papajoe222

I've used a light bullet weight in front of a Senko to get it down deep faster than rigging it weightless. I'd estimate 75% of bites still occur on the fall, just like a weightless rig, so I don't think it looses much action. I may be wrong, but I know it works.

My favorite reel is the first, low profile baitcaster I ever owned, a Daiwa Procaster PMA10. I have it paired to an older BPS rod with the power hump cork handle for throwing Spooks. My current favorite rod is a St.Croix, but I build a lot of my own rods and my 'favorite' has changed many times over the years. The one with the most emotional attachment is one an old friend had for decades. It was gifted to me by his widow and I've never used it. It's the first rod in my rod rack and I pick it up often to stir up some happy fishing memories.

As someone else mentioned, It's more about matching the rod to the angler than it is about matching the rod to the technique. I personally use a 7'3" MH/ModFast rod for all but my small jerkbaits. Those I throw on a St.Croix ML/Fast 7ft. I like the longer, softer rod for the 110's because I prefer to let the rod load up before a sweeping hookset. For the smaller Rapalas, I set the hook at the first indication of a bite.

I keep them in their original package and those go in a Flambeau Super Half Satchel marked with the style of plastic bait inside. The four I regularly carry take up a lot of space, but as I am usually alone, space isn't much of a concern. Prior to employing them, I'd take them out of their packaging and place them in a 3700 size Plano. I ended up not knowing what color I was running short on as my visaion is color compromized.......Watermellon and green pumpkin look way too much alike for me to tell the difference without the package label.

I pump out any water using the Bearing Buddys and pull the hubs, flush and repack the bearings in the spring.

My dad introduced me to Mepps spinners at the tender age of ten. We, I was a walleye angler then and Mepps spinners were rarely used on the Wisconsin River flowage that we fished every year. They caught everything from 1.5lb. crappie to +36in. pike. When I started targeting bass a few years later, They were the only spinners I threw, still do.

Nah, I peaked about 35 years ago. Week-end tournaments and mid-week excursions kept me at my peak during that period. If I could remember half of what I knew and had the skill I once had, even with the advanced electronics of today, old me would kick my you know what. Never mind, I'd be taking a nap about four hours into the competition.

So I began the process of storing my boat for the winter. First step was emptying all the tackle I keep in it. That tackle takes up 2/3 of my workbench. What isn't pictured, because it's behind all this, is my buzz and spinnerbaits, paddletail swimbaits, and a peg board that runs the full 7ft. length of the workbench filled with tube baits. Next up, putting the trailer up on jack stands, removing the wheels and greasing up the axle bearings.

I shoot long range rifle competition. Somebody hits me with a couple of pellets while goose hunting, he just may loose a toe and never hear it until it's too late.

The fastest reel I own is an 8.1:1 and it's only used for jig and buzzbait fishing. I find that with a fast reel, even a 7.1, I end up bringing my presentation in too fast. I really have difficulty using one for walking baits as I end up taking up too much slack, throwing off my cadence. It's much easier for me to speed up using a 6.3:1 than it is for me to slow down using something faster.

Stck with me kid and you’ll be cashing out in tournaments in no time.

I don't do a lot of builds, maybe two or three a year, and I'm looking for a better way to keep the guides in place while I wrap them. I've been using those super small rubber bands and they work fine for a 'normal' size guide foot, but I'll be starting a build with micro guides, not my idea, and there isn't much foot to begin with. Any hacks that have worked for you that you'd care to share?

I was going to say just about the same thing. If the forage is using the last green weeds, or ones that don't die off over the winter, you'll find some smallies there, if you can fend off the LM.

Am I the only one that throws a Rocket Shad for deep smallies? It's not the only thing I throw, tube-blade-hair jig, but it's the first thing.

Public lakes close for waterfowl season.

Although I love ribbon tails, for me they have a time and place. Cold water, under 40 degrees, is not one of those times. I will downsize to a 4in. finesse, or a french fry and I will use a split shot, or drop shot to present it. The only time I'm able to do this is just after ice out and I won't go to a ribbon tail until the water is pushing 50. From then until the lakes close, I'll be throwing one on a T or C-Rig

Any condition that breaks up light penetration is a plus when it comes to bass fishing. Clouds, rain, dusk, dawn, wind,etc. is a bonus. That's when horizontal presentations seem to rule. Cloudless skies and little or no breeze is when vertical presentations seem to work better for me, especially around cover. Pitching soft plastics, or jigs tight to or into cover are the best producers. The sun also aids in finding location patterns as shade plays a big role then.

Or we both would rather be fishing. If that's the case, I must have a lot of kin on this site.

Which one????

As the water gets colder, I tend to throw something with less action. Both those baits have quite a bit of built in action, one is just a tighter action like a flat side crank vs. a normal one. When it gets downright cold, below 50, I'm throwing a chunk on a stand up, or shakey head head. Let it sit after it hits bottom until I can't stand it any longer and then I move it a few inches and repeat. I never feel, or see the hit. The fish is just 'there' when I go to move the jig.

I was throwing a .5oz. single Indiana bladed spinnerbait when I went out last week with a new friend. They were hammering it until the rain started and we got off the water. A short arm, single Colorado or Indiana blade is one of my go to choices for fall fishing up here.

My dad was a die hard walleye fisherman and bought a cabin on a young flowage in central Wisconsin when I was 12. My first bass was caught fishing a rip rap bank that had produced on trips prior to buying the cabin. I don't remember what lure I was using, likely a Rapala imitation, , but that bass jumped two or three times and hooked me, literally, in the hand after I landed it. It continued to shake around while both he and I were firmly hooked. A trip to the hospital to remove the hook (from my hand) and a ruined new lure and you'd think I'd have sworn off bass forever. Not. 60+years later, I'm still chasing them and still get that rush when one jumps.

Nothing wrong with a work in progress. My marriage is 53yrs. old and it keeps changing, but I still have a marriage.

I always love to hear/read about others experiences and you have a way of igniting excitement in your sharing. Thanks for doing just that and as always at the end of the season for us northeners, have a great off season. I'm tipping my glass to you and wishing you a great one to come.

I’m okay with my season being over. All the lakes around here close after October 31 for fishing. Making a list (and checking it twice) and lining up a couple of major projects will get me through the holidays and the projects will keep me busy until the lakes open in the spring.