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Broke my skunk streak tonight. With three dinks and this one. Good solid fight the hole way. Inhaled a vile bug with some liquid Mayhem from a mtb rubbed on it. Honestly I thought it was gonna be a little heavier.

Caught this dink on a fluke this afternoon. I was lucky to land him because I accidentally pressed the spool down before setting the hook. Took me about five seconds to get up all the slack and set the hook but he was still on. I didn't weigh it but I think it's safe to say that it was at least ten pounds, right? ? Does my face make you feel uncomfortable?

For all around frogs it is hard to beat the booyah pad crasher. Both the regular and popping versions. I also like the jackall kaera frog for pressured areas or when they want a smaller more compact bait. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the spro king daddy is a giant frog that can get some giant blow ups. Its big and heavy and works well in heavy mats. Spro bronzeye is another solid frog. I only throw 3 colors of frogs. Black, natural, and white. And i only care about what color the belly is not the top. The fish isnt going to be looking at the top of the frog anyways. And dont forget to pick up some toads and some plopping style frogs with the swimbait tail attatched.

Even if it were New Tires Lunch Plates, I'm not ordering one...lol! ?

Tis the season! My wife hates this time of year when I bring out my "Major Award."

Just hung a rebuilt Merc 150 on my TV18, iv'e been rebuilt and I'm good to go.Ain't quittin till they pry my rod and reel from my cold dead hands

If they come out with shants I'll shart.

Hi everyone, We're on the cusp of some exciting changes in our business and as a result I'm not able to take any reels for service at this time. Anything here or in transit will be handled with the care you've come to expect. I'm available for consultation and any assistance I can offer. I'm not going anywhere. More to follow Thanks! Mike

