NorcalBassin

Had a chance to get out on a different lake to try our luck with the new moon. Lots of action, just no biggins. All the fish were healthy as could be though. Always cool catching a SM, even when it's the size of the 10-day old fry from A-Jay's typical brown bass. I was surprised to catch a supersized 10x5 panfish on a senko. Pretty sure this freak is off the menu for the lake's swimming predators.

Took the day off work to head out to chase some fish on a nice, quiet weekday and it did not disappoint. We caught a bunch of fish and Pops even picked up his PB spotted bass. This fella hit the magdraft like a freight train I've been a senko loyalist for many years, but since there's been so much hype around maxscent I decided to pick up a jumbo pack during a sale. The baby bass color I picked up was "dull" looking compared to the senko version, but holy smokes did the fish love it. This one fought hard for a good 15-20 seconds (6# line), spit the hook right by the boat, and then made an immediate 180 to hammer it again. Spots are known for hitting a bait twice, but I've never seen this. Needless to say, that won't be my last pack of maxscent generals. Pops has been in a bit of a drought for 15"+ bass, so it was extra awesome to see him get his PB spot that weighed in at just under 4 pounds.

3.3 Keitech on a 3/16oz head if I'm just covering water looking for fish. M/A/E

x2 Ever since Tom (WRB) turned me onto that line I've been really happy with it for topwater and swimbaits.

Any bait not named Senko is playing for 2nd place. Incredibly versatile and the fish never seem to tire of it.

We're all fans of his and, heck, my dad even has an Ike ballcap he wears that reminds him of his best friend he lost to cancer a few years ago ("never give up"). He's great for the sport and does a lot of things to get kids involved... coming from that view of him I enjoyed it. Episode 1 for those curious:

I hear ya! We usually pick up a bag of Old Trapper at the gas station whenever I fill up the boat, and I had to do a double take at the price last time out (technically I've been taking a double take at the gas price every time too).

Only had a couple hours to fish but that sure as heck beats not going out at all. Always great just being out on the water.

There's a daily "exercise" called 3 good things that just takes a few minutes each night to write down 3 good things that happened to you that day. The research is pretty remarkable and doing this has been shown to be even more effective than some meds and the benefits continue on for long after someone stops (if they decide to stop). I really encourage you to give it a chance for at least a couple weeks to see how you feel then vs now. https://happyproject.in/three-good-things/

With next week's forecast we've gotta be close to busting loose. Saw some small bucks in shallow but no beds anywhere we were fishing (10ft vis). Water temp 56*. Pops with one of the small bucks he was picking off up shallow. I fished out a bit deeper and had a nice run of fish in the 17" +/- range. This fella apparently bailed after only having 1/2 of his lip injection.

Owner's is great. Light wire but holds up to giants if you have your drag set correctly. Also like the Gamakatsu but if they're both available I'll take the Owner every time.

You should be set with that plan. Comanche will likely do a fairly thorough inspection and odds are in your favor that Clear Lake will be much less formal and nothing to worry about. Worst case they'll pass you after a quick pressure wash, but in all the years I've been going there I've never seen anyone needing that.

If I was you I wouldn't bother with the pre-drive to Clear Lake to get passed and then go to Comanche. Your boat should have plenty of time to dry on the drive between those two lakes, and if you get approved for Clear Lake and then put your boat in Comanche you need re-inspection anyway. Clear Lake's inspection is good for a calendar month, but once your boat goes into another body of water that prior inspection no longer applies. Not to mention, wiping down and drying your boat before launching is a very small inconvenience to help protect one of the best bass fisheries on the planet. Have a great trip and best of luck!

Wacky hands down for me, but I'm usually fishing open water/rock and the outside of weedlines on the rare occasion I'm around weeds. If there was more vegetation where I fish I'm sure that would change.

I like the creativity... going to have to give that a shot!

Never heard a negative comment about them, which is really saying something these days.

I imagine everyone would be a good time, but off the top of my head... @A-Jay - his aura clearly has its own gravitational pull for giant SM. Pretty much a PB guarantee for that trip. @Catt - legend and great angler plus I've never been in the south or fished for bass at night (past 10). @Bluebasser86 -can't believe anyone consistently catches big fish like that in Kansas! @TnRiver46 - pretty much guaranteed a great time, good grub, and funny stories. @WRB - legend catching giants in CA, I'd need to record the whole trip to play back the education. For the pros... Brandon Palaniuk- his home waters are absolutely beautiful and full of nice bass. Hank Parker- seems about as great of a guy as you'd ever have the pleasure to meet. Jacob Wheeler- ridiculously good fisherman and seems like a good dude. Butch Brown- not sure if qualifies as "pro" since he's not on the tourney trail, but there aren't many out there who know swimbaits like he does. Would have been Aaron Martins but I'll sub in Mark Zona. He'd be nonstop entertainment and he knows how to catch fish.

Congrats on one heck of an epic day!

No experience with the Zillion but I have the others. I really like the Bantam, but for 1/4oz and "distance" there aren't many reels out there that will beat the Met. Great reel that can do it all.

Not asking for details if you have any "secret" spots, but what part of the lake did you find the tops of trees with the water so low in a natural lake? I've fished that lake a time or two most years the past 30+ years and never found tree tops anywhere. Always looking to find new spots! Don't give up on the lake just yet... if the weather is decent go back for the new moon in April/May for some potentially action.

Unfortunately the weather has been like we're mid-spring already, but double unfortunately the bass went from what seemed like prespawn a week ago to moving somewhere atypical where we couldn't find them. Still picked up a few and it was great being out on the water with sunny 60* weather (water temp 52-54*). Picked this one up on a wacky but active fish along the shoreline were a rarity. This fella hit while dragging in 40 fow, I gently swept and missed, and when he followed to "hit" again I got the poor guy in the tail.

Used to be a Destroyer Oneten Special, but when it broke (my fault) they were in the process of discontinuing the rod. Ended up picking up a 610MF Expride and paired it with a Chronarch 50e and 8# Sniper. One of my favorite setups to throw.

I have a few MB rods and really like the craftsmanship and the way they fish. However, their warranty leaves a lot to be desired and led me to spend the bulk of my rod budget on NRX's since I know if a coangler or I step on it in 10 years I can get it replaced almost immediately for a modest price whereas if that happens with one of my MB Destroyers after 3 years and 1 day I'm out of luck (also years 1-3 is 40% the retail cost to replace).

Tatsu is great but really expensive. I've found the best combo of quality and price to be Sniper and I use it on most of my spinning reels in 4-7#. Accidentally caught some huge carp and catfish on it as well as bass up to 9# and (knock on wood) never had an issue with the line breaking. Just be sure to have your drag set accordingly to protect the line and light wire hooks.

Bummer to see a legacy rod like the Avid retired... be like Loomis dropping the GLX.