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My definition of a good problem to have - when your crappie weigh more than your bass 😆

Had a fun evening on the river, although I still have bugs all in my eyes. Fish were jumping all over , caught 3-4 SMB, lots of skipjack and a couple white bass . Water temp 66-68, even got some video saw eagles, osprey, herons, tons of cormorants, several deer, and a beaver . The Urban wilderness was hopping

Pulled the boat to a new lake in the metropolitans that held a lot of fish but nothing of size. Still had fun on a wacky finesse worm.

I caught a few today on a variety of different plastics and got to fight a 26” or bigger pike for a little while before it bit through my fluorocarbon. I still have a blast even if the size is lacking, I am still catching fish on this gorgeous day.

Wow is right. Today was the first time using Onetens and smoked them. Over 20 fish, the majority being pickerel (several were very respectable) but did score on a 2 1/2, 3, & 4# bass. The only downside was that they are truely a PITA to unhook. The 4#er required me to actually cut the hook to release it. He must have really blasted it because the lip was broken off. I know the lips are fragile and I didn't snag, or bang it off rocks, so I guess the bass did it. It's a small price to pay for an awesome day on the water.

Toilet paper and/or gas station napkins. The ones from the window cleaning station at the pump are rough, tough, and don't take crap off of nobody.

A couple more things, I like the line through heads. Although they are hard to find locally, 1/8-3/8. The 4” senkos buy one get 50% off just like the crush city. I didn’t really need them but I wanted them for sure.

Except when your foreign neighbor Keith receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters. A-Jay

I went fishing at my favorite big bass lake, and this picture tells the story. The past four years I have caught my PB for the year at this lake. The fishing has been slowing down now that a lodge has discovered it, but this is the best time of year to fish there, I thought maybe fishing at night would solve the problem of pressure from the competition and I planned on fishing the with a few lures the Bait Monkey insisted I buy. I did catch 3 small bass with a combined weight of less than two pounds, so I guess I didn't officially get skunked, but the skunk sure liked the Bait Monkey's new purchases. The skunk was definitely stinking up the place during the night fishing part of the trip. After a three hour drive, I started fishing at 3:15 Am, and didn't catch a fish until 10:30 Am.(it gets light about 6;30) Everything went smooth at night except for one problem. I had the same problem night fishing that I have every time I try catching bass after dark. I don't know why I am such a slow learner, and don't anticipate this aspect of angling at night. I believe it will always make night fishing difficult for me, and maybe I should realize the difficulty before I start planning my next night adventure. I don't have problems with bugs, cold, or my equipment. I have determined the only problem with night fishing, is it is dark at night. I will be fishing at a different lake more this year. I doubt if I will be back to my old favorite again this year. It truly is a paradise lost. I did notice the local lodge doesn't have their boats there any more, so maybe after a couple years, I will have to give it another try.

Over the weekend I picked up a 4lb pond mama on a chatterbait, and a 6lb cat on a spinnerbait.

I figured last fall that I would spend the winter months making baits to try out in the spring. Turns out I hate doing fishy things when I can't go fishing. Now that fishing season is in full swing, I find myself drawn back into lure making again. I spent the evenings yesterday and today clearcoating a couple lures, and starting another one. I'm still pretty new to this whole lure making thing, and I have to work off a card table in my upstairs apartment's living room, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. The unfinished lure pictured has a steel, pivoting back fin, and a steel lip. It actually has some good action when I tried it out on the bathtub. After I get it painted and coated, I'm going to take it to the lake and see what it can do. It was inspired by a couple old lures I saw online.

With good line selection, near equivalent knot strength; equivalent stretch (to mono); equal or better abrasion resistance; near equivalent casting/handling; better refractive index; better density; better sensitivity.

The Millionaire is a highly versatile platform and has been in production since 1998 in the CV-Z which every Millionaire since is based on. It's a no frills design but can be tailored to whatever niche one chooses since it works with spools from 28mm to 34mm and gear ratios from 5.8:1 to 7.2:1. It shares many components with the '03-'19 Alphas/Pixy platform and some parts are a direct swap. While it isn't particularly exciting, that may have to do with the minimal marketing and hype put into it versus models like the Steez and Zillion. 5 years ago, hardly anybody knew the CT SV existed unless they looked at Daiwa Japan's website and saw it in the product line. The platform in general is a blank slate to make what you want. Here are a couple of mine. Millionaire Ringa SSS set up for BFS. Millionaire SW 103 set up for my Detroit River finesse niche. This one uses the spool from a Silver Wolf plus a few other goodies. Do I feel Daiwa is lacking in round reels? Absolutely, same thing with Abu. The commonality between both brands of round reels is that they are blank slates. If they don't make what you are looking for, you can always build your own. Round reels aren't very popular outside of the enthusiast level, the average Joe wants low profile reels so that's where companies spend more on R&D and marketing.

