Bluebasser86

That's a very healthy looking fish. I like the second picture it looks like he's really admiring his catch and a little bit in disbelief that he caught that fish. I'm sure he'll remember that fish

Probably looks quite a bit like a field mouse or other rodent that a bass might see in the water also, especially with the "wings" along the side. The material on the side would slick back when moved and then puff up at rest, a lot like the fur would on mouse in the water. It's a neat bait and I know bass eat birds, I've caught one that had caught a swallow that had perched on a brushpile limb sticking out of the water I'm guessing.

I've added the rules and regs for the tournament. Trying to keep it as simple as possible for everyone to make it easier to have a good time. At the bottom I mentioned having other categories for the weigh in for "other" fish caught while we're out there. I'll only add that if you guys are interested in doing that also. Like most of you I'm a multispecies guy so it's always interesting to me to see what other kinds of fish everyone caught while fishing for bass but if nobody wants to add categories for walleye, crappie, whites, cats, and rough fish then I won't bother adding it. If I forgot to include something or if anyone doesn't understand any part of it let me know and I'll fix/explain it the best I can.

I'll be at Olathe Tuesday morning after work at about 8:15 fishing until about noon if anyone is interested I'll have an empty back seat.

Looks like a fun day despite the cold weather. What were you guys getting them on? That is a good spot were you caught that first smallmouth, I've had several really nice ones from that area. Hopefully the nice smallies will continue to bite through the 20th but you can't ever be sure. Smallmouth are kind of like women, just when you think you have them figured out a little bit you find out what you thought you knew is wrong all the sudden They're usually pretty patternable during the fall at Melvern it seems though.

Nanofil floats so I surely wouldn't want to use it for that, along with the visibility issues since I normally use suspending jerkbaits in clear to medium stained water. It sure would cast them a long ways though.

Shakyhead, weightless, wacky rigged, T-rigged, C-rigged, it's a finesse worm so pretty much anyway you'd fish a trick worm/straight finesse worm.

I rarely use trailer hooks with my spinnerbaits unless I'm missing a lot of fish. If you're hooking them on the regular hook there really isn't any need for a trailer hook.

Looks like a couple of those would have had a heck of a time trying to swallow those bluegill baits if they'd be real. It always amazing me how small of a bait will try to eat a swimbait. At least you're getting bit though, I haven't caught a swimbait fish of any kind in over a month

You're killing them on that hard bass man, nice fish!

It doesn't seem to me that cold fronts are as much of a kiss of death as they are in the spring. It can be tough the day following the passing of the cold front but they're usually followed by bluebird skies and calm conditions, which usually equals tough fishing regardless. If you can be on the water just prior to and during the cold front in the fall it seems to usually produce some great fishing for me.

Never seen or tried anything other than a rigged Creme Scoundrel. I would expect lots of follows/short strikes, especially if you get into some whites. as far as the road runners a 1/8oz size should work just fine.

It worked pretty well last time and it's paved the whole way to the ramp so the guys with nicer boats don't have to go down any nasty gravel roads. There's plenty of good fishing close by and several guys have the state park sticker so at least not everyone will have to buy the day pass. I've only ever launched from the Marina or state park ramps and I've been boycotting the marina ever since they ran me off from fishing the docks (not the gas/fishing dock). I don't understand how they can decide to make the area around the docks on a public reservoir private?? I'm sure we'll try to make these get togethers a regular deal so hopefully you can make the next one.

Yeah, my boat isn't the driest ride around I do what I can but nothing like a cold spray of water in the face to help wake you up a little.

I doubt he'd have a hard time pointing you back to the spot, it's where he caught his biggest smallmouth of the day I know roadrunners catch a bunch of fish and the crappie guys are always whining about "them dang brown fish eating all their crappie baits" Haven't ever fished for them with beetle spins or anything but I'm sure they'd eat them. Senkos will catch fish but depending on the wind it's possible they may not be an option. I've never fished them much either but I have a feeling that a wacky rigged senko might catch some pretty good ones, just wouldn't get many bites I'm guessing. As far as topwaters I'm a fan of walking baits because I can cover a lot of water but Drew was doing really well with a full sized torpedo last time and poppers can be good at times. Never had much luck with a buzzbait for some reason, and I've tried them a lot. I have a food list on the 5th page, I'll move it to the first post so it's easier to find. It's easy to get too, I35 to Highway 75, go north, to Highway 278/W 293rd st, go west. The turn for the state park is on the left (south) and is the last turn on the left before the road changes to gravel.

Alright, I'll put you down and you'll be paired up with CCC Drew. He'll have some good spots he can point you guys towards after fishing with me last week, including one of my "secret" up the lake spots if he can remember exactly where it's at, maybe I should have blindfolded him Yeah, you guys were one of my main concerns about starting that early but I'm banking on the fish making it worth you guys getting up that early. I'll put you down for some bags of chips.

I used to have a 7' ML St.Croix Premier spinning rod that was an awesome light crankbait rod. Now I have a 6' 8" M Mojo and a 6' 8" M/L Crucial that both work really well. I have a 6' 10" M/L LTB on the way in the mail that I think will be the perfect light cranking rod. I was mainly fishing 0.5 or 1.0 size square bills, #5 shad raps, or 65 size pointers with them.

I think some of the newer Nanofil is supposed to work on casting gear but I really don't see any situations other than maybe soft sticks/flukes that I'd really like it for casting gear. It is amazing how far that stuff casts, it's great for skipping docks because it comes off the spool so easy. That stuff doesn't stand up to zebra mussels at all, but I haven't found any that does yet. It seems like it bows really bad if the wind is blowing at all which is one of the main reasons I don't like it for bottom contact baits. I always fish it with a short fluoro leader and haven't hand any problems with it.

I don't know if it's really a "craze" they've been around for a long time and have always been pretty popular. They're just really effective at catching numbers of fish and they seem to catch bigger fish. Any of those jigs will catch big fish, it all depends on the situation and location you're fishing them.

That's typical tournament measuring rules, mouth closed and pushed against the front of the board with the tail pinched. We're going by the honor system like Hi Salenity said it's a for fun tournament so there isn't any reason for anyone to fib about their fish. However, if you come in with anything over 18" on you're paper we're probably all going to expect to see a picture Measuring to the closest quarter inch because I'm not converting a bunch of fractions in the parking lot. So are you in for sure now so I can put you down? I've got one non-boater without a boat still so that would work great.

If you go out on Leavenworth use the south ramp and go straight back. My dad and I had no problems getting our boats on the water out there but the north ramp has a huge drop off, I'll probably never use that side of the ramp again after seeing how far it drops off.

Some will say on the package but even some floating baits need a very light hook to keep from sinking them. Zman baits are about the highest floating baits I've seen.

I like to give my line the pull test after every couple of fish. If I pull a fish through a rough area I retie even if it doesn't feel like I need to. I check my line above the knot often. I hate losing big fish, especially to preventable things like damaged line.

I've only got to sit one morning and one afternoon so far. The evening sit was the last time, a week and a half ago. Had a little 6 point under my stand for 15 minutes eating soybeans and acorns. There was a doe there too but I never saw her until they were walking the other way across the bean field. Wish she would have stepped out where he was at.

I like the guys with the funny signs "I bet you a quarter/dollar I can make you read this sign" "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter" "Family was killed by ninjas, need money for karate lessons". At least they're being creative, not just being pushy.