Bankbeater

I've had a lot of days when the bass are locked in on one bait and they ignore everything else. When this happens on a large lake I crank up the motor and move somewhere else. If I'm fishing a small pond then I leave and look for a different pond.

In my experience, an east wind is better than no wind at all.

It's not just the baits, but it can be the presentations too.

I haven't fished that lake in a long long time, but it sounds like several others around this area that I do fish. I'm guessing that the bottom is mud, and that the water clarity is murky. If so, that water in the shallow areas is going to heat up quickly with all this warm weather we have had lately. I'd try fishing early morning in the open water around the brush piles. As the day goes on I would target the boat lifts, water willows, and any other shade you can find like trees hanging over the water. Try fishing jig and craws, Texas rigs, or plastic worms. Don't work the bait too fast if the bass are not in a chasing mood. After the weather cools down, and starts staying cool the bass will probably start chasing baits again.

When I'm retying a palomar knot most of my break offs come while I'm clinching down the knot. I think it's either from tying the knot wrong, or not moistening the line enough before I clinch the knot down.

At least you didn't drop anything into the lake while trying to snag the boat.

That's how you wrap it up!

Nice! You scored big time!

600 acres? Lake St. Louis?

Zoom Z-nail and the Storm Sub-Wart.

It depends on the bait and where I am fishing. If I'm in open water fishing with a crankbait, then maybe a 3 because the trebles will do a lot of the work. If I'm in heavy cover fishing a Texas rig, then I'd say a 6 because not only do I want to get the hook into the fish, but I want to turn that bass away from any cover it may be trying to get into.

Welcome to the forums.

Can you find any history on the water you are fishing? Talk to other anglers and find out the sizes they are catching. If others have caught 5+ pounders out of your lake, then maybe you need to change baits, or presentations. If 3/4 lb bass are the norm, then you might need to change lakes.

Look for cover around steep drop offs. The drop off doesn't need to be near the shore. I could be a ways out in the water, or at the end of a point. I would be fishing around wood, or any green vegetation you can find. If you have coontail in your lake, and the lake is deep enough, it will stay green all winter. Around here the bass move out into the flats when it warms up enough. If there are dead lily pads around the flats I would target those first.

My wife is leaving later today on her girls trip. I could not have gotten these at a better time. Not shown is one swim jig.

I've used both in 15# line size. I never noticed any difference in sensitivity, but the Yozuri is easier to work with.

The only time I really speed crank is when I'm trying to get the bait back to the boat to make a new cast. In the winter I'll bring the bait in slow, especially spinner baits and bladed jigs that I can crawl along the bottom.

Chartreuse Pumpkin in clear water. Bubblegum in murky water. Black Grape in any water.

Good video, thanks!

What gets me is that most of the time they don't catch anything.

I'd like to, but I probably screw up the timeline.

Strike while the irons hot!

A few of the lakes I fish see pressure on a daily basis. You have to learn to adapt, or the skunk shows up. I usually fish with a 4 to 6 inch weightless worm, or 4" stickbait. If there is wind I'll add a split shot up the line. If I have a jig and craw tied on then it is a small one, usually 1/8 ounce, sometimes 1/4 ounce. I thread on the trailer to keep the bait somewhat compact looking. Most of the local anglers around here use mid depth to deep diving crankbaits, so I usually fish with some type of wakebait. I will run it around vegetation and around rocks. Like @MediumMouthBass said, look to see what everyone else is fishing with. Good luck.

I read somewhere that "each bite tells you something".

Around here the bass are still in their summer pattern. I've been catching them on jigs, Texas rigs, and plastic worms in, or around, vegetation. I'm hoping the bass will become more active as the green starts to die off.