Matt Bacola

I've got my trolling motor, battery and fish finder ready to go (thanks for mentioning it). Do they provide life jackets or do I need to bring one?

I'm going to be in the area this weekend and I'd like to check out Lake Mackintosh on Friday and maybe Monday. Any tips? I'm planning on renting a boat, where's the best place to launch this time of year Guilford? What are they biting? I caught em on Jigs this weekend in Michigan but it looks like the water temp in NC will be about 10 degrees higher. What's the best bet shallow or deep?

Just to clarify, I do not have an enhanced DL, just your standard issue...

Just as a follow up, I was a bit concerned however I decided to trust my guide and make the trip with only a DL. My friend who came with me did the same. I believe the place we crossed was Roma, TX? I had my birth certificate with me and I was ready to catch some attitude when we crossed back in to the US. The guy at the border asked if we were all US Citizens, looked at our DL's for all of a minute and sent us through. Easy Peasy. It was a fun trip and I'm already planning on going back next year (hopefully I'll have my passport by then).

The last couple of times I’ve been out it’s been pretty tough. I’m in Ohio and I feel like the LMB are in a bit of a fall transition funk. It’s been unseasonably warm here and I believe that what’s needed to improve the fishing is a cool down. Water temps on Saturday were 66-71 degrees. If anything, they have gone up a bit since then. High of 84 today, 81 tomorrow, 71 Friday, 56 on Saturday, 54 on Sunday. Although I believe a cool down is what’s needed to improve the fishing, I’m guessing the bass will be shut down for a few days after a change that drastic. Am on the right track? Even more so than the other seasons, I can’t seem to figure out what to expect during the fall transition. I’m thinking what’s needed is for the temps to cool off a bit, but also the bass are going to need some time to adjust?

I contacted a guide to fish Falcon Lake and he asked if I'd be interested in fishing Sugar Lake. I didn't believe that would be an option as I don't have a passport and he said that I'll I need is a driver's license. I've seen conflicting information online regarding if a passport is required to cross the border in a vehicle. The guide lives in TX and crosses the boarder multiple times each week, so I would think he would know, but I'd hate to have a problem...

I’m going to be in Michigan on vacation the week of July 3rd and I’d like to do some bass fishing. I’m going to be on St Clair with a guide on the 5th and 6th however, I’ll likely have another free day during the week to get out. I don’t have a real boat, only a 10 ft Bass Raider, so I can’t cover a lot of distance or handle big waves. If it’s flat, I may be able to mess around on St Clair, however I was also looking at Burt and Mullet lakes. I’d be interested in any advice on ramps that are close to decent fishing areas, areas that are protected from the wind, etc.

I'm going to be in area (somewhat) from the east coast the week of June 19th. Dworshak smallmouth have been on my bucket-list. What's the fishing like that time of the year? Any recommendations on guides and/or places to stay?

Cool write up, Chickahominy Lake has been on my list to check out for a while. You mentioned "a bike" mountain bike?

I'm looking for a guide to do some Smallmouth fishing with on Lake St Clair in July. Any input would be appreciated.

I’m going to be in Texas in mid-September and I’d love to do some fishing. I live in Ohio where a 5 pound bass is a trophy so I’d like to have a shot a catching a big Texas bass. I’m flying so the most likely situation would be to hook up with a guide for a day or 2 (unless there’s a compelling reason for a different arrangement). I'm flying into Austin, however I'm not afraid of a drive and I can fly home from a different airport if it makes sense. So my question is, if you had 1 maybe 2 days to fish in Texas in mid-September, where would be the best chance at catching a 7+ pound bass? I fished O.H. Ivey for 3-4 days last February. My takeaway from my time there was that the lake has huge bass, but they bite in small time windows that isn’t conducive to a 1 or 2 day trip. That could very well have been more of a winter thing than the lake itself though? Based on that experience and assumption (which I am very open to changing if someone more knowledgeable educates me) I’m currently leaning toward Falcon Lake. Maybe Choke Canyon? Possum Kingdom? Based on my very un-expert opinion I feel like Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn, Lake Conroe could be tough due to fishing pressure, although I did see a guide that did night fishing trips on Lake Fork which would somewhat mitigate the pressure issue? I’m pretty much open to anywhere in Texas and I’d appreciate any feedback on lakes / guides.

