islandbass

Short answer is no. I think you’re giving the fish too much credit. You might very well be denying yourself the opportunity that the lure you put on sabbatical might very well have been the lure they were going to receptive to. This is my reason to not put a lure in the penalty box, but that’s just me.

Any of the major brands like owner, gamakatsu, vmc, mustad are excellent options. I’ve tried all of these brands and been satisfied with their performance. Use the same size as the one that is currently on those lures. They are likely to be a size 4, 6, or 8. One thing you might want to try is going with a single hook. As someone who also likes to use them, single hooks are just as effective, possibly better in the hook up department. The best thing I like about them is they make releasing the fish easier for you and the fish.

I was seriously thinking about getting prescription sunglasses for me and a coworker suggested an online place. I was very pleased with the first set of normal glasses that i will get a pair of polarized glasses with my prescription too. This place has other options you can throw into your glasses like blue light filtering, transition, bifocal, tinting and some name brand frames. I won’t name them here because I don’t know for sure if that is promoting a non sponsor so pm me and I can tell you that way.

@TOXIC:Thanks! The standard sinking senko 3-5” is mostly what is available locally. I am going to definitely look into the baits you mentioned but will need to buy them online. 😎👍

@TOXIC: that’s awesome you’re pro staff for them. Maybe we’ll “slip” you a few, under the table, lol 😂. Just kidding. The senko, 3-5”, (put color here) is one on my most effective and productive DS baits hands down. If I may humbly ask, what do you use when the bass might prefer a floating plastic on the DS? I haven’t used those flat worms but I’m going to look into those. Lastly, wishing you have a blast as there’s no doubt in my mind this will be an epic trip. Looking forward to reading your report.

@TOXIC grab a couple bags of roboworms if it’s not too late. Good luck hunting!

That’s the kind of news that makes my day. 😇

I love these stories of progress and learning. my story is similar in terms of the learning but I started with crank and jerks. I then expanded to try everything with little to no success. No success with the jig, the senko, t-rig, Carolina rig, spinner baits, buzz baits. My learning curve was steep and difficult. Then I tried the drop shot as I was desperate to improve and learn and crack this puzzle we have in a bass. Aaron Martens taught me from afar and I learned. So my real start with success was with “finesse”. For the better of the next 10 years was finesse because I had no success with the other standard baits. Then, as a power angler starts to dabble into finesse, I knew that in order for me to grow and expand, I had to once again revisit those lures and methods. It all started in 2018 until now. Each lure was systematically and methodically studied both on and off the water. The spinnerbait,(also the Ned rig even though it’s not a power application) buzzbait, senko, weighted and unweighted craws, creatures, worms, brush hogs, and finally, that last monkey of the jig and trailer, is finally off my back this year. The same journey, but from the opposite end.

Awesome. Thanks, Glenn!

@gimruis: Indeed. What I was describing, is even for me a not so common scenario but I face it when river fishing for salmon. Walking through brush and foliage makes it difficult to carry more than two set ups with other gear and tackle. I’ve burned myself when my two set ups lost enough line to no longer fish effectively. Walking back to your car knowing you’re done while in waders and boots makes the walk less bearable and the fish are laughing at you because you weren’t as prepared as you should have been. Almost as bad as getting to your spot and realizing you left your license in the other car 😂🥲 And definitely casting reels are much easier to reload in the field.

Sounds like it might be a defect.

I also second learning to do it for yourself since every angler should know this basic skill. @MN Fisher’s recommendation for getting some type of a line spooling apparatus is 1000% spot on. Mine is old and primitive but it works. By saying this, I’m not saying not to go to places that can do it for you, but just know how to do it. What if you’re fishing out in the middle of nowhere and all your spools are screwed? Are you going to pack it up and call it a day? I wouldn’t. I’d spool up in the field. In some of the fishing I do, like in rivers, if I’m drifting my bait, I might get snagged up 3 casts worth of line and be forced to break off. Do this twice (it can and does happen) and your reel is no where near being at optimum capacity. It’s not hard and you’ll be glad you did and don’t let that one bad experience you had be the reason to not learn. Kinda like most men who have a ask a lot of girls with rejections left and right, but eventually one girl will say yes, lol 😂

I think this might be a case of win some, lose some, especially if this is uncharacteristic for you. 😎

Hats off to you, RW! I am hoping you’ll still be around but just not as a moderator. Thanks for your dedication.

Once they’re on, you have to set the hook and whether they’re stationary or moving is not a consideration. The longer you wait, the greater the chance for them to spit it out. I am curious, and would like to know your train of thought or reasons for waiting? My curiosity has definitely been piqued. If the bass was in your sights just sitting there with your lure in its mouth just chilling, that not only would be a sight to behold, but probably would make for a great photo. 😎 Update: After giving it more thought, we all assumed the fish bit. But if it didn’t, and you’re trying to describe a scenario where they’re stationary and you throw everything at them and they still won’t bite, that’s a different story completely. I’ve plopped lures right in front and to the sides of their faces and some wouldn’t budge and don’t seem interested at my offering. I’ve even made sure my lure touched them on the top of their heads and this bass didn’t even budge. I never got her to bite with any action I imparted to the lure. One time I dropped a bait right in front its nose. It looked at it dead to rights, the it changed its pose to look directly at me and we locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity. And you know what happened next? She nonchalantly did a 180 and slowly swam away. If this is what you meant to described. It can be a tough situation in which getting bit all depends on them.

They still do. It’s also the only line in 14# test that gives me the highest percentage to catch them with spinnerbaits. It is still available. It is weird for me but true. I’ve even experiment with that. It is one of my favorite monos. Also, it’s been my experience that if the bass are in an aggressive enough state, line color doesn’t seem to matter.

@txchaser: for all we know, it could have been damaged (e.g., someone could have man handled it and damaged it) before you bought it. Glad they’re helping you. 😎

Truly a touching story, Koz, and did a very good thing. May it lead to a great friendship. 👏👍

Spoons. I hooked into the biggest bass a few days ago fishing a homemade inline spinner targeting panfish. It was a very dark but there was enough light to see how bent over the rod was. Unfortunately, my line got caught up on the dock such that my side of the line was taut and bass’ was not so she easily and effortlessly shook off my spinner because my hook was barbless. I’m not even bummed about losing what was possibly might have been a new pb. but I had my daughter with me who witnessed the whole thing. I am more upset that I couldn't get my daughter to catch her first bass from this lake. It’s why I went to panfish mode to “ensure” I minimize any chance to catch a bass. She also made me fish when I told her I wasn’t going to fish. Then she pulled some psychology on me saying that she didn’t want to fish alone so I acquiesced. That bass should have been for her. It was however a completely mindless and random cast to nowhere.

Those floating minnows are universal. I started as a trout angler and was using one to catch trout but wound up catch a bass as my first non-bait fish in non farm pond. Good on the young man! I used to love it when my kids out fished me.

@MN Fisher: That is insane. How rare that a state out charges WA state in this scenario , 🤣 Our state also got slick on making two licenses. One for fresh water and another for salt water, and they know full well people are going to buy both. 🥲

WA state will pinch you until age 70. 😱😂. Sad but true. Wishing you a fantastic outing. Please report back. 👍

You don’t need to ask twice. Prayer for your wife on the way.

Welcome, and greetings from the Pacific NW! This is a great place to be. Feel free to use the search function on topics that interest you or just ask your questions in the appropriate sections. There is a wealth of information here and good folk, willing to share what they know. 😎👍

@Bankc: well told story! Glad it wasn’t a tragic incident in the end. Probably should have asked them for a burger or dog, lol.