fishhugger

please define 'everything'..... and how does it do with lmb? i have a couple of those guys.... they still regularly sell them, afaik........

why are you guys mentioning lagavulin 16 yo in this thread??? it really doesn't belong. for me, it's the best whiskey i've had..... i suppose when i'm on my death bed, i'll spring for a bottle, but before i even get to sniff it.......... oh oh. for cheap bourbon, i'd go standard knob creek, i guess.............. but i normally get the 120 proof version, lol. never been a jack daniel's person --- but it's been a long time since i've had it. but i think there's a number of bourbons in the $30 plus range that seem ok, at least to me.

thanks, tom.... yes, the 9" seemed like a kid to me. i'll try the swim jig you suggested. and yeah... i do prefer cast and retrieve, over significantly slower techniques.

it seems fishing in this pond has been really slow in the past year, or longer. before covid, i fished there, and even i caught larger bass --- but there was a lot more of the vegetation (along the shores, milfoil, or whatever it is). now - hardly any veg at all. right now - guess you guys r right... maybe the fish are tired out from spawning........... i'll try a lipless though. it's my favorite pond to fish. we seem to agree that we're fishing just to get out there.................

except the bites all feel like small fish............ i caught a 9" lmb.... and this other guy was grousing that he's catching all these little ones.... he was fishing nearby --- altho i did hear him pleading with a fish to bite. i assume you don't do that unless it's a larger fish. or at least, i wouldn't! no idea of the spawning, etc....

i fish a small pond, in california. i've been getting bites in the evening, and it feels like they're small ones. i was using a pop-r, and then a square bill, both in sexy shad. i caught one - a 9" lmb, on a square. the pop-r -- it's like some little feller is slappin' at it??? i often fish on top of the earth dam --- i cast out, but focus mainly on the water near me -- that is, sort of the shallows, or near what little veggies there are, or under some overhanging trees. so, should i figure the larger ones are probably nearby also? or might there be so many little guys, that the big 'uns could be anywhere in the pond.... i'm figuring the small fry must be eating something, or being there for a reason...... or should i fish in the slightly deeper water near the shallows.... maybe a lipless crank to get deeper? note: open to any suggestions on technique, since other guys read this -- but i'm currently working on my crankin' technique ..... thanks in advance!

when i fish, which is in the afternoons, the pond is very quiet. which is just really enjoyable. it's a beautiful pond. but it's very quiet, and the pond can be like glass... i'll work on my splash down, altho maybe i'm just using the wrong technique right now. it's what i want to work on, (cranks) lol. it's very hard to let the bait sit for a minute --- i'd do it for a top water ---- i just don't have that patience with a squarebill. i do try not to stomp around, etc... i try to stay low. i've considered getting a tree costume to wear.... (lol again) thanks for replies!

@scaleface right now i'm just trying to work on crankbait type things --- and i assume? squarebills and lipless crankbaits are somewhat similar, at least in general technique? altho, i assume squarebills are for shallow, lipless for deeper.... i'm assuming similar 'feel' when reeling in, tho. @GetFishorDieTryin that'd be nice - if they're in close! i've been hoping for that - i fish later in the day, when the water's hopefully are warmer, especially shallow and in the sun............

throttleplate --- wow... those rocks is way scarey.... u formerly carried all that stuff, plus three rods or so among those rocks? glad you're not going to go there anymore... the little cylinders seem pretty handy.

i only carry one or two rods. i don't like carrying many more. it takes some of the fun out, carrying a lot of gear. so it sounds like i need to move around. after only a few casts --- move on. i guess if i was fishing more a finesse bait, i could stick to one spot a lot longer. sometimes on the way back around, i'll fish a couple of the same spots again. thanks for the advice!

Man, I don't even like looking at that big ol Plano... I think your away better off. The fun quotient itself should be worth it... How do those cylinders holding... Jig heads work?? Did they make it to your smaller box....

i fish from the bank, and i don't toss squares or tops very far, maybe 60'. i fish them in shallow waters, under trees, or by reeds, etc. but they seem very noisy landing in the water, and i'm guessing that if mr or mrs bass is down there, they're hearing this distinctive plop, then they're seeing this insane looking thing go cruising by. i try to cast past my targets, but then you're running it through deeper water to get to where you want to go. but that's my basic strategy. that plus just picking up, and moving further around the lake, bit by bit. are these the types of baits that you're moving around a lot, rather than working one area? to me they just seem like the bass in your spot will catch on pretty quickly to them, as opposed to a more natural or slower presentation.

double unit for leader to braid, improved clinch for mono to hook, lure, etc.... the old standards!

i think the only guys here who actually have a better idea of what the fish like are the boat and sonar dudes. by that i mean - the really really fancy sonar. i have neither... so my only tools are my wits

great and thorough information - thank you.

thanks for the great replies! where i fish, there's lots of wood and rocks. i lose most of my squarebills - i assume on wood. i get a quick tick, and i might instinctively pull, and i'm stuck. i have been trying to ignore the wood 'bites', lol. i guess i have to really recognize these wood 'bites' and not even give a little jerk. they're just a soft but distinct tick. but i will try to monitor the wobble wobble of the square bill better. it does at times - disappear.... i'll try a sweep set... i assume relatively gentle. i'm using a medium spinning rod. i do not think there are white perch in the bay area... i assume blue gill, but i am guessing the bite i got was a small lmb... it was definitely a kind of few quick tugs, then gone.... i've only caught lmb there. so, a sweep hook set is to the side, not up above you? and i *guess* you run squarebills in shallow water, or by downed trees, objects, etc? i'm assuming square bills are for fairly shallow water, like less than 10'?