You only experience this at night? I have that feeling all the time. 🤣

Bait monkey adores this thread It pleases him very much

I was invited by an ex coworker to fish on "his" lake. The lake he lives on is semi private. The lake has 1 spot for public access and the rest of it is either wooded or private access. I've known this guy for about 10 years. He's lived on the lake a few years and I have fished it twice, both times for crappies. The grandson pulls a 5 pound LMB out of the lake a couple weeks ago on a minnow from the public access pier. This was my first time fishing from the public pier. No one else caught fish while we were there. I was with the kid so I wasn't fishing, just untangling lines and baiting hooks. There was another bass guy out there throwing jigs and swimbaits. He got nothing. I asked my buddy, later that evening, if he had ever thrown a suspending jerk bait off the pier. Specifically, a 5" Husky Jerk in Baby bass. He said no. I told him I'd be throwing it thru post spawn. He hasn't been getting giants but, he's been getting big numbers of buck bass throwing the HJ, since we spoke. Point of my post. Don't get stuck on one or two presentations. It happens to all of us. Pay attention to everything. A second set of eyes might be all you need to clear your head.

Four new MadKatz 7'6" Poison Ivy med/hvy bait dragging rods.

For me it's the Lin 10 Black Jungle with a Gomexus handle.

Round reels are often used to show the manufacturing prowess of a brand. Abu had the Morrum, Daiwa the Millionaire and Ryoga, and Shimano the Calcutta Conquest. For all intents and purposes, they are statement pieces and their MSRPs reflect that. Back when the exchange rate was less favorable to the US dollar, those reels commanded $500+ when buying from Japan and many never made it to the States as retail models. Low profile reels have dominated the market here for a few decades, while in Japan round reels are much more highly regarded. On that note, Daiwa and Shimano both sell more down-market products such as the Tatula and Curado because the bar for entry is far lower. Not everybody splurges and spends big money on a reel. Many people won't or can't spend on anything but budget offerings. In the case of the Millionaire, it's a blank slate as I said above. Daiwa engineered a versatile reel that they can configure any which way they choose due the the cross compatibility with other more modern offerings. The R&D has been completed for over two decades; it's just a matter of implementing parts from another model to get something "new". That said, we may never see a redesigned Millionaire because 1) it would compete directly with the Ryoga, and 2) it would require extensive engineering in the gearbox to accommodate faster gears without sacrificing durability. As far as palming, the Millionaire CV-Z platform is comfortable and unobtrusive, it doesn't palm like a reel with a higher foot like an Abu Ambassadeur or Penn Levelmatic. While it doesn't palm like a modern Calcutta Conquest, it's still quite excellent and palms comparably well with the first generation Conquest which was noted for its palming ability.

Brinkmann Max Million III Q-beam

Coffee. Any food helps but is secondary to the bean water

I began fishing braid with 20-lb 832 (0.23 mm), 120 yds stacked on top of 25 yds 20-lb mono backing. Tie the braid to mono backing using Allbright/Alberto knot to pass the line guide. This puppy sails and gives my BFS reels a 1/8-oz run for their money, even though it's in my 1/4+ oz niche. I did improve my spool bearings with KTF/IXA MBS, the equivalent of Hedgehog Air HD. You increased the loaded mass of your spool by filling it completely with fine braid, which stacks very efficiently with almost no air gaps in the spool stack. Your loaded spool was lighter before, could start easier, spin faster, and lower spinning mass also needs less brake force - adding up to distance. And if you didn't fill it all the way, the smaller loaded diameter means the spool has to spin faster to cast the same amount of line - also greatly reduces cast distance. The Very Thick mono arbor I describe above stacks so inefficiently in the spool bottom, it has a huge air volume, fills the spool more than halfway, and gives me perfect remaining shallow spool depth for my much thinner working braid. Selah. ps - easy to fix, get a 25-yd spool of Maxima Ultragreen 20-lb, (Amazon sells), spool up your braid on a receiver spool, and start over. Don't use fluoro backing, it's 30% denser (heavier) than mono.

