king fisher

This happens to me every year. The water level in the lakes I fish drop continuously from Nov. until June. By the time the rain comes in mid June the water level can be down from 50 feet to 100 feet depending on the lake. When the rain comes the lakes get to full pool in just a couple of weeks. I have always wanted to fish the lakes when the water is first coming up, but due to work schedule have never got the chance. I'm sure the bass fishing would be excellent where the dirty incoming water meats the clear lake water far up the canyons. I do get a chance to fish the lakes after they have flooded. I basically I tie a black buzz bait on and fish the flooded shoreline from July until October. I concentrate on places where water flows in, and areas with flooded grass. I have heard that surface baits don't work well in muddy water, but a buzz bait fished over a flooded cow pasture with 6 inches of visibility works well in Mexico. I will flip willow bushes with a 7 inch senko, or punch rig, but only after I run the buzz bait in and around the bush first. When the rain stops, and the water finally starts to clear I can have some of the best fishing of the year. The buzz bait still gets a lot of playing time, but a rattle trap gets put into the starting line up, along with a spinnerbait, T rig, and giant square bill. I recommend giving a Buzz bait a try. It wont take long to find out if they want it, and if they do you could have one of those days you wont forget.

What color of Trick worm, what hook, how fast of retrieve, and how did it fight.

This weekend I fished at a lake where last year on the same weekend I caught a 42 pound bag of 5. This trip I didn't catch a bass over 3 pounds. Last year by this time I had 3 DD. This year I haven't landed a bass over 5 pounds. The lake was the same water level as last year (down 20 feet from when I was last there in March), and the weather was the same, the big difference was the water clarity was 12-15 feet where as last year it was 6-8 feet. Not only didn't I have any tackle I would call finesse, I wouldn't know how to use it if I had any. I was able to catch many small bass on 5 inch senkos, and trick worms T rigged along with an assortment of crankbaits, but I didn't drive 5 hours to catch one pound bass. I could see bigger bass cruising the shoreline sometimes as shallow as 2 feet. Bait size Tilapia were in 6 inches of water everywhere along the shore, large schools of 6 -10 inch bass were in two feet of water, just outside the Tilapia and 2 - 3 inch bass fry were everywhere. Around every tree there were thousands of small bait a mix of bass bluegill, and tilapia. Last year the top water bite was on fire, but not one strike on top this year. I tried finding bass in deeper water offshore but had zero luck. The bigger bass seem to cruise the color line along shore popping up into shallow water when they want to grab something to eat then slowly going back down into the darker depths. I did see a 7 pound or better bass cruise along the shore in 2 feet of water for many yards, not even noticing that I was following along with my Kayak. I thought the bite would turn on when the afternoon winds picked up, but even with a strong wind the bigger bass wouldn't bite anything I had. I wanted to fish a floating Rapala and twitch it on the surface, my only idea of a quite approach. The problem was I couldn't make long casts with the light lure, and I assumed the fish were too spooky in the windless mornings for short casts, and I couldn't' throw the light lure on my tackle at all in the windy afternoons. I did make a drop shot rig with 15 pound floro, and a medium bait casting rod, but still only caught small bass. Then I thought about how many people fish jerk baits in clear water. I did have an old Rogue and a H20 jerkbait that I keep in my box for some unknown reason. The jerkbaits worked even though I have never fished them. I just fished them the way I see people on U Tube do it, but faster with short pauses. The size of the bass went up from 1 pound to 2-3 pounds, and I did hook a 8 pound plus bass that jumped once and got away. I guess that is why most people change out the hooks on their jerkbaits. After 2.5 days of hard fishing, I had to go home. I didn't land any big bass, but I did learn a new technique, and had a fun weekend fishing. The slow fishing this year has made me realize just how lucky I have been in the past few years. Even though I fish where the big ones live, if I count on luck to catch them, I will have some days when the luck is on the side of the bass. Of course the Monkey has been looking at new spinning gear along with all sorts of finesse tackle. I tried to tell him the rainy season is only a few weeks away, and the water visibility will be under a foot before I get a chance to go bass fishing again. He wants to buy the light tackle for next year, so I hope I can put him off at least until Christmas. Besides I really need to improve my bass fishing skills, not simply do what I always do and buy more tackle, when I have slow days. I'm sure a pro fisherman could have caught many big bass with the gear I had. It is very frustrating to actually see trophy bass that wont bite. I would appreciate any advice on fishing clear water. The lake is a highland reservoir with steep banks, lots of trees, and water temps, from 74-79 degrees.

Inline spinner. Works every where I go, for every species of fish.

