T-Billy

Many times. Usually while trying to pop it loose.

TRD Bug, 1/16 or 1/8 jig head, 4# or 6# mono or flouro. Any heavier line greatly reduces bites.

Merry Christmas and a very happy new year to all!!!

Learning to embrace the tough days instead of getting frustrated is a great thing. If I can scratch out a limit on those days when bites are few and far between, I'm happy. If I get skunked, I may not be thrilled about it, but rather than get frustrated, I try to analyze the day and form a plan for the next day, or next time I face similar conditions. There's always something to be learned from failure. It's not always easy to keep a positive attitude, but it is a choice and within our control.

Along the lines of the thread about getting infatuated with new baits, over the years I've tried all sorts of baits and techniques, and through the course of trial and error found what works for me. Those techniques that work get refined through more and more time on the water. Mostly these days I'm either in the jungle with a flippin stick, or on the first break with a fairy wand. If the wind really gets blowing, or I'm seeing a bunch of suspended fish, I'll switch to moving baits. I also night fish alot. Chatterbait and a T rig pretty well handle that. Try different stuff. Figure out what your strengths are, and roll with it. When you're having a tough day, put that confidence bait in your hand and keep it there. That normally works out better for me than throwing the kitchen sink at em.

I mostly fish it T rigged with a 3/8 tungsten and a 3/0 snelled flippin hook. It glides like a beaver on a tight line and spirals like a tube if you like it fall with a bit of slack. Nice thick body that holds a burried hook point really well. It'll fish clean through just about anything. Similar, but the Sweet Craw has a thicker body and no hook slot. It holds a buried flippin hook point better than the Yomoma. I had my best year ever thanks in large part to this bait on a T rig, both in numbers and average size. It also produced my #2 LM. Top pic. 6# even, from 40 degree water.

2021 MVP Ultra Molds 3.5" Sweet Craw flat out puts 'em in the boat no matter the season. I can't put it down.

I'm a weirdo who actually likes muddy 50 degree water. As others have said, shallow and TIGHT to cover. Creek mouths in the back of pockets and bays have been very good to me in those conditions, as has shoreline cover in the main lake basin. Black and blue jig or black beaver T rigged. Good time to catch a big'n.

If 7' will work for ya, here's my suggestion. It's XF but it has a nice soft tip, and will fish the weights you mentioned very well while still having plenty of backbone. That soft XF tip works great for skipping too.

Midday is only the best time during the cold water seasons in my experience. 10-3 is primetime when the water gets into the 40's and below, especially if it's sunny. I look for shallow wood on a clay bottom with deeper water nearby.

Prices are all over the place as far as what you get for your hard earned dollar in the rod dept. Some companies prices reflect their warranties and/or name recognition more than others. I've been touting ARK on here since buying my first one this summer. I now have 11 of them. 9 Tharps, a Cobb, and a Lancer Pro. I find them to be excellent values that fish well above their price points, especially for bottom contact techniques. Fit and finish has been fine. Well balanced, sensitive, built on the spine, and the action and taper descriptions seem spot on to me. Lots of good choices out there, but this is where I've found the most bang for my bucks. My local dealer told me ARK does a great job standing behind their products too. He had a guy griping about his lancer pro (one of their cheaper series) guides shaving his flouro. They sent a replacement. He claimed the replacement was doing it too. They sent another. He was still having the issue. Shop owner checked it out and found a nick in his reels line guide. No issue with the rods. I think the sweet spot with this companies rods is at the Tharp or Invoker Pro series. Just as was mentioned above, about second or third from the top. Diminishing returns above that. All my reels are in the $100-$180 range, and all are holding up well. Lew's, Penn and Shimano. I see no reason to spend more and think the point of diminishing returns is just above this neighborhood.

ARK Tharp Money Maker. 7'3" Mag MH. Also a great jig and trig rod.

It's been my experience that a few days of mild temps, sunshine, and light winds will move ALOT more bass shallow than a warm rain.

I'll fish a t rig, jig, blade, TRD bug, and keitech right up till ice over, and start with the same come ice out.

Keep rubbin our noses in it Catt. Keep rubbin our noses in it. How bout some fresh pre-spawn slaunch pics, that'll really make us happy. LOL!!! Hey I ain't complaining, I caught my 2nd best LM a couple weeks ago, and if the forecast holds I'll be out in the boat next Mon and Tues. That doesn't happen often in late December in OH.

The Lord likes to make it blow when I'm on a hot bite pitching laydowns and bushes. He finds it amusing watching me try to pitch into tight places and control the boat in a stiff breeze. ?

I vote trilene xt.

? Dang spell ✔️.

I remember KVD being shocked at how low the % is when he was on Hook and Look. I think less than 10% on average.

Crap... I guess I better order one then. It just never ends.

I've never had a beaver make me pee my pants, but a few have come close!!! Territorial buggers after dark. Carp don't seem to have any negative affect on bass fishing that I've ever noticed. Yeah they can muddy up the shallows, but I still catch bass around them. They are just big minnows and their young provide forage for all the other predatory fish. Their numbers seem stable in the waters I fish. Been fishing these same lakes since the 70's. Zebra mussels have made the biggest difference in them that I've seen.

Maybe you're just not holding your tongue right? ?? I never had one pick up a plastic either, until I started throwing a TRD Bug into their mud clouds for smallies a couple years ago. I've caught four between 8 and 13.5 lbs since.

Step 1: Get your light action out and put a small plastic craw or insect looking bait QUIETLY in their face while they're rooting around. Step 2: HANG ON!!!

My wife and I handle our finances the same as you and your Mrs. Good way to go about it IMO.

I married a low maintenance woman who loves to fish. I buy what I want, she does the same. It's never an issue. The only time we argue over money is when I try to pay for something that she feels she should pay for.