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Awesome picture from a friend on Facebook ?

had a break in the cold weather and decided to head to the local power plant lake, to try out my new Kastking speed demon pro jerkbait rod. Put a tatula ct on it and threw a yozuri jerkbait around for 4 hours. The combination worked great. caught several white bass and wipers on the upper hot side of the lake. water temp was 54 degrees. went to the cold lower end of the lake and caught these 2 bass. water temp was 49 degrees. No monsters, but still gave the new rod a decent workout. felt good to get out on the water after a week of unseasonably cold weather.

Tucker & I on the way down the trail this morning. He seems to be wanting to know ~ "When do I get to pull the sled ? " ? A-Jay

I don't have spring lures I don't have summer lures I don't have fall lures I don't have winter lures I have bass lures that I use on different structure, in different cover during different seasons!

Snow is falling and chili is on 3 hours in, a few more to go

Another beautiful day chasing pheasants around in the sunshine.

If you know the running depths of your crankbaits, pick on that runs at, or just above the level that you're marking fish. Don't think that just because a crank isn't bouncing off cover or the bottom, they won't produce. The most productive retrieve I've found in sub 60 degree water is to crank the bait down to its running depth and then work it with the rod tip in short to long sweeps until you figure out how they want it. BTW, the best baits for this are either suspending or slow rising cranks. This is also a situation where jigging spoons really shine. You can target both the suspended fish and those on the bottom and they really shine in the cooler water situations.

Cold water for me is less than 50. Which usually means the first few weeks (depending on the year, but usually from early to mid/late April ) of my fishing after ice-out in the spring, and the few weeks of open water fishing before I put the boat away (again, year dependent, but usually very late Oct-mid. Nov.) My cut off in the fall is sub 40 degree water or terrible weather...which ever comes first, this year it was weather. In the spring, I used to be rip-roaring to go after a long lull due to winter, and would fish for a week or two in sub 40 degree water before it warmed to over 40, it was always terribly slow, so the last few years I have been less willing to get right out there until the ice has been gone a good week or so. With that out of the way, I have several go-to baits and techniques for cold water fishing. Some are tailored for targeting smallmouth, some for largemouth, and some for both at the same time. Smallmouth specific: #1 by a wide margin is a 1/2 vibrating silver buddy style blade bait. Largemouth specific: #1 is a 3/8 oz chatterbait worked as slow as I can keep it vibrating in shallow water. Stuff that works equally well for both depending on location is: Suspending Jerkbaits Lipless crankbaits Compact heavy finesse football jigs with small craw trailers, without a lot of action Ned Rig Neko Rig Tubes fished old school with internal tube jig heads Small action-less plastics like Roboworm zipper grubs, R.I. Smallie Beavers, Poor Boys Erie darters fished on football jig heads with just enough weight for bottom contact for the depth/wind I am faced with that day. When they do seem to want action out of plastics in cold water, I find that more subtle "flowing" and swimming type actions like that offered by Hula grubs, double tail grubs, single tail grubs, and small swimbaits fished on various jig heads to be more productive than hard kicking high action baits like Paca Craws, Rage tail stuff, etc...

How about when things aren't going well? Bad cast with a bait caster TANGLED Getting it fixed CASTAWAY Your main motor dies seven miles out, you run back on the TM THE LONGEST DAY On the way back the battery on your TM dies HELP Waiting to get your boat back from the shop during fishing season ENDLESS SUMMER

This still image was created by a Japanese neurology professor Yamamoto, and he told the instructions below: If its not moving, or just moving a little, you are healthy and has slept well. If its moving slowly, you are a bit stressed or tired If its moving continuously, you are over-stressed and might have mental problems. But I think it's moving backwards for me, so I must be all jacked up ! ? A-Jay

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.....?

NOS (new old stock) circa 1946.

