The Bassman

Pretty much toast.

Still getting good results on the Wake-Z and One Knocker. These two were 4+ with the biggest 4.5. Also caught several between 2-3 lbs. Any breeze that gets the surface moving is my best friend. Tomorrow's supposed to be gusty which should translate to lots of action. I'm trying to milk it for all it's worth this fall before I'm on hold with knee surgery.

Haven't heard much mention about the reservoirs this year. I'm guessing fall crappie fishing is going to change that?

Kinda miss that smell of Testor's. Remember the almost invisible spider webs that would land on something clear?

I remember the ads claimed that each lure was individually tank tested. Can't imagine that being true any more.

They're 5/8 oz. and like throwing a brick. I just retrieve at a moderate steady pace. The strikes can be vicious. Also, I change out the stock hooks for #2 KVD triple grips. One of the stock hooks broke in short order. This set has been on it ever since.

Got out for about an hour and a half before noon. Good breeze ahead of a our first real fall cold front so I figured that bass would be aggressive. Caught 15 on an old Azuma Wake-Z that's seen a lot of action. I also lucked into it being bogo Wednesday. Got two for the price of one!

That's why I prefaced my comment by saying how it applied to me and my arsenal. I was making the point that true ultralight gear has its limitations.

Rapala Skitter Walk walks really easy. Haven't been using it much this season since I use spinning gear most of the time. Such baits work better with BC (for me). I do occasionally use a Zara Puppy but find that it requires a bit more effort because of its smaller size.

For me ultralight refers to the weight of my combo, around ten oz. total, not ultralight rod power or line strength. I find that this approach lets me enjoy the fight while staying in control at the same time.

Of current writers I really enjoy Doug Stange's recollections. Makes for wonderful diversion in the crazy times we live in.

And I still stick to the belief that ice shelves are "break lines" that attract bass.

Some of my best bass fishing has been at times when ponds had partial skim ice in the morning and open water in the afternoon.

Except it's super shallow and never runs.

A bit more breeze today had me wanting to cover water with moving baits, in this case a Mann's Baby 1-Minus and a Booyah One Knocker. Had a pretty good session with about 25 in three hours. Six or so were about the size of these three, the rest being 12-14". That One Knocker gave me a memorable outing last Mon. with four 3-4 lbrs. and a bonus DD channel cat (one of only two I've ever caught) during a rainy one and a half hr. Disappointed I couldn't take any pics. Phone was in my car.

Looks like a LM to me. Mouths are sometimes disproportionate to body size with very healthy fish. That one looks well fed.

This reflects exactly what I've experienced the past couple of days. I think that calm conditions play a big part as well. Wind is supposed to increase the next few days so things should improve.

I started a similar discussion a while back that quickly devolved into an argument of power vs. action. I had a broken rod repaired and even a couple that I had modified due to my dislike of longer rods. My takeaway is that rods are engineered specifically to their length and any changes to that is detrimental. Doing so to salvage a broken rod is certainly understandable but in my case I've adapted to appreciate 6'6" plus rods. This isn't the 1980's when sub 6'6" was the norm. I'm showing my age here.

I was in Hamilton Co. They had big time rain last night.

Today was what I call a "drainfest". Copious rainfall since last night had storm inlets flowing strong. Can make for some epic action. Everything came on a ned rig and this one was my best. Fished for about three hours before the main front went through with monsoon like rain. Really not sure how many I caught but have an extra fuzzy thumb to show for it. Can't get any pity from the wife, though.

I've got knee replacement surgery to look forward to before years end. I'll get in some great late fall action then spend the dead of winter rehabbing while the wife goes to work. Early spring I should have my mojo back and she'll be in better shape from shoveling snow instead of me. Sounds like a plan (I hope).

Had a lively hour and a half this evening. Wind kicked up a little from small storm cells close by and got the bass active. Caught a quick dozen on my small blade bait with this one, probably three lb. or so the best.

Three states away in Indiana. Overnight 'em lol.

When do I get mine?

I never have understood the disdain for rockbass from guys in the upper midwest and northeast. I've always viewed them as part of the whole experience when wading for smallmouth where I live in Indiana.