Gosh, I need to start throwing this worm, again. I have lost count of all the SM and LM bass caught on these tings over the years. This is my favorite style jig head to use with them. Either dragging it or swimming it. So freaking deadly.

I knew it would happen some day. The lake the lodge is on is only a few miles away, and known for big numbers, but not large bass. The lake I fished, is very small less than a mile long and commercial fished with nets year around, the bass population was small, but did have some giants. There were a couple of kayak anglers, that would frequently post videos of them catching large bass, including one over 15 pounds at the lake. It was only a matter of time before the lodge owner saw one of these videos, recognized the lake, and started offering his clients one day fishing at this small lake for a chance at a monster, and the rest of the week hitting the lake his lodge is on for numbers. He did have clients catch some trophy bass, and I try and tell myself I should be happy for the lucky anglers that got to land a DD fish on their once in a lifetime trip to Mexico. I am trying my best to take the high road, but a big part of me wishes they would have just gone to Lake Baccarac. I can't complain, the guy that told me about the lake, is friends with one of the guys making the videos, and shouldn't have told me. ( I am really not sure why he did tell me, but I owe him more than I will every be able to repay) I was fortunate to fish the lake at it's peak, and it is time to move on to greener pastures. If it wasn't for loose lips, guiding me to this lake, my PB would probably still be under 6 pounds, so I can't complain about other people not keeping their mouths shut. My new lake is much bigger the a better over all bass population, and last year I landed two over 10 pounds. My biggest problem is the lake is much farther away for me, and word is getting out fast due to more videos. Luckily this new lake can handle much more fishing pressure, and the quality of the fishing, probably wont decline for some time. I'm also checking out a rumor on another lake, and I am hoping to be way ahead of the power curve on this one.

Always enjoyed “tinkering” with my lures just because I could. Adding fine glitter for more sparkle or contrasting color dots or bars to hard lures, paint and dye to soft plastics. I definitely over use jigs it’s my favorite lure to use. My son when he pre teen often picked out a lure that I didn’t think would work and start catching bass, I learned to bite my tongue and let choose what he wanted. Tom

Mostly lmbs now, but in the past, I've fished for all the usual suspects, from brookies to 'bows, from yellow perch to their big brothers, the walleyes, from bluegills to muskies, and on and on.

My port-a-John is a wide mouthed Gatorade bottle. Fits right in the boat. And also one of my fishing dogmas is “poop before you get on the boat”, because Gatorade bottle won’t do much to help that.

The water won’t change much unless you have several warm days and wind.

I need a drink just reading this.

KC Injection Baits 7.5" Water Dog in Fire Tiger

This is my first bass of 2024. The NED rig was the choice lure, wouldn't take the whole plastic so a trimmed it down and that worked.

It’s amazing how when you back it down a little mph wise how much MPG you can start to save. Most highways here are 65 I’ll run 62 towing I’ll gain 2-3 mpg. Less wear and tear on the truck and a couple more pennys saved is a win win. It won’t afford me a new house but, I’ll be able to get a soda on the way home 😂😂

There probably a small percentage of enthusiast's that still have a interest in them . For me they are deader than Abe Lincoln and I grew up fishing them.

You like KVD get a KVD signature rod. Tom

That is an amazing number of big catfish. We're you eating chicken livers before you went out

No need to rotate what works. I think a lot of us are "One trick pony's". I luvvvvvv fishing jigs all year. I'm wise enough to know I shouldn't. I'm not always wise enough to know when to switch it up, only that I should.

I might start trying topwater with water temp in the mid 50s. But I don't expect it to be consistently effective until we're in the 60s, and I give up quickly if nothing's happening -- I'd prefer to avoid the opprotunity cost of force-feeding them something they don't want yet in pre-spawn -- much rather give them something they're more likely to want.

Friday skunk. Saturday went out to Robbins pond, fought the wind. 3.9 saved the day. Sunday got a couple of 3's on a small bog. Tonight got this 5.5 on third cast. Missed a brute that broke off.

What reel is the daiwa with the yellow line? It looks like a steez ct without badging ?

@king fisher sorry brother. I like the anticipation and wonder about where my lure will land. Over a tree limb? Dry land? My ear? I find shorter casts to at times be more effective at night 🙃. I, for one, enjoy night fishing, but I understand your pain. This season should see the majority of my outings after hours. Several reasons why, but if I am to achieve my goal of a DD on pressured water, I feel my odds go up at night when ol sally cannot see quite as well. Still deep!