As another open water season wraps up, I enjoy looking back through my logs, reports & pics to see how it all shook out. Now I’ll admit that at this point in my angling life, I might not always use the presentation that may be best suited for the conditions I fish. Rather, I like to catch fish on what I like to catch fish on. So some of this best bait stuff could be more like – favorite baits that caught fish. Either way here is it; I’ll break it down by seasons. And please feel free to add your own selections to this thread should the mood strike you. May – June Baits Ice out was late this year first week of May in fact. But the jerkbait still play this whole time. The SK KVD 300 & 300 Deep as well as the Megabass ITO Vision 110 and the 110+1 were again very good. As well as the Megabass Ito Vision 110 FX Tour Premium; especially where & when I was looking for extra casting distance. Once I had worked an area over with the hard baits, a drop shot often would pick up a few extra bites for me. A nose hooked 4 inch SK Caffeine Shad was the best bait here for me early season. And I rarely ‘did’ anything with it. Just get it around the smallies and they’d eat it. On a few of the larger & especially deeper lakes, where a jerkbait could not reach them, the Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration Tungsten Lippless bait – fished like a Blade Bait, is a great early (and late) season ‘search bait’ for me. I can effectively cover quite a bit of water at various depths looking for active fish. Love this one. Honorable mention goes to the Z Man TRD – Ned Rig Deal as well as the OutKast Feider Fly Hair Jig. Both saved more than one early season trip for me when the bite was tough. July – August Baits Admittedly this ‘summer’ I did not have a ton of days on the water. Life happens and that’s just how it worked out. This is a time when I’m often on the water after dark as well as the traditional early morning trips. But this summer only saw a handful of both. At Night - I’m a single hook bait kind of guy. So a Jig & Craw, Spinnerbaits, & vibrating jigs do most of my nocturnal heavy lifting. Specifically, ½ SK DB Structure jig or a (can't say the name - pm me ) Flip N Swim jig with a SK Rage Lobster or Eeliminator trailer, a ½ oz SK Greg Hackney Heavy Cover Spinnerbait (changed to an Oklahoma blade) and either a SK Rage Blade or once I got a few, the Z-Man Jackhammer. Trailers for the moving baits at night are often a small swimbait or the Yamamato Zako. For day time ops, this summer saw me fishing a SK Rage Swimmer and for the first time the Keitech Impact Fat Swimbait. Both on a 3/8 Owner Ultrahead Football head Jig. These were productive for me when swam right along or dragged on the bottom – really like the Keitech (except for the price). As the August calendar page came down, the fishing REALLY picked up. So did my time on the water. Spinnerbaits, Topwater Walkers & Poppers and the Umbrella rig were killing it – and on some plus sized smallmouth bass. Kept throwing the Whopper Plopper btw- just not getting bites with it yet. Until it’s untimely theft by a big pike – the Paycheck Baits Repo Man walking bait was The Walking Bait for me; accounting for several 5+ lb smallies. Since then it’s been replaced fairly effectively by the SK Sexy Dawg and the River2Sea Rover. The Megabass Pop Max is The Only Popper I throw any more – Just super effective including taking a smallie over 6 this season. The SK Burner Spinner bait has again proven it’s worth in my box as well as both the ½ & ¾ oz Biovex Stangun Spinnerbait. And for the first time for me, the SK short arm Titanium Umberlla rig did some real damage. I used the 4 & 5 inch SK Swim N Shiners on 1/8 & ¼ VMC Boxer Jig head (has a really great hook). September – October September has traditionally been a fantastic time for both number & size on smallies. Not this year. The spinnerbaits I’ve mentioned above produced well as did the Vibrating bait. But this is where the SK RES and the SK Squarebill baits really come into their own. Never Happened and I have no explanation as to why very few fish on my waters came up (and more importantly Stayed) shallow long enough for this bite to materialize. Which is a bummer because when that’s a thing - it’s one heck of a fun day of fishing. Finally the number ONE producer for me on both numbers & size of smallies for these two months has been the SK Rage Bug on a swing head and second place here is not close (like on another planet). During this period I probably fished this at least 75 % of the time and accounted for that same percentage of fish. Might have been the way the season shook out with the fast cooling colored from the all the rain water – can’t say. Just know I went through some 4/0 ewg hooks & a ton of bugz. Loved every minute of it though. November & December Although we’re not quite there yet – it won’t be long. And if I can get out I most certainly will. Bass fishing opportunity these last two months before hard water, really starts to get super weather dependent and often dwindles quite a bit in numbers. Blustery Cold North winds and waves too big to fish in are very common. When I can get out, a blade bait and a heavy lippless rattle bait fished like a blade bait are just about all I’ll throw once the water gets to the low 40’s and below. The 5/8 & 3/4 oz Silver Buddy – in both silver and Gold, get it done. And the Duo Realis G-Fix Virbating bait (again fished like a blade bait) see’s a ton of action and just flat out catches. Many times smallies will slurp these bait up as they lay motionless on the bottom between small hops. That’s my story and I’m stick’in to it. A-Jay

This head-turner is the new concept truck cap from A.R.E. Definitely a big change from "traditional" caps, and a glimpse into future innovations. https://www.4are.com/

I think your avg person doesn't realize how physical fishing can be.

Pad crasher. Buy 6. On sale and or with a discount coupon/code, and they'll be like $4 each.

G3 Eagle 175. Pictures and story to come Saturday after I get her in my possession.

Stopped by my local dsg. They had the Sprinker discounted at $12 and it was on the buy 5 get 5 rack. They came out to about $6 per frog. I've noticed a variety of reviews with this frog. But, I guess i better start liking them after tonight's purchase.

