McAlpine

Chris from Charlestown, IN wants to know... From watching pro tournament anglers, it is common to see them rip into an area, cut the engine, drop the trolling motor, jump on deck, grab a rod and start casting on full auto. And amazingly, you can see them start to pick up fish or catch a couple. If they catch a couple shorts or nothing, it seems just as quickly they are back in the seat and ripping out of that area. So, is this behaviour based upon experience or scouting? Generally is this because the pro has already scouted out the lake, has a few spots to hit during the day and is cycling through them looking for the timeframe the fish are feeding and active in this area? It's interesting to see a pro come into an area, make only a few casts and quickly leave. I've always wondered exactly what was behind it.

Thanks for all of the advice. The breaks, when they occur, are usually low on the leader near the bait and I am pretty convinced due to nicks on rocks. It is extremely rare that I have a break at the line to line knot (uni). Alot of the fishing that occurs here in the Kentucky-Southern Indiana region is in impoundments that are mostly rocky. Also, the water can drastically change from creek arm to creek arm from very clear to downright chocolate mud. I use the leader so that I am ready for whatever we pull into and I want to pull out the shakey head which is my go to when it's tough. For my mainline I use Nanofil, which is awesome line to begin with but one of my primary loves is that bright white color which makes it easy to see the line where it enters the water. However; that bright white is another reason I use leader. I think based upon the above I'm going to stick with what I'm doing but change it up to a bit heavier leader maybe 12lb with better abrasion resistance such as a hybrid line. One of my purposes of sticking with the FC for a leader as well is to retain that feel. Many hits on that shakey head during bluebird sky days are nothing more than the bait becoming heavier or just an odd tick. I'd hate to go all the way to mono and loose some of that. And yes, I need to retie more often. ;-) Thanks!

Within the last few years I have started to grab a shakey-head whenever the going get's tough and the bluebird sky is killing things. However; I have been having an issue with break-off's on hookset if I go too long between re-tying. I fish a 6'-7" ML fast *** Black spinning rod with 10lb braid and 10lb Inviz-x as a leader. I generally fish this in rocky areas which could be contributing to fraying the leader. However; I love the feel of the firm rod with braid and fluoro as I can tell every little thing that the jighead bumps into. So, I'm open minded here. Any input on what to change? I could go with a rod that has a bit slower action to ease the hookset, or change the leader material out to a mono or more than likely some sort of mono-flouro hybrid. Any ideas?

Is that ascend in your pic the 128t and if so how do you like it? Easy to stand in?

Great advice guys, thanks. Only thing I am stumped on is how to find a place that will let me demo one. Just for grins I've been looking when I go into the local dicks, cabelas and bass pro. The local bps just got in the ascend yak's and the storage options look great plus it's pretty cheap. The one that just won best of show at incast looks pretty awesome too. I watch kentucky afield every week and the host sometimes fishes out of a hobie or another brand I think both with pedal power of some sort. He had a motorcycle accident and lost the use of his right hand but gets arround in these great. They look like they would be awesome for fishing.

Need some advice. I have never been in a kayak nor in a canoe for probably 20 years. Have some of the best smallmouth water in the country near me that I can't fish in my boat. Been on a major diet/workout regimen and I think my gift to myself at the end will be a fishing kayak. So.... Sit in or sit on? And why? What about propulsion? Paddle or foot pedal? The latter seems nice as it would be hands free. Any brands preferred? Is one more stable than the other if I want to stand up in it? Anything else you can add will help!

Dont know why fly fishing for bass isn't more prevalant as it's a dang hoot.

Looks like a largemouth but if you look at the mouth on this fish it only extends to about the back of the eye ala spotted bass. Did you check his tounge when you caught him? If your ever not sure, check the tounge, a spot has a small grey patch of teeth on the tounge and a largemouth's tounge is smooth and slimy.

Get the 580's and leave them on the back of your boat at the ramp so I can take them. Jason has a pair and they are killer. I'll probably get a pair when I break/loose my current glasses.

I've caught them in tributaries of the Ohio, so yeah.

A lot of good fish in Patoka. My PB came out of there and our last club tourney at Patoka one of the guys caught a 7+. Definitly a lake you have to "learn". It's not easy like it was back in the day but there are some pigs in there but your right on many days that place can be tough. With last years giant bass brood hatch and the way they left the lake level down, hopefully we will have another boom on Patoka in a year or two. It gets so much darn pressure though, we will see how it goes. My Nemisis is Monroe. That place just has my number. I have been there and done very well on the muddy side just out having fun but rarely. Can't catch a cold on the clear side. Regardless; I have finished every tournament I have fished there as a blank.

I'm going to go away from all the new fangled gizmotron whatzits and just stick with the old standby: Black neon 4" tube. If you can't catch a bass on that there is something wrong with you.

Spinnerbait Squarebill Jig Frog That right there will do it all.

Probably a totally random occurrence but honestly, Bass absolutely murder a Pop-Max. It may be due to the size and the way it moves like it's trying to escape if your working it hard. I don't know but they blow up on it.

He's been riding me hard. At least JDM-ish. Thailand I believe but under Shimano. I present to you the Mokoley Zari. I need to find some good stands for pictures though, this just doesn't do them justice.

Two years ago, club classic which is a two day event. We drive in night before, two hours away. Day one launch getting ready to go out and notice, no boat key! Wife was gracious enough to meet us half way. Still launched day one two and a half hours late. I think we got fourth or fifth that year, just in the money. Dumb though. I always double check now.

I ordered some megabass 110's as part of a larger order in January. My order arrived right away minus the 110's. Which were really tough to find colors. Tough as in, basically go to japan to find these colors. I never even expected them to show up but about mid march, bam they arrived. Nobody else would have even gotten those in. Love TW!

Small 1/8oz white and chartreuse spinnerbaits are a go to for river bass fishing. Same with smaller 1/8oz black buzz baits. Squarebills are great as well, I prefer something with alot of white. Another killer bait for river fishing that I have found is a small black neon tube rigged "stupid tube" style. Usually my go to instead of a worm or jig. the above is assuming off colored water as is common on my river chain.

Fishing tournaments be they local after work with a boat count you can add up on one hand or a club deal with 20,30,40 boats or a big money draw.... Always that same pressure, that feeling of wanting to perform, the pressure when it's not working, the glee when you bring in a keeper. Watching the clock. Are you in the right place, are you doing the right thing? The funny thing is you never really know until weigh in. I have been stunned some days to see that everyone else had a stinker when it felt like we were doing the wrong thing. I have been stunned on those days we only catch a few but come in to find out everyone else couldn't find them and end up coming in the money. I have been stunned on those days I thought we did well only to come in to 20-30lb stringers and slink away with our hard earned 10lb. Best thing you can do is keep all that bad stuff out of your head, do your best and have fun. It will all be even more enjoyable when you cross that boundry when you realize that at the end of the day the results will be what they will be. Sounds like you had a good time, keep it up!

Ok, you owe me now. Theses are one of the craziest things I have seen so of course must now have them! The Horror however is that there are actually 4 types to buy. T, P, W and B.

Medium Light

Wow. I've never even seen the baits in your second two photo's. What are those?

Raul. You are a sick, sick man. Those are awesome.

To land it, you need a Bandit.

Mepps. Killer in the big 'ole river.