Bankbeater

For the first time using backing I will fill up the spool all the way with cheap mono. Then I'll make some casts out in the back yard to see how far I'm casting and how much line is going out. When I get a pretty good idea of how much backing I'll need I make a cast and cut the line at the spool.

I can look at my blood without problem. I have to ready myself for other people's blood.

We just had our 34th anniversary on Saturday. It has not always been a bed of roses, but mutual respect, communication, and putting the other person first is what has kept us together.

I store my rods and reels in the basement year round.

Welcome.

Untouchable bass no, extremely conditioned and educated, yes. I have a 50 acre lake near me. I know this lake has some 5+ pound bass in it because my friends and I have seen them. We’ve seen them swim out of cover to hit at out baits just to turn away at the last second. Those bass have definitely become accustomed to either the baits or the presentations.

Around here the bass will sometimes hit a black crankbait when the water is muddy.

My most productive bait this year was a weightless, grape colored, 6" Creme Scoundrel. Fished it on a 6'6" m/f Carbonlite with a Pflueger President spooled with 10# Big Game. The number two bait was a 4" green pumpkin Yum Dinger fished on the same rig.

I don't for catfish too much anymore, but I still go out after panfish, walleye, sauger, and with a little luck I may catch a muskie. The difference is that when I don't catch a bass I am bummed for a little while. I don't feel that way when I get skunked fishing for other species.

I use to do a lot of catfishing off of the bank. The size of the floater always depended on the type of bait I was fishing with, and how far out I was fishing. Easier to see if the floater is large.

When I was growing up my family had 4 dogs over the years. They were family, and dad always said you can tell a person's character by the way a dog responds to them.

Welcome to the forum.

Thursday we had record high temps. Friday the temps dropped all day. Saturday about 1/2 hour south there was 5" to 6" of snow. Monday night we are expected to get more snow. They are saying it won't be very much. We'll see.

I think you nailed it.

Mad Dog was a staple at some of the parties I went to when I was younger. Probably why I don't drink wine now.

I like a 6'6" med heavy / fast casting rod. I like the shorter rod for working the bait. I use to use a m/f spinning rod, but in thick cover that did not give me enough muscle to get the fish out.

I've gotten hooked twice with treble hooks. Once in each hand. The first time the hook went through the corner of nerve tissue, and the second time the hook was very close to a blood vessel. Both times I went to the ER and had the hook removed. There was no way I was going to try to pull those out myself.

So sad.

I've used braid, mono, and fluoro over the years. The braid was always a pain when snagged, even with a leader, which I don't like using. I really never noticed a difference between the flouro and mono, except the fluoro was a lot stiffer. Now I use straight mono for just about everything.

I love pitching a Texas rig into wood this time of year. Thanks Glenn.

I fish with a lot of the older baits. I'm not one to run out and purchase a new type of bait, sight unseen, as soon as it hits the shelves. Nine times out of ten how I try a new bait is that I find one out on the water and tie it on.

You won't be boating that sunfish with 4 lb line.

I only have the light on when I retie, change baits, remove a fish, or untangle the bait. I try not to have it on very long since it tends to draw in bugs,

I've been fishing on days when the temps started out in the high 20's and warmed into the low 40's. That is about it for me. If the high temps are going to be low then I stay home.

About 10 years ago I was fishing with an old Daiwa rod from the bank. I reeled in my jig in and was raising it up out of the water when a big bass hit it about one foot off the bank. In a knee jerk reaction I just flipped the bass out on the bank, and that rod sure creaked when I did. That was a learning moment for me, and the last time I flipped a big fish.