Bazoo

I've been fishing my local city lake, and it's pretty highly pressured. I've caught 2 largemouth bass, one on an ozark trail topwater frog, and the other on a weightless and weedless rigged zoom 6" lizard. The other bass tackle I've tried, I've not had any success with. I did catch a couple crappie on an ozark trail crankbait though, I think its the 2 3/4" version. Surprised me. Because a lot of people fish it, I've been researching techniques to help deal with the pressure. One of the reason I ended up finding this forum. I pretty much figure I'll have to go all fitness, or use something very obscure to have any success. I also figure I'll need to get into the spots that are not as easily accessed, though the bass I caught were right off a commonly fished area. There is a lot of shoreline that is not easily accessed unless you have a boat. I figure that will be more productive when I get set up to my pond hopper boat in there.

I've had a lot of bluegill that have went after my frogs when I've used a smaller frog like the lunkerhunt pocket frog. I've actually caught several of the larger bluegill on it, one being the largest bluegill I've ever seen, over a pound on my calibrated estimation, he had a solid 1 1/2" wide mouth! I caught him right at the end of the cast, I was standing on a culvert that is an ambush point. A lot of times, when its a bluegill, they will grab it and swim, even fight a few seconds, but when I set the hook it doesn't set because the fish only had the legs is my guess. My thought is, you probably have missed some bass, but also have had bluegill going after your frog and those are much harder to get because of their smaller sized mouths. I love fishing frogs.

I've caught a lot of bass on soft frogs of frog color and yellow, but not of black for some reason. Maybe its because I don't tie it on enough. Confidence in