MichaelCopeland

My son got to be Santa where he works in Pineville back on the 6th. I think he looks pretty good as Santa. ?

I just wanna say y'all are all awesome and thank y'all very much for the prayers. Means the world to me. Just waiting for them to get results from my background check in, and it should be good, so I can start work. I'll be an outdoor specialist in the hunting/fishing dept. God Bless you all and your families. ?

Thank you buddy. That means a lot to me. I'll be saying a prayer that you get that job as well. God Bless you sir! ?

I'm willing to leave Louisiana if need be. In fact I really would like to move out to Arizona where my dad lives. Don't wanna leave my girlfriend behind, though, as we can't afford a move like that at the moment. When that day comes, if I'm working for Academy Sports, I should be able to get a transfer as long as they have a location out there. Thanks for your encouraging words @Sam

Thank you @A-Jay for your kind words.

I apologize for not being on here much lately. November 11th I had to move back up here to Shreveport and leave my job at Bill Lewis Outdoors Rat L Trap. Since then I've been seeking new work trying to stay as close to the fishing business as possible. I've applied at Bass Pro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. I finally got a call this morning from Academy Sports for an interview in the morning. I'm really excited about that and was told they are really interested in me. It's only for a part time position at this time, but I'm confident I can turn that into full time as long as I can get my foot in the door. If y'all could say a prayer for me that would be greatly appreciated. I really need this job and I believe the knowledge I've gained from here and the books I've been reading will greatly help in my success working there. Thank you all in advance for the prayers and being such great individuals with the knowledge you've passed on to me. I love you all and God Bless!

I've never fished a tournament. I hope to get to that point some day though. However on fishing days that I know is gonna be an early start, I'm usually up about an hour before my alarm goes off. Haven't fished in 2 weeks and supposed to be going in the morning. I'm really excited about it and hope I can actually sleep. Don't get to fish as often as I used to now.

That's awesome! Congratulations Evan! Grandpa gave the best advice to him! ?

Thank you sir for your kind words. I'm very greatful to have been an inspiration to you. That is actually more awesome to me than catching some fish on a new body of water. I have to say the chatterbait is one of my most confident baits along with a Texas rig weightless or weighted. It always seems when other baits/lures fail me, those two don't. Congratulations on finally catching one on your chatterbait and a 3lber at that. It's an exciting and very addictive bait when the fish start hitting it. As far as fishing a storm, unless there's lightning or the storm is just too heavy to see or cold to be in, that's been some of my most productive weather to fish in. Maybe some day we could get together and do some fishing. It would be awesome I believe. Have a great day and God Bless! ?

Yea we will definitely be better prepared for next time. That will more than likely be when the water level is alot higher. There was a few times it got kinda scary out there. We had to stay on the river channel markers or we might have been in some serious trouble. Wasn't expecting all those stumps and shallow water. All in all though, God had our backs for sure. He paved the way for us to stay safe out there. We had a blast regardless of the wind, waves and minefield of stumps. Got a map of the lake now and can better plan and find our way to Cypress Branch where you suggested. It looks like it has some better creek arms and coves to fish in that area. Next time maybe we can meet you out there. It would be awesome to meet and fish with you some day whether at Toledo Bend or somewhere else. You the man! ?

Toledo Bend this morning from Oak Ridge boat launch. It was pretty nasty out there today. My first time there.

Thank You Lord Jesus for keeping us safe out there today. With my 3/8oz H2O Express foxy shad spinnerbait with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Swimmer trailer tied on my 6'10" Lew's baitcaster and an 1/8oz black bullet weight unpegged with a 4/O H2O Express EWG offset hook and 10.5" black red glitter Ol' Monster tied on my 6'6" Lew's spinning rod, my ex brother-in-law, nephew and I headed for Toledo Bend Louisiana side at approximately 6:20am this morning. Had to stop at Wally World to pick up a battery for the trolling motor and fuel up the boat. Took longer than expected so we didn't go to the Cypress Branch area as planned. We entered at the northernmost boat launch at Oak Ridge. With overcast skies, wind and waves galore we launched in search of a nice cove to fish. The water level was dangerously low and there was a minefield of stumps out there. Had a few mishaps along the way, nothing serious, and found a little cove roughly 4 miles south of our launch site. My second or third cast into the salad like vegetation along the bank produced my first bass of the day weighing in at 1lb 10oz compliments of the Ol' Monster. I was excited! Made a few more casts to no avail then picked up my baitcaster and began tossing out my spinnerbait. Nothing happening there either. My nephew had gotten a few bites on his chatterbait with none landed. So I decided to tie my 1/2oz Project Z breaking bream chatterbait on with the green pumpkin Rage Swimmer trailer. Four casts later I'm reeling in my second bass of the day also weighing in at 1lb 10oz. Really excited now I cast a few more times with no luck and changed out the EZSkirt on the chatterbait to black and blue same trailer. Three casts later I'm hauling in my third and final bass of the day weighing in at 1lb 4oz. Really really excited now. Made lots more casts but our luck had run out. It was time to head on back to the launch, load up and go home. So that's what we did. Unfortunately neither my ex brother-in-law or my nephew caught anything, although my nephew came close but lost it at the boat. It woulda been a nice keeper about the same size as my first two. I have to say that today was the most dangerously fun day I have ever had. Thank you to all who took the time to read all of this and a special thank you to @Catt for your short notice advice. Next time we plan to get to the Cypress Branch area. Not sure when that'll be. Got plans for Caddo Lake next weekend. Have a great evening everyone and God Bless! He sure Blessed us today! ?

