SWVABass

They have survival instincts. Some times this plays to our advantage, such as a reaction strike from a neutral or active fish. Other times they seem clever and we don’t get bit, fish that are not active or neutral fish that do not bite out of impulse. our job is to find those active fish and figure out what they are keyed in on. Replicate that over and over now you are pattern fishing and not just junk fishing.

For all those who haven’t caught one yet..... don’t worry you will get them!! i made a move at the first of the year cross country and that limited my early spring fishing. Now I am at home quarantined until my covid test comes back. For those of you sheltering in place ride it out it will get better and just think how uneducated those fish will be come post spawn and wanting to feed up!!! I bet a lot of folks catch new PB’s this late spring/early summer!!!

A dropshot would be a decent way to go. Using someone in the 3 - 4” range. Most likely I’m guessing you will be after smallmouth you there? If that’s the case get something that imitates a small baitfish. Work it slowly coming back in, almost like a Carolina rig. This will keep your bait up off the bottom, and all three species will eat that. If they are on beds you can shorten up the leader and pitch in and around beds. Just know if there is any wood or cover you run a greater risk breaking fish off like this.

Amazing congrats!

@dickenscpa thanks for the info on that. Yea those loopholes getting closed suck. But pay in cash and and say it was a dollar ?

Worst day ever was my first tournament. The tourney director was nice enough to let me go as his back boater that day. I spent all day hanging and busting off cranks and never sniffed a bite. About 20 mins prior to weighin we get ready to leave and I make mi final cast. Wind blows my crank off target and I’m hung in a boulder. My boaters says ok, goes to spin the boat and in the process drops his rod. I watch in horror as a g loomis rod and shimano head to the depths. I felt horrible about it. seven years later I was still fishing with him. Every time we got near those rocks he would ask if I had something I could drag bottom with in 40’ we would laugh and go back over all the times we fished together. Turned out that my worst day was the beginning of a fishing friendship that I miss today!

For all you kayak guys in TN would I be required to register a yak? I’m looking at a hobie with mirage drive. How do they figure the cost if I have to? Just trying to plan for all the cost.

Sounds like they just postponed the one in AL now too...

Old town is giving pedal drives a run for their money. Just saw a new one out with a minnkota installed to include spot lock. Think is was going for 4 g’s. Pretty sweet set up though.

That was some of the most ridiculous, weird, unable to put into words s*** I’ve ever seen. The liger people I just down right weird gave me the willys listening to that one gal. Pretty crazy ending to it all too, maybe next will be the new lion king.

I have the Bahama vent https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/columbia-men039s-pfg-bahama-vent-relaxed-lace-up-fishing-boat-shoes?a=2192453&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvfr056G96AIVFYeGCh3R6wXQEAQYByABEgJQXfD_BwE $56 bucks on this site right now

Roboworms- bold bluegill or hologram shad yamamoto- perch or real shad (bait is shad shaped worm) berkley - I just use the gulp minnow black back silver sides if those three baits wouldn’t produce I put my ds away. These baits are always fished when visibility was 1’ or greater.

I bought a pair from Columbia. They are super breathable, light and comfortable. Very similar to boat shoes for sailing. The soles have vents throughout to aid in air flow or drainage. I highly recommend them. I think I paid right around 50 for the at designer shoe warehouse. I’ve seen dicks and other places stock them as well.

BTL was talking about this the other day and the make up that will be needed. I’m hoping to see some late fall derby’s and what they can do then, hopefully in the Nov timeframe.

To me depends on when and where I’m fishing it. Spring time near flooded brush or on beds no not fineness, late summer on bluff walls for suspended fish yes.

@GTN no TN not NY

Thanks for the reply’s guys. @michaelb stability I think is high up there, would like a pedal drive of some sort. Price I would like to stay under 1600. Willing to sacrifice speed for stability. I have a Jeep so a. Carrying it on top of it or b. Get a small trailer. Would also like to be able to put sonar on it. Other than that I don’t have to many requirements. im very open to options out there and the pros and cons of members experiences. thanks again for all the input!

Hey guys, new to kayak fishing. Let me say first I’ve fished two models a hobie pa 12 and a rental Malibu. im looking to know what kayaks fish well for standing up. I would like something that I can stand and flip or pitch off of an will be plenty stable. Lay out what you think are the beat for me. also if anyone knows of a good place to go look at them in the Bristol area even better. Already been to BPS and another local store here. Thanks!!

I would not fish that lake in a jon boat. I’ve fished it for the last 9 years. It gets rough quickly with very little wind. The waves around rattlesnake island can be a major trick with current flowing one way and wind blowing another. From March to June you will usually have wind 4 out of 5 days. You will want at a min something along the lines of a 16’ aluminum with a decent outboard. I held off buying a boat due to the fact I couldn’t find a good fiberglass boat in the area. I’ve fished it in a kayak too only did it twice and decided that was never a good idea again. If you bought the boat already good luck, make sure you check the wind before you head out, and watch the ridges as they drop the water. If you ever want some help as to where to go or throw let me know.

I rolled with: Herren Menendez Mullens Hansellman Buck not favs among the masses but some folks I got faith in!

@Oregon Native Thanks for the info I will have to check them out. @TnRiver46 thanks for the info, and pm. I will track down the leads guys!

Hey guys I am in the Bristol area. I am looking for a club to join and fish. I am a non-boater so preference would be to fish a club set up for that. I’ve found a couple of team trails but nothing as far as clubs. Any info would be awesome. thanks!

FLW now MLFLW I think has a westerns coasta series and possibly bfl. I never joined that group as being in NM they never came that way. I think the entry fees are down from the past too.

@Glenn I believe it is Brad from BTL. They committed a whole session of one of the podcast to it. Very interesting take on using inexpensive reels and how he goes about ordering and such. This also dipped a little bit into the cost savings for an angler on a budget and such. I believe if I remember correctly it was another FLW pro who turned him on to them.

Don’t be to quick to knock all the off brand cheap gear. There are pro anglers using on tour, in tournaments some of the $20 dollar reels available on Amazon. They know they are not the same as shimano or abu or any other name brand. But they tout them as disposable reels. Cheap efficient reels to use and then when they crap out toss them and use a new one. his term for them disposable reels.