CJ

I think a spinnerbait is the best answer but I would add to get some topwaters for when the water warms up. I like to walk a chug bug myself but that isn't the easiest thing to do. Rebel Pop R or a black buzzbait would be good for your area. My friend won a boat on a black buzzbait in the fall on Table Rock. I would recommend that you stay with plasics though. May seem slow to fish but things speed up when they start biting. Especially for those sunny days with no wind. Good luck

I totally agree with you. It's just that it was a more simple question. It was to see what elements, conditions, and factors we deal with across the states or globe. Where elevation and current are very important for me versus weather trend and wind are probably more important to someone fishing Toho for example. Season is the most import factor hands down that's why I excluded it. It's obviously the most import. I wanted to dig deeper.

FLMB or intergrades were only recently introduced at the lower end of the TN river chain. I'm aware of their air bladder but within a couple days they will migrate horizontally as much as 10-15 ft. from what I have seen. Gizzard shad are probably the choice prey or at least the most abundant. Then did you decide to redirect the thread instead of answering the question to the threaad?

Ok your post isn't as off topic as I first thought though it's still redirecting from the original question. It does relate. I'm guessing that the waters you fish just don't have as many elements or conditions as what some deal with on river resevoirs for instance. On KY Lake we deal with vertical and horizontal migration all through out the year. Not only that, we have different groups so to say(river fish and reservoir fish). The river fish will live on structure near the channel almost all year. They migrate much more often. The reservoir fish make more seasonal migrations and even some don't know there is a river channel there, living in bays or creek arms year around. I've caught big fish at 20 ft. of water on the same day I caught big fish in 6 ft. of water. With some waters bass will all be close to the same type locations and depth while others are not only in a different location and depth but completely in a different seasonal phase. This is what this thread is about. When someone post a question on the board about location, seasonal patterns, structure, lures, just about anything, the first thing that has to be taken into account is the elements and conditions they deal with. In other words, what may work best for some, just won't for others. It has a lot to do with the fact that bass as a predator are very good at acclimating to there environment. On another note, I'm surprised you didn't mention solunar tables as something you take into consideration WRB. But your post is good info. Thanks

I would look at Dirty Jigs and the Damiki Mamba jig. Both a little pricey though.

Not that the time period for a season or the understanding of a season term is obvious but it's obvious all of us deal with it. This is what I am asking. Not picking at you Tom. I'm glad to hear from the West Coast. I like that you mention observation.

A tarp with snow on it at this moment.

Nice Paul. I have to run but I wanted to get the topic back on track. I'm not asking what dictates whether you go or not. Let's say, "you're going fishing". What homework do you do before you go or to expand, what helps you dictate the decisions you might make on the fly?

This is a subject I feel can be critical as a bass angler. Some of my best days on the water were dictated because I already had a pretty good idea where and what was going to get big fish in the boat. But when I have traveled to other waters away from my home lake, I've found that there are always different elements that will cause big bass to be where they are and strike what they strike on any given day. So the question is: In the area you fish the most, what are all the things you research before you go? We will exclude season because it's the obvious that everybody deals with and list them in order of what you feel is most important. I'm not asking if you would go fishing or not. Let's say, "you are going", what homework do you do and/or what elements, condition, etc. do you look for? Here's what I look at: 1. lake elevation - my lakes will fluctuate around 5-6 ft with the season, sometimes more but I always check through out the year every time I go. Just a few inches of up or down can cause fish to move. I also always check the trend (water going up or down). This gives me an idea which way the fish may be going especially in the Spring. 2. current - another thing I have to know. Current effects the fish's location and their feeding mood. +current=feeding fish usually shallower 3. water temp - pretty obvious one that kind of goes along with season but I look at the trend just as much. I would rather fish 45 degree water that is going up over 50 that is going down as an example. 4. water color- now I'm starting to look at factors that help dictate "what" I'm gonna throw but it still can dictate location especially in cold water. Won't get into that. Way too much info and it's been covered. 5. wind - on my lake it may dictate where I get to fish but again it has more to do with lure choice for me. Except for the rare time I fish near the bank in the prespawn then I prefer wind blown banks or water with some chop. 6. the sky - cloudy or clear, I know we all deal with it. Probably should be up on my list. I could probably come up with more but these are my most common. All of these taken into account usually can be put into a formula that can make a fishing day a better fishing day that can be done before you make your first cast. I left out weather trend because we all deal with it. I'm really wanting hear from anglers from all over to see if there are some more things, some that may be unique, that help you plan your trip and help you have a good all around understanding for your outcomes.

