BaitMonkey1984

My home lake is relatively small. The Northeast warms up first and the ice melts enough to be broken up, then one good day of north to south winds can open the entire lake in a day. It is awesome to watch the lake come back to life. I am usually out there that day or the next day. Obviously I would be stoked to be catching lots of fish, but I use the ultra clear water (prior to aquatic treatment) to research the movements of all my new baits bought over the winter. That way, come warmer temps I am confident in my new baits.

That is one heck of a fish. I am pretty sure that could eat my PB. Interested in what line, rod, etc you were using to get that baby to shore and more about the fight.

Jerk baits can be intimidating but use the advice already given to help you learn quick. Cold water conditions, and clear water is where this bait excels. Cadence is the most important factor, and remember not to fish your bait too fast. The Fluke is a great soft bait, as is the caffeine shad by Strike King. I like the Rapala Husky Jerk for hard jerk baits and they are reasonable at around 8 bucks a pop. Good luck!

I want to learn how to use my electronics better. Upgraded both graphs last year and after a long winter realize I fish history and fish the banks way too often. I need to do some idling around before I wet a line and let those electronics do what they are supposed to.

I know the feeling. Was trying to get the d**n Quantum Escalade HD dialed in...again..and was throwing a buzzbait all around my backyard with 3 feet of snow still on the ground.

Welcome. Your work productivity will now drop anywhere from 5-95%, this site is addictive.

Just hoping that the pats somehow get Wilfork back on a deal. Also, huge Indy fan too so curious to see what #87 ends up doing.

Don't overlook General Grabber AT2s, good bang for the buck. Only slightly more noisy on the road but great traction.

Awesome looking reel and have many other quantum reels. However, bought the Escalade and the thing just cannot cast without backlashing. I have tried all different lines, size, etc and just cannot get this thing dialed in. It has a flipping switch so I am likely going to delegate it to flipping and pitching seeing I can't cast it worth a darn.

Storm arashi square bill.

Last week of March would be good. I pick up the boat April 1, and need a few days to get a coat of wax on the ranger and get it all loaded up.

LL Howells single handedly got me back into fishing cranks. Scatter Rap Cranks work good here too.

Have the ranger insured but never thought l about the gear. The graphs are all locked down but thinking of the replacemment cost of an overflowing rod locker and baits is making me quite ill...Time to see what my insurance covers.

watermelon creme GYCB senkos and black and blue fleck are gold everywhere around here. I would throw some LL Howell creankbait in crawdad colors too. I am in the area you plan to fish and those two, along with a red spinnerbait are always ties up in early spring. Just hope the ice is out for your trip.

Backing for bait casters. It isn't terrible for spinning outfits, but like braid better for everything besides finesse presentations.

Snow piles in the driveway are 7+ feet and havent been able to fish since December so i am with j francho, no sympathy.

Casey Ashley proved on Lake Hartwell that sometimes the fish are out in the deadlands so to speak. Based upon what I saw from the live coverage he was fishing undefined bottoms lacking any structure and just absolutely whacking them. So much so that he didn't need those 80 brush piles he planted...did you hear about? hahah

Last year, I started fishing texas rigged magnum finesse worms by zoom through the heavy grass. I had a lot of success throughout the entire lake on this technique, quite a few 4-5 lb bass. One night after tying the boat to the dock, I had to take a few more casts. There is a point 35 yards to my girlfriend's dock, then heavy grass and a swimming raft that all meet within 15 ft of one another. Three nights in a row I hooked this monster twice a night. First night, it spit the hook both times. Second night hooked it for seconds each time. Third night, upgraded my hooks a size and had her almost all the way to dock and she spit it. I would try and try again many days the next two weeks using the same lure, the same presentation, but she was gone. She pulled so hard, have to guess she was 7+.

I actually got that combo for my first bait caster. It was a poor choice as it is simply cheap and not in good working order. I however have been able to dial in the octane after spending some time with it. The Octane is actually better than my Escalade. Pretty Sad.

Nothing out of the ordinary, towing people in from the occasional breakdown. Helping newbies back their trailer up, getting their boat on the trailer. I always try to do threethings every time I fish. One is try to leave a good impression on the people I encounter, so not to give people a and impression of fisherman. I am always polite and even if I have had only one beer while out, I leave the empties in the boat and empty back at the house. Don't want everyone getting labeled a drunk. Also, I always try to leave the lake cleaner than when I get there. One thing that really ticks me off is when I find fishing related packages at the ramp/shoreline. No excuse. This is our resource and if we don't care about it enough to take care of it, who can we expect non-fisherman to care about it. Lastly, anytime I see a young kid casting from shore I always speak to him/her and see how they are doing. Then, based upon their are and aptitude I give them a few free baits I know will produce fish. It not only is a free gift, but also gets them a few extra bites, and hooks them into fishing.

I think it was lunker city who created the first slug-go. I have bought lots of these in past years and never given them a real chance. And I have had great success with the zoom fluke. It may be due to the fact that I was rigging upside down. However, zoom flukes work well rigged either way. In any event, looking forward to giving these another try later this spring when the bass move up in the water column.

Lawyer here. Most days in the spring and summer, you can find my Ranger hooked up to my truck in front of my office. At quitting time its off to the lake.

Buy. Buy. Buy. Repeat. Couple hundred pounds of new soft plastics, 3 new 3700 of cranks, one new 3700 of jigs, five new rod and reel setups, all the line I could ever need in a lifetime....really starting to see what everyone has been telling me -I have a problem.

Have had one quantum bait caster (escalade) and after several different lines, lb lines, and different lures I have simply given up on this reel. It is a backlash machine play and simple.

One other attribute I always look for in a vehicle is does the truck tailgate come with cupholders when the tailgate is down. Very important to rehydrate after a long day on the water and get off your feet.