i'm using a brightly colored little squarebill - lite blue on top, chartreuse on bottom... to me, colors that don't exist i my lake. and i haven't used squarebills much, so i'm kind of just experimenting. it's january, between rains, the water is muddy, and the bite is slow in the sf bay area. other guys are using drop shots, so i figure i'm using the wrong technique. the squarebill is pretty interesting, since it seems to contact the wood and rocks, and bounce off, generally, etc. it's the floating kind. they're fun. so about 10' from me, i *think* it hits wood, then there's this rapid bite, then it's gone. it's like that rapid tugging, and gone. i figure it had to be a bite, unless it was the squarebill tumbling somehow, and me pulling too hard. thanks in advance! happy squarebilling

interesting how a few guys have had so many hobbies..... lists of hobbies - some very time and cash consuming. i got back into fishing after a LONG break..... about 35 years. when i got back into it, it was pretty overwhelming, trying surf fishing, bass, rock fishing, crab snaring, no trout yet (too far away)... and all the techniques. i was carrying, i guess like some of you guys, a small handful of rods. little plastic boxes of lures.... i'm a bankie. then, another break of a couple years. just lost interest. my cousin passed away, and since we always exchanged fishing info, such as about his crazy fishing buddies (one poor buddy of his whose wife took away his credit cards, and he had to sell cans to get gas money to go fish.... ), i went fishing once in my cousin's memory, at my favorite pond. now i've gone out a few times, just one rod, a couple worms and things.... i keep it simple, local, and try to relax. met a couple guys.... we all love that pond. i don't care if i even get a fish --- it's early february, after all.

u guys no ten, no, a hundred times more about bass than me... maybe a thousand times. this is an interesting thread. but do you think it's possible when fishin' is tuff, and you reach for the smelly stuff, that it's the... placebo effect or whatever. that you have more confidence, and so it seems like something positive has happened with the fish catching thing? or maybe for some of you guys that's exactly what it is --- confidence builder. in my day we called that 'hai karate.' lol.... like al pacino in 'scent of a woman', "i been around...."

i feel like the only guys who responded to this thread are into scents. anyone not into scents who care to chime in???? interested in the other side of the story

tom i am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. but it sounds like you and he shared a love of fishing. i am sure it helps to have those good memories........ um.... ok, perhaps i'll give finesse a try...

i'll ask them more if i see them again.... they were saying that the visibility was --- real bad --- the water was clearly brownish.... one guy was tapping on his rod? i assume to make noise.... the other chap said the tungsten weight was making noise, to attract the fish. finesse fishing sounds kind of tuff... i guess i'll stick to non-finesse, lol... seems interesting tho. idk anything about drop shots, but yes, i could kind of see it maybe helping get the bait up a bit --- but then the angle of the line on retrieve just seemed so 'low' that i wondered if the bait really can get much above the weight.... but obviously you've gotten real world experience that the drop shot keeps your bait cleaner....

i've totally ignored bfs up to this point.... i felt like it was a japanese thing.... i have some little okuma celilo rods, 6' and 6' 6", 2 to 6# line, lure weight 1/32 to 1/4 or 3/8 oz.... are these suitable for bfs? they seem so tiny.... i considered them panfish or trout rods.... i;ll probably continue slinging my standard baits, but if my celilo rods would be good for bfs, maybe i'll give that a try. i'm assuming this is on spinning equipment... thank you ---

i showed up with i guess a typical spin rod at the pond i fish at - 7' m, lure weight 3/16 oz to 5/8oz... 6# to 12# line. a couple guys i spoke with were using these much thinner, shorter rods, and one showed me his lures, which were a lot smaller than the ones i typically use. since i basically just saw the lures, i simply noticed they were maybe half the size of mine. one guy using drop shots with i think a 1/4 oz (or less, not sure?) tungsten weight. was that finesse fishing???? idk much about that, and didn't think people used it for bass. i assume they were doing it because january is so slow. should i switch to lighter stuff like they were using, or is it uh.... six of one, half a dozen of the other. i'll try to catch up with them - they fish there a lot, i guess.... if it's bass they're after - i don't quite get how they bring the bass in, the equipment is so light. thanks!

the japanese seem to be among the most polite and warm people around... i think the biggest problem will be the toilets --- they are pretty --- incredible and great, but you'll probably have to ask for some instruction in their use. i think the japanese are used to that. in fact, when you get back to the usa, maybe you'll yearn for one of those japanese toilets. oh, maybe be careful if you end up dipping your toes into a hot soak tub... they do wash before they get in, and the tub water can be unbelievably hot. just grab some uncooked potstickers to drop in with you, and have a fork handy. um - oh, i'm a bourbon and whiskey sort of dude, and i think japanese whiskeys are pretty incredible.... maybe if you bring a primo bottle of american bourbon you can trade it for --- just about anything! * note... i actually don't know if the japanese are super into american bourbon, which is pretty strong flavored. they're very particular about food... similar to the french, imho. they even have their own version of italian food..... it is probably NOT that similar to italian food, probably sweeter, or something. i've never had it.... oh, and have a great trip! be adventurous and ask questions.... if you need a food taster at the wagyu thing, or anything, pm me!