OCdockskipper

An off the wall, silly book from the 70's is "The Happy Fish Hooker". If you enjoy Mony Python, you'll like this book.

There is a simple, free app for your phone called "Thingcounter". It allows you to create a list of things (in our case, lures used during the day) prior to going out on the water. Then you just press the + button next to the appropriate lure for each catch. My phone is always near or on me, so it works for me. A side benefit is the voice response when you add a fish. You learn how a computer pronounces Rapala and that it doesn't realize Jr. stands for junior (Zara Spook Jr.).

I originally made my own rudder out of plexiglass and is was kind of large. Later, I bought one of these https://bullnoseproducts.com/rudder , attached it to the old trolling motor shaft and have been very happy with it. It is designed to work with the trolling motor on the front, but I just used it as a rudder for the back. It isn't that large, but it gives enough resistance to stop the back of the boat from swinging around. I have been using mine for about 4 years.

Just set the hook...

If I ever travel to Kansas, I am going to call you. Not to go fishing, but to go lure looking. The numbers of lures you find in a day will cover my hard bait purchases for a year or two. ?

Mister Twister Slither worms. When you google them, the only mention is from a thread on this site.

The only thing better than finding a lure is finding one that you know you will use a lot. I found this swimbait and a Zara Spook jr. while out fishing yesterday. I probably won't use the swimbait, but the Spook is in perfect condition and looks brand new. It is the right size and color for my lake, so it is going to get a workout. Note that whoever lost the swimbait apparently believes we have toothy critters swimming in our Southern California reservoirs.

I am fairly sure that is just south of Lake Menderchuck... It is not limited to small fisheries. My wife's grandfather used to catch albacore off of the piers of the Southern California beaches in the 1940's & 50's. By the mid 1980's, these same piers were packed with folks who not only kept everything they caught, they would cause run-ins with the surfers. Now, the only way you can catch any wanted species from the ocean is to get on a boat & go halfway to Catalina (or further). You are absolutely correct it is about culture.

I fish on a lake surrounded by houses, so there is no way to hide. Luckily, 99% of the homes are inhabited by people who don't fish much, if at all. Since they see me all the time, the two questions I typically get are "Any luck?" and "Are there any big ones in here?" I found I can be truthful and respond "I've caught a few bass" (over 25 does count as a few, no?) and "There are alot of catfish & carp over 10 lbs in here". The latter answered is followed by some truthful tips how to catch those two species. This allows me to be honest, help them catch some big fish, clear out some predators that compete with the bass all the while not revealing what a bass factory they are residing on.

The first thing that comes to mind is a sheet or two of plywood. You might have to anchor the top corners so they don't slide with the boat. For a long term solution, is it possible to pour some concrete into some of the rip rap to create a mini-ramp?

If a reel only has one gear, then the faster speeds will lack torque no matter what. GMan is 100% correct in his evaluation, anyone who has worked on cars or bikes have experienced what he is talking about. Torque is no issue on a slack line, you can get the reel up to speed and then pull any bait or fish in. The moment you stop and then try to move something with resistance, the reel handle feels like it locks up, like trying to pedal a 10 speed in 10th gear from a standing stop.

When I first learned about bass fishing in the 1970's, one would "graduate" from spinning gear to baitcasting gear (except for Tom Mann). Once I got my first baitcasting rod, I rarely used spinning gear. Of course, at that time, I threw mainly topwater plugs & crankbaits, so it made sense to do that. Now I use more spinning than baitcasting because the lake I fish is very clear with not much cover, so spinning gear does better with the presentations I use. However, whenever I spot someone fishing, my first reaction if I see they are using spinning gear is that they are a novice. I soon realize that is the height of irony because most likely I am throwing a Ned rig at the same exact time. Of course, if they are using spinning gear and the have it upside down (reel on top), reeling backwards, then the novice tag applies.

