Woody B

I don't snag that often, or at least lose lures. Spinnerbaits are good, I can usually "feel" them out of snags. Siebert Bladed jigs work great too. I think something is different about them. I'll lost a Chatter Bait or Jack Hammer within my first few casts. For some reason I can "snake" the Siebert Fogy right through them without snagging. Gamakatsu makes a weightless, weedless wacky hook that will bring a wacky rigged stick worm though the trees pretty good too. For me I suspect luck plays a role in getting the Bass out. It's my theory that the Bass are coming up most of the time to get the bait. Largemouth, especially ones 3 pounds or bigger have a tendency to jump as soon as I set the hook. A quick horizontal rod jerk will "surfboard" them. As long as you keep moving them fast enough they can't "get traction". I get them out of the cover, move the boat away, then let them fight in open water.

Lews Mach 2 M2APC. All purpose, 7 foot, medium power, moderate fast action. Works great for light stuff, but has enough backbone, to hook and keep big fish pinned. $79.97 right now at Tackle Warehouse. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-LEWRODS.html?from=basres

I went from 2 to 6 last night. I caught 10 Bass, mostly small. Pictured are the first and last. I caught 6 like the first one at the same point. After all were that size I decided to leave Bass to find Bass. The Bluegill spawn is going on, but hasn't really got the attention of Bass yet. I saw a big fish chasing Bluegill on sonar. It turned out to be a 15 pound Flathead Catfish. (in the other species thread) The last 4 Bass were scattered in lay downs. Lay downs are hard (at least for me) to fish at night but the nearly full moon helped. The wound on the last ones side didn't look like it came from spawning. I wonder if a Heron had tried to get it.

I (Bass) fished from 2 to 6 last night. I saw a big fish chasing Bluegill on sonar. To bad it was a 15 pound Flathead, instead of a 15 pound Bass. I enjoy Flatheads. They're fighters. Blues give up and just let you drag them to the boat.

Refill is going to be more cost effective most of the time. The price per gallon is usually lower at a refill station. Also, depending on application many times an empty tank still have some propane left. IE pay blue rhino for 15 pounds but your exchange had a couple pounds left in it. Modern tanks have overfill protection valves. I suspect it would be difficult to get more than 16 pounds in a 20 pound tank.

I completely agree. I've been trying to understand if for decades and still have more questions than answers. I've found a few places on the lake I fish most of the time that have current anytime they have the generators running. Some of these spots are 20 miles or more from the dam. 10 months or more of the year these areas will hold Bass. The power company never completely shuts down water flow, but when they turn the generators on there's more current. The power company published a generation schedule. For the most part at least to me Bass seem to be more active when the generators are running. Channel swing banks and points near the main channel are magic at times. The power company does a really good job maintaining a consistent lake level. When there's been a bunch of rain, there's a BUNCH of current. At times like this (all the generators running, and some flood gates open) I tend to catch Bass in eddys and current breaks, instead of out in the strong current. There's a bunch I don't understand about current. What I'd like to understand is the relationship between the wind, and current. Especially when they're going opposite directions.

Many studies have shown that a Bass can survive at least 10 minutes out of the water. That doesn't mean keep them out that long. I'm sure the stress of being caught, and tired from a fight doesn't help. It's my belief that handing a Bass wrong, IE squeezing it causing internal damage, or laying it on the carpet or doing anything else that damages their slime coating is worse for long term survival than a few minutes out of water. Survival times out of water are longer when it's colder/shorter when it's hotter. Bass caught in deep water need to be fizzed, regardless of how long they're out of the water. That's a completely different subject. Glenn, how about a fizzing video, if you don't already have one. Guy Eaker showed me how to fizz a Bass. It's rare when I catch a Bass that's deep enough to need it. I'll leave the videos to someone better at it than I am.

I had a short trip today due to the weather. I planned on going early, but wasn't sure how early due to passing storms. It stormed off an all at my house most of the night. (with lightening) I finally left home around 4:30AM thinking the storms were gone. On the way to the lake there were leaves and limbs all over the place. There was one small tree over the road going to the landing. I keep a tow strap in my truck so I just pulled it out of the road. There was one boat at the landing. They had been catfishing all night and said they got caught in a heckuva storm way down the lake. I caught 3 Bass, 1 Spot and 2 Largemouth within my first 10 or so casts. (the fat bleeding Spot was hooked in the upper lip, I didn't see the blood until I looked at the picture. I don't know where the blood was coming from) Right after that the sky started toward the West started to light up with lightening. It looked like it was headed East toward me. I headed back to the landing, loaded my boat, and took a nap in my truck. It never stormed there, but I respect lightening. I went back out, caught 1 more Largemouth then decided to call it a day. The forecast is for storms early tonight. I plan on going around midnight and fishing until dawn or so. I'm going to the lower end of the lake tonight. My Sister in Law lives down there. If it storms I'll go to her house. The Bluegill spawn is on. I caught all 4 Bass on a "Sungill" colored spinnerbait. Water temperature was 79 degrees. That's 7 degrees warmer than last Saturday.