I’ve been pretty depressed lately because I’ve been too busy with training/work to get out fishing much. On top of that, the lake near my house that just really started producing this year is closed and being drained due to zebra mussels. So now, when I do get a small window of time to fish I can’t. Additionally, its winter in Nebraska and the water about to get hard. Since the lake by my house is being drained, I thought I’d try to make the best of it. I have lost a dozen or so crankbaits in that lake due to some landscape mat-like material they put around the jetties. Today, since the lake was really drawn I went to go see if I could find any of them. Specifically, I was looking for a 6th Sense Flat 75 in the original Wild Lava Craw pattern that is no longer available. Long story short, I found it and about 100 other baits including a Deps 175, some megabass jerkbaits and some original wiggle warts! Now I need your help restoring them. I plan to replace the hooks on all of them and the split rings on most. However, I need help figuring out the best way to clean them up. So, I am asking for tips on how to restore these baits. Share your experience down below. Thanks!

6 hours in and it's awesome \

Both

Looks promising. Is the Guinness for the chef or the chilli?

Is Liar, Liar taken?....

Ive been using cbd oil, 1200 mg, for about 4 months now. I had arthritic hips, knees and left foot. It was the worst in the middle of the night, I would wake up and my knees would be killing me. After starting the cbd oil, it took a couple days, and no more pain. I sleep thru the night, often I don't even get up to go pee. I'm so glad i started taking it.

FIFY Skynyrd....

X3 on the HooDaddy, it's a big fish bait.

I, like Ajay, fished Lamiglas SR705-765R glass rods. I still have my SR705R. I wanted something lighter, more sensitive and less bulky but still moderate. The answer was the Champion 705CB Glass which is composite. Since then I discovered the Champion line has all graphite moderate action rods in the crankbait "CB" line. I consider these MID tier rods. Like Ajay, this series is what "I like", works for me and is extremely effective for the way I fish. As for high end top tier, they are FEEL rods.

Most deadliest Gene Larew's ?

Spring turkey hunt from May. Had 2 gobblers come in around 9:30am after hearing them off in the distance most of the morning, and I picked out the nicer one.

The view I had for 8 hours today. When a 200lb whitetail can walk across the water, you know it’s time to start thinking about winterizing the boat ( but not until next week when I’m done hunting). Guess you could call this a major deer crossing. Takes lots of hooves to make that many marks on a rock.

A friend of mine's new PB ~ 12.23 lbs Just obscene. ? A-Jay

There are probably more quality rods at this price point than any! One could go to Tackle Warehouse, open the casting rod menu, select any brand & have very sensitive rod. It ultimately comes down to who is holding the rod!

There seems to be a lot of members that are not catching bass, some are just starting out and a few have never caught one. If that's where you are, then this short piece is for you. If you want to start catching some bass, follow these instructions EXACTLY, no modifications or adjustments. Equipment: Medium or Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action spinning rod and reel. #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL. Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks. 1 bag GYCB 5" Senkos, watermelon with black flakes (194) 1 bag GYCB Fat Ika (194) Place: A pond at least 5 acres in size, preferably with some bottom features or contour. Or, if you have access to big water, a well defined cove, not a bay. Whether you fish from a boat or the shore, you will fish exactly the same way. Method: Start with the Senko. Cast parallel to the bank, 10-15 yards off the shoreline. Let the bait sink to the bottom, count to 30 (as in 30 seconds) then move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to fall on slack line. Count to 10, then repeat. Continue all the way back, move ten steps forward and repeat. Fish the ENTIRE shoreline regardless of whether you see cover or structure. Fish two Senkos and if you are still not catching bass, switch to the Fat Ika and fish it until you lose it. Don't switch back and forth. Fish the Fat Ika EXACTLY like you fished the Senko. To make this testing fair, you need to spend at least one hour out fishing, two would be better. You can't hurry and you must stay focused. If you don't catch a bass after two trips or four hours of fishing, you need to find new water.

