jr231

I bet if I lived in Canada bass wouldn't be my number one target. Im sure the pike and musky are very abundant.

The world record bass caught in Japan was actually caught on a banjo minnow.

Is that not a possible state record ?

A simple winter hat bud. never had frost bite on the ears.. also some people make shanties and have small heaters.. and ice fishing isn't just about bass ! You can catch all kinds of species including walleye and musky (I don't think you get to catch too many walleye and musky there in Mexico. It's alot easier to keep warm than it is to keep cool. You can keep your scorching heat!! No thanks

SK "hack attack " heavy cover swim jig. I have luck with the rage tail menace as a trailer , but also the "DB rage craw" it has just a little less movement than the regular rage craw and a tighter body to keep the jig more compact. I also like using a soft paddle tail swimbait on the back. There's a bunch of brands so use one you like.

Ponds are much , much different than lakes... it's funny how I can go to a farm pond that is 3 acres and nail 15-20 bass. And then go to a lake and catch 3. I dont have a fancy boat with all the gadgets. Just a ragpecker jon boat with no electronics. But I usually end up touching a bass. And in the end that's what I'm out there for. Relaxing and catching fish. I like lake fishing more because I always feel like im going to catch a gigantic bass (even though that's not usually the case ) Big bass live in ponds too though. My biggest came from a pond (it was a rather big pond). It was 24" and 8.2 pounds , and I'm sure would have been bigger had I caught her in spawn. . I took it On a rapala skitter pop (top water popper )

If they are just smashing the blades likes that id opt for an in-line spinner or spoon. My grand father swore by a spoon. And for good reason.

it was in my face. All of a sudden . It was very scary and everything went white. I remember screaming as loud as I could and nobody heard me. If it was a demon it has left me alone since. And had no prior incidents . The stories you heard... they were similar ? Like i said when I wrote my incident.. when I first noticed this "ghost" i didn't feel threatened. And as I told my girlfriend to look it rushed me and ive never been so scared in my life. Not about anything. it sounds silly to someone who has never had this experience but it was very real.. I get chills thinking about it I shared mine because I know it happened. Even though I woke up like it was a dream ..

Yea and much more expensive. These are the same weight. Lead vs tungsten. No doubt the tungsten is smaller. But really not that much. No where near worth the money IMO. I guess if you have the money. Ha-ha must be nice ! All I said was you don't NEED. I guess If there is a lead ban you don't have much choice. I haven't had to worry about that..

Exactly. Dense vegetation for the pegged t rig. I like using the structure bug or beaver style bait. With the lightest amount of weight I can get away with so the bass doesn't have more leverage to throw the hook. BTW.. you don't need tungsten in this scenario... then again I don't really think you need tungsten at all. But, your money.. your confidence. catchIn bass is all that matters.

I actually had a nice 3-4lb bass take this bait ! If we are talking garbage lures we can mention the river 2 sea clackin crayfish. Ha-ha. I think SK may be the most overall solid company there is. They have quality products from jigs, soft plastics and cranks, to spinnerbaits and topwaters. You could only run strike king products and catch fish every day. But it's nice to have a mix of brands and have the "best" from each. . I don't think the popping perch is something that is gonna change the game and get as much rave as the whopper plopper .

I love when this happens ! Seriously ! Same with pike ! I see alot of people complaining about catching other species but I think it's great

I like weightless plastics on spinning gear. I use braid for the sensitivity and casting distance. Sometimes a floro leader for a little extra depth. Jigs work year round. And so will that Texas rig. Try different things on the t rig. Big worms, craws and creatures. I' also recommend finding a couple cranks at various depths and get comfortable with those. A suspending model, sinking and floating is where I would start. Of whichever brand you like. I like rapala and bomber. I know many people love the SK cranks especially their square bills. when you can get a bite going on a crank bait nothing is more fun IMO. Also a topwater. I caught my personal best on a popper style bait. But also like walk the dog and frog lures. Big time producers in both quality and quantity for me. If you're catching fish on a jig you're already ahead of the curve.. don't give up on that bait because even the greatest bass fisherman on earth rely on a jig on a consistent basis. If you're getting skunked.. try an in line spinner . I've caught bass, crappie , bluegill, catfish (a nice one too), pike, and a bowfin on an in-line spinner. A true multi- species bait and will put some excitement in your day when it's not going as you plan. Also. Get your ace in that canoe ! Ha-ha. More bass to be caught around the lake then at the one spot you're bank fishing from. Sometimes you can't get the right presentation or depth from shore.. you could just be out of reach of a honey hole. Go explore. Good luck.

I love new water. Skunked or not. I get excited not knowing what's in store for me. If you fish a private pond so often.. you'll know when you've caught the biggest in there. You'll see her in the spawn.. and if you take measurements of length and girth youll soon know how many good sized fish are in your particular pond. Once you've caught the biggest hog in the pond then it's time to venture elsewhere IMO. And come back to your spot next season. Also you'll be surprised how quickly they catch on to your tactics especially the larger mature bass. Cycle spots to keep the ones you do have guessing. I'd get a kayak or find a river and just not nail the same spot repeatedly. A change of scenery does me some good.

17.5"

Dark green and brown produce for me the most consistently.

I've hooked a couple nice ones using "crappie magnets" just a small 1" split tail grub on a jighead.

Ha-ha idk what fat ika you're fishing but they sink rather quickly !! And if those will work. So will the tube I suggested.

Hooks and split rings have never failed me on em. I actually use VMC for alot of my specialty hook needs. . and compared to other "High end" cranks they are priced quite nicely. I

of all the companies to call crap rapala is probably the last one I would name. I've caught fish on EVERY model I have EVER tried. This includes the original floater, countdown , jointed, shad rap (jointed version too), x-rap (and all its variances ) fat rap, dives-to series, husky jerk, tail dancer, rippin' rap, rattlin', skitter pop/walk/prop , and even the recent models such as a shadow and scatter raps. Now there is a time and place for these lures but I can almost assure you if you cant catch fish with these baits you're not on the fish or you're not presenting them correctly.

Did you catch one ?

What do you do with them after you kill em ?

I've slowed down too, here in ohio. I got skunked last night. I only had a couple hours until the sunset so I missed the warm period. but I couldn't get em going on nothing. I was using cranks and an in-line spinner. I tried shallow running floaters, suspending jerkbaits with and without rattles. While I was doing this I heard a huge blow up topwater. I had nothing to lose so I tried a rage toad. I had one explode on the frog but it just went flying in the air. That was my excitement for the evening. I agree October and September were hot ! I had a couple 10-15 fish days.

1/4. Is probably what I use the most. I have alot of success with a bulky trailer and the slow fall rate.

I think I could have managed with a gun.. but I highly doubt I would have been able to make a confident, precise shot with my compound. Hell I still get the shakes just having deer underneath me.. putting all that time in scouting, setting up the stand, getting up early and sitting in the woods for hours and hours with nothing to show for it.. then when they finally come.. it just gets to me. I love fishing more but the feeling when a buck is onto you (knows something isn't right ) is the hardest my heart has ever pounded. Ever.