Most likely that is exactly what is happening. If you can move down to a smaller bait, possibly even with an open hook, it increases your chances of the hook being in their mouth when they pick it up to move it. You may have heard the phrase "Not all the bass in a lake spawn at the same time". One thing that means is that if you see males protecting beds, it doesn't mean those are the only catchable bass in the area. There will be larger females, either prespawn or postspawn nearby. If the females haven't laid eggs yet, you can find some of them near the males but typically in deeper water. If they have dropped their eggs, the females often hang out well within the best cover available (in the brushpile or under the dock). They will eat & will mosey over to inspect offerings, but typically won't chase. Don't cancel a fishing trip just because the males are on the beds, they are telling you where to find the females.

In my small boat, the following are out & withing easy grasp: Fish grips (Boga type); Needle nose pliers; Braid scissors; Box cutter tool (no sharp edge); File; Superglue; Flashlight; Multiple small towels. I keep these in my bag under the seat, accessible but it takes a moment to get to them: Multitool; Hook cutter; Digital scale; Assorted wrenches & screwdrivers; Mini sharpies in various colors; Electrical tape; Additional line cutting tools.

I glued mine to the front of the boat under the trolling motor mount (it was dead space). In the picture below, it is to the right of the Garmin depthfinder, directly under the mount. It looks like you may have the same space available there as well. I added the same kind of connector the trolling motor has that plugs into the boats internal wiring that goes from the front of the boat back to the battery. When the boat is being used, the trolling motor is plugged into the outlet. When charging, the on-board charger is.

It really isn't that hard to solve, just 2 easy steps the next time they go fishing with you: 1) Wrap the anchor line around their feet; 2) Throw the anchor overboard. If that doesn't work, buy a bigger anchor. For an even better result, make sure their life insurance is paid up and you are the beneficiary. Forge signatures if need be.

5 lbs even at the lake outside a hotel we were staying at in Florida, on a 6" Berkley plastic worm (I forget which model). My wife was nervous that I was fishing from shore because of the beware of alligator signs. I did hook up with a much larger one at a pond at my sisters house in Georgia on a Ned Rig. I had caught multiple stunted bass from there, so I was using 8lb test on a pretty light rod when the queen of the pond showed up. I had no chance of steering her; after she showed her massive head, she made a beeline for a brushpile and broke me off once she was inside. I have yet to hook up with her again despite my efforts every time I visit my sister.

It is kind of hard to separate any of the parts as not being something I like. Preparing for a full days fishing is enjoyable, getting all of the gear ready and the anticipation of what I may encounter. It is a bit of a ritual and I typically have (or used to have) some sporting event on the TV while I worked on the tackle. Being out on the water is great, just observing all that is happening. I'll stop fishing to take a photo of baby swans or something else that is new or changing or funny on the lake. Fishing (not catching) is something I like, as long as it is not a passive "wait for the fish to show up" activity. I enjoy casting, being either accurate or making a long cast when necessary. After all these years, I still am impressed when I drop a lure exactly where it needs to be, even though I expect to be able to. Catching bass is so enjoyable. Every strike could be my next PB, Every fish fights in his or her own unique way & I have to counter their moves (I fish clear water, so much of my gear is on the light side). I like to look at each and every fish, noting if it looks as if they have ever been caught and if there is anything I can do to remove a parasite or make their life better. I really like watching a bass swim away as I release them. I think that is why I have no interest in tournament fishing, the goal would be different. Don't get me wrong, I am using everything I know and learning on each trip in order to try to catch as many bass as possible. However, that is not the sole joy of the trip.

Would a rubber bait be a bait used to attract...uh nevermind.

