the reel ess

The clemson Univ extension near Columbia, SC has a few lakes they are managing. They don't advertise it and you have to get on a list. No motors. They're using it to determine what catch and release vs. keeping fish is doing to the population. I've heard they make you keep a certain limit if you catch enough. There might be a slot. I know of one person who I believe is fishing there regularly and he posts a lot of pics of big bass on his social media.

I tend to try the floating jerkbaits when the water warms and definitely work them faster. I have a new Bagley's Bang-O-Lure that I want to try soon.

And big fish tend to be loners. Same. But I caught one on a no-fish spot.

On the lake I grew up on some people would put chicken wire around their pilings to keep boaters from fishing under their docks. Mostly it was to keep people from jigging for crappie under their docks. When the crappie were spawning you definitely wanted to jig around these.

6-6 on my T rigs rod and 6-10 on my jigs rod. I fish from a kayak and target a lot of specific wood cover. The shorter rod makes for more accurate pitches.

I've often seen a bass chasing bait in a patch of lilies and I cast the ol' Pad Crasher in and got it. Those fish have a false sense of security.

When it's muddy, I'm pitching the jig or T rig to every piece of wood cover. I'm of the opinion that bass will find some stump, laydown, dock, etc. and hang on to it until the water clears up a bit. If the water is high, fish in the shallow "new water". They will start biting reaction baits sooner than you think as it clears.

The one you mentioned first. But this is not a bait I fish a lot.

I've caught the most on a lipless crank, followed by a crappie jig (really), then a jig or T rigged craw. I got the biggest ones on the T rig and CC Super Spot gold/black lipless crank. I've also gotten 2 on the frog and one on the Whopper Plopper.

I will if I get the chance to go. Between work, weather and chores, I haven't been able to get out as much. But I'll end up going if I have to take a couple half days off.

Dogwoods are blooming in my region of SC. But we have two nights of 32 degree lows coming the next two days. All next week will be in the 70s with 56-59 degree lows. It'll be on then. One problem is the water is still so off-color some beds might be hard to spot.

I have bought some of their jigheads and just put a plain craw or a Hula Grub on them. They work well that way.

Same down my way, but they've been biting some anyway.

I don't plan my days around the solunar table. But I do look at it. Interestingly, I've caught some of my biggest bass during the full/no moon windows. But sometimes I only catch one big fish. IMO, weather can have as much or more to do with fish biting than the moon. But I think big fish and little-average fish are almost like different species in the ways they behave.

Just tie one on and don't take it off. You'll catch good fish. You can use those trailers as T rigs as well.

I took a milk crate and zip tied (6) PVC rod holders in it. And I have two flush mount (angled to the aft) rod holders. So I can carry 8. And I will sometimes when I expect a mixed bag. But usually I carry 7 bass combos.

But I do have a ML that was my late dad's. I haven't figured out how to use it yet.

I don't finesse much. I love power fishing.

It's a feel thing. I set the drag for trebles pretty loose. It allows you to use a MH rod if you want. Lately I'm leaning toward all MH-Hvy rods and just use the drag and line to moderate the action. I set spinner/buzzbaits a tad higher. Maybe half of the breaking point of mono line. T rigs I set pretty tight if I'm using a superline or flipping hook and stout rod. Set it medium for wire hooks. For jigs and frogs, I lock it down. That's heavy cover and guerilla warfare. FWIW I use braid on all these except for the spinner/buzzbait rod. I use 15# Big Game mono on that combo.

Welcome, from a fellow SC kayak angler. I live in the piedmont region, Lancaster County. You have some beautiful waters up there.

The Zoom. But several packs because fish destroy them.

She should stop right now. But she probably wants a 7 pounder now.

I try to save as many as I can by the methods mentioned above. But if I'm certain I've killed a fish I try to give it to someone who's keeping them, if they're around. It happens. If it dies, some other creature will profit from its loss of life.

I can pick one off every now and then. But I still do better in the shadows even when the sun is up. One thing I like to do is go early or late when it's warm. That gives me another chance at low light conditions. I consider the frog to be a different thing altogether. They work well for me sometimes in full sun.

It's rare that I catch bass on topwaters in full sun in the middle of the day. But I can when it's overcast.