king fisher

It will catch bass, but I wouldn't t advertise the fact that you are fishing them that way. Remember the Bass police are out there watching. You may get away with putting a Diawa reel on a Shimano rod, or never owning a Jitterbug, but wacky rigging off center is a whole new ballgame. Sure hate for you to get a knock on your door in the middle of the night.

I like June Bug worms, chartreuse and black crankbaits, Chart. and black spinnerbaits, black and blue jigs. I have no idea what the bass like, but if they are going to bite my hook they better like my colors.

They have worked ok for me so far this year. Here are a couple I caught with them in May. T Rigged 1/4 oz weight June bug.

When I tie on a buzz bait first thing in the morning, I'm still throwing it when I quit at night, and none of my other lures have been used.

I fish a lake that is deep at one end and shallow in the other end. Baby bass are everywhere at all times, but big bass are in specific places with the dominating factor being water level. Water temp. varies very little, and clarity is a main factor, but is dependent on the water level. In the spring and early summer when the water is low, the big bass are all in the deep end because the shallow end is completely dry. Most of the big bass suspend in large trees in the deepest portion of the lake. Some are on humps in 20 feet of water and a few are on steep points. When the rain comes and floods the lake, all the big bass move to the shallow end as far away from the deep water as they can get. The first time I fished the lake at flood level, I assumed the bass would still be in the deep end, only pushed up in to the newly submerged vegetation along the bank. I didn't see any reason why they would leave that end with deeper water close by, when they could travel a short distance and be able to hunt and hide in nice green flooded vegetation, which they hadn't seen in months near to where they already were. While launching my kayak a fellow kayak angler told me to go to the far end of the lake and fish the flooded hay flat. I asked him why, and he told me the giant bass ate frogs at the far end. I thanked him for the advice and started fishing the flooded grass at the deep end of the lake. At the end of the day I had zero bass over 2 pounds and eventually pedaled all the way to the far end of the lake. The water for the last half mile of the lake was 6 feet or less deep. I found the other angler and he was excited to show me pictures of his bass. He had landed multiple big bass with one over 11 pounds. He had also lost many more, and even lost one breaking his rod horsing a giant out of the grass. All the bass were caught in 3 foot or less of water a half mile away from any water over 6 feet deep. He had the greatest bass fishing day of his life, and I had the worst day I ever had on that lake. I told him I hadn't had any luck, he laughed and said I told you they eat frogs at the far end of the lake. He showed me his popping frog that was all tore up and pictures of all the giant bass he caught on it. I wasn't surprised that the bass were in very shallow water. After all the visibility was less than a foot, and moving to flooded grass made perfect sense. What I didn't understand is why they would swim a mile to hang out in flooded grass when they could find the same grass a few yards away from where they had spent the past 6 months. I camped at the lake that night but didn't get any sleep. The noise of the frogs at the far end of the lake was unbelievable. That was when I finally got it through my thick stubborn head. Exactly as I had been told, the big bass were at the far end of the lake, because the frogs were at the far end of the lake. Most of the time the answer to where the bass are is simple, but I for some unknown reason try to make it complex. I caught many bass that next day on a buzz bait with the biggest being 9,5 pounds. I didn't have a frog in the box but I got together with Bait Monkey when I got home and solved that problem. I ran in to that friendly angler that tried to give me good advice the next spring. He was heading down to the far end of the lake. I told him it was almost dry and even the places where he could manage to get his kayak would not hold bass. They were all in the standing trees in deep water. He attempted to paddled and dragg his way down the lake, He was forced to give up and left early. On his way buy me I told him a had caught one over 10 on a square bill bounced off the tree limbs, and he said it was a fluke. He wouldn't be back until the rains began and the fish started biting again. I guess I am not the only thick headed stubborn fisherman on the lake. The bass may be deep, shallow, or in-between, but they will always be where they want to be, not where I think they should be, and sometimes the reason is so simple, all I need to do is pay attention to what my eyes and ears are telling me.

A good day is any day I can go bass fishing. A great day is when I catch more bass than lures lost, all backlashes are removed without the use of a knife, and I catch the big one on my final, "one last cast".

I fish a lake with steep banks. Most places it is 100 foot deep or deeper within 5 yards of shore. It is impossible for a bass to be more than 20 yards from deep water. Most of the year the best places are where it is shallow the furthest from shore, any flat no matter how small, and the points that drop off slowly. Another lake is the opposite, not very deep most of the banks are gradual, and the best places are where the points drop quickly, the banks are steep, and the flats are only good during the spawn. Hard bottom and cover are key in both lakes.

They are OK if you don't mind getting a little wet if it rains hard for short periods, and you can dry out at the end of the day. Not good if you are camping, and can not get dry when you are through fishing for the day. Definitely not suitable for all day cold hard rain. I used them in Alaska, because they were light and comfortable, but always had my heavy duty rain gear close by.

I left the Bait Monkey at home and only picked up what I absolutely needed ( Translation, my wife was with me when I went to Bass Pro Shops.) My first chance to go to a tackle store in the US for over a year, and the Bait Monkey was not at my side.

My 7 foot medium fast rod is rated for 1/4 - 5/8 ounce lures. I use it with almost any technique where the lures weight falls in between 1/8 and 3/4 ounce. Only techniques I don't ever use use a medium fast rod for are T rigged plastics, and jigs over 1/4 ounce. The only rod that is more versatile in my quiver is a 7.5 foot medium heavy. Both these rods fish many of the same lures, depending on the situation. Many times I use the medium fast with a technique that I would prefer using my medium heavy, but I already have a lure tied on the medium heavy, and am confident the medium will do the job. Over half of my biggest bass have come on my medium heavy fast. Some of those while fighting the bass, I did wish I had switched to a heavier rod, but was able to make do. Others it was the perfect rod for the job.