IRods have come out with some affordable rods that are rated for heavier lures. They also have swimbait models.

I'm a black and blue guy out of those two but Green Pumpkin is my favorite all around base color. Both of these colors are great but I'm thinking black/blue is a better stained water color and PBJ is better in clear.

I don't know what's next but I have given Rapala their day in court. DT series will catch fish but not durable. Lip is glued in and I've lost fish with only the lip left on the line. Shad Raps may be the best shallower diving crankbait ever. The Shadow Rap catches fish with some mods. I put a size bigger on the front 2 hooks of the shallow diver. Caught some bigguns. I like the Shadow Rap because it just takes a little bump on the rod to get great action! It's the only way I fish it, light jerks.

I really like the Keitech myself but I also like Big Hammer especially if the water is a little stained.

It's really not what you're fishing but where. If I were you I would look for chunk rock or hard banks dropping off into water with some depth but close to a channel. Let's say 5 ft. plus but the deeper the better. Parallel the bank with a shad rap, rattle trap, blade bait, square bill, jerk bait with bright colors,the list goes on...I've had some great days with stained, cold water doing this. Bass will get right on the bank on warmer days. Keep vibration and slow retrieve in mind.

It was a bucktail jig for me. 6th Sense 500 Crush was second.

I've tried to keep this one on the down low for awhile but I think another company has caught on but I've only seen the heads for a healthy price of $5/ea. I think it's gonna be a fish catcher!

Awesome!!! Exactly what I wanted to do at Disney World a few weeks ago but my wife and baby boy had other plans. Way to go Sam! That day will be branded in his memory forever. CJ

I've had days where I threw back over 25 4 lb. plus smallmouth and won a tournament with 27 lbs(avatar pic). I had a day last year when I caught my PB with my best fishing bud y'all know, Paul. It was a great day! But my best day was when my son Gavin caught his PB at 4 lbs. when he was 9 years old. I don't think I have the picture on this PC but he out fished me that day 29-27. To me, that's what it's all about. Gavin will be greater than I ever will be or was. Big O coined the phrase as "The Masters Plan".

Considering the buoyancy of feathers, yes they make a difference. Is difference for the better? It can be. I like a topwater to stay on plain, it's just my preference especially on smallmouth. If you use enough feathers and some bucktail on a chug bug, it will stay on plain. I walk the dog and I've never noticed any hindrance on action. I also like a jerkbait to stand up on it's nose while sitting plus the leftover action after the pause will cause the feathered trebles to pulse or sway so to speak. Feathers can fine tune a lure, give unique action, and give a life like tail to a lure. I can't see where it can hurt other than your wallet a little. So I say YUP.

I tear up a lot of jerkbaits because they aren't made to be a contact bait. Some of the biggest bass I have ever caught was because I was crashing a jerkbait into something, mostly rocky bottom contour. I would love to have a jerkbait that ran around 1-3 ft. that was built to take a beating.

Welcome to Bass Resource Trevor. CJ

They work great! At least at 48 degrees and up (as low as I've fished with a spybait). Just keep them slow as always with spybaits.

Interesting thread. One of the biggest factors that help bass dictate their depth in the summer is oxygen. On my home lake bass will move out deep after the spawn has finished and the key is how deep the bait is holding. They usually go from 8-12 FOW in mid May and as deep as 25 FOW by the mid June. Then when the hot, dog days of summer kick in, the D.O levels become too low at the deeper depths and the bass will make another vertical migration back up shallow (4-8 FOW), especially the mature fish. A sure sign is when mussel meat begins to float on the surface.

Looked like a nice day!!!