Harold Scoggins

Blasphemy! @Wacky Zac has done Blasphemy!

When your dogs (old Infantry term) are as worn out as mine, you'll spend whatever it takes to feel good.

Don't worry, they do come back. My son is always coming over to borrow rods and lures. If I'm really lucky, he'll even ask me how to use a particular bait now and then.

Good PFD, I own 3 of them, and will be replacing one after this season. (Hit the 10 year mark and needs to be retired.) Since @Kyle S asked, I would use the gift cards on a new rod, reel, or lures and consider either the Stohlquist, NRS, or Kokatat PFD. The hand signals are free.

Without seeing the water or you fish, I wouldn't want to even guess. I've only been "swimbaiting" for maybe 15 years, so I'm no expert, and what I do know I've learned from others. Seek out and talk with those West Coast guys, they were figuring this all out before most of us knew what a swimbait was. Actually, if I hadn't been going through some storage tubs and found a couple of those Bull Shooters I picked up a couple years back, I wouldn't have thrown it at all this time of year. I just wanted to break one out and see how it swims. I've learned after a couple of summer failures and advice from more experienced swimbait anglers, that using swimbaits this time of year will mostly result in your confidence being hurt. (unless you're throwing something like a Hud that can hit the bottom) After listening to those big bait veterans, I started to focus my swimbait fishing to pre spawn/post spawn and the fall feed-up. You can use swimbaits during the summer, but the bite will be sparse and normally deeper. I've added weight to the front of a Gantarel to take it deeper before, but you had better know the structure down on the bottom before going exploring or you may be donating your bait to "Davey Jones Locker." (done that) Keep in mind also, when throwing swimbaits, you're targeting a smaller percentage of a lake's bass population , the 5+ lb wall hangers. Not to say that the smaller bucks won't go after your swimbait, they will, but the majority of folks throwing swimbaits are looking for that one fish that rewards us with bragging rights. Swimbaits have their time and place. I'll tell you what I tell first time jig users, keep at it and the reward will be well worth the effort. I don't feel like I've been much help here, just don't give up on your Gantarel. I will say this, the first time you reel in a big girl with a Gantarel in her mouth, you'll be putting other swimbaits on your Christmas list.

I think it may depend on the prominent forage in the water you're fishing. There are a couple lakes here where the only forage is gill and minnows and I can catch bass with the Gantarels. Then, there are other lakes where shad is the meal of choice and the Gantarel bite is far and few between. I think they really shine around wood, outside grass lines, and around docks. I threw the Deps Bull Shooter a few days ago and the smaller bucks lit it up. I'm looking forward to running that bait around some bigger fish.

Maybe @Glenn will know.

I hear you. I'm going to start with the jig/blade box and go from there.

Somewhere in the world a child prays for angels from heaven to save his family. Help is on the way, ETA 1:32! Who are you? "Airborne!" How far? "All The Way!" I miss it so... https://youtu.be/fie3m768zN4

Oh man! This sounds good! Dri-Loc™ - watertight seal Rustrictor™ - rust prevention infused base Duraview™ crystal-clear lid One-Handed latch Water Wick™ - water absorbing desiccant divider Innovative labeling system Pre-cut, pre-separated vented dividers Ribbed lid and steel-pin hinges for durability Available sizes: 3600 Standard, 3700 Thin, 3700 Standard, 3700 Deep: Terminal Box, Jig/Blade Bait Box, Spinnerbait Box, Plastics/Bulk Utility Box, and Crankbait boxes.

I'm retired and this is my work (work=fishing) truck.

The Gantarel and Gantarel Jr are definite favorites, however, don't count out the glide bait gill/shad imitators.

Inherited lure. Bomber Bait Co., Model 502, 1946-1948 No Eye. (500 series, color code 02) Made of cedar, shoe eyelets used as hook hanger cups. I miss the man who once fished this lure.

I've been through many scales and this Rapala touch screen is the best scale I've ever used. I check it couple times a year with a known weight and it weighs right on money.

Sergeant James Gregory Johnston, KIA 6/25/19 Afghanistan, returns to his home in Texas. Honor him.

I focus my attention towards kayak fishing and rigging, however, I will watch others if their purpose is to teach. Yep, this old dog is always looking for new tricks. Speaking of "old," I use to watch Gene Jensen until a few years ago, he mentioned to a group that "forums were for old people" and that he didn't want to hang out on them because YT was what the younger folks wanted. I considered that a slap in the face directed towards people who still know how and enjoy reading. Don't take me wrong, I enjoy watching YT, but I dread the day when our youth beats feet across the lake to the likes of the Googans because they are "dope" and they leave the old man in the straw hat sitting alone in his john boat - thinking he has nothing to contribute. Even as a younger man in my twenties, I always made time for the "old salts" who first taught me how to fish. Postscript: @Bluebasser86, you're really in a Googan video? (no pun intended)

Werner makes good paddles. I think my Bending Branches Pro Angler weighs 27 oz.

I really don't dislike them, I just wish they would act a little more responsible for the millions of young fans they have. Because of their antics, you can be sure that there will be young, first time kayakers thinking it's OK not to wear PFDs, or even worse, not even have them in the kayaks.

A carbon paddle with an adjustable length shaft is the way to go. They will require some coin, but they are well worth it when you move between kayaks. It's nice being able to fish from a narrow yak one day and then move to a wider yak the next without changing paddles.

Follow your graph, structure, and cover. (Then there's always night fishing.)

Flyover, Arlington National Cemetery.

Checking out new lures from Megabass this morning and saw this new top water walker. Their Japanese site has it listed as a bass lure, but before you get excited you may want to look for a swimbait rod. This beast is 200mm in length and weighs 4 and 3/5 oz. The Megabass Japan site has a video of it in action and it walks every bit as good as their smaller walkers. Price: 4,320 JY or $39.82 USD. Definitely for the big bass hunter.

It's always nice to fish with someone. Back when there were few kayaks on the lakes, it was nothing for a couple of kayakers to paddle up to each other and start chatting. Complete strangers, talking about the fishing, each other's kayaks, etc. Don't see that happening very often anymore. The last time I paddled up to a stranger to chat, he started screaming at me, accusing me of trying to take his spot. Now days I keep my distance and let them paddle to me...sad.

Wonder if they're still good? (Photo: Mike Keeton)

Attached to my PFD.