TnRiver46

I use live shad for bass often, it’s not as easy as people that never do it think it is. Netting shad and keeping them alive on board and constant rebaiting is far more action packed than any artificial bait I’ve ever thrown To the OP, who seems a bit more open minded than some of the repliers, live bait typically doesn’t work in vegetation but I bet you could figure something out. Maybe get a bluegill and free line it (unless of course you are in Minnesota or California, which you aren’t). You will have to constantly steer it around the weeds but pond bass eat mostly bluegill and will attack them violently. I know a couple ponds where we have trained bass to do this, very fun to watch. With the vegetation, It would be EASIER TO FISH WITH ARTIFICIAL (did I just say that?? How is it possible because Live bait is easier than 2+2 according to those who don’t fish it?) I have a feeling you will be struggling to keep the live bait from burying up in the veg so my choice for ponds like that is typically a weightless plastic worm. Twitch it across the top of the thickest stuff and then let it sink freely into the gaps guys: the man is asking for help with live bait, not to be made fun of for using it. If you don’t like it maybe just read some other threads? Sheesh

That red/yellow plug sure looks like a husky jerk. All my husky jerk have rattles

+1. I don’t even think I have a spool of it anymore

I camped there at McFarland once but the wind was too brutal for me run anywhere downriver . Fun anyway though, got some smaller fish and white bass

Open concept

I’m sure you will land on them one way or another

Tabby cat!

I’ve heard it’s more popular for crappie than bass

Works fine with 30 and up, I think I usually have to improve the clinch or Palomar for like 15 lb braid but I really only use the heavy stuff for grass anymore

I’ve skipped them Many times on accident and sometimes on purpose. Most times the hooks are fouled but it works on super rare occasions haha

Light snow going sideways on a highland reservoir , clear water

That’s pretty cool!

Maybe someone got some shad raps custom painted?

You remind me of all my buddies, gluttons for punishment from the weatherman

I’m an expert at launching boats, paddling around, and making good casts. I’m also an expert watcher of water levels on the dozens of waterways in my area, which typically leads to decent results. The rest is a complicated matrix of variables that I don’t care to even attempt mastering, I just enjoy every second of every trip and try to be on the right water at the right time .

Flat wooden trailer and strap her down. PVC pipe rollers to push it off steep banks.

Metabolic rate slows to molasses levels . I think it takes them several days to digest one minnow in cold water

If they were in the area, you would most likely catch them mixed in with the spots and large mouth. They all eat the same things

In a creek like that, a smallmouth can probably go for a week or more without eating a single thing

HahHa! Just come down to East Tennessee on a Saturday morning and drive a winding mountain road. You will see 4.3 million cyclists all wearing jerseys with company names all over them. And not a single one of the cyclists are actually sponsored by anyone. Also remember to bring a long novel to read while you attempt driving a couple miles

Let’s do it! My brother lives in Philly by the way

The Tennessee River where road warrior fishes is a tail water below a 100 foot tall dam. Usually over 50,000 cfs of current and always lots of depth changes, main channel below most TN river dams is approaching 20 feet

Better keep that a secret or folks from the Midwest and northeast will overrun Florida! Oh wait........ I see a winter trip to East TN in your future......

Nope I don’t think I’ve ever “dialed” in a “pattern”, I just fish.

Cool