Beetle spin

I used Ambassador's for 40 years. I started with bass size reels in the 70's, then for 30 years I would wear out one or two 6500 C 3 models every summer fishing for Salmon in Alaska. When I moved from Alaska I used a 5500 for most of my fishing. 4 years ago I decided to try a smaller modern reel. Members here recommended I try a Tatula CT which was priced $100 at the time. I hadn't owned a Diawa reel since 1976. I had a cheap Diawa spinning reel back then. The line wore a groove in the bail of the reel, and I constantly lost fish due to frayed line caused by this groove. I was just a kid and didn't have the money to buy more line all of the time and parts for the reel were not available to me. After loosing a big bass I still have nightmares about, I saved up money for my first baitcaster. Since many members here recommended the Diawa CT I thought maybe 40 some years was enough time gone by to give a Diawa another try. The CT was so much better than any baitcaster I had fished before, I couldn't imagine a reel could get any better. Then last year I bought a new Zillion from Japan. I am now a broken man. The Bait Monkey has won. I will never by a budget reel again. So the simple answer to your question is, no I don't prefer older reels. I am sure that the top of the line Shimano, and Lews are as good as the Diawa, I just haven't had the opportunity to try them. Even the less expensive modern reels I have tried are far superior to any older reels I have used. Maybe there hasn't been much advancement in quality in the past 15 years, but there sure has been a big improvement in the past 45 years.

7 foot six inch medium heavy fast Diawa Ardito travel rod, Diawa Zillion 7.3-1 reel, 150, 16 pound Sunline Sniper line. 7 foot medium fast Diawa Ardito travel rod Diawa Diawa Tatula CT 7.3 -1 reel, 12 pound Sunline Sniper line. 7 foot six inch fast Diawa Tatula heavy, Diawa Tatula 150 7.3-1 reel 30 pound J 8 braid line. Rods choices are firm, line choices not so much. I change my mind on line type and size often. I would not have a problem with changing to braid to leader on the Zillion and changing to 12 pound mono on the Tatula CT and the heavy could get 40 or 50 pound braid. As far as reels go in a perfect world I would change the Tatula CT to a Zillion but currently get by fine with the CT.

Blurp Blurp Blurp greatest sound in bass fishing.

I have tried most of their crankbaits, and haven't found one I didn't like. I prefer their 1.5 size square bills over all other brands in the 1.5 size. They make a small 1/4 oz medium diver called a Model M that is an absolute killer crankbait on light tackle. I have landed many bass, plus brown and rainbow trout on them. I even have them in my box in Mexico. Every once in awhile the bass down here want a smaller crankbait, and I have used them to not only kick the skunk out, but have landed some nice size bass as well. I have a friend that lives on Lake Chapala, and the Model M is his favorite crankbait. Because they are impossible to find in Mexico, he was willing to trade me Model M's for Jack hammers. I like to think I didn't feel right trading baits I payed 2:99 for $15.00 baits, so I didn't make the deal, but truth be told I catch more fish on the cheap H2O crankbait than I do on Jack Hammers and I didn't want to give up my Model M's.

You just ruined my morning. The Bait Monkey got up early, read this post, drank three cups of coffee, and is currently making my life miserable. In order to calm the hyped up monkey, I Googled DS customs. As I anticipated, the website had many pictures of big fish caught on awesome looking lures, that I can't afford. The price tag did not discourage the Monkey and he is about to loose another epic battle with my wife. I would like to thank you for adding excitement to what would have been a boring Wednesday.

I fished 45 years without any electronics. I would troll, use an anchor, even go swimming to determine depth. I had to triangulate with objects on the shoreline in order to try and find places I previously caught bass. I was successful, and always had a good time fishing, but I always wanted to be able to be able to have modern electronics, but I was never able to purchase even a basic unit. I used electronics for my job saltwater fishing, but I wasn't the one paying for the technology. When I bought my kayak, I fished for a year before finally purchasing my first electronics. Now I have a simple Garmin unit with 2D, clearview, and the ability to make my own maps of the waters I fish. I can still troll deep diving lures in order to determine depth, use markers to line up my casts, and put depth marks on my anchor rope. Do I want to return to those methods? Absolutely not. I would rather be restricted to fish with one rod and small box of lures, rather than forced to give up my fish finder. I only have a kayak for a boat, and fish the shoreline much of the time, but I would spend money upgrading my electronics before I would upgrade to a better kayak, or a boat.

It may look like East TN, but the bass in this lake crush spinnerbaits.

The Bait Monkey. Even if I caught the world record bass on a lure I have dozens of, he would tell me I need to buy that lure in a different color if I want to catch a bass. No matter how many baits I own, or how many bass I catch, the Monkey is never satisfied.

