thediscochef

Had a couple little 6-8" guys hit the 110-sized bait I had tied on today before I got this fatty. Nothing huge, probably 2-2.25lbs, but look at that belly

That draw of the unknown is a very powerful thing

A learned one appears! That sounds like it could be used in some interesting ways. I've always wanted to get a carp and act like I'm fighting it out of a mud puddle downtown while people are walking by...

Depending on the stage of decomposition, it could be bacterial byproducts of that process. May also be an air bladder that remains full because the muscles froze during death. Do bass get rigor mortis? I don't know. Someone more learned probably does ?‍♂️

They can be sharp as a knife when they're alive or freshly dead which can be dangerous for swimmers and fishing line etc, though they do calcify over time and lose their edge. The main problem is clogged pipes and reduced plankton/algae that other filter feeding fish rely on. Which can affect bass forage. Doesn't seem to be affecting forage at Ivie LOL. Or at Ray Roberts. But maybe in some years. They also can produce a million larvae per mussel per year, there's only been one known eradication in Texas. They found it within days of invasion, I think

Lews Speed Spool Tournament Pro LFS Daiwa Fuego 2500D-XH All the others I have are inferior

I bring a grocery bag and fill it every time I'm at Ray Roberts. People can be disgusting.

Quick update on the trip back - skunk at FOUR lakes. Ivie is inundated with boats and zebra mussels, which cut my line twice. I counted 67 empty boat trailers at Kennedy. You can't actually even see the dirt that makes up the shore at Padgett Park, as the shore is completely covered with huge clumps of rotting zebra mussels. The stench was unimaginable. I didn't last long. Never going there without a boat again, and never on a weekend. Total waste of time. Same with Brownwood. Except the water at Brownwood looks like a mud hole. Ivie is at least clear on the south and east sides of the lake. Proctor is somehow muddier but at least mussel-free. Stopped back at Possum and a good size LMB spat me at the shore. I packed up and went home. The end. Sorry for the book of whinging ??

Yeah it was a heck of a backlash, sent my lure flying into the lake sadly. I would love to fish with my dad again, cherish those moments. Nice smallie!

I mean, it essentially ties the state record. I would be emotional too. Those PigPatrol guys catch some massive gar. Not sure if this guy is with that YouTube crew but it's in the right area for it...

In total probably close to 2k in gear, I've lost or broken probably close to 400ish. Booooooo

Lots of great answers here. For me it was the 1/8oz chatterbait micro with 2.75"-3.5" fluke sticks and shad shape worms, no skirt. I spent probably four straight months with only that tied on last year, from about August till NYE. I caught a 19lb blue cat and a 7lb lmb on one, all the way down to crappies, Sandie, and little black bass that probably only recently started hunting shads. I found the smaller lure to have a wider size pool of fish that can try the lure, as well as better success on pressured waters. It helped increase my initial catch rate which in turn gave me much confidence that chatterbaits do indeed work. Best used on BFS or spinning tackle. Gave me the confidence to go buy bigger more expensive CBs to narrow my targets now.

My guitar player works at the Texan, you will have a very nice stay and you will be about 2 miles from Bass Pro. That park is about the only place at grapevine I've visited that I thought the drive was worth it. Tight lines, maybe I'll see you there!

Down in San Angelo for work, I took a detour to Possum Kingdom and Hubbard Creek Reservoirs. Possum is absolutely amazing, beautiful clear blue water and so many rocks and docks to cast around. Spent about 90 minutes, caught two LMB and six Wipers. This was the largest fish I landed, I lost two more that felt much larger. First time I've ever actually wanted to set up tent camp and stay somewhere in 100 degree heat. Hubbard Creek was kind of the opposite...that's where the pictured backlash ended my day on cast #2 LOL Hubbard is murky as heck, max 18" vis, less than a foot in others. Didn't bother with Lake Fort Phantom Hill, it's being reported as even murkier. On the job as I type, I leave here Sunday and will be hitting a few lakes on the way back. Hopeful to find a shore spot at OH Ivie but thinking Brownwood and Proctor will be better access. I'm finding that I much much prefer clearer water over the usually 2-6ft vis I have back home. Whitney and Possum are now favorites.

OK followup time I went to Katie's Woods today. I didn't really spend a ton of time actually fishing. But I did look around the park a bit. If you're staying where I think you're staying you're in for a very nice time. Katie's woods is by far the best shore spot I've seen at grapevine of the four parks I've been to. There's a trail on the west side of the boat ramp area that leads to a main lake point and a nice rock ledge going up into the cove across from Sandbass Point Ramp that looked really good. The only issue you may have there is landing something of size from the ledge. Then point looked a little more friendly, but more importantly unoccupied. The areas around the boat ramp and near the hotel has a good creekbed cove near some little covered brick picnic pavilions, and some flat/shallow spots on either side of the ramp itself. The areas nearest to parking were more occupied. 1 kayaker and one empty boat trailer. Water 2-4ft vis. The lake is completely full right now, technically in flood stage. You should have plenty of access to keep you occupied. It's a good place to have a south wind, too, which has been common lately.

They're a ton of fun, that one might be the largest I've caught in looking at other photos. Probably right around 2-3lbs. That one absolutely smashed an ultimate jerk shad, I thought it was a solid 3-4lbs LMB until it didn't fight like one. They fight like a giant sand bass, you should check them out when you can. They run with stripers and also sandies so found in many places but not always the same places.

Got a nice little wiper today while casting around crowds. Heat index well over 100 seems to be here for a while. I have a work trip to San Angelo coming up, which will take me right by OH ivie. Have to see if I can find a shore spot there...

For four carrier braid, it's Yo-zuri. For eight carrier it's sufix. Always 20#. There's a cheapo amazon brand that makes the most color steady red braid I've ever seen, the roll I got was decent but I think the sufix has higher strength so I've been using it more. I found the power pro super 8 slick v2 to fray quicker than I would like. Seaguar braid looks good but is more loosely woven than others in my experiences. Berkley big game braid is great for the price (like all Big Game products) but fades quickly. Coastal Camo Sufix 832 is currently on all my equipment, I can see it a little easier at night and I have a very high confidence in its strength and consistency.

I think I've been fishing water that's too deep also

I used the micro almost all year last year. There's really not a wrong way to do it other than snapping it off. Slow straight, just fast enough to thump plus a couple speed variations has been the most productive for me. On the small baits I use BPS split tail stiko, the regular less bulky fluke, and Yamamoto shad shape worms. Sometimes crawz if I'm fishing it bottom contact. I tend to shy from paddletail and thick middle baits on smaller chatterbaits; it'll vibrate at a lower retrieve speed. Bigger blades get bigger plastics like the Zako and the Razor shadz

That's my go-to color for clear water most of the time. Most places within an hour of me are max 4-6ft clarity most of the time. Which is why I typically opt for the hard jerkbait

I have other options that are just as good and less hassle. And this isn't about what's cute it's about what looks like it'll eat better. You do you.

I definitely can't tell what's good eating without looking at it first, so yes, I use my eyes in the process of deciding what I would like to eat. A smaller, cleaner looking LMB looks tastier than a 5# beat up fish. You have a choice between two hogs, one looks old and battered, the other looks young and tender. Which one do you think will eat better? You're out here for me today lmao

I've always seen them labeled as soft jerkbaits so this makes sense. Might have to tie one on for clearer water next week...

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