thediscochef

During parts of the year it's good for 10-20 black bass in a couple hours, though many dinks. This time of year sees fewer catches there but bigger fish

Well, today went better albeit still quite slow compared to where we were at the end of November. But it's January, not November. I guess I got a little karma for helping a guy weigh a lunker yesterday. Good sized fish for the day, including a 2lb Spotted Bass which is always a delightful treat. Love me some Spotties, they fight up a weight class like smallies do. Cheers everyone.

Well, first day home after filming the movie was a bust. For me, anyway. Not so much as a bite, on a beautiful day. One of those days that makes you question your skills. A guy fishing up the rock pile a bit caught an 8.92lb Bass on a jerkbait but forgot his scale, so I offered up mine. He let me release it, which was cool. Biggest bass I've ever held.

maybe they're just happy to see you ?‍♂️

Well. I drove from San Antonio to Dallas and back today. Picked up microphones for work later. And took a detour to Lake Whitney in Central Texas. I have never seen so much topwater action in winter, lord have mercy. It sounded like someone throwing bowling balls into the lake about every 5-10 seconds. I would have done...things...to have my little Jon boat at the State Park boat ramp today. But alas, this is a work trip. 1.6 and 3.5 pounders today. The big one swam off with my mini fish grips in her mouth...I was about to release her and was changing my grip when she thrashed hard and took off. Lesson learned: Never fish on a work trip.

This is actually my first movie...most of my prior work is for Investigation Discovery true crime series

Sound Engineering. I'm the reason you hear what the actors are saying ?

Well, COVID shut my movie down so I found a bass pro, a lake, and a bass. Choke Canyon, TX. Nice.

This. So much this.

Here's a couple photos. One is an example of how much lip should be exposed on a full reel. The other is my *overfilled* 3000cxh. I use it on calm days so I don't have to use as much casting force. The overwinding can help with distance on calm days but if you have to cast with force it will knot in the guides. Your reel is fine. If you're having issues with your leader knot getting stuck...it's either the braid used, the knot used, or not clipping the knot close enough. I use almost these exact same line types and sizes and I only get issues when I don't clip my double uni neatly.

Again...this looks totally normal to me, all of my regals look like this and never knot in the guides or birdsnest unless I overwind it with too much mainline. You don't want the spools to be wound perfectly straight on the regal reels. The line crosses itself on purpose to avoid braid dig-ins during snags or heavy fish. Your reel is fine. Take 5-10 yards off and you're good.

I bring 2 spinning combos with me in the car but I only take 1 out when I fish. I like to cover ground quickly and a bunch of combos complicates that

This. A double uni for leader line. Uni/Double uni also works great for movie sets when you need things to move without being seen ?

I have 3 of the regal 3000cxh and a 2500xh. they do have the ABS spool shape.Your reel looks just like mine. The line is supposed to cross itself on the spool - it keeps you from getting a tension snag if you snap your line. The tapered wind pattern keeps you from getting knots in the guides during casting. You may want to remove some line, maaaaybe add one small spool shim, and you'll be fine. Don't worry about it all going on straight, it's not supposed to be that way on daiwa reels. All mine look like that.

Jerkbait, Texas Rig. I primarily catch fish on Chatterbaits

Any time I'm fishing my Cat spot it's always a toss up as to what's biting. Gar are super fun to fight but I don't enjoy unhooking them lol I think the new thing I'm going to try this year is actually knowing how the heck to catch a fish when I get going this season. I had such little knowledge and gear when I started, now I've dialed in what I like so far, and I'm getting results. Just want to hit the ground running when I get back to town, since I spent probably 75-80% of prime bassin' times last year figuring out how.

1. I will not choose a new bait by its looks but rather by what characteristics set it apart from my usual bait in a meaningful way. As in; what important thing can this new bait do that my usual can't? 2. I will not overthink color. Visibility in mud, camouflage in clear. 3. I will not stop trying to find things that I am confident in. 4. I will not forget my scales or grips, and if I do I will turn around and go get them. 5. I will not take more jobs that keep me off the bank for weeks at a time. ...unless they pay enough to buy me a fishing trip somewhere fancy. You know. Some place with candles.

I see all these farm ponds and such on YouTube, producing tons of bass that would be well above my average. I need to meet someone with one of these farms...

A 3.5 from a pond is biggin to me lol! An 8 would be PB for a lot of folks from many major reservoirs where I'm at, too. I want to know what that pond life is like.

That's a pretty fish

This one is pretty certainly a Spotted Bass, 2.2lbs PB. I've found my spottie spot. Great way to cap off 2021. Happy New Year, y'all! (Edit: I had to count everything but today was my best numbers day of the year - 15 bass from the bank. My thumb callous is roughed up pretty good. Biggest was this spottie but there were a couple 1ish lb LMB in there too. Cheers, y'all)

It's a fun day to catch little spotted bass. At least I'm pretty sure this is a Spotted Bass. I'm frankly terrible at positively ID'ing bass. One of the things I hope to be better at in 2022.

Depends on who's driving, from what I can tell. The last couple of months I've been at a lot of boat ramp areas to bank fish. I've had just about every experience so far - some guys coming in skunked while I'm at a bass every 10 minutes. I've also been painting my skunk lines while guys are coming in with multiple 5+lbs bass and huge crappies too. More often than not at my favorite spot, it's about even between myself and most guys coming in. I think the best boat angler will likely outfish the best shore angler most of the time, simply because of access. But like I said. It depends on who's driving.

Nighttime bassin' where I caught a PB on Christmas...just the lonely Spotted Bass tonight though. Only a few more nights before we really get cold here for a bit so I'm trying to make the most of it. Daytime is a little busy right now so it's nighttime fishing for me. January will be the longest break from fishing I've had since June; 14 days. Hopefully the fishes forget me while I'm away ?

I just recently got some tubes and some 1/16 and 1/8oz heads. Still figuring out what motions and such work...really trying to develop some skills on other baits cause I'm a bit of a single lure user and I need to have something I can throw elsewhere that will catch. Haven't caught anything on them yet, I think I need to just go out and only take the tubes. Same with the texas rig but that's for a different thread.