MidwestBassin

Okay, I'm going to do my best describe what I am asking you guys. My question is, What does a river ledge look like on a topo map? Im trying to use Navionics Webapp to find some river ledges for next summer, but I can't find what I'm looking for. The whole river obviously is a continuous ledge, but all I am seeing is a the river run the whole length of the lake. Can you guys throw some screen shots of what a good summer time river ledge looks like on a topo map? Thanks guys

I am new to the drop shotting world, but it really sparks my interest. What would you guys say is the best rod/reel combo for getting the job done? I know there are alot of variables, but I would like to keep the combo around 200$. What size reel and length/power/action of rod? Preferably something from *** because I have a gift card. Thanks for you help in advance -- Tight lines

Taking a trip to Fork the last weekend of August. Any tips or suggestions? Dont really want to poach, but any locations anyone would like to share? We dont fish any tournaments there, we are from Kansas. Thanks for any tips

I recently purchased my first Kistler rod and was told by a buddy that it is made from a TFO blank. I have had bad experiences with the TFO blanks. The description video says the rod blank is a North Fork blank by Gary Loomis. Is that the same as the TFO or is my buddy wrong? Any experiences with the magnesium 2's? Thanks, tight lines -Dom

Depends on the size of body of water. Ends of the lakes that receive the most sunlight will warm up quicker, jump starting the dirty business. Its usually the north/west end of the lake, but it all depends on how the lake lays out direction wise. A lot of decent sized lakes, the bass spawn in waves where the water is the right temp, as I stated above, so pay attention to you temp as you cruise the lake. Not all bass hit the bed at the same time, there will be prespawners, spawners, and post spawners at any given time once the spawn starts. Goodluck, Dominic

I am looking to take a trip down to Table Rock here in the next few months to fish with a guide. Im a college kid (in other words Im broke). Any suggestions on the best guides down there, for reasonable prices? Thanks guys

It happens to mine sometimes. I usually just fish with it to because im a broke college kid and try to get the most out of my gear, but if Im fishing a tournament where money is on the line, you might want to re-tie depending on your technique... Better safe than sorry. Re-tying never hurts.

Haven't tried the HUK, but I love my 100mph gear. Best fishing investment I have had

Im a strong believer that we will have a late winter.. If that happens, fishing patterns will be postponed. If for some reason we stay with "warmer" weather, fishing patterns will come early. What the other guys said about the vegetation coming on earlier makes sense, and if that holds true, fishing in the spring could become tricky. The only advice I could give is to fish as much as possible, and try to put yourself where you believe the fish are going, not where they are at, based on the conditions. This will put you ahead of other anglers. Tight Lines

I totally understand where your coming from. but here us why I consider myself a "jig fisherman". First off, you can make your own jigs EXACTLY how you want them way cheaper/easier than pouring your own plastics. Lure parts online has a great selection and if you do it right, a jig may come out costing you somewhere around a buck. Now, every lure has its time and place, like soft plastics, a jig can be fished 24/7/365 and can be totally altered by the simple swap of a trailer. Its something you have to have confidence in, because everything I have said stands true to a t-rig soft plastic, but my top 10 biggest fish have come from a jig. Without picking up a different rod, a jig can be dragged, dead sticked, hopped, stroked, swam, swam and killed, it goes on... watch some jig videos on youtube and try it out. I make my own jigs, and it is one of my favorite past times.. Hopefully you gain some confidence in a jig, and catch some quality fish on it. tight lines

*** carries the Biffle Hardheads, and you can choose what size hook on most of the jig heads. Another thing to check out on *** is in their specialty weight section they have the sliding football heads. They are tungsten and a little pricy, but you slide the weight onto your line with a bobber stop, and then you can tie any hook you want onto the line (like a texas rig) and its pretty much like a swing head, but more freedom to the bait. You can choose to pin the weight down on the hook when fishing nastier cover to minimize snags, or when the water is colder to minimize the action of your bait. Or you can stop it an inch or so up the line to give it more action. I forgot the name of the maker, but its a sliding football head. Check em out.

I want to pick your guys' brains here real quick, here in the Midwest, we haven't hit "Winter" yet. We have had some nights into the 40's but days have been mid 50's to even 65-70 degrees. I guess my question is, how do I pattern these fish? Do I start looking for a fall pattern or a winter pattern? I know you have to let the fish tell you what they want, but a starting point is nice. I had a guy tell me that bass react more to the amount of daylight and longer nights to determine their staging. What's your guys' input?

