IgotWood

It’s actually very easy to control your depth with squarebills and even deeper running coffin-bills. Keep your rod tip up high to keep the bait running shallow. Lower your rod tip to let the bait run deeper. Obviously speed is also a major factor. It’s also helpful if you use the same bait often so that you learn very well exactly how it behaves. If if you feel a bump, pause and let the bait float up and away from the snag. If you feel drags on your bait like leaves of grass, give it a sharp rip. Often it will pull the debris off, and also can generate a strike.

I absolutely love my NuCanoe. Not sure I’ve seen a 10 footer though. Wonder which platform it is...

Heck yes I use them!!! White or black are the only colors I use. So simple. I’ve even tried the 9” tandem rigged sluggos that I use for striped bass. Check out a vid on YouTube for rigging 9” sluggos with two hooks and nail weights. I’ve caught several bass over 4lbs on them. ?

Stanley Top Toad. It’s a soft plastic, hollow body frog. Floats like a cork and holds up very well. It casts like a bomb too. It come pre-rigged on a double hook. The bait is super soft, which exposes the hooks very easily. My hookup ratio is very good, even with a med rod. They’re cheap and they work very well.

^^^agreed^^^ I like to snell then, which I firmly believe increases my hookup ratio.There are several hooks out there that are a standard gage wire, which I prefer, as my flipping applications don’t require super heavy gear. I don’t really use worm hooks very much anymore except for actually fishing worms.

Lipless crank! I like to yo-yo a lipless during the cold months in my super weedy lake. A jerkbait may not be a bad idea either if you can keep it just above the grass.

Very nice! That looks like an appropriate amount of chartreuse for my lake.

Yup, I’ve really cut down the on the tackle I carry. I have a few baits that I consistently do well with, in a few different colors. Occasionally I’ll buy a couple of new baits, but I don’t beat the water with them. Fish them a few times and if I don’t do well, it goes in an giant box in the garage. One bait I really want to spend time with this year is the jig. I’ve fished them plenty, but I can’t say that I’ve ever gotten on a solid jig bite. I feel confident every tine I tie one on, but I rarely seem to get bit on it.

A long cast isn’t usually necessary unless fishing shallow, super clear water. In most cases a 20ft cast and a weightless senko will net you a fish, or several. Lob it out there and let the bait do it job. You’d be surprised at how close a bass will let you get to him before he spooks off. But if you insist on weight, the weighted Gamakastu wacky hook is my favorite....

If you’re looking for lightweight, I’d definitely stay away Ascend. They are super heavy and they really don’t handle the water very well. I see see lots of folks having good luck with Vibe boats. If you could chum up just a bit more money, the NuCanoe Flint is the way I’d go. Very lightweight, handles all kinds of water very well, can stand up with easy, and since you’re tall, the seat is very easily adjustable. The deck is also flat and wide open for storage and/or standing up. Good luck, and let us know what you go with!

I’ve gotten rid of all my spro and Kvd squares and filled my box with the crush series. Been doing very well with them all fall and winter long. Just bought a couple of their jerkbaits to try.

Very simple. Some crystal flash and saddle hackle. For thread, UTC 140 or something similar. And for a finish, most tyers are using UV resin these days. Check out the Loon Flow. It would be perfect for coating the thread wraps.

Messing around with these standout hooks.

Similar issue where I fish. Chatterbaits are a good option, but I do tend to burn them in an attempt to keep it from hanging up in the weeds. Speed worms, swimbaits, and swim jigs alshould he on your roster as well. Another good option would be a split shot rig. I have done well with the split shot rig on my lake, with a 1/16oz-1/8oz weight and a work of any kind. Compact spinnerbaits are on there option.

This time of year you can simply hang a stringer over the side. Once it starts warming up, those cooler bags would be a good idea. You can use ice packs. Doesn’t have to he loose ice.

I’ve got mixed feelings. I am a super secretive fisherman. It’s just the way I was taught. I don’t like to draw attention on the water. Most of the lakes I fish don’t have boat traffic, so stealth is good. However, on an area with traffic, o want to stick out as best I can. I have come so close to being run over in my kayak quite a few times. It’s very scary. Additionally, I do t feel like the color of my kayak has any effect on the fishing. I have hooked fish plenty of times right under my bright yellow kayak. No worries there.

I fish smaller spinnerbaits throughout the winter. It’s not always a winner for me, but it has saved quite a few outings.

Water clarity is relative to the specific body of water. If your lake is normally 3'-4' viz, I'd say that's pretty clear, and all of those colors should work just fine. But please understand that black/blue is not strictly for dirty water! My local lake is normally 4'-6'viz, and black/blue is my bread and butter! It's just that black typically contrasts well in dark and dirty water, thus it is the usual dirty water color for most fishermen. The green pump, and watermelon should fish just fine in the conditions you stated. I notice that the greens begin to lose their effectiveness once I lose clarity at about 1'-2'. Some other things to consider is the make-up of the bottom, and the amount of sunlight. Experiment with those colors, and keep track of conditions when you are successful.

I feel most people are asking way too much for most items. There are some items out there that I am willing to pay top dollar for if it is something that I know I have success with and there isn’t an equally effective alternative out there. But a $200 rod used for one season for sale for $175...I’ll respectfully let someone else jump on that deal. It’s 100x worse if you take a look at the small, but ridiculously expensive New England surfcasting market. “$1000 reel for sale. Only swam in the salt with it for two seasons. Has some sand in it but still works great. I’ll let it go for $850 plus shipping”....

If I am going big, I like the Power Team Conviction Craw. It’s 4.5”, but it has a lot of bulk, and it looks like a lobster when rigged on a jig. Great bait on its own, but still practical enough in size to rig on a jig. Lots of bulk, good movement, durable plastic, and their colors are great.

They rig nicely on the Rabbit double hook. It looks a little funny because the hook gap is a tad big for the bait, but it works just fine. They do sink though. You won’t be fishing this road slow if you intend to keep it on top.

At this point in the season, I normally find shallow water fish in, or close to the big spawning areas. Not sure if coincidence, or if there is something to it.

Nobody likes change. It's a tough thing to deal with. Especially for fishermen, who's sport is generally based on repeated weather, and seasonal patterns. Someone mentioned kayak fishing. I have to say, it is a whole different ballgame being on a small lake or pond with no boats, no noise, and no fishing pressure. And the limited amount of gear also add a new edge to the game. I am confident in believing that I am just as effective on most days in a kayak as many of the boat fishermen out there. Whichever way you go, I hope you find a way to continue enjoying the sport!

Man, you said it. The only other thought is that it is that as technologically advanced as fishing has become, there is still something primitive about fishing. The idea that if I absolutely needed to catch fish to feed my family, I could out-wit a fish, and be successful on most days...that is a reward to me. Predicting nature, and putting it to work is a great feeling. Also, in today’s world of cell phones and internet, it is fun to brag among the good folks here on bassresource and with our friends in our fishing circles.

As previously said, the fish will cling to cover. I’d go with something that makes noise and/or vibrates. Squarebill, lipless, spinnerbaits are all good choices. If the fish won’t move for a bait, try heavy jig like 3/4. Bang it around in the cover and cause some comotion with it.