I've got a deal with the Fishermen's Feast in Shelby NC. They'll bring me all the fish I want, already cleaned and cooked, with fries and hushpuppies on the side. All I have to do is give them money.

For me they're all HUGE Bass until they get away. I caught a 4.90 Spotted Bass last week that I thought was a Catfish until I saw it. If was pulling hard, and going straight down, and toward the main channel. I was thumbing my reel and hossing it just to get it over with so I could cast again. I'm sure the look on my face was priceless when I saw it was a Bass.

I don't own any spinning gear. I will on occasion throw a wacky cut down shaky head with my casting gear. A cut down shaky head might look like a ned, but it ain't. 2 of my 3 biggest Bass of 2024 came right from the middle of lay downs. If there's fishing pressure you've got to get a lure where others haven't. My 2nd biggest of 2024 (6.61) came on a shaky head right behind 2 guys who had both ran buzz baits around the lay down. I put the shaky head IN the lay down. #STRAIGHTBIGGAMEBRIGADE (with some luck every now and then) I get broke off every now and then, but it's usually after I know I should have re tied. A couple weeks ago I caught my best of the year (7.91) on my 3rd cast of the day. I lost a ~3 pounder on my first cast with a spinnerbait. I followed up with a wacky and broke off on the hook set. Then (finally) I re tied all my week old knots and sharpened the hook on my spinnerbait. The next cast (my 3rd of the day) I drug the 7.91 pounder out between 2 dock posts ~18" apart.

Most of the coolant available at auto parts stores is compatible. Get something with "Dex-Cool" on the bottle and it's "OAT" coolant. There are different types of coolant but "OAT" is most common. "OAT" stands or organic acid technology. Once again, any coolant labeled "Dex-Cool" is OAT coolant. Dex Cool is a GM specification but is on most labels for compatible coolant. This is not the same coolant that caused all the dex cool nightmares a few decades ago. Added: It's normal to have to add a little coolant to a turbo charged engine occasionally. The turbo gets super hot, especially when you work the engine hard. When you shut the engine off right after working it the coolant will get super hot in the turbo and boil. This is what causes the "normal" coolant loss. It's best to let a turbo charged engine (especially a diesel) idle for 3 to 5 minutes before shutting it off. A few turbo charged engines have pumps that continue to circulate coolant for a few minutes after a hot shut down. I'm pretty sure your Ram doesn't have one.

I sue FFS but don't own any of the fancy new finesse "FFS" lures. FFS is useful shallow as well as deep. This time of year, when I pull up on a stump covered flat I'm pretty sure there's Bass there. FFS allows me to cast to the individual stump the biggest Bass is at, instead of spooking it just blindly casting. Same goes for dock pillings, lay downs ect.

Yep, and the bucket brigade fishes around the landings where all the tournament victims are released. I'm not much of a seafood eater. On top of that the State has warnings about PCB and mercury contamination in most of the waters I fish. They say limit yourself to 1 serving a month. I say that means zero servings a month for me.

It's never ending. You've got what I consider a super nice top of the line kayak. My bottom of the line boat (that I love) is going to be a little more than 2 times the price or your kayak by the time you add electronics and decent trolling motor........and barely under 2000 pounds. If you had my boat you would no longer be able to fish kayak tournaments. If you decided to fish tournaments you'd be busting across the lake wide open at a blazing 38 to 40 mph with other boats passing you like you're sitting still. So then, it would be a pickup truck or larger suv, and a bigger boat that would run 55 to 60 mph.........then an even bigger boat and engine that would run 70+ mph. You've got to decide what you want to do. Tournaments don't matter to me. I'm a 12 month a year fisherman. I fish lake between 1500 and 35000 acres. The lake I fish most of the time is ~13,000 acres. There's a few city lakes I could fish with a kayak, but I'm 60, tired and lazy. I'm not exactly a kayak guy.

FWIW my dash mounted tach matches the readout in Mercury Vessel View. Once again, make sure you're getting full throttle, and see where the spray comes from when on plane and trimmed. Getting the spray back a couple feet, to the rear of my seat (where Keith said it should be) made a BIG difference in my boat. Not just speed, but it takes rougher water a bunch better too.

I had a friend get bit by a copperhead. We were clearing land where he was going to build a house. It was a copperhead. It left fang marks but he had no problems other than the physical bite. Dr. called it a "dry bite". I also had a friend get bit by a pygmy rattler. He said the bite, at the time felt like someone burning his leg with a cigarette. He spent a night in the hospital but I'm not sure what treatment he received. This was in Florida decades ago at Moroso Motorsports Park.

I may not be correct, but the only time I look for areas protected from the wind is during the spawn. Any other time I consider the wind to be my friend as long as it isn't so bad I can't accurately cast. I believe the wind moves plankton around, so it moves baitfish around. A wind blown bank can be very productive. Same thing to some extent for what I call wind tunnels. Narrow places in channels that funnel the wind in or even bridges. Bass will hold in the eddy next to a bridge pilling and wait for an easy meal to come floating by. When it's super calm Bass are easier to spook too.