I never use a net, it is just one more thing taking up space in a small boat. Single hook lures are no problem, you can lip or grab the bass anywhere. Double treble hooks are the ones that need caution and depending on where the fish is hooked & its size, there are different solutions. a) Lure lift - for crankbaits, you can often lift the bass straight up by grabbing on to the lip of the crankbait (first use the line to get their head up). This angle seems to immobilize them, allowing you to slide your other hand under their belly and pressing a finger on their stomach to keep them immobilized. b) Grippers - If the lure is in a really odd place or you happen to have caught a catfish or something else you can't lip, grippers allow you control the fish without getting your hands near the hooks. They don't take up much space and are easier to keep close than a net. c) Water release - If there is no need to get the fish in the boat, do what trout fisherman do and keep the fish in the water, head up. Use a set of pliers to grab the hooks to remove. This works well on smaller fish. Smaller fish, under 13 inches, will be the problem. they don't flop in the boat, they shimmy and that is what tends to send hooks into fingers. Never trust a small fish, they do stupid things without warning. Larger fish tend to signal when they are about to headshake or do something that could cause a problem

Depends on the state, all have varying definitions of essential and what is allowed. Here in California, fishing is allowed but the state closed most public waters. For some reason, the big deal here is golf courses. Most county supervisors flipped a lid and demanded they be closed. Dumb. I do know Maryland has a lockdown on recreational fishing. Again, dumb.

From watching the bass in my koi pond, I would say that bass learn faster and retain what they learn more than the carps domesticated cousin, the Koi. When I walk up to the pond, the bass always swims over to the spot that I throw goldfish in, turns & looks at me. When I am feeding him, he follows my hand and typically hits the goldfish as they touch the water. We have a large bluegill in the pond as well, he does that to a lesser degree with the mealworms, although he is a bit more wary (maybe because there is a predator not far away 24 hrs a day). The Koi don't seem to notice people, they are just too busy rooting around looking for something to eat. One of our Koi can see the pellets if they land on a lily pad. He goes over to the pad & bumps it until the pellet falls off. I think it is the opposite. It would be less likely a single fish stayed in a spot, unless it was on a bed or the spot had some very secure cover. I have had large schools of bass stay at a single dock or brushpile for over an hour as I catch & release them from that spot

It isn't so much about fishing it correctly as NOT fishing it INCORRECTLY. When I hear people say the light wire hooks aren't sturdy, I know they are using too heavy of a setup with the drag not properly set. I have caught multiple bass over 7 lbs and multiple catfish over 13 lbs on the ZMan Shroomz and have never broken or bent a hook. I believe Bluebasser86 has a Flathead over 20lbs on his ned resume using a lightwire hook. When I hear people talk about using weights heavier than 1/10 oz, or that they prefer to use baitcasting gear, I know they are fishing it like a jig, feeling the bottom as they move along (stream fishing may be a different deal, I'm just talking about lakes). That can catch fish, but it is a different method than Midwest Finesse. Follow the guidelines as far as tackle and lure size and in my opinion, start with ZMan baits, either a TRD or half a Zinker. With the gear right, it is almost impossible to fish it wrong. There are a bunch of different retrieves, heck you can even just cast it out, dead stick for 30 seconds and then repeat the process. It may not be the most effective way, but I guarantee a few times you go to reel in the lure, you'll have a bass on. If you don't want to fish that way, thats fine, just don't kid yourself that you were using the method prescribed and it didn't work. That would be no different than using a buzzbait on a drop shot rig and then later proclaiming that buzzbaits don't catch many bass.

The bass below was caught on a TRD being fished on top of a weedbed (Bushy Pondweed, aka southern naiad) in about 5 feet of water. It was midsummer, the weedbed in question was about 3 feet tall. The Ned rig being used had a 1/15oz head and was being hopped & dragged across the top of the weedbed. If it started to hang, a quick pop like with a lipless crank, would free it and let it continue to be fished without any debris hanging off it. If I had tried to do this with a heavier head or a non Elasticel plastic, the bait would have continually burrowed into the weeds and gotten hung up.

A TRD is always rigged up for me. Depending on conditions, there are times when other baits will outfish it. Over the long haul however, it is no contest. The Ned Rig is king on my lake. Last week, I had a Covid-19 inspired guy pull in front of me as I was coming out of a cove. I have never seen him on the lake before. Rather than say anything, I just followed behind him for about 200 yards. Whatever he was throwing didn't produce a bite, while the TRD I was throwing behind him caught 6 bass. Probably the most enjoyable part of that trip.