frogflogger

Fishing allowed a blue collar kid to dream and learn. Over the years it has taken me to places from farm ponds and strip pits to the flats and the wall off Key West, to the gulf stream and the Bahamas, to marlin off the coast of Haiti, bonefish, tarpon and permit in Belize, marlin and swordfish off Kona. While a multi species angler and/or guide in many roles, bass fishing has always been my passion and as an article in Marlin magazine pointed out bass fishing makes you a good angler for any species. So now on this end of it I bass fish and learn something dang near everytime I go out. They are the best fish.

THERE ARE TWO RAMPS FOR WINTER - one at the dam and one off 19 just before the bridge. Can't remember name (salmon run I think)

I wear my mask most of the time now that it's getting colder and when running down the lake I pull my neck warmer over it and stay snug. The masks I wear don't fog my glasses if I have them on correctly. Stay warm - stay safe.

Thanks!

Wish this had some text as video doesn't do it so good here. for me - jigs - hair, ned, rubber skirted blade bait - silver buddy, sebile vibrato anything else that catches my fancy

Here in the hills i'll take Dec. and Jan. unless the lake freezes - and if the water gets cold enough it's float n fly time!

There is no correct way or wrong way to fish the little rig; if you keep it in the water it will get bit.

You can find Ned Kehde's description of midwest finesse tactics and the techniques used in several places. It is simple - it is frugal - it is effective - don't over think the technique. It all started with the late great Chuck Woods and his beetle. We've been using the technique since the 60's - the advent of zman products was the big game changer. Extreme softness, and the ability to catch over 100 fish on one lure play into the frugality idea.

Owned three Ardents USA made - just purchased another one, very low price, from a member here. I guided and mostly threw frogs for several years. I love the Ardents because I could cast them a mile. I know they are considered clunky by enthusiasts and such but they perform well for me - of course I palm a 400 calcutta.

They were a secret hotspot for over 5#ers when we were young and poor.

I use light heads - I don't care if I feel the bottom as I am rarely in contact with it - instead I try to drift/swim the lure just above the bottom touching only rarely. You can do this from the back of the boat behind a power fisherman and have good results. This has worked for me for decades.

Great big topwater

I enjoyed reading John Hope's studies, big bass - very interesting creatures.

The book was a good read for me. I have many books on bass fishing and enjoy most of them. Dr. Jones is a scientist and I respect his research and findings. I read nothing in the book that said this was the way to become a great fisherman. But the trials on shapes (pg 177-178) confirm what we have learned from the beetle to today's ned rig as to preferences in shape. The trials showing rattles are more effective in soft baits than crankbaits agree with what I've learned over the last 70 yrs. Would I pay $100 for the book? Of course not - I bought it when it came out for $17 which is about my upper limit but I have enjoyed the book which is the reason I buy books on fishing.

Rumors have given me some of my finest fishing dreams and goals - of course when we pursued them it didn't always work out, but it was always, and still is, an educational experience/adventure. And has led to some very good fishing, occasionally.

Loved my old Langley Lurecast - it was the first good casting reel I owned.

Jason Lucas was my hero also - I caught my first bass in 1948 and although I went on to fish for many species from fresh to salt - bass have always been the center of my fishing world. Still love those big old topwaters in Florida.

When in doubt set the hook -

Get a furbit for breezy days - fish it every where - open water - pads - vegetation - wood. With any frog try a variety of retrieves, hop, chug, walk - slow - fast - deadstick (28 1/2 lb bag dead sticking) I don't believe bass think they are eating frogs on most strikes. For the past 20 yrs I have used 50# braid - sufix performance braid has been my favorite. This has worked on over 100 -7+lbers, of course it's been a few years since I last caught a 7 due to geographic change in fishing area.

There were a couple of things that made it worthwhile for this old guy. But then I enjoy reading when not fishing.

On the everglades canals we had boats flying past us at high speed all the time. When the wakes hit the pads we would immediately cast into them and often caught fish - sometimes large fish.

Lots of good observations/comments- I'll add a sense of humor - been fortunate to fish with some really great anglers whose influence continues into today's game and everyone of them laughed a lot when we were fishing. It's fun !

Small original rapala - deadly

My favorite for a number of reasons - mainly they catch fish.

We used alcohol to immediately kill fish we were going to eat when cruising the Bahamas and Keys. No alcohol unless you want instant death for the fish.