Loaded up and headed out. Y'all have a great day, I plan to. God Bless!

Thanks everyone for your well wishes of my trip here in about an hour. I slept good surprisingly with my excitement for the impending trip. Woke up at 4:45am bright eyed and bushy tailed...lol. Will definitely keep y'all posted when I can. Thanks again for your well wishes and God Bless you all!

I have only ever used one baitcast reel a Lew's American Hero Laser AH1SHG Speed Spool with a 7.1:1 gear ratio. However, I love it and would definitely get another of these or any Lew's baitcasting reel.

My birthday was Monday the 13th and my girlfriend bought me these. A Booyah Pad Crasher in old smoky color and a white Arkie jig that has a bait keeper on it. Can't wait to try them and plenty of my other baits/lures out in the morning on Toledo Bend!

The techniques I read about from Carl "Bud" Andrews are pretty unorthodox. Patience is definitely a virtue with how he does/did things. He has quite a collection of 321 trophy size 10lb + bass catches under his belt. Hoping I can make some of that work for me as well. Gonna have fun regardless. Got my mind made up on that. Just spending time on the water there with family is good enough. Anything we catch will be a bonus.

I'm so excited! Going on my first real fishing trip in the morning. Toledo Bend is our destination. I'll be accompanied by my ex brother-in-law(my niece's dad) and my niece's husband. I've never been to Toledo Bend and really looking forward to being out there on it doing my best to catch some largemouth bass. Definitely gonna have to read up on the thread here about learning it and hopefully that will help in locations to fish for a potentially plentiful day. We will be in a fishing/ski boat so that should help the possibilities even more. I've heard such great things about Toledo Bend and can't wait to experience it first hand. I'll be heading there around 6:15am and will be in total confidence/positive mode that what I have learned from here and the books I have read along with my limited experience bass fishing will play a major role in a new PB. Gonna try some of the techniques I read about from Carl "Bud" Andrews to see if I can recreate a small portion of what he has accomplished in Inverness, Florida alot closer to home. Thank You Lord Jesus for this great opportunity!

Rage Bugs and Rage Swimmers have been good to me in watermelon red flake and green pumpkin colors. I really need to try the Craws, Menace, Space Monkey and CutR Worms though. I'll get around to them soon enough hopefully.

Howdy, welcome aboard and God Bless you too! ?

Howdy and welcome aboard! ?

I would love to be in on this. Currently I am unemployed and seeking a job. I hope I'll be working in time to meet the deadline. I have til Dec. 8th right?

Wouldn't matter how much money I had and how well that bait enticed bass to bite, $299 is ridiculously too much to pay for one bait. I would buy 3 $100 Lew's baitcaster combos instead. I mean really you pay that much money for a bait the bass better just start jumping in your boat or on the bank where you're fixing to fish before you even cast. It should be that effective.

@Shane Dyason I am so glad you had such a great time with @ohboyitsrobby and friends. I hope your visit here in the USA continues to be that way. I'm sorry things didn't work out the way I had hoped and planned in Alexandria, Louisiana with us getting together and for a tour of Rat L Trap. You have there number and address. If you get the chance to come back that way, whether I am back there working or not, call them and ask for Wes Higgins or Dee Davis. Let them know you're a Bass Resource friend of mine from Australia and they should hook you up with the tour and possibly some free baits. You have my number as well. Gotta get back on my feet again and hopefully that won't be long. Give me a shout and we'll get together some way some how. Have safe travels and a most awesome visit here in America. May it truly be Blessed! Cheers mate!

Really depends on the water clarity that you are fishing. I use straight Sufix 832 30lb and 40lb braid because the waters I fish are pretty stained, murky/dingy waters. I'm not worried about the bass seeing my line. The clearer the water the more you may want or need to use a leader.