I see water snakes all the time fishing. They're really curious and will come right up to or even into a boat. Many people mistake them for Copperheads. I've been told that Copperheads will be around water, but don't really like to get in the water. I don't know if that's true or not.

I just love catching Bass. I'm not going to limit myself to one method, and my mind can't be changed.

How is your boat balanced? When wide open, or close to wide open trimmed up where does the spray come off the sides? I got a "fast one". After break in with everything just as it came from Tracker I got a max gps speed of 37.9 mph. (Tracker estimates top speed to be 32-35 mph) I added storage, tackle, changed trolling motors, went to a bigger gas tank and went to lithium batteries. After than I could "maybe" get 36 mph in excellent conditions. Also, it was almost a different boat when the tank was full. Basically I had added weight to the front, and removed weight from the rear. When on plane, trimmed up the spray off the sides came from a little in front of my feet. It also rode a little bit lower on the starboard side. I usually fish alone so my weight as well as the console created an imbalance. During all of this I ended up with a used SS prop, the same pitch as my original aluminum one. I "think" the prop gave me a little better hole shot but that's about it. My boat rode rough. When the water was rough the ride was also wet. As an experiment with my electronics I installed a Group 27 lead acid battery in the port side rear to separate my cranking and electronics batteries. It didn't have any effect on my electronics, but it turned my boat into a different boat. When planed and trimmed the spray is even with the back to my seat. It's also balanced better side to side. The ride is smoother in rough water, and I rarely get wet now. Top speed? I recorded 41.1 mph but it was 30 degrees with a tail wind. That was at 6100 rpm. In normal, and calm weather I can get 38 anytime, occasionally hitting 39. (@ 5900 rpm). I cruise around 30 mph just under 5000 rpm now. I no longer have the battery connected, but won't remove it. It turned my tub into a different boat. I've since added 20 pounds under the passenger seat. The side to side balance is good when I'm alone. When someone is with me I either swap sides with the 20 pounds, or take it out. IIRC you have your batteries, or at least some of them toward the bow. See where the spray comes from next time out. I suspect you're riding with the bow low, basically plowing, instead of getting on top of the water. I've never had a 4 blade prop, or even a fast boat. My last boat was 20 horsepower tiller steer. I need to add. Keith mentioned motor performance. A while back I was cruising around 30 mph. A guy I see at the landing with the same model boat I have passed me and was waving like "come on". I throttled down, trimmed up and passed him back. When we got to the landing he was amazed. He had changed the ECM and removed an intake restrictor on his 50 horsepower to make it a 60 but I was still able to pass him. We popped his cowl off and inspected his throttle. He wasn't getting anywhere near full throttle. The next week he passed me, and drove away. Added screen shot from Navionics app to show my real top speed. (I thought it was 41.1, it was 41.3) If lake conditions permit I'll make a speed run for a few miles this weekend. Top speed will probably be low to mid 38 range with normal weather.

I've considered one Talon to help keep my boat still in the wind. I would use it along with my trolling motor. Have you tried a combination of Talon and trolling motor? I've got spot lock, but would think just put the Talon down, and use a steady constant speed and direction from the trolling motor to keep the boat facing the way I want it to.

I've been thinking about buying a Secchi Disk for a while. Yesterday the water where I was fishing was really muddy. I fished several miles further down the lake today and it wasn't muddy. I don't have any way to "measure" it. I think it would be good if many of use could rate water clarity the same way. Yesterday I thought about a BR group buy. How many people are interested in buying one? Are any Bass Resource sponsors interested in participating in a group buy? I think it would be great way for a sponsor to make a couple bucks, as well as many of us coming up with a way to compare water clarity. The Sponsors and @Glenn keep this forum running. If enough of us participate it could benefit the forum too. I need 1, but I'll take 2. I have a co worker I'd give one to. If you'd be interested in buying one or more answer in this thread. If any sponsor or sponsors sell them, or would like to sell some let us know. FWIW, I contacted Glenn before starting this thread.

I "stop sonar" on my Active Target, as suggested by Lowrance. I don't on anything else. To my knowledge Lowrance has never recommend stopping anything except Active Target. FWIW with Lowrance putting the MFD in stand by doesn't stop the transducer from pinging. Other brands are different.

It was almost raining this morning, and I usually do good in the rain. I caught 8 today, 6 Spots and 2 Largemouth. They're all pictured, in the order I caught them. I caught a 4.06 (6 hundredths, not 6 ounces) Spot on my 3rd cast at 5:54. The next 6 weren't huge, but weren't tiny either. Katie and others like seeing where we catch them. The 7th one was under the dock steps pictured. The last one was an almost PB Spot. My PB Spot was 4 pounds 15 ounces, on a pound/ounce scale. This one was 4.90....an ounce or so short. I reset my scale and weighed it 3 times. It was 20 1/4 inches long, with a 14 inch, fat and full of eggs girth. Several of the others were extremely post spawn skinny.