bassguytom

Why? You ask. Oh you know why we all know but the non-angler will never know. So I ask you why ask why to a question you already know the answer to. Better question is why did I have so many kids that I have to pay for instead of going south for the winter!!!

So now is the time I try to learn. I want to start punching this year and need some info. I have a set up that will work but I need to know where. The lakes I fish don't really have floating mats so can I punch into thick weeds. There are milfoil patches that come to the top in summer. Would this be a good place to try? Any other places I should try? I have never really used real Heavy weights either, I have some but for some reason never wanted my bait to drop like a rock. I really want to spend some time on this technique and learn it to see if it is for me. Any info. Is appriciated. Thanks guys!

No I don't. But when I was little my mother played broken records to me but it never really affected me...affected me....affected me.....

The cold water cuts down on the action of plastics and from my experience cold water fishing hard baits like a jerkbait and blade bait work much better. In the winter I am imitating shad or better yet dying shad. A slow sinking jerkbait nose down will have it all over plastics in cold water. Plastics will work in cold water but I have found better options. If I was going to use plastic in the winter it would be small a shad shaped like a lake fork shad or something. This is just my experience in my area where the water gets in the 30's before freezing. 2 weeks ago I was out with water temp. 38 and caught 12 bass up to 4 lbs. on a LC Pointer 78 jerkbait. Hope this helps.

These look like winners. The bill is kind of squared so the deflection is probably really good.

I am going with a gambler ugly otter I love Italian food. Plus no trebles to deal with later. I think I actually put some thought into that answer. If I'm crazy would I know it?

I don't bring an umbrella on board. I also don't allow any bears on the boat.

I am going through my tackle and I have a box of these and I can't remember using them one time last year. I would use them all the time in the past but have learned so many other techniques that my worms have taken a back seat. I would always use them T-rigged with a bullet weight. Does anyone use these with regularity anymore? What season do you use them? I think I will break them out again this year.

Most of the bigger females are seen schooling with the male driving the fancy sports cars.

I use all of the above but really like Gambler.

Small piece of 30lb mono through the hook eye like Glenn posted.

Gammy

Turn my living room into a tackle store and just go through things and clean reels. Read watch videos go to the sportsman show do wife projects and such. Ice fish if safe. First week below freezing here also.

Welcome, the only silly question is the one that goes unasked. The wealth of knowledge on here is great and can only be beat by real time experience on the water. Have fun and tight lines!

My first bass on a lure had to be a rooster tail in either yellow or black. We would go down to the creek and throw these all day. They catch anything that swims.

I started using the rage Blade with a blade minnow and have had some success. I just started using these in August so not for too long.

This is spot on here. We are catching smallmouth in the Delaware river fishing small hair and plastic jigs very slowly. In most cases the bite will feel like you picked up a leaf or some grass, set the hook. Wintering holes are only a couple of feet somtimes also. Winter fishing in a river is tough but can also be very rewarding. Nothing on jerkbaits last 3 trips. Good luck.

Thanks. And Merry Christmas to everyone. Thanks for all the help and info. throughout the year gang! I'm heading out Saturday with the temps heading into the mid 50's it would be illegal not to go around here and I don't want to get into any trouble.

I start pre spawn fishing after the spawn. I'm pre spawn fishing now. I fish for the fat bottomed girls when the water hits 45 degrees or so with jigs and lipless cranks in the red craw color.

Wow! That will make a day on the ice worth the trip.

Get on the honey do list son! My plan is always to get that stuff done before ice out. Happy wife happy life = more time on the water. Lol.

I rig a craw on a shaky head for deep summer smallies all the time.

I just copied and forwarded to my wife. What to forward of me?

Yes, just like when you held the worm up to the light when the sun is reflecting down the color is different. The opposite is true when overcast or dark. A darker color is silhouetted or seen better when overcast or dark. Hope this helps.

Try an umbrella net throwing bread balls in it. A lot of places you are not allowed to use cast nets like here in PA.