Temps in 60s yesterday for probably last time until March, so used a vacation day. Was a dink sort of day for first several hours until this guy came along

In looking at the MLF site, it appears the results for the BPT will be available as they happen via their website. I didn't see anywhere listing whether the streaming will be free or if it will be by subscription. The Cups (4) & Championships (2) will all be in the former Cup format, shot "in the dark" & shown the following year. So the Cups & Championships that are created in the first year of BPT won't be aired until 2020, during the 2nd year of BPT. That could create an issue for some up & coming anglers. For example, lets say Hunter Shryrock has a great year, wins 2 of the Cups and 1 of the Championships. Rather than being able to cash in on that right away by signing sponsorship deals as he is "hot", he is going to have to wait a year until his wins are revealed and he gains the status that he could cash in on. If he happens to be having a poor run on the 2nd year of the BPT while his Cup & Championship runs are being shown, sponsors may shy away, concerned that fans may consider him a flash in the pan. Ironically, if Boyd Duckett had had to wait a year for his Classic win to be shown, it probably would have cost him a lot. He had an incredible 2007 and was sought after by many sponsors as the next big thing. Since then, he has been consistently mediocre, never living up to the promise of that great 2007 year. Had Duckett been forced to hold off showing his 2007 results while he was in the midst of a below average 2008 year, he might never had gained a foothold in Pro Fishing to the point where he created MLF...

ummm….it was an accident. That's all it was. Just an accident and you can't prove otherwise. Maybe it was the spider that did it, you don't know. I demand a lawyer. A good one. I ain't sayin' nuthin' more.

That is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. And they have $309 raised so far. ? Read some of the names of the donors and its funny as heck. Mrs. Peterman, OJ Simpson, Bills Defense, EJ Manuel.

It looks like the Elites are going to be 75 anglers instead of 80, either because BASS couldn't find 5 more anglers or they felt the quality of angler would be slipping if they chose whatever remaining anglers there were. I think that may end up being a positive, because by definition, Elite should be something scarce. You should have to prove yourself to make it. There is talk of how the Elite series is minor league now with the angler changes. I think that is wishful thinking, for participants don't determine whether a league is minor or major, rather the other way around. Leagues, through attrition, determine which participants are considered major league versus minor league. As proof, ask yourself why those pros like Wheeler, Ehrler, Tharp and others who started & made money elsewhere became household names (as much as fishermen can) only after they joined the Elite series? All these guys have always have had top notch talent, but it wasn't until they made the major leagues (Elite Series) that they became known to the more casual observer. Most casual anglers did not know who Jordan Lee or Justin Lucas were five years ago. All that has really happened over the past few months is a bunch of the anglers have basically gone on strike & formed another league and a new set of anglers have taken their place in the Elite Series. Attrition at a steroid, artificial level. Now, if BASS screws up and makes changes that diminish their league, then they may end up becoming minor league. MLF has an opportunity to surpass them as the premier league, but it won't because who they have attracted, it will be based on how their organization operates. We will find that out over the next 5-10 years, but in the meantime, the Elite Series still is the major league of bass fishing. IF it wasn't, I don't think Johnny Morris would have hedged his bet by signing a new sponsorship deal with them.

My nickname to my friends is full throttle and 30 years of manual labor will do some damage to your body,I do miss power fishing but sitting down and worm fishing has made me notice alot more things in the areas I'm fishing and slowed my presentation down and in turn producing more fish funny how things work out?

Have had my share of 'injuries' over the years. Many of them were self induced and usually revolved around me being a victim of my own (over) enthusiasm. Currently working on my 60th trip around the sun. I've tried to keep in at least 'fishing shape' for most of it. Best way for me to be able to fish tomorrow, is to do something about it today. A-Jay

It beats out my $19.99 red buffalo plaid shacket from Walmart. But then again I can use the $150 I saved and scratch my bait monkey itch with a new rod and reel.

Congrats to my friend Yusuke Miyazaki getting back into the Elites. Besides being a Yamamoto pro, he and his family have become friends. Yusuke is a grinder and between his lure designing for major manufacturers and the time he spends back in Japan promoting the sport and guiding, I hope he has a successful run. I met him through one of my sponsors (SPRO) when I lived in Florida and he stayed with me for 2 weeks prefishing. Gave me some real insight to the day in and day out work these guys put in. He and his family also stayed with me here in Virginia (wife and 3 kids) while he prefished the Potomac and I stored his boat while he and the family went back to Japan. Great guy, great family and a fantastic ambassador for the sport. Looks like I get house guests again. Pics are of his boat at my house in VA and him fine tuning some cranks in my pool in FL.

