tcal4404

still trying to figure out how one would rig that craw on the finesse bullet jighead...slide it over the hook weight? seems like it'd tear it apart

Great post, thanks for sharing!

I've had a killer day using a perch pattern squarebill

Thanks John, I have a spare reel I can load up with mono/fluoro, will give this a shot. If they seem finicky, you guys still think a crank is worth a shot? As soon as i get that new full body mosquito suit I'll give this a try lol. Bugs are rough at this lake. Still itching from this weekend....From what I've been reading the crawfish become active at night which I'm sure would make for a better bite Thanks WRB. I did throw some 1/8oz jig heads + small keitech but didn't give them the time+patience it probably needed. For the tube + dropshot rig. Is that a dropshot rig with a tube weight+hook as the bottom of the rig and a second bait up higher? If so, reminds me of hi-lo rigs I use for flounder.

I've been fishing a large reservoir lately from the bank with very clear water and some ledges where the shallowest water is 10+ ft and gets as deep as 25+fow where I can cast to. Bottom contour is large chunky rocks/boulders, little to no vegetation. I've had success with jerkbaits when the fish are active in more shallow spots 3-10fow, and have observed smallies come up on several occasions. One particular deeper spot is loaded with fish smallies, rock bass, perch, lmb's and some very large smallies mixed in or cruising by. I've had a tough time getting a consistent bite in this spot as I'm not used to fishing this deep of water when the fish are finicky. Very frustrating as I can see the fish...When they're active, I'm very confident in the jerkbait bite. I've tried wacky rigged senkos, t-rigged senkos, nose hooked weightless flukes, craws, jigs, swimbaits on jig heads, jerkbaits with little luck. I did land some fish on a ned rig slowly working it on the bottom so assuming finesse techniques are probably the way to go. Got a jumbo perch and a few smallies but I lose a lot of rigs. I was fishing mid-afternoon on a clear sunny day which was definitely affecting how active the fish were, but they were somewhat reactive to baits. What would you guys throw? Also, I wasn't using a leader, just straight 15lb high-vis PP braid (yellow), planning on tying on a fluoro leader next time. I have a feeling the right technique + presentation will make this a really productive spot.

I tie braid direct to a pop-r and can get it to splash or just do a slight twitch. I like that it can be more more subtly as the slight twitches right over their heads gets them to react sometimes. I was in the same situation in post spawn funk. Decided to try a much larger body of water figuring it'd be cooler and further behind in the cycle and was able to find some hungry fish up shallow, on a jerkbait.

In the same boat, the lakes I fish are in post-spawn and it's slowed down considerably. I'm having trouble finding fish. I did get a nice lmb on topwater after sundown close to the shore but everything else has been sporadic

I'm a spinning only guy and fish from the bank (relatively new to freshwater) but I've been very curious to try out a bc setup as well. Very little that I feel I can't do apart from easily pitching in tight situations, and even that I'm improving at (and some of that is caused by using a 7' rod instead of a shorter one). I imagine it's very satisfying mastering a bc and having that kind of control, one of the main reasons I want to give it a shot.

great story, congrats. What a beast!

that sucks. There are days when you can do no wrong and days where nothing goes right...

if they are hitting topwater, color does not matter much IMO. I'd have a smaller profile popper (rebel pop-r as mentioned is a great bait), a larger one (spook or popper), and a weedless frog to cover heavy vegetation and you should be covered for most situations.

congrats! beastly smallie

great story, thanks for sharing

move around tossing a jerkbait and see if you can find some bigger fish. Every body of water is different but I've been able to find some healthy ones right up on the bank this spring just covering ground. Frustrating part is they can be in a different part of the lake the very next day with very similar conditions.

Got out Friday for a quick session and longer ones both Sat & Sunday. Friday evening was very slow BUT managed a beast of a smallie right before I ready to pack it in. It was easily over 4lbs, huge belly, and had that amazing tiger coloration and it was fired up. Easily the most beautiful fish I had ever caught. I was so pumped and trying to get my phone out to take a pic. The fish was on the fish gripper and I lowered it into the water to not keep it out of the water too long before taking a pic..and it just took off lol oh well Saturday was a warm sunny day. Caught 5 or 6 fish including this one at just over 4lbs Sunday landed 2 LMBs, 4 smallies, and a pickerel. Hooked a big smallie and he triumphantly jumped, shook, and tossed my jerkbait like he'd done that countless times before. I was laughing bc it was just d**n impressive Had to really work for the fish from the bank and move around, but when I found them, they were biting. All fish on jerk baits.

Found the smallies this weekend beating the bank. Landed 9 fish, with 4 fish over 3lbs, biggest at 3.57. Another was very long but skinny, wish I had gotten a measurement (over 20" if I had to guess). Got a couple on a keitech + jig head and then switched to a jerkbait and it was on. Next day, same spot, very similar conditions, same tactics and not a bite....go figure. Oh well, was nice to be out in this great weather.

welcome...i'd focus on saltwater if I lived there: redfish, trout, flounder, drum etc...

congrats, great fish

congrats, sounds like a blast

Move around until you find some fish. Look for clues as to what the natural forage may be (crawfish, sunfish, perch) and adjust accordingly. Work different parts of the water column (I like jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwaters - should cover most). Fish in the same body of water may be feeding differently depending on the day/conditions. Once it gets warmer, always give a topwater bait a few tosses (especially early morning/sunset) because you never want to miss out when there's a topwater bite. And oh yeah, move around!

congrats ! amazing fish

nice work everyone! spent about 4 hrs on the water saturday, had a wintery week leading upto the weekend so wasn't expecting much as the water is still very cold. Continued to move and eventually found a nice largie, hit a lucky flash pointer in the shallows. So satisfying to feel that pop on the pause, the only bite of the day. Crappy pics as I was in a precarious landing spot. 3.74lbs

First smallie of the year. Fought very hard for such cold water. Only fish in 2 days in fishing 4+hrs each day....

amazing catch!

I definitely carry too much tackle. Topwater is something that on most trips I always will toss early on, because if they are hitting topwater...you do not want to miss out on that! So much fun! Lowlight conditions are when they are more likely to work, but there are days when the fish are looking up and will crush topwater all day long, before the lure hits the water sometimes. Even if it seems fruitless many times, totally worth it for when it's what they want