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And therein lies the biggest obstacle to this concept actually working, because the goal among most all fisheries departments across the country is not to produce trophy fisheries, but instead, to maximize sustainable harvest and yield. Outside of Oklahoma’s new bass regulation and a handful of specific waters in certain states, minimum length limits are the rule and probably always will be. There is very little desire on the part of state fisheries to create trophy focused waters. Additionally, once you get above a certain sized body of water, your ability to control harvest and enforce regulations is highly diminished, and increasingly cost prohibitive, and so subsequently, your desired outcome will likely fail.

Well the cold finally landed, got the boats out Tuesday to avoid the snow and sleet. Here's my last gasp at feeling my fingers while fishing. Couple city bass from shore, dragging a little tube yet again; And here's the last days of having the bigger boat out, the bite was a little more open, shaking a minnow, mid column walking the dog with a BayRuff, and aggressively working a tailspin in the bottom third of the water column with my first fish caught in over 30' fow. scott

Just practicing lol

Got a few Level rods I've been wanting to check out. Very nice rods, especially at the price (and especially on sale). They also balance perfectly with lighter reels. I may buy a few more for Christmas gifts. Then just a handful of stuff I needed to restock on and a few things I bought just because they were so cheap (and goofy-looking). A bird flipping bait and nymph by Fish Lab. The nymph with definitely work on a ned head. The wings are extremely thin/limp, which should provide some additional action under water with the slightest of movement. I do like these little no-action craws by Venture Lures on finesse jigs in the early spring. And then figured I'd try out these tiny 2" Damiki cranks, which are 50% off right now at TW.

Hey, we're not your wife.

I accidentally bought a Windbuster, clicked through thr purchase by accident. I meant to call in the morning to cancel my order....

Leaders are not required for bass fishing. Braid is not an all-purpose line. It's best for fishing heavy vegetation. Ergo, baitcasters can use fluorocarbon, mono, and co-polymer just fine. In fact, most of my reels are spooled with all fluorocarbon. These vids will help:

Kya enjoyed the Thanksgiving Day parade this morning ~ A-Jay

I must admit, I have read this post a few times and thought about replying and just hadn't done so. Well, here goes nothing and I hope someone can relate. I refuse to fish in tournaments because I enjoy trying to decipher the conditions and enjoy the pursuit. Some of the darkest times in my life where I didn't know how to cope with whatever was going on, I went fishing, I spent time resetting and changing the pace in which I moved forward. I do the same thing with my son, when he has a hard week or I have to explain something that isn't good or deliver bad news it's always when we are fishing. This is therapy to me and has been my happy place all of my life. I grew up living between the stickmarsh and garcias, two of the best places to fish in my area. To sum this up, fishing has been a gift to me, just like it was to my dad and his before him. I am probably not able to see it in any other way.

When I grow I up, I'm going to buy tackle like @NorthernBasser 🤣 The only man in history who could be a drop shipper for Tackle Warehouse 😁 eta: those DBombs in black are dynamite.....I'll be buying lots of those next summer. Those things are big fish candy if there ever was.

Texas's ShareLunker Program is the exception. Every body of water in the state is man-made & stocked by the ShareLunker Program. Some are maintained for all around pleasure fishing, some are maintained for tournament fishing, some are maintained for trophy fishing. For trophy bass genetics is first consideration, if the genetics are not the rest doesn't matter.

Get up to pee? Why? 😄

Yup! Some good bundles. They have 5 spools of 200yd Sunline Super Flourocarbon bundle going for $30! Never used it before but heck $6 for a spool for 200yd flouro I take anyday.

Interesting. I’ve never thought about the jig standing up being an issue in grass, but it makes sense. I’d really like to stick with Siebert jigs. Definitely looking into his grass jig. I wonder how the tungsten flippin jig compares to the grass jig.

It's a sickness, I swear. My friends joke with me that I should start a Youtube channel just for unboxings, since people seem to really like those kinds of videos. In the past I've given tackle away to young kids who I see fishing at the boat launches/along the banks. I'm gonna have to up my game a little this year I think and give out more. And I agree on those black D Bombs. I fish a lot of stained lakes where black baits are the ticket.

