Shanes7614

That's quite the welcome to a new member there drill sergeant. I myself never "introduced" myself as a new member. If I got a reply like that it probably would have been the last time I visited the site thinking to myself what a bunch of A holes. NOLUCK. Welcome to the forum!!! Their are plenty of more patient members that I'm sure can help you find your answers. Check out all the different threads and read up and maybe follow up and reply to a thread that may have been somewhat what you have asked.

In a saltwater application and from what I've read most of your fishing being done on foot then most likely not gonna be very helpful. A few of the variables you state actually don't change. Yes the water level can change but where the fish are locating may have not. Color paterns for baits used probably won't variate much either. Bass fishermen don't rely on bait coming and going whereas in the salt you do. It's either present in said waters orbits not. If there is no bait on a given bass waters then most likely the fishing is going to suffer especially size and health of caught fish. Which a lack of bait could force the bass themselves to become more aggressive when one of our imitations is presented. If you have a log bass fishing and year after year when the water temps are 85 degrees and you catch fish consistently at depths more then 8' then that would be a great place to start your search for fish. If you catch fish on a certain lake with a certain color. Knowing this will allow you you rule out using colors that you've previously had zero success and again a good place to start. I can almost assure you that a large amount of pros use some type of log to know which presentations may work the best for certain waters they may come across. Do I think it's the greatest tool a bank fishermen could have, NO. Access to deeper water most likely isn't an opportunity you will have and be able to change any of the variables associated with it. Although logging which lakes have been successful for you at different times of day could narrow down the waters you fish at that time of year. Yes a lot of us recreational guys enjoy just being out on the water but to some fish caught and performance as you call it is the marker for how much fun they are having.

Great post and info. Sirsnookalot does WAY more saltwater fishing then fresh from what I've read so I'm sure it's harder to get things to line up like moons and tides. Wish I myself had the patience to do this as I'm sure the info would help to have.

I grew up in NJ and fished it mostly in the late 80's and 90's. I've caught plenty of fish in the 3-5lb range as well. For me when it got totally choked out was when I noticed my numbers getting better. Way less boat traffic and less guys that wanted to deal with the weeds back then. I grew up learning on a lake pretty similar so I always felt confident to fish IN the weeds. I do agree it was one of the better bass fishing waters especially for the northern part of the state. However most of my fishing was concentrated on a body of water that at the time was closed to the public where we knew the security guy that patrolled it which is now open to the public. Split Rock Resevoir. To me hands down the best water in NJ to fish. Has almost every kind of cover and typical bass fishing area to host all different presentations. Had great smallmouth as well. Caught one from there that was 10lb 2oz back in 1996 fishing in early April. Huge prespawn female slow rolling a spinnerbait. Not sure how the fishing is there now as I haven't been there in at least 10 years.

Guys out there with the mentality you can't or shouldn't use braid with MH rods just need to think outside the box. Maybe forget the home run swing hook set and the "ripping of baits" out of fishes mouths will be a story of the past. Adjust accordingly to the equipment you use. I use lipless baits quite often and with a quick snap of the wrist I'm hooked up. I hardly lose any fish and most times I either don't get hooked up at all because I don't get bit or I get bit and land a VERY high percentage of my fish. I use them with all types of reaction baits with zero issues. Keep the egos off the water and stop trying to hit those home runs and all will be ok.... I promise.

Couldn't his snag problem concerns be fixed by JUST using a mono or flouro leader?

Come on down!!! Everyone talks about Okeechobee but personally so far from what I've experienced is its not even the best trophy lake down here to fish for DD bass.

That's funny you say that. Was just down there this past Friday. Caught a few tarpon in that area. Very close to bass pro.

Fluke bellies got outlawed in the late 90's if I remember correctly. Used them when I was younger and a few times after when out on a boat with young friends. Buddy of mine used to catch them from 8-10lbs almost on a weekly basis. We'd use live peanut bunker on bucktails and kill them in the spots he had plotted. Weakfish also. Raritan bay used to be an amazing fishery and has just slowly declined even with the limit size getting upwards near 20". Hardly any keepers being kept on the party boats with 40ish guys on the boat. Haven't fished NJ since 2010 myself. 2000-2010 were the worst fishing I had ever seen. I think NY limit size for fluke is now OVER 20". Just ridiculous.

Can't beat the fishing here. I've fished NJ, Cali and now here and there's way more fish let alone bass to keep you more then busy. Tilapia aren't the greatest fight but lb for lb would be about tied with bluegill. Cichlids have actually made me think about an ultralight rod again for when the bass fishing gets tough. The warmer the water gets the more aggressive they are. Whereas the bass get more lazy and dormant.

Blue, that first one is a chunk cichlid. That size you think you have a 1-2ln bass on the line.

Not sure how much experience you have with saltwater bluefish. But these guys to me are their freshwater little cousins. I've caught a handful with a MH bass rod with a spinnerbait that have actually put a decent bend in my rod. Very similar to piranha is how fierce they are. Hands down would be number one. Not taking away from bluegill. But not much comparison either. I'd be afraid to let a small child handle one as they'd do quite some damage to those little fingers if handles wrong.

They are downright NASTY. And have I mentioned TEETH. They'll cut a shiner clean in half like a razor cut it.

Some places aren't wading friendly like here in Florida where gators and cottonmouth roam our waters. Sometimes fish need to be lifted over the edge of some thick reeds and such at the edge of the water.

He transports them to and from his fishing area inside his vehicle. Only drives around his waters with them in bed of truck.

Was more to show it laying over the piece of wood described in another of his posts. Asking if the wood have caused damage while slowly driving around his fishing area.

Not sure this new bait is gonna put your state on the map quite yet. Lol

d**n your good. I have a couple of these in my crankbait box and all of my cranks I write with a permanent marker what depth they dive to on the underside of the bills. Mine are marked 12'.

We used to fill the bottom of a canoe when I was a kid at a local private lake with small rapalas and a couple split shot on the line to get a little depth in the spring when they would school up really heavy a couple weeks after ice out.

6lb is perfect as far as I'm concerned. Crappie in NJ can easily be over 2lbs and the state record is in the mid 4's. I knew a local cop when I lived there who caught it in a private lake.

Cichlids also have a nasty bite also. Don't want to lip any of those suckers and don't want your small kid unhooking one alone.

We have African cichlids and tilapia down here in Florida. Do those count as well. These cichlids can be downright CRAZY!!!! Will eat LIVE bait half there size and never run out of steam. Warmouth is kinda on the line IMO. Too closely related to bass.

It's amazing how well rounded us Nj guys are!!! just don't get caught with those fluke bellies anymore.

Nope. It's 14 as stated above. Lol. 200 guys out on Okeechobee at one time fishing for 14 bass.

I don't believe it's hit the market yet. Was reading it will be introed at iCast this month.