I know the OP asked for advise on Florida and South Carolina, I hope no one cares if I throw out an off the wall suggestion. Tapalpa Jalisco Mexico is a Small town in the mountains south of Guadalajara. Excellent weather every month of the year. Average temperature in the summer is around 70 degrees F. and in the winter is closer to 60. There are big bass in the lake next to town, along with planted rainbow trout(one of the few places in the whole country with trout). Numerous other lakes with giant bass are within a 2 hour drive. Chapala an hour away, is the largest and most well known lake with excellent bass fishing, but there are other smaller less talked about lakes that due to selfish reasons I will not mention the names of. Traditionally a vacation town for wealthy citizens of Guadalajara to escape the summer heat. There is currently a growing retirement community of US and Canadian citizens. Guadalajara international airport is less than a two hour drive away, as well as stores like Cosco, and Walmart, that people from the US are accustomed too. Property while not cheap is far less expensive than Florida, and insurance on a house will cost less for a whole year than you would pay for insurance in any State in the US for a month. Quality inexpensive health care is available, and many health care facilities will accept US health care insurance policies. The town is also one of the most popular hang gliding and paragliding destinations in the world. Every winter people from all over the world, come there to enjoy the perfect gliding conditions. Tandom flights are available with highly qualified pilots for those bass anglers, or family members that want to have some added excitement. As far as crime related to drug cartels, unless as a person plans on buying, using, or selling drugs, they are as safe as anywhere in Florida or South Carolina. Just like anywhere, if you go looking for trouble you can find it. Your US drivers license is accepted in all of Mexico for driving, and car insurance will cost around $200 to $400 a year depending on your policy. Many days you will be the only bass angler on a lake, more than 4 other boats would be considered crowded. Jet skis and pleasure craft are popular on both Mexican coasts, but are rare on inland lakes. Moving to Mexico sounds sounds crazy to most people, but more and more people from the US and Canada move to Mexican towns every year, and most of them don't even fish for bass, they just come for the weather, and a quite stress free lifestyle. If they do fish, they travel to the ocean, and leave all those big bass for the dedicated bass anglers.

30 ft. up in a tree is where I like to fish. I have never caught one there, but I'm sure that is where the biggest bass live, I will keep trying.

I used to fish for King Salmon using salmon roe under a bobber with mono line, before modern spectra fiber braid was available. The mono would slowly sink, causing a large belly in the line, making setting the hook difficult and mending the line nearly impossible. I found applying dry fly floatant or wax on the mono line helped it float, and float made bobber fishing for kings less difficult. When braided line came out I quickly discovered it floated, solving the large belly in the line problem, and as a bonus it also had very little stretch making it a perfect line for setting the hook while bobber fishing. At the time I started using braid for all of my fishing, but soon learned that it's advantages over mono were few, and now I only use it for specific applications, where ability to float, low stretch, or strength per diameter are the most important requirements of my line.

Abandoned gill nets. Nothing makes the Bait Monkey happier than old gill nets. Even T Rigs get snagged in nets, and I don't even want to think about how many crankbaits I have lost in nets. Besides loosing lures, nothing feels more like a bite than a net. A T Rig slowly gets that mushy heavy feeling, crankbait stops vibrating, and a spinnerbait stops spinning, while slowly getting a heavy feeling. I instantly think giant bass and set the hook. Usually I think I am hooked to a bass for the first couple of turns on the reel, than realize It is just a net. I don't mind the gill nets that are well attended with visible floats marking location, but the old ones left to eventually sink and disappear drive me crazy.

Buy some Yamamoto Hula Grubs rig them with 1/4 ounce ball head jigs, with hook exposed. You will get snagged some, but you will also catch bass. After catching lots of bass with this set up, you should be able to switch to traditional skirted jigs, and catch bass with them. I don't know why it is so much easier to catch bass with the hula grub and ball head jig, but believe me it is. I rarely use them any more, but maybe I should.

You win some you loose some. Two missed strikes could simply be bad luck. You may land the next ten fish in a row without changing anything. Keep fishing it. If after awhile you notice you loose a large percentage of your strikes, than you may have to change something.

You can have a box full of crankbaits, or a boat full of fish, but you can't have both. Use them and loose them, is a fact of life for a die hard crankbait fisherman.

Try an A rig made with two Mega bass vision 110's and 3 jack hammers.

Bouncing square bills off of tree branches in deep water targeting suspended bass, can be very productive. I usually fish more weedless lures in the branches first, because I don't want to spook the bass off the tree if I have to get a lure unsnagged. After trying a weedless presentation, I will always try to finesse a square bill through the branches before moving to another tree. I pulled my PB out of a thick tangled mess of branches in 30 feet of water, that a sane angler would never even consider throwing a lure with treble hooks in to. The Bait Monkey was right there with me, yelling one more cast, you can do it. Now every time I see an impenetrable snag my monkey friend whispers, remember your PB. throw the square bill.

4 years ago I went to my local tackle shop to pick up a couple spools of fluorocarbon leader for offshore fishing. The manager of the store asked if I ever bass fished. I replied I have and would like to find a place I could catch some nice bass. He then showed me a picture of his wife with a bass that was between 11 and 12 pounds. He asked if that was what I considered a nice bass. When I told him it was a bass of a lifetime, and I had never even caught one half that size he said I should go to the small secret lake where his wife landed the trophy. He then proceeded to give me directions on how to get to the small lake, and told me it was OK to fish there, just don't keep any Tilapia. I later found out the lake was only fished by a small group of sport anglers, and had been a well kept secret for many years. I have landed 9 bass over 10 pounds in the past 4 years at this lake, along with many over 8 pounds and have never seen more than a couple other anglers on even the most busy weekend day's, and most days I never see any. Giving me the location of this lake qualifies as the best customer service of my life. Even if I bought every lure in his store, I would still feel in debt to him.

Be careful what you wish for. Anyone can fish alone, you are blessed if family and friends want to fish with you.