IMO with todays electronics and technology, the odds of you or your boater fishing a spot that no one else knows about is pretty slim. In most cases, that guys "spot" is someone else's as well. With that being said, you might ruffle some feathers if you show up to the tournament, and run to spot that a guy you fished with previously told you that is "his", and he finds you there. This whole deal about fishing peoples spots isn't very clear, and everyone has a different opinion. With that being said, water is water, and no one owns any certain spot. I do believe however, telling people about a man's brush pile that he sank personally, that you have never seen anyone else fish is not proper respect, but then again, the majority of brushpiles were sank by someone, so technically you are fishing someones spot. I think it would benefit you to find some of your own "spots" and learn them inside out, and master those spots depending on the conditions. Be respectful and communicate with your guys. Ask them if they would mind you fishing "their" spot if you pull up and aren't there. Even if they say no, you asked.. At the end of the day, your entitled to fish where you please, just try to be respectful to others

I fish as a co-angler here in the Midwest, and I am trying to get ahold of this jerkbait. When fishing the back of the boat, you are at mercy of the guy in the front, which all of you know, so you don't really get to choose which side of the boat he puts on the fish. My question is, when fishing a jerkbait, with the reel handle on the right side of the reel, how do you guys jerk it when the left side of the boat is facing the bank/fish? I find myself letting my right and free of the rod and twitch twitch pausing with my left arm alone. It doesn't feel right beause when I try to use both hands (as I would with the right sde of the boat closest to the bank) I either hit the water with my rod tip, or hit the side of the boat.If I was in the front, I could easily place my rod on either side of the bow, and I wouldn't have this problem. I see some guys jerk the rod tip up, but I didn't know if that alters the depth of the bait and doesn't allow it to dive properly.... I hope I described my problem well enough to get some good answers. Thanks in advance

Check out captain Shane out of the Everglades. You can watch his videos on you tube. He seems like a great guy, and there is no one doing what he does. He catches PIGS And I have yet to see another boat around him in any of his videos. Check him out

The way I look at it is, if I fish all spring, summer, fall, and part of the winter without "winterizing" them, whats the point of doing so for if they are going to sit for 2-3 months... Most of us fish quite frequently all year without taking that much care of our rods. But with that being said, hell, cleaning them wont do them any harm. So all the power to you brotha, hope you get your advice. Tight lines

I really like my 7'6 Heavy Fast Action Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series. Awesome back bone but even better tip. Well worth the $150. When dragging that bait through trash, the tip allows me to feel everything. I pair it with 20lb Seagur Red Label. I understand where the other guys are coming from with letting the weight slide, but I like to peg it. It is less likely to get hung on the cover. Remember that even though braid is a smaller diameter, it is fairly loud when coming over branches. Not that it would matter, because in my eyes, if that big ol sow is hungry, she will eat regardless. But if the bite is tough, keep that in mind. Good luck, tight lines

When tying a flouro leader to my braid, I usually tie my knot and then start to reel it in. Once it gets about halfway down my rod, I will cut it off about 3 foot from the tip of the rod. That way, My leader is about 7-9 foot. Some guys think that is way too long, but I hate retying braid to flouro, so If I break off , or retie a lure, I have plenty left to fish with throughout the day.

During the spring and summer months and into the early fall I throw Powerbait 10'' Plum when the sun is out. During the early morning or evening, or cloudy day I like to throw Junebug. Gotta let the fish tell you what they want of course, but that's where I start. Plum is my favorite though

I like the Spot Remover. You can pick them up at your local Walmart. It stands the worm up well and I have yet to lose a fish on it (knock on wood)

This may not make any sense, and be completely the wrong way of thinking, but as a co-angler, I try to take as less tackle as I can get away with... Yes I know, what if I need something in the spur of the moment that I don't have, and it has happened before, but here is why I do that. First off, don't get me wrong, I take as much as I NEED, but with minimizing tackle to my confidence baits, and backups of those confidence baits, I can fish more confidently and don't find myself retying or picking up a different rod at every spot. Fishing behind a good angler, its important to keep your focus and be confident. I know I didn't answer your question directly, but its a different spin on it. Based on the time of year, and predicted conditions, you should be able to narrow your focus down to a few different techniques, and then base your tackle prep off of that. good luck brotha, tight lines

Take a look at American Bass Anglers tournament trail. I am in college, and I fish two divisions and love it. Im not sure where the closest division would be for you, but the format welcomes people like you and I. You can enter as a non-boater, and you will be paired up with a boater if you don't have a boat. It is an individual tournament, but its fairly cheap and I have learned so much fishing in the boat with many different types of anglers. You would be able to build relationships with the guys you fish with, and you may find a partner that way. It would be a good way to keep sharp and build your arsenal until you find that partner your looking for. Goodluck brotha, tight lines

On a college budget (still had to save for a long time) I am extremely pleased with my Bass Pro Shops 100 mph Gore Tex bibs and jacket. I'll say this first, if its 80 degrees and raining in the summer, it may be on the warm side, but I still love this suit. I use it in the rain, and every time I fish in the fall and winter and stay warm. Two weeks ago I fished a tournament, and I had on a t-shirt, hoodie, light sweat pants, and then my suit and stayed warm the whole time. Not to mention it snowed on the way there. Running down the lake is no problem with the 100mph technology either. It has an over sized hood with Velcro straps that you can strap over your face or neck. The only down fall is that the Velcro straps on the hands have a tendency to rip. But I just sewed it with 60lb braid with some super glue and it was fine. I have yet to get wet in my suit. Give it a look. I think its worth the money

Those are nice! Keep up the good work

That cove near the boat ramp looks promising to me... You also might try throwing a weightless fluke (a grey and clear flake to match the crappie) , especially in deep water when you mark bait and bass. Toss it out (with a lot of patience) let it sink, then a couple twitches. Then repeat. - Tight Lines