If a 7 inch Senko rigged weightless or on a drop shot can be considered finesse, than I fish finesse quite often.

I throw buzz baits every time I go bass fishing here. It doesn't take long to find out if they are working. If they are on, I will find out right away, when that happens I know I am going to have a great day. During the rainy season July - October, many days it is the only lure I fish. I don't know why, but my average size of bass goes way up, when the buzz bait bite is on. I fish them the way they come out of the package, black with a skirt, no trailer, or trailer hook.

I know a kid that can out fish me on most days, and all he has for a rod and reel is a soda bottle. It's the fisherman not the gear that is important. He buys what he can afford, and I buy what my wife say's I can afford. I got a new Zillion for Christmas, He might have got a new soda bottle for his birthday, but it sure looks like the same old bottle.

Don't fish them in that condition. If you do, I guarantee you will start catching bass like crazy with one of the most damaged ones you have. You may even catch your new PB. After loosing the one magical bait, you will go through hundreds of crankbaits, and three microwave ovens trying to duplicate it. By the time you realize it is impossible to get one to swell exactly the same way, it will be to late to go swimming for the one you lost.

I have never caught striped bass, so I have zero first hand knowledge specifically on them, but I will say that when fighting large fish on light gear, I have witnessed far more fish lost due to a drag to tight, than a drag to loose. Don't panic, let them run, apply more pressure when needed, and be prepared to back off pressure by bowing the rod, and or drag at the critical boat side stage of the fight. Horsing large fish at the boat is the biggest mistake I believe an angler can make. If the fish dives under the boat, stick the rod in the water, and work it around to the other side of the boat if necessary. Way easier to go around the bow of the boat, but there are times, when you have to go around the motor with your rod deep in the water. Backing off of the drag letting the fish dive, makes this maneuver way easier. Do not attempt to net the fish until you are positive you will be successful. Booting the fish with the net is a common mistake, that can easily be avoided with nothing more than a little patience.

A client of mine treated my wife and I to a salt water fishing trip in Sitka Alaska. It was the first time I had ever fished anywhere in South East Alaska, the first time I wasn't guiding while fishing in Alaska, and the first fishing trip my wife ever went on. My wife had a great time but did tell me she is never going to get up at 3:00 Am to cast all day hoping to catch bass that will be released. We are back home and eating salmon and halibut tonight.

I don't worry about it. After all it is difficult to ruin a spot that is 10 feet high in a tree, or 5 feet up the bank on dry land.

James has a good start.

Number one by far this year is Zoom Mag Trick worm, Junebug, or Watermelon candy. 2- 7 inch Senko black with blue flake 3- Zoom Ole Monster, Junebug. I don't use worms as often as I should, but when I do the worms are big, and so are the bass.

Don't compare your success to others. Every body has skunk days. The most important thing is to make sure you are having fun. Over time you will become a more skilled angler, enjoy yourself while you are learning, and before you know it, other anglers will be wondering how you do it. If it wasn't for slow days, there would be no good days. Have fun and try to learn something from both.

Just enough to snag or hit something behind me, boat, motor. hat, friend, bush, tree, shore, water, or any other object that may get in the way.

I cannot possibly have an opinion either way. The reason being. I was not present when the alleged infraction occurred, was not part of the tournament committee that reviewed the infraction, and have no first hand knowledge of what transpired. I can watch a thousand You Tube Videos, from other people that have limited to no first hand knowledge, but like a trail, unless I am on the Jury I try my best not to form an opinion. I will say I hope all involved learned from what ever mistakes were made, and try their best to always improve the public image of the sport. Forever fighting over the disqualification, will not help anyone or the sport. It may increase viewership on some videos, but so will footage of giant bass hitting poppers. I for one would like to see more giant bass hitting poppers on video and less arguing.

Try a #3 inline spinner fished just under the surface, with your spinning rod. If that doesn't work cast a floating Rapala at as many targets as you can. Twitch it a couple times then real in and cast to next target. Both lures cast well with spinning gear, can be fished quickly, and will catch bass that the guy in the front power fishing with larger baits will miss. He may have to slow down to help you land your trophy bass.

The first time I used an A rig was in late May with a surface temp. of 78 degrees. I was fishing a ledge that dropped off from a four foot deep flat to 12 feet, then dropped off again to 22 feet. I had caught a couple nice bass in the morning on the flat with a square bill. As the sun came up the bass mover to the first drop. Deep cranks worked for a couple then the bite stopped. I switched to a skinny dipper, on a 3/8 oz jig head. Landed two more in the 6 pound range. I had recently bought an A Rig and decided if they like one swimbait, maybe they would like 5. First cast I nearly got my arm ripped off. Every bait on the rig got hit. I landed two 6 pound bass, and had to replace all five Skinny Dippers. The next cast I landed an 8 pound bass, and had a bigger one, get off while trying to land the double. Later that summer I had to get my shoulder operated on, and I like to put the blame on the A Rig. I don't fish an A Rig as much as I should because I mostly fish around cover and am scared to snag such an expensive rig and loose it. Also I hate to cast one, and prefer other lures. I have never used an A Rig in colder weather, because where I fish it doesn't get cold, but I assure you they work in the summer here.