I'm not a Bears fan, but that last 35 seconds was inexcusable. It was amateur hour at the corner bar. He's not the only one that should have been fired. It takes a herd of sheep both on and off the field to make such a colossal mistake - not listening to the people saying "Hey, stop the clock!" is an epic fail. Anyone that didn't listen should be fired. If you can't play smart football, you don't belong in the NFL. That whole organization needs a complete overhaul. But not until December 27th....the day after the Seahawks play them.

Talking with my wife this morning about how well I slept last night. We are both in our mid 70’s. I remarked I only got up once to pee in the middle of the night & she said the same thing. That was a welcome change to the typical nightly interruptions. We both had the typical daily exercise for the holiday. My wife remarked the only daily difference was the turkey we consumed. We ate at normal dinner time. I know they say turkey consumption makes people sleepy after thanksgiving dinner. Do any of you notice a difference in your sleep pattern. I’m aware that turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes drowsiness in greater amounts than the typical turkey consumption. What’s your experience?

Black is close to the top. It just always has been. Red Shad, GP, a few others I suppose. In the last year though, Purple Haze ( Green Pumpkin/Purple) has been in the top two.

Bear in mind that different parts of the country have different types of lakes, rivers, forage, etc. Just because there may be a problem in NC doesn't mean the same problem exists in NY, CA, or WI. That's the worst part about this forum, we're a countrywide (and international) group of anglers and there is no one size that fits all.

I know Green Pumpkin is loved by most anglers but it's my least productive color. White is a color I throw a lot, white Ice is probably my favorite. Bone (white) Orange Belly poppers. Sapphire Blue jig trailer or lizards Gold, Black Back, Orange Belly Rat-L-Traps & Rogues White, Chartreuse, & Blue spinnerbait skirts Black Neon Falcon Lake Craw on this jig

I'd put a heart on every single post here. Happy Thanksgiving, all! Some amazing food today. Great to see family. Congrats to all the Cowboys fans. You beat the Giants. 😶 Here's to a great remainder of 2024 for fishing to all. Right there with ya! Got me tonight, too. And funny thing, ordered on TW using my BPS card. Hoping the wife doesn't check too closely.

New items just posted! https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-BLACKFRIDAY.html?from=basres

No down size Start-up retrieve upon splash down Really, bone is the on color I use. I figure that bass are looking up at a top water and the underside if a bait fish is usually white or bone

Yeah I'm a BIG fan of the translucent baitfish Spro frogs! And so are the giant bass.

Yes. I fish for SMB with topwater quite a bit in late summer in some pretty skinny, clear water. Long cast are important. Strike King Sexy Dawg Walking bait in Sexy Ghost Minnow has been very good to me. https://youtu.be/Vsl5A_YmHzs?feature=shared&t=43 A-Jay

My 1 acre pond went from 50 to 60 small fish an hour to a bigger one occasionally, by eating every 10 - 13" fish i caught over a two year period.

I like my short rods, just ordered this Palms Egeria last night, should have it next week. I bought it for fishing skinny water for big lake run brown and rainbow trout, but it will work equally well for smallmouth in similar environments. I'll be running an Abu 2500C with an Avail 2540R spooled with #1.5 and an 8lb leader.

Couple bass from the striper trip yesterday. Definitely wasn't expecting a LM on a glide so that was a nice surprise. Bucca trick shad hits on its first day out.

Al Lindner has been preaching that since the beginning, and I've followed it since I could first cast a line. Selective harvest IS the middle ground....

If the modern day man was sent back in time decades, hundreds, or thousands of years the human race would be extinct. Weve been eating fish for survival since our existence. Hunting, fishing, and gardening are the only reasons we are alive today. Yet we have turned all 3 into hobbies, and forgot how much we need them. And now people are against gardening in your yards, hunting, and eating fish. What a time. Point is bass are food, they arent going to go extinct if a few are eaten. And for the original topic, selective harvest is the best way to improve any fish population. Too many fish (doesnt even matter the species) results in poor fishing. Too little fish results in poor fishing.

