. This was a $250 reel and has a dual braking system. Excellent reels.

Caenan is a graphite or plastic frame. Can’t compete with the Tatula CT in my opinion. I’m generally a Shimano guy but at certain price points you can’t beat what Daiwa has in the Tatula. The Tatula CT can easily be found for 90-100, sometimes less.

this is a great way to start.........

I too have two Cronos rods in 7'6" (both the F and XF). One is fitted with a Luvias 3012H and the other I rotate reels on. They are honestly do everything rods and I find myself using them over my St. Croix Legend Xtreme and even the two ET Smallmouth rods I have (6'9 ML). I have a regular Tatula casting (with SV103H), an Elite AGS (with SS SV103SH and SHA spool), and a Cronos casting (with OG Fuego 100H). They are all awesome...especially for the price! If you are looking at the Tatula Elite without AGS, just get a Cronos at a better price (they are very, very similar aside form color). The AGS is really awesome and very sensitive. What specific models are you looking at?

I have several 7'6" Daiwa Cronos spinning rods & 1 Tatula. Really like the Cronos Rods & can be had for around$120-130. I have a couple of Tat Elite casting rods & really like them as well. I use Cronos for Ned rigs, drop shot & hair jigs.

I think chatter baits don't require much of a rod or reel. I think that if one tournament fishes with a particular lure, it makes sense to practice with the same one. I think bass guys over think fishing. I think in the big picture, none of that makes a difference.

I'm just a tad too old to be doing the extreme cold anymore, but not that many years ago, I use to regularly fish the Ct. River system for smallmouth & walleye, prior to ice up. I'd be out there today if I could take it, but the arthritis wins every time! Find deeper water structures and target each one with on/off bottom blade bait presentations, and/or tubes. Both will catch them, but I prefer the blades because of the "feel" I have with them as opposed to tubes. And during this cold water period, I break from my gospel goal of finding structures with bait. River structures can/do hold smallies without the presence of bait fish - for whatever reason. Which makes it simpler actually. Just hit all shelves, inlets, drop offs that you find on your sonar and you'll pick 'em up. Remember, catch one and you'll catch many. Cold water smallies in rivers bunch up. Mark those structures well on your GPS. They will repeatedly produce for you, year after year.

December-June is usually when I fish more for largemouth bass.

I'm done too . Been squirrel hunting several times .

https://www.barlowstackle.com/Weedless-Un-Painted-Raw-Jig-Heads-C303.aspx

Check out omfishingsinkers.com they have tungsten jig heads now for really cheap. Shipping is usually 9 days and free of you spend 40 bucks.

Let's think this through. Fish have lateral lines, so vibrations and sound affect them. They have eyes, so shapes and colors affect them. They have a sense of feel so texture affects them. They have a sense of smell, so smell and taste affects them. I think most people agree that for bass, the lateral line and vision are the primary trigger senses used, but the other senses have to affect them too. The right scent on the wrong bait is probably like putting perfume on a pig.

New to me this year was the Berkely Dredger . I caught fish on all five sizes and the deepest was at 22 foot. Thats the deepest a lipped crankbait has caught bass for me . Previously my record was about 17 foot .

He’s very reasonable. I think he only charges like $200 for a day on the water.

It wouldnt surprise me if coffee helps . I think Berkely Power Bait and Real Craw both worked .

Not an odd color but had never caught a Humpback bass until yesterday.

First I have to say I rarely fish vertical, I'm almost always casting a ways or at the very least 1/2 casting. In open water (meaning clean(er) bottom of sand, small rock or gravel ~ leader length depends on water clarity for me. So Clean bottom, good vis, length up to say 24 inch and that's max usually it's closer to 14. On clean bottom but less vis I go closer to the bottom say 10-12 inches. On bottoms with grass or "whatever weed" as I don't know the name of it but it's like 4-6 inches of PIA weed, I like to be right above it and to account to variances in vegetation length, I use the ewg hook here. I fish it like 'live bait'. Cast it out leave it. Move it a foot or two, leave it. The LESS I do with it, the more I get bit. btw - if there are pike (or tooth equivalent) around, they eat this deal readily and often bit the whole thing off. Bums me out. This is just a basic guide line and if it's windy I use more but in 15 ft or less I use 1/8 to a 1/4 oz. In more than that & for super long casts in the wind I'll go 3/8 to even a 1/2 or more it's a very deep bite and I want to be sure I'm holding bottom and want to get down to the fish quickly. A-Jay

Time on the water will tell you. I fish brackish so it is always a crap shoot but I can usually tell within a few seconds wether it's a bass, blue gill, catfish, red, Snook, trout, jack, lady fish, etc. Just takes some experience. Easiest to discern is a tarpon. Even the little bitty ones go bats*#& crazy as soon as they feel the hook.