papajoe222

For the vast majority of bass I catch, a jig off some sort is the lure used. If I were to put casting, flipping swimming, hair, feather and swimbait all in the same category They'd easily account for 70% of the fish I catch. Add crankbaits and the two add up to 80% without even checking my fishing logs.

The only jigs that are worth more than $5 or $6, IMO are tungsten jigs. Their big selling point for me is how much more information feedback I get from one vs a lead head. My jig game is my strong suit and tungsten jigs keep me at the top of my game.

Not any particular lure, but a category. Texas rigged soft plastics. I fish a lot of soft plastics as trailers for different jig, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc., but other than worms, I very rarely fish them by themselves. Beavers, Creature Baits, Swimbaits, and Toads will see more action this year.

Although I rarely fish lakes that have numbers of them, smallmouth are my favorite. There aren't many species of freshwater fish that compare to their fight to the finish attitude and the thrill they impart every time they jump. I was introduced to them the summer I turned 13 when a friend invited me on a fishing trip to upper Wisconsin with his dad. His dad went into a nearby town to get some supplies leaving us to fish from shore. The water was super clear, shallow and there was some current. I hooked into my first smallie and I just kept tension on the line while that fish jumped time after time as my friend and I watched with excitement. That was the only fish I caught on that trip, but 62years later, I still recall and relive that experience.

Sound reasoning, but that don't mean it'll happen that way. One of my favorite natural lakes was drained because of all the 'rough' fish it contained. Sport fish and table fare were hard to come by. On a lake fed by the Wisconsin river, it overflowed the earthen dam and there was nothing left but puddles. After rebuilding the dam, the lake returned to normal pool. Fast forward five years and which lake do you think was producing bigger fish? The natural lake. The elimination of the rough fish allowed the new crop of sportfish better forage to feed on. It's doubtful that, except for the stocking of musky, the numbers of those fish changed, but the forage numbers did. In your case, like the lake initially fed by the WI river. Nothing really changed once it refilled. How that bog will fare once water level returns to what it was will remain to be seen. For your sake, I'm rooting for more big ones and fewer numbers.

Do what you think you'll be most comfortable with. I have two St. Croix cranking rods in MH/MF. They're rated for 3/8-1oz.and for anything over 3/8oz. they are the ones I use. I have no difficulty making 30-40yrd casts with them and I have a bum shoulder.

LOL, no he’s still in high school. The Yankees 🤮are looking at him as a possible draft option and asked him to come down so their staff can observe him.

I'll be heading down to Tampa for spring training as my grandson will be working out with that team that all Red Sox fans despise. I've never been to Florida in Feb, but I understand that is prime time to catch some big fish. It would be great if someone here, that is familiar with that area, could recommend some places to fish from shore. I'll be blowing most of my spending cash on gas and hotels, so hooking up with a guide is out of the question. I'd be happy fishing some ponds with shore access. TIA

Fluorocarbon line here, too. I first tried it as leader material for my jig fishing. Lost a handful of pricey jigs on the hook set. Swore off it for a few seasons, then tried a different brand as the mainline for my crankin'. Hated how stiff it was, but I wasn't breaking off any cranks. Tried an expensive one for worming and ran into break offs again, so I switched to a fluoro friendly knot........not! Now it's a staple on all my cranking rigs and I've gone back to mono as leader line for single hook presentations.

I plan on buying a 7-7’2” carbon cranking rod, able to cast 5/16-5/8 oz I'd recommend a MH/Mod.Fast Unless you'll be using braid, in which case go with a moderate action.

I pitch into some really cover and my pitches are 15yrds max. I can take up that short line with a 7.1:1 reel and a bass will more often than not, head further into cover rather than out of it and toward me. I'll take the better torque of a slower reel.

The rod has much more to do with this than the reel. I assume that you're going short (vs.7'6"-8'0") is for a reason. If you can find a rod with those specs, you should be okay with most baitcasters. As long as you can set the cast control knob to match the lure, you'll be fine.