http://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation?permalink_uri=2QzOmeg&image_url=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.constantcontact.com%2F1f1d0b0a401%2F15974d6a-5c45-45e7-b755-e259d0ab016d.jpg

Brent Chapman signs with KastKing as pro staff to compete in the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Series with KastKing pro tournament level fishing tackle. https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/Bass-Fishing-Pro-Brent-Chapman-Joins-KastKing

Agree with you on EVA, I wrapped the IROD XH swimbait and Freds frog rod with Wynn wraps. Premium cork is what I prefer, it's getting hard to find and don't like cork with fillers that degrade. Tom

I hear that. I have a bit of a haul to get to a decent shop also. So I'm not running to the tackle shop all that often. Almost never in season. But you mention Cabelas, if you were to have them order in a couple or few rods that you were certain one or so would be that right fit, than just take what will work for you. All will work out. I have my heart set on getting the Abu Garcia "Winch" for X-mas. Than I'll make it a winter project to find the right rod. There is a "Winch" rod but i don't want to buy it sight unseen. I've touched the Reel and I like it.

You were using IROD IRG744C @$149 price point a few years ago and liked it. Not sure what you using today? Iam familiar the IRG744C and consider it a decent bottom contact rod for it's price and the rod I tried had a standard guide train. I have no idea why the Op uses mono with FC leader? the knot definately would problem with micro guides. Tom

That 6" Hoo Daddy has landed me quite a few quality bass over the years. Smother it in Hawg Sauce, flip/pitch into the cover and hold on, because they are going to slam it!

All I have are 6th Sense Hybrid and swim jigs.......love them, it's all I need. I do tend to use the swim jig a bit more as there a lot of weeds where I fish so I even use them in instances you normally wouldn't.

I miss spoke I have a W&M glass rod and I have a KVD Tour cranking stick and I believe that is a composite. I thought in ome of your videos this year you were using a vibrating jig on a KVD cranking rod. I got the idea from you so if I'm mistaken and you weren't using one thanks anyway. ?

@ItsHardwick @gilkeybr I've played around with them. I like their flipping jigs a lot.

Ahhhh, go back to your igloo.

First welcome. I'm sure you will get a lot of different advice on the forum. Here are some of my thoughts. I would not worry about your rod and reel combos at this point. You seem to like them and that's what's important. I would suggest you focus more on what's working for you. I'm not saying you should never try different things but you'll have more success mastering a few techniques. A texas rig is a technique that works for beginners and experts. I would work on becoming a great texas rig fisherman. Find what works best for you and try to improve on it. Try experimenting with your presentation. Try fishing faster and slower. Try different weights and try the bait without a weight. Try differnent colors and sizes of the creature bait that's been working for you and try different baits. Look for patterns that work and repeat them. Are they hitting in shallow water or deeper water? Are they close to cover? What type of cover? Most import, keep fishing! You'll only get better.

Think I would have gone wade fishing. ?

After several setbacks over the course of a couple years I finally got to pull the trigger and upgrade boats! Originally the plan was a brand new boat this spring, but kind of counted my chickens before they hatched and didn't get the job that would have allowed me the extra income to get one. I've been searching for a couple months now and didn't find anything I liked or wanted in my price range. I found a Tracker in Kalamazoo at KVD's brother's store. The price was towards the top of my budget, it didn't have any graphs, and no cover, so there would only be money left over for a cover. So I debated for a week and as a Hail Mary I got on CL one last time and expanded my search radius a little further and said "if I don't find anything it's meant to be I get the Tracker". So I hit search scroll through and find the one! A nice G3 Eagle 175, 50 hp Yamaha, Helix 5 DI at the bow, and a Helix 7 SI G2N. The boat is in excellent condition with only a minor 3" tear in the seat. The price was below budget which is always nice, but it was in Indiana. I was able to talk him down $500 and he agreed to drive to the state line. I talked to my brother and he agreed to pick it up since he isn't too far away from the state line. He met the guy, checked the boat and outboard out (thankfully he works at a marina part time so I trust him) all was good. After waiting forever today I hear from him and he's able to meet up with me. It was getting dark so I left it covered for the night, I'll post more pics Sunday. Now begins the long 5 month wait before I can even get it in the water. Oh well, time will go by fast.

No. I typically carry 6-8 casting rods on the boat, and 4 spinning. This year, just because of circumstances, spinning gear got used A LOT.

I have both baitcasters and spinning rigs. I have used spinning more this year than before. I throw a lot of Ned rigs and drop shots. Spinning is sure more easy on you shoulders arm and wrist. Nothing wrong with spinning for all, Tom Mann did a pretty good job of it.

Oh! In that case I'm gonna go find a used GoPro and a selfie stick...

Yes, but you won't get the pro staff discount.

Fishing here has been sllllllllooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww for me this fall. A turd ton of rain has literally flooded and turned over almost every lake that’s within 6 hours of here. We went from late summer fishing to almost winter fishing in a week. After being skunked or nearly skunked on the last few trips I did manage to catch 5 over the weekend. My biggest was around 3.5. One dink on a squarebill, the rest on Texas rigged soft plastics dragging bottom super slow. Feelin the crunch now, seems like the rest of this year is flying by, and running out of time to get on some more big girls before true winter hits.

Well, we got into some numbers. My brother caught a 7 lb largemouth on his second cast! We caught 42 smallmouth, but failed to land three MONSTERS. Several jumps including one right next to the boat for my brother. The Helios performed flawlessly. I am VERY impressed.

Geo, that’s an ongoing joke up here on the Fellsmere Resevoir ramp. The state keeps saying “ next year” but they’ve been saying that for the last few. The story is some genius ( who no longer works for the state) agreed to let the new landowners have the final decision on anything the state does with the lake/ property. Who would agree to something like that? If and when they build it and open it to power boats, they’ll have a HUGE job on their hands first. The new lake is so overgrown with hydrilla it looks like a cow pasture. The kayak guys can’t even get on it. What a cluster. Oh and Geo, I grew up in Plantation (we were one of the first houses west of 65th ave). I fished all your favorite lakes/areas back in the late 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s.

No. 15# braid has the strength rating of 15# mono. It has the diameter of 4# mono. So you get better strength and castability in a smaller line compared to mono. 20# braid is about 6#, and 30# braid is about 8# mono, and 40# braid is about 10# mono. In diameter. and 50# braid has the diameter of about 12# mono. May I suggest something? It sounds like you are still trying to get your feet wet on some basic things, and you are planning to use spinning-only "for now". I was a spinning-only person for many years, even for punching, pitching, frogging, etc., until recently. But I also never bought expensive rods like an Avid. I have and still use a MH spinning spinning rod for some things -- it's an adequate rod (a blackout), but it's emphatically not a $200 rod. I am very glad I never spent $200 on a MH spinning rod because most of the things I used to use MH spinning for, including jigs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and other heavier lures, I now use casting for. Had I bought a higher-end MH spinning rod, say, 4 years ago when I was using that sort of thing more often, by now i would certainly wish I had gotten an MHF casting rod for these presentations instead. I have no problem recommending an Avid X spinning rod --my preference is the 68MXF, but as you can see here good cases have been made for the MLXF and for the MF. But for the other, heavier things you want to throw, be very sure that 2, 3, 4 years down the road you aren't going to wish you had gotten a casting rod instead. Good, expensive rods should be things you'll be happy using a lot, for a long time. If you are dead set on getting two AVID X rods, get one spinning (ML or M) and one MH-F casting instead of two spinning, unless you have very good reason to believe you will not wish you had gotten a casting rod instead a couple years down the road. Alternatively, buy a lower end MH spinning rod ($50-$100 range) for your heavier baits to use for now, with the understanding that your tastes may change with experience, and possibly sooner than you think.