Smokinal

Well???

When asked what I catch them on: "Carolina rigged buzz bait..."

Something not touched upon here is the fact that you may have gotten bit, paused too long and had the fish spit it before you stuck him. Empty hooksets aren't always just grass, twigs etc... If you feel it was a bite but then empty hookset, try a product like Megastrike to help make the fish hold the bait longer.

I have a bunch of flat strand, living rubber jigs that I really like. I got away from throwing them for a while so they got all crumpled and wrinkled from being in the planos for the last year. How can I get them to straighten out and soften up a bit? Boil them and hang them maybe?

Great to see! Pass on our congrats!

Very nice Glenn! A "top" buttom would be nice to have at the bottom of a thread to take you back to the top of the page in a click.

Little Sebago would be a better option

I use the Blood knot on my rods with regular size guides and the Albright/Alberto for micro-guide rods. And as far as the FG knot; you know what the FG stands for? FuGetaboudit! Try this too https://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php

Depending where you are headed, the Androscoggin has some great smallmouth.

Red shad, Tequila Sunrise, black shad all work well for me in green water

Glad to hear you're on the mend!!

No rush Glenn. Thanks for update

I'm still getting the black box with small white square in center

Absolutely! Without a doubt I've become a better angler since I started keeping a log; around 10 years ago. I don't have a really fancy, thorough system; just a notebook that I keep date, weather, water conditions (temp, clarity), body of water, number of fish, where I caught them, cover they were in or structure they were on and baits used. And almost more importantly, I'll log what didn't work for that day. Now, if I need to, I can go back before a trip and read what worked and what didn't for the same time period. Doing this has taught me the typical patterns for a given time of year. The thing to be careful of, and this topic may spark a debate about fishing "history" as it always does, you have to fish the conditions at hand. It's just that the log gives you some clue as to where you should start; then adjust your presentaions and baits as the conditions require.

Definitely hypothetically. I guess I'm just repeating what Blue said in that it all depends what you call "good" fishing. I found this little pond up here that has some big smallies in it. I can only manage to catch 2-3 in a morning, but they are good ones. I'll be honest with you , I don't know that I'll return to the place just because it's slow for me. I'd rather spend my time in a spot where my line will be tight, even if it means sacraficing size. I think I need A-Jay up here to show me how to fish this place!!

Came in to say this^^^ In Maine, on most of my home waters, in a 5 hr morning a 15-20 fish day is slow; 30-40 fish day is expected and I have caught as many as 78 in 5 hrs (on Mr Ned btw). So, if I went to California and caught 1-2 bass in a month, even if they were DD's, I'd say it's horrible. When I go fishing I like to catch fish. jmo

Congrats guys! You're going to love our state. Mickey, those 2 lakes are chockerblock full-o-smallies. Along with your baits of choice, I'd have at the ready: 4" and 6" green pumpkin senkos to rig texas and wacky, some perch or gold colored hard jerkbaits, Green Pumpkin and PBJ TRD on a Ned rig, sexy shad Keitechs, some natural colored crankbaits to run all depths, chart/white spinnerbaits. I'd also have some t-rigged worms for largemouth in grass. And don't overlook Webber Pond in Vassalboro. Great largemouth fishery. Can't wait to hear some reports from you guys! Shout if you get stuck.

Beautiful bass! Congrats!

Probably small baitfish, petch etc...nibbling at the tips of the bait

I hate to tell you this but they aren't going to give out some secret prototype baits to 2 random schmoes if they didn't want them out.

Dat Live Pumkinseed doe. It's so beautiful; I find myself staring at it for hours; I could nibble on it myself

Its called vanish for a reason; because that's what your fish do....

I have been absolutely mythed that I haven't seen it in MLF. There is no better platform for the Ned than that. I've seen guys go 8 hours, literally, without a single bite and will not put down the shakey head.

I, too, break the keeper off and super glue the flat end of the top of the bait to the jighead. Works mint like that

Wow! Interesting to hear of the same issue I experienced. T rigged worm would sink to the bottom but my line literally hovered above the water 3 ft all the way back to my rod. Would not have believed it if it didn't happen to me. Was hearing crackling sounds the whole time.