In Tyler Brinks' article on lure colors, he wrote: "When it comes to soft plastic worms, creatures, and others, one color is a clear favorite for bass anglers everywhere: green pumpkin." I own many soft plastics in green pumpkin and on one particular day in 2024, that color was so effective, but most days, I'm reaching for a soft plastic lure in white and chartreuse or white and orange, usually a swimbait. Maine's lakes are both clear and tannin-stained. I can often see the bottom six or more feet down, so my white plastics are also really easy to see. I wish I could explain why my local bass prefer the bright and white soft plastics. I've just determined that they do with trial and error. One day in 2024, I caught 24 bass on a bright blue lizard. I never tried that color again, but I should in 2025. What color/colors do your local bass prefer?

Yep, x2

@Morello87 If you throw 15lb braid on a "normal" baitcaster, you often end up with line dig. Line dig will blow up your casting stroke and make fishing unpleasant and possibly slow your thumb education. I agree 40lb braid is about as low as you wanna go while learning, but 30lb is pretty much hassle free for me on my reels a few years in. There's not many of us on here, but I think braid to leader is a viable system that has more advantages than drawbacks in my book. Line choices are hotly debated on here, and over time I can see the logic behind all the differing views. scott

Welcome aboard! Rod and reel selection can border on a religious argument. Find what will work for you, the bait monkey will have his way with you regardless . I'm one who prefers rods 6'6" and under. I also fish 1000 size Stradics for fresh and salt. Caught plenty of bass over 6 pounds (the one in my avatar is 6 pounds 6 oz) on them. Avatar was caught on a 5'9" Shimano Compre rod and a Stradic 1000 FI. No problemo, and was in sticks, too. I use braid for mainline and always tie on a leader of fluoro, or a copoly which saves cutting into the mainline. Daiwa makes some mighty fine gear, hard to go wrong there. I think your selections are fine.

Translucent and silent baits for clear water. Sometimes I downsize but it usually ends up with small fish. Allen

15 lb SmackDown is fine for Spinning, too light for casting. If its your first casting rig, I suggest starting with 12 or 14lb Mono, you will blow it up a time or two.

I had the same question as the OP - and after a full year of looking at videos, talking with people at the ramp, reading info. here on Bass Resource and trying rods - I recently purchased a Megabass Orochi XX - Ronin (6'8" spinning rod, Med/Fast) for $199 (The Hook Up Tackle sale plus I had a $50 gift card, so $149 out of pocket for me - it's usually a $299 rod) - I would not have purchased it at $299 (too much for the budget) yet at the sale price combined with my gift card it seemed worth the investment - here in MN it's 14 degrees and the boat is winterized, so I hope to give it a go and have some success with it in the spring throwing some jerk baits ! Up to this point I had been throwing jerk baits on a 7'1" MH/Mod-Fast Evergreen Combat Stick with mixed results - so I felt it was the right time to try a more dedicated jerk bait rod

Yes translucent No Downsize

Put my cow dog to work on Thanksgiving. 😁

I’ll go first in saying don’t put 15 pound line on that spinning reel. Stick with something no higher than 10 pound maybe Trilene XL and I would opt for 8 pound personally and just use the drag properly. Also great combos but again after handling all 3 “C” series Daiwa reels I would strongly suggest the CA80 with the aluminum frame and yes I own one and love it. Keep your eyes open on Amazon and all sales for all the gear and follow the latest sales thread on here.

Grass jigs for me is something that is more like a bullet head (or as closed to bullet head) and a line tie that is 30* from horizontal. Really think worm fishing. Slender and able to sit down to allow it to snake thru grass. Jigs that stand up generally have a harder time getting thru vegetation. The top jig stands up too much and really is great around rock. I personally wouldn’t fish the bottom jig in grass just because of the way it stands up. That to me invites more snags in grass. I’ll let others comment further.

Happy Thanksgiving bass heads! Get to filling those bellies and napping so we can do an after supper bass off and see who on here can catch the biggest Thanksgiving bass! 😂😂😂🦃🦃🦃🎣🎣🎣

Never forget that they’re sunfish. They reproduce by volume. You can have 10 10 lbers or 50 2 lbers but not both. Also, they’re decent table fare.

