SPEEDBEAD.

If you're gonna fish swimbaits, buy one quality hardbait and fish the crap out of it. You will learn SOOOO much only fishing one bait, it will make your head spin. Like Deep said, pony up the money for a Mattlures Hardgill and start throwing. If you're not catching soon then you are doing something wrong. That's one bait that you don't need fish's feedback to be learning something.

We both know that isn't happening...

Dammit! I forgot my foil hat again today!!!!!!! Seriously though, I wouldnt post anything on there that I wouldnt want to share anyway. No big deal for me....I've received more than enough "compensation" from posting stuff on FB to make it worth my while.

Guessing around 4.5 or so.

I need a consulting job.

In all honesty, yes, unless you have someone around you that is knowledgeable on the subject. You can read all you want on the internet and while that is helpful, there is NOTHING that can replace time on the water with someone who knows their stuff. It can get frustrating banging big baits and not getting feedback from the fish. Having someone encouraging you who has been there and understands the dedication it takes definitely lessens the learning curve.

Drag a heavy carolina rig with a tungsten weight. You'll get feedback. Electronics haven't always existed or even been very good. There are ways, just gotta get creative. You can also typically look at the surrounding terrain and gauge what it looks like under the water. Maybe look for contour maps of the area or if it's a man-made lake see if you can locate a map of the area before it was impounded.

And your patience level?

You answered your own question right there, IMO. The flat stomachs on the fish you are catching all but confirm that there is not enough forage for the number of bass present in the lake. Perfect example of 100% Catch and release's downfall and why "selective harvest" is the best way to preserve a fishery and allow it to flourish.

7' St. Croix LTB "Tube" spinning rod,, medium Abu Revo Premier 20 8lb 100% Trilene 4/0 Gammy EWG

Yep. I don't get the anti-FB stuff. You have COMPLETE control over who sees your page, who your friends are, what you "like", etc. I especially chuckle at the "they are watching me" crowd.

Congrats man. Keep on chuckin'

The same one that I'm fishing through the day. The natural bait doesn't change color when it gets dark, why should I?

If you mean how deep was the bait when I caught the fish? Probably about 25ft or so fishing a shakey head on a Kentucky Lake point. If you mean the deepest the water was, then around 36 FOW on topwater.

That's a terrible situation. It has happened here on New Year's as well (Amish guy got hit through the roof of his buggy). Pulling all the .40 cal owners would take YEARS I'm sure and like you said, they very well may have been from outside the area. I never got the whole "shoot into the air" thing. If you really must, shoot a shotgun in a safe direction into the ground. Still not safe but certainly less deadly than a single projectile fired into the air.

It comes with the territory. Just have to accept that it's gonna happen.

Retired police detective anonymously posting on a fishing forum advising against cooperating with law enforcement? Please, allow me to put my boots on as I smell some poop.

HELL YEAH!

Ouch! Painful but true....

That's not too hateful. Thanks man.

Well, since you are going to talk to them ask if they need an East Coast swimbait guy with a jon boat as a product tester. I know a guy...

I take it you have been "approached"

Glenn, do they mention any product's MSRP at the show? That Power Pole Micro intrigues me.....

Freak

They are? Man, I would have got in some serious crap when I lived at home then.