Nice_Bass

I am in central IL if you really need one to fish...if we are close and can make it work I will make it work for ya...

anyone fishing in IL this year...strangely void of pictures or activity lol.

Black 10inch powerworm. it slays year round however so always tied on.

don't fish many small lakes or ponds (depending on what you consider small) but if your fish were in spawn a couple weeks ago and your water temps in that range I tend to find the fish just starting to migrate to points and some will be there while others still in some pockets or secondary points (and some still with eggs to drop). You will know if they are really stacked on points when they are prior to full on summer mode which is a bit different. Most importantly put it to 200khz and turn fish id or whatever it may be off and go from there.

suspended shad or baitballs hitting (swimming into) your line between your jig and rod, bluegill, or crayfish. Any turtle I have caught slams the bait better than most fish ever would.

I usually change it in the dead of winter when I am bored. Stored in its own garage and big door is never opened but I keep a thermometer in there. usually never goes below 40 except when it got -30 2 years back and dropped the garage temp to about 30 I think, not sure as I was too busy with cookie pans and hair dryers unfreezing pipes in the house.

lol I agree. Big fish give bass palm, regular fish bass thumb, small fish just grab.

welcome! no idea on any of your questions though lol. Try to stay as far south as I can but there are a few around your area here that may know some areas.

First picture worthy-ish slammer fish of the year. personally only throw all black and always call it a rat. Lots of small fish on it though so far this year and a couple giants have showed themselves.

Change out the hooks!!!!

does it even have head gaskets?? lol remove the water jacket and replace the gasket and see if that works.

Switch to rabbit strip flies made for musky. really fun. not sure why I really ever stopped fishing like that but mostly has to do with rather be on the boat. (and was not real good so I would have just snagged everything on my boat over and over.)

First rat fish of the year worth a quick photo anyhow...

Almost always have beer on boat. Pretty easy to know what is safe and what is not and i have never understood the automatic assumption somone who drinks beer while fishing is somhow lazy or dangerous. Only a lazy person is lazy and a drunk person not acting safely.

what an odd topic to post on. I would think you would want to show and talk about what you have done as many would be interested in seeing the process and results. 3-d printing is not something anyone is just going to pick up on and start if that is what you are worried about....I guess I am really confused? Anyone that knows of 3-d printing knows you can make molds really...but you are the only one that can start in interesting and informative discussion on that. hope we can see/hear more?

LOL....I have a rayburn red or other craw lipless year round. I only throw those two colors year round. Lipless baits have to be the second most versatile bait behind a jig. you can jig a lipless, burn it on top, treat it like a spoon, crank deep with slower retrives, etc. etc.

what lake? Only ask to find out age of bridges submerged and what the prey is. Have you graphed the bridges and found shad?

If I was fishing from shore in thick weeds I don't think I would fish a jig either. A jig for me is still tied for the #1 thing I throw. For you though you may just want to stick to texas rigged in the weeds. Add a skirt if you want to bulk up and give it the profile of a jig (slither rig).

Cow tongues work great. Crankbaits work great...dancing eel. Never fished one and never will but the idea just does not seem half bad.

Your buddy needs to join the board first and then make friends or a working relationship with them. It may tak hiring a survey to come out and get actual data which the board most likely would not throw surplus at if there were any available. With data though you would be able to figure out what really needs done and go from there. It could be argued at some point that an out of balance ecosystem would cost more in the long run. Most likely they will not change the bylaw as they dont want the other messes that could come with it, altering what they have now. However you could argue with data that somthing needs to be done and have that done as a service provided by you. That, or propose a one weekend a year non catch and release period for residents. Either way slow going process, and hoa's are notoriously a fickle bunch with at least a couple with more time than brains. That goes for all committees though as well that i have ever served on.

Wire buzz bait vote here as well. wooden plug buzzbaits are great however and found mostly in esox genera's and much more versatile.

I usually only fish riprap when there is good wind blowing up onto it, and then choose a lure that will get the job done.

I don't know how many times I have fried up crappie, walleye, bass, bluegill at the same time and there has not been a person that can tell bass from the others when fried (fillets are cut to the same size for consistent frying.) A bluegill and bass from the same lake are going to taste the exact same, live in the same environment, consume much of the same species however bluegill will be spending more and eating more organisms that live in the weeds. Are you guys not taking the skin off your bass, because that is the only thing that would make them taste anything different from a slightly less mild flesh than that of a crappie. Best way to eat bass species however: Layer bacon bottom of cast iron pan and layer cut potatoes on top and cover with foil on grill. Last 10 minutes of cooking layer fish and additional spices/herbs on potatoes and cover until done. Yum.

Bass is very good. Anyone that convinces you it taste fifferent than bluegill are losing it. I prefer bass over crappie,catfish etc and the ease of prep per fillet is so much nicer than bluegills crappies or catfish.

I don't think I have "serviced" any reels and some have been used for more than a decade. I may blow off some dust and put some oil on once a year at best. Anyhow- if you are really having issues, start with a heavy lure and go from there. With 3 years of use I think your practice stage is about over at this point lol... Set the brakes and forget about it and just adjust the tension knob. I have no idea what some of mine are set at other than a couple with no brakes on.