jr231

If there is one thing a bank fisherman should master it is stealth. The fish can feel you at the bank... Crunching leaves and breaking sticks, Talking loud or your music on your phone... I approach the bank as if I'm walking in the woods deer hunting. Slowly rolling my boots over the ground being as quiet as possible. If you can see them they can see you. I know situations like that are exciting but the best thing to do is back away, and cast to it from a distance after you've gave it a little bit. You could always do what the world record bass holder did.. catch her with a bluegill. Just sayin.

Go back to where you lost that hog ! Haha. Everyone has one of those... She's still there.

The bulk of the fish hold in a small percentage of the water....

You must be very young ? Because most dedicated anglers just let it go while bank fishing. The dampness will keep you cool and the slight scent keeps the critters away.

Nightcrawler won't work If there are bluegill in the pond.. Ive targeted them in a similar scenario , always got them to come in with the corn chum but could never get em to bite. My grandfather caught them on mini doughballs. The exact carp in bluebassers photo. He is no longer around and not sure what he used to make them . Over in Europe they are nuts about carp fishing and have some pretty sweet set ups and rigs/tactics. Watch some videos on YouTube.

Cuz they're hungry and you're fishing where they're present and/or gaurding their nests? Lol that's a nice one... Bust out the Ultra light

@teethmarksyour bass with the spots on it is called melanosis. Basically a build up of pigment in the skin. Not contagious and even safe to eat.

3/0 is my most often used hook

For years I used a Jimmy Houston spinning rod that was like 30 bucks for the combo. Spooled it with braid and used anything from senkos, jerkbaits, jigs and everything else including the #5 shad rap OP has a problem casting. I now have a bunch of set ups and use the spinning rods for "finesse" stuff but at the time it got it done and I caught fish with that ultra cheap combo consistently. Location/timing trumps gear every time.

I use the same hook as I do to weightless Texas. 3/0 ewg. Have caught many bass wacky rigged with this hook just take it off from the Texas rig and throw it on there wacky... even had one bass just shy of 24" so it fools the big ones too.

Are you sure there are bass where you're fishing for them ? Or do the spots just look good from above ? Slow it down with ur t-rig. Do yourself a favor and go to Walmart or wherever sells fishing stuff and buy an 1/8oz finesse jig, with a SK rage chunk trailer. They will eat it on the initial drop if pitching to cover or cast parallel with the bank and reel it just barely fast enough to keep it out of the muk. The action and profile alone fools adult bass.! It's almost fool proof and I'd bet money if you're fishing in ponds or creeks with bass this approach will catch you one ! As you get better with the jig you learn what it feels like and will be able to tell a difference between having a bite or bumping into a log or pulling it through grass / rocks. Then you can vary your retrieves with a swim/drag/hop

Works with alot of baits ! My most productive retrieve with the fat ika and works sometimes with stick baits .

5 fish per tube... Sounds like you're getting more than your money's worth to me.

Did he catch it from the bank?

What's awesome to think about is there is always a bigger fish out there than the records... 5lb crappie is nuts.

Really like this hook directly above me ^

A true Texas rig has the hook point buried inside the worm/bait, making it the weedless bait you apparently desire ! You can do this with any soft plastic bait... Sounds like a plug to me when someone says they've never missed a fish with it because of its design... I'm callin bull ! However... I'm sure they're nice.. every jackall product I've tried caught bass.

Possibilities are endless with tubes.. all good suggestions above. I personally like to "yo-yo" them through the water columns with a weighted tube hook when I'm struggling to find fish.

It's either your knot, or your line guides, or bad batch of floro... I've straightened out (not completely but bent it out enough to free me from a log and ruin the hook ) a 3/0 gamakatsu with cheap 10lb seaguar red label as a leader.

I don't know how this has went three pages. Spinning rod with braid. There ya go.

The main reason not selling tackle to people who don't have a license wouldn't work is because you don't need a license for private waters. I could spend all my free fishing time on private waters and I need no approval from law enforcement or the state..

Most folks don't have this luxury!

There you go papaw. Or whatever she calls ya. That's gettin it done !

Bass are opportunistic predators. If it's vulnerable, and in the vicinity a bass will take it. Meaning they eat everything they can... Crickets , worms, bugs. Even small birds/ ducks and snakes.

God bless you and your family brother.. keep your head up. Things will turn up