I’m trying to plan a family vacation for June 2023 and I’d like to be able to do some Largemouth Bass fishing. One challenge is that I don’t own a bass boat. I fish small waters in Ohio mostly out of a float tube however I also have a 10 ft Bass Raider. I am open to paying a guide to fish a day or two, however I’d prefer to be able to fish on my own. Anyone have recommendations of good small water fishing in GA where the Bass Raider would work? A couple of places I’ve come across are Rutland Farms, Gum Log Plantation, and Live Oak Plantation. I believe those are all pay to fish areas, however Rutland Farms seems very inexpensive. Any intel on these areas? What areas am I missing (preferable public). I am looking at GA, but I would be open to FL, SC, NC, Etc. I see there’s a place that rents boats for Headwaters in FL so I’m looking into that. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Had a great day fishing with Bryan Labelle (Mega Bass Charter) on Friday. Unfortunately, we didn't get to fish in Thursday due to the wind. Bryan put us on the fish immediately, my son and I both caught bass on our first cast and the morning was fast and furious. We doubled up all morning. I'd highly recommend Bryan if your looking for a guide on Champlain.

Great people on this forum! I appreciate all of the input. I'm set up to fish Champlain with Bryan Labelle June 16 and 17. Hopefully I can post pics of a bunch of big bass after the trip!

Is there a bass "season" that I need to be concerned with? I saw something about the season not opening until June 18th?

That's good feedback! Champlain is a bit less out of way so if there's not a clear winner in regard to quality of the fisheries that may be the way to go. I typically fish lakes so I was kind of looking forward to fishing a river for a change... decisions, decisions...

Thanks, I've done some endurance racing but mostly just track days. Lot's of fun! This new GSXR1000 is an amazing motorcycle...

Planning a family vacation for mid/late June and I’d like to fish with a guide for a couple days. Which would be a better option St Lawrence or Lake Champlain? Are there other options in the area I should consider? Anyone have recommendation for a guide?

Thanks! That's good information! You say you didn't catch a bass from December until March, how was the fishing in September / October / November? I'm guessing that the fishing could actually improve for a while as the water temps drop a bit coming out of summer and then start to go downhill once they get too cold?

I’d like to make a trip to GA to bass fish some small private lakes this fall/winter and I’m looking for suggestions on when the best time would be? I live in Ohio and in my experience, with the exception of potentially a short window around pre-spawn and spawn and sometimes a small fall feed window (usually in October) the Largemouth Bass fishing here is best when the water temps are the highest in July. I believe things are likely in different in GA, as the water temps get a lot higher and potentially make the fishing tough in the summer? How’s the fishing typically in the fall/early winter? Any times that are typically better than others? Any time to avoid? They plan will be to fish some small private lakes which may change the equation a bit as deep ledge fishing will not be an option. Any feedback, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I'm looking for suggestions for a guide to bass fish Chickamauga for a day. I am more interested in quality fish as opposed to quantity.

I’m looking for suggestions on where to go fishing this summer. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and would prefer to stay within about a 600 ish mile range. I would also prefer someplace that would be float-tube friendly or have easy access to rental boats. The last few years I have been going to a private lake in Tennessee. Overall it’s been pretty good, however it was really tough this past July. The locals said the fishing is pretty tough there in the summer and while I was there the water temps were in the mid 80’s. Being from up north, I’m not really familiar with the concept of the fishing getting tough in the summer. Here in Pittsburgh the fishing seems to be best when the water is at its warmest. This will be a family trip so I’m limited to go when my wife (school teacher) and kids are out on summer break – so Mid-June through late August. Are there some lakes down south that are better than others in the summer? Maybe I should head north to somewhere like Michigan and chase smallmouth or even largemouth. I really like the opportunity to go south and chase some bigger largemouth than we have up here, but it was frustrating fishing I disagree off for 5+ days last summer and then catching a significantly larger bass in nearby ohio the day after I got home than anything I caught in Tennessee. I’d welcome any suggestions, tips, etc.

Out of curiosity, what would you say are the best months to bass fish in Florida?

Most are not much more than 20 - 25 feet deep

I’m in Ohio and I can never figure out the Largemouth bass once the water temps start dropping in the Fall. I hear people that say Fall is their favorite time to fish and that makes me think I’m missing something. I fish mainly small lakes (reclaimed strip mines) and in my experience the water temps never get so high here that the fish get inactive. In my experience, the fishing is best when the water temps are at their maximum. The fish are aggressive and hitting topwater baits. As soon at the water temps start to drop in the early fall, in my experience is seems to really shut the fishing down. I went out yesterday, and even though the water temps are still relatively high it seems like the fish are scattered and it’s very difficult to get a bite. My only bites came on soft plastics being drug along the bottom very slowly. In my experience it seems that once the water temps start to drop in early fall there is a drastic drop off in fish activity/aggression, followed by a slight rebound and then a steady decline with the water temp. Sometimes a bit later in the Fall there seems to be a brief fall-feed where the fish become more aggressive. Am I in left field or do others have a similar experience? I’d also be curious to know what happens down south when the water temps drop out of the 90’s/upper 80’s down into the 70’s/upper 60’s does the fishing improve?