That's what it was....Italian. French, Italian I was close they're both salad dressings. Thanks!

It's not that they are rebranded, it's that they are all under Pure Fishing, and the reels are made by Doyo. You're right, there aren't exact models in Pflueger and Abu flavors. My only experience with recent offerings are from the Abu line. My Revo SX has the dual braking system, though, and it's really good stuff. I haven't done any light bait testing, but that's more about the spool and start up.

Congrats!! Next stop the double fluke rig/donkey rig

"Fra-jeel-ay. Must be Italian." Congrats on the boat!

Guiding for 15 years has helped me in my "advanced" years.... I'm 61. I have always said that hardcore fishing works a whole set of muscle groups that you don't normally use and unless you tailor a workout routine to specifically address those groups, you can be really surprised on how someone can be in good shape and a day of "combat" fishing will tear them up. I've seen it hundreds of times on guide trips where clients are tuckered out and sitting down after 5 hours into an 8 hour trip. I may look fluffy and out of shape but I can still hardcore fish for 12 hours in any conditions. Yes, my back feels it a little more nowadays (losing some of my fluff would help with that) but otherwise, I'm good to go. Spending a lot of days on big water when it is rocking and not just fishing when conditions are perfect helps keep my balance sharp and me in what we call "fishing shape". After the winter lazyies, we make a very concerted effort to get in a couple of weeks of hardcore marathon fishing to get in fishing shape for our annual trip to St Clair. As anybody who fishes hardcore knows, a full week of sunup to sundown fishing on big water, no matter the conditions, will flat out tear you up if you are not ready for it. I don't ever want to let my body think that there is any other way to fish and barring a major injury or health problem, I have no plans to slow down.

A chronic bad back and arthritis limit the time I can sit and paddle my canoe but I try not to let it spoil my fun. I'm happy when I can get out and enjoy the outdoors.

when at 40, I heard "60 is the new 40" I thought that might be a a load of crap, now 3 years from 60, I'm convinced of it. Everyone's body will react to aging and a lifetime of use and abuse differently, but all of us will have to adapt to our increasing physical limitations as time goes on, time and tide, you know...

I just turned 51 got a very physical job been doing it for 30 years starting to really feel it,before I could stand all day on boat deck just throw and throw now it's become more sit down throw worm out there and work it slow,all that said I'm very happy I can still physically do my job and still be able to fish and enjoy being on the water.

been using this model -- pflueger supreme -- for 20 yrs...yrs. ago davy hite and mark davis represented pflueger...times change... good fishing...

I am partial to the Keitech's, R.I. Skinny Dippers. and GYCB swim senkos. Fat impact, Skinny Dipper, and 5" Swim Senkos on belly weighted hooks, larger jig heads, or as swim jig trailers Swing impacts, Little dippers, and 4" Swim Senkos on small jig heads, and finesse swim jigs. With Keitech's have to be careful and not "overweight" them, it really hinders their full potential. For example, on a 3/8's swim jig, 3/3.5/4" Swing impacts tail will kick, but you won't get the body "quiver and roll" as the weight of the jig head stymies it. But a 3.8 Fat Impact on that same weight jig is like magic. Now drop down to a 1/4 oz swim jig, and trim the skirt up to a "northern style" 1/2 cut finesse skirt, and the swing impacts shine. Dippers and Swim Senkos are not as fussy, which is why I still use plenty of them.....but they also don't seem to produce like the Keitech's do when you get the combo dialed in just right.

It's French! Serious bummer! What else is a bummer is tomorrow there will be a tin boat making it's way tlfrom Indiana to it's new home (mine) and I can't even play with it this year. I'll get to say hi, welcome her to the family and put her to bed until April. ?