I have fished a very small reservoir for five years. This lake is exceptional for trophy size bass. I have averaged one bass over 10 pounds for every five days I fished the lake. I am certain an angler with exceptional skills could get that average down to one every two days of fishing. Unfortunately I don't have time to fish the lake more than about 10 to 15 days a year. This year I was only able to fish it for five days and caught one 10 pound bass as well as a couple over 7 pounds. The fish are big, but the fishing is slow at this lake. Most days I only get one to three bites from decent size bass a day. There are almost zero bass between 1 pound and 6 pounds. I have caught more 10 pound bass than I have two to four pound bass in the five years I have fished there. I can catch many bass under one pound, but do not fish for them, and if I start catching baby bass of that size I change location, and or tactics. The reason there are very few mid size bass is the lake is heavily commercial fished for Tilapia. The mesh size of the gill nets used is also very effective at catching mid size bass. The baby bass go through the mesh without getting caught, and once the bass get over 6 pounds there heads no longer fit past the gills in the nets so they don't get caught. There are so many nets, I don't think many bass make it to the larger size. I can only assume enough make it to that 6 pound and up size because of the very high number of baby bass every year. Apparently there are enough to account for successful spawns every year. I have no idea what percentage of the bass the nets account for, but I would bet it is way more than would end up in the frying pan, if an average number of sport anglers were keeping 5 bass limits. I let the large bass go, not only to hopefully help the population in general, but in hopes that I can catch the same trophy bass again some day. I'm sure that even though I have been successful, there are really not many of these monsters swimming in the lake. My success has been more do the fact the lake is small, bass have not seen many lures, and are not nearly as educated as big bass are in most lakes. In other words, my success is due to the bass being stupid, not because of my angling skill. In the past years I would have to believe most of the bass in this lake never would see a lure in their entire life. The last couple years a lodge owner from another lake has discovered my secret lake, and has been taking clients there every week. I have noticed a big change in the numbers of fish I catch, and don't think the population has changed, the fish have just adjusted to the added pressure. I have found I am not near the angler I thought I was when forced to fish for more highly educated bass. I talked to the lodge owner and he is disappointed in the fishing. While his clients have landed some very large bass, most are not happy with fishing all day for a couple of bites. He wants to make a deal with the commercial fisherman to back off on the netting in order to have more bass for his clients to catch. He is willing to compensate them for the lost revenue, in order for them to help improve the bass numbers. He wants his clients to be able to catch a dozen or so 2 to 4 pound bass a day as well as have a chance at a DD bass. I tried to explain to him that this was most likely impossible. The bass in this lake were huge because of the heavy commercial fishing, not in spite of it. I told him the best thing he could do is back off on the number of clients he takes and keep the commercial fishing the same. The lake his lodge is on is known for great numbers of bass, so why not leave this lake the way it is and only take a few clients that are willing to put in the work for a bass of a life time to this trophy destination. I may be wrong, but I don't see how a lake can produce on average this many DD bass, and also have a large population of mid size bass. This lake has never had any official management for bass. The number of commercial tilapia fisherman are limited, but there are more than enough gill nets to catch most of the tilapia as well as the bass. The management for bass has been a complete accident, but I don't think it could be managed any better. As far as a trophy bass fishing lake goes, I don't think it would be possible to make the lake any better, and I hope the lodge owner doesn't end up over managing a lake that is already perfectly managed. I only wish I had found out about it, a few years back when no body fished there. I got in on the tail end of the good days, but at least I was able to take advantage of the fishery when I did. I am not a fisheries biologist, and don't recommend over netting a lake to remove bass in public waters that are heavily sport fished, but I have witnessed that taking out a large portion of the mid sized bass in an underfished lake can result in fantastic fishing for large bass. I have always believed in catch and release, but I do realize there are times when keeping bass is the best thing an angler can do for the fishery.

When I invite people to fish my pond, I also invite them to keep bass. "But keep them the small ones," I say. "They taste better anyway." And they do.