You've likely done this before, if not, give it a shot. A 4in.-6in. tube Texas rigged, with just enough weight (pegged) so it will fall into any openings, but light enough to keep the tube on top when reeling it in. It will get blow-ups like a frog, but sink when paused over an opening. Sometimes a flippin' hook is just enough weight.

6th Sense, Live Target, Crush, Strike King, X-Calliber, Bill Norman, Booyah, Lucky Craft. Some missing line tie split ring, Some with hook up-grades, all fish catchers. $55.

No, I drill a small hole in eack chamber, inject super glue and set the lure upright so the rattle sits on the bottom center of its chamber.

Like many, I like to tinker with my tackle. When it comes to cranks, there's the usual switching out hooks, or adding a splash of red to the eyes, gills or belly. One of the ones that has really had a noticeable effect on my catch rate is turning a rattling bait into a silent one. Yea, I've ruined a number of baits attempting to do so, but many of the baits I have confidence in aren't offered in a silent version, so what's a tackle junkie to do? A couple of my confidence cranks are the Bomber Fat Free Shad and most any Mann's crank. After a little experimentation, I was able to silence them without altering their action, or removing the rattles. Unless water clarity dictates a bait with rattles, I reach for the silent ones. I even altered a couple of Mann's Depth Plus baits that get down where there's little, if any, light penetration and they even produce there. For those that modify their cranks, what is your favorite one?

I'll need to check my channel guide because I don't think xfinity offers it.

I'll ask a couple of questions before I give my $.02. First, are you sure they were quarries, or were they strip pits which there are an abundance of where I am? Second, are the weeds you're bringing up green? I know you said dead. Now for my two cents. In the extremely deep water of quarries, a Ned rig will take forever to reach the bottom (see my first question). Plus, I doubt the bass would be sitting on the bottom, not enough O2. Quarry or pit, the fish are likely holding somewhere off the bottom and figuring out their depth is your first priority. Figure that out and the best presentation will become evident.

Bass fishing legend Glenn May Congrats, I was wondering when you'd enter that category. Fuzzy Baits reminds me of the drink Fuzzy Navel. I think the baits will have a much bigger following.

So everyone knows that fishing is my passion, but come on between Christmas and my birthday next week, I'll have enough in gift cards to purchase, well just about anything fishing that I don't need. You'd think somebody would think outside the box a little and get me something like a Midway USA gift card so I could get some new glass, or reloading supplies............WAIT, Bass Pro sells scopes and reloading supplies. So.............Keep them coming, my 75th is a week from today. I know, I'm shameless

Dang girl, don't you know better than to title a thread like this? I know this is a bass fishing site, but I'm a guy first and I got my blood pressure up as I clicked on this one. I first thought; How many gals do we have on this site with DD's, but if was one, I had to see 'em. The only way this guy catches a double digit, or a pair of DD's for that matter, is to head south about five or six hours. The trip would be worth it though, for the fish that is. I don't remember what to do with the other things other than look at 'em.

I have pics of almost all my memorable catches and with the exception of current and previous personal bests, I'd be hard pressed to name the presentation, lure, weather conditions, or even their weight or length. I remember the fight and how many times she jumped. Go figure.

For a dropshot when using a leader, I don't think it matters that much. I don't use a very long leader, maybe 18in. above the hook and max of 2ft. below. Unlike many, I still use a quality swivel to attach my leader. Does line twist does affect braid? IDK, but Bill Dance uses one above his drop line and he introduced the technique to me.

Done. Maybe move this to the general fishing forum. My reasoning is more members view that forum than this one.

Another video with a ton of useful information. The most important thing about it, IMO, was you stating the importance of knowing exactly what you were doing when you catch a fish and repeating it so you can continue to do so. Then, If you don't mind my adding a tid bit, you should also pay attention to where the fish was positioned on the cover or structure so that you can duplicate it in your search for other potential spots. Keep up the great work.