I have spent a ton of money looking for the perfect fb jig rod for under $350. Here is what I have bought and used: 1. Powell Endurance 714 cef (Great rod. Handles jigs up to 3/4oz really well. Perfect action, but a little short for my liking) 2. Powell Endurance 775 cef (A little too stiff for fb jigs IMO) 3. Dobyns Champion 735 (GREAT rod. THis and the Powell 714 would be tied for my 2nd favorite) 4. Dobyns Champion Extreme 784 ML (Favorite fb jig rod for 1/2-3/4oz figs BY FAR) 5. G Loomis E6x 894C JWR (eh, it works, but not very sensistive) 6. Megabass Destroyer x7 EMFT ($600+ rod. Most Ive ever spent on a rod only to be let down. It’s rated for up to 1oz, but starts getting over powered at 1/2oz) 7. Phoenix Recon 764 (Now my flutter spoon rod. Didn’t handle jigs well IMO) 8. St. Croix LTB 7’1” MH/F (Hated the way this rod felt. Super tip heavy)

Had $20 left on a BPS card so I stopped at the Harrisburg store and picked up some Kalin's 5 inch grubs. Those will get plenty of use. Also bought some GY Shad Shape Worms. Heard they are good for drop shotting.

On an island in the China Sea, 1994. "...I stood at the top of the mountain And China sang to me In the peaceful haze of harvest time A song of eternity..." -Tai Shan (Rush)

Find the bait the bass should be close. Lots of rain has passed through Texas the last 2 weeks so your lake is probably on the rise, the bass moving into new brush shore cover, that is where I would start to look. If the lake hasn't risen then I would look around long points and off shore humps using your T-rigged soft plastics where you find baseball size rocks. Tom

With water temps around 60, the topwater bite should be great early and can last all day sometimes. I make them tell me they wont eat it! Second, in your kakak, a dropshot around wood or grass is a great bait because you can slide quietly right in on the fish and they never know you are there. Just drop it right on them. It just takes 1 bite and you are back in the game!

There are many factors that determine what feels cold when fishing in the winter. I've found that if the fish are really bitting it feels about 20 degrees warmer.

Turtle would be my guess.

The logo covers up the login so much that I sometimes spend 5+ minutes trying to find that sweet spot so that I can click on the member sign-in without accidentally clicking the logo and just going to the home page. Does anyone know an easier way to sign in?

Just finished up this build. Got the blank back in early summer and took this long to decide what to do with it lol. Rainshadow Eternity 6'10" Medium Extra Fast blank with Minima guide train. I turned the reel seat from a walnut blank. Bought a laser engraver during this project but had to get the good old wood burner to get the small mouth on the grip. Turned out great can't wait to get it on the water.

Cosmic Shad is a killer!

www.thehookuptackle.com started there 20% off sale code: save20

Why not?

Next to "I Think I'm Going Bald" and "Madrigal" possibly the worst Rush song ever, lol. Viewing results, turns out, Mothra is dead.

Hey Fellas I fished Chesdin Sunday and it was on fire. Talked to other guys at the boat ramp and they said they got skunked. We didn’t catch anything huge but we caught plenty decent sized fish. I’m planning to hit the James Saturday with a tournament Sunday. Any tips?

Average weight is about 3 lbs or 2-4 lbs. On one of my best trips I caught 15 smallmouth, 8 over 5 lbs. Best day overall was at a BassResource Roadtrip, 78 (mixed) in one day. Best year was a combined total with my friend Speedy Madewell, 52 over 5 lbs. Speedy's best, which I netted and weighed, was 10 lbs in November of 2004. My PB was caught in January 2005 along with another beauty featured in my avatar, just over 7 and just over 8 lbs.

I get there as the sun is coming up and fish until late afternoon. My biggest bass of the year was on January 2nd in the morning hours. The temperature on that day? TUE 1/2 Actual Temp 22° /-1°