Always have a 8" zoom lizard rigged on MH baitcaster with 12lb invisx every trip spring, summer and fall...........Green pumpkin or black with tail dipped in chartreuse. Seems to catch better quality bass whereas my brush hog set up catches quantity.

The typical largemouth spring trajectory has them peaking in activity at about 55-58 degrees, and then they slow down a bit ahead of spawning around the low 60s, with smaller, slower presentations working better the closer you get to actual spawn. That's the generalization, at least. Its never ironclad and fish are individuals, with different fish in different stages of the spawn at the same time. It could be the shallow bass you're seeing are slowing down feeding activity and about to spawn. It's possible you'd find more willing pre-spawners at this point behind them, in a little deeper water. It's also possible they're just ignoring lures because there is so much bait. But as I said above, I always have trouble finding a consistent answer too.

Happens here in OH sometimes too. They get super spooky when they're up that shallow in clear water. A TRD bug on a 1/8oz jig head, 6# mono gets em biting for me sometimes. Other times I've had them run from that little thing like it was the Boogie Man when they see it.

Shallow sun baked wood and rock with fairly close deep water is where I'd be looking.

Haircut and fashion police has put in a 2 week seasonal notice. With heavy heart, I will no longer be able to police all the bird nests, facial jungles, holey jeans, and over night re-worn outfits until November again (when I'll be done fishing again for the season). With our gamefish/bass season finally opening up in 12 days, I've got better things to do again than point out all the problems with people's hair and clothes. Voluntary compliance is appreciated. Funding is nearly impossible to come by for deputy help.

The croaker and drum family (scienidae) makes up about 80% of all inshore species around the world. Freshwater drum can be a hoot, also - I caught a 10-lb'er on fly rod fishing off a dock on Lake Livingston. I never ate redfish either, mostly because the slot fish are too big to pan cook well. I went out of my way to catch speckled trout (same family) for fish tacos. Next to flounder, this is pretty much the best food the coast offers. But when my buddy Josh showed me how to grill-blacken half-shell (skin-on) redfish fillets, this became my favorite seafood. You scoop it out of the skin, the vitamin A makes it sweet, and you pick the charred ribs like pork ribs.

I had a pretty good day yesterday. I hit 3 ponds on the South Shore. Pond #1 is shallow and almost void of vegetation because the town treats the water. I managed one bass, about 2 pounds, on a 6" Senko, and a handfull of dink pickerels on a red chatterbait and Rapala BX Brat. Ponds #2 & #3 are both deep bowls. I grabbed two smallies at each, on a combination of a perch Stunna 112+1 and purple/blue flake swim Senko. There were many more beds since my last trip here and there were fish on them. Water temps were 57.x, 56.x, and 54.x, respectively. It was pretty blue-bird but chilly for late April.

Possibly the cheapest thing ever posted in this thread. $1.94 at Wal-Mart. Just a plastic 8.5" pen case/storage box. I like pouring a little bit of Bait Fuel in it and then let plastics marinate in there throughout the day. I don't like pouring it into bags of plastics because it get get kind of gooey after sitting a long time if you don't use them all that day. Not to mention it seems to soften the plastics up if it's in with them for days/weeks. There's latches on the sides, but I don't know if it's leak-proof if tipped over or turned on it's side. I just keep it laying flat at all times. https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwingorEpuCFAxVwNggFHbUoCIwYABALGgJtZA&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BO3cDcfxTY7ctKndQUqMycVaJBXd2JTLPheau5LRSHMJG6DxXpN76BoCngsQAvD_BwE&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESVeD2vaalP0wwb4msRZUJiaJaY-kekc9z5hFu_538uuiBXIZgAD5vW-XkySgAA5mqDcgsBSBd7ueh-52KxyYNif1zTINzJWVcsBYIrkSwxaa7oxTZiYA&sig=AOD64_1cDRzIj5EWFz8jxraMOZ2kMeoa3w&ctype=46&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwjopIPEpuCFAxXMrokEHbmNC9MQ9aACKAB6BAgEECo&adurl=

"Needed" a light action rod for finesse swimbaits and drop shot and I couldn't pass up the Flyssa. Always have to replenish senkos and I'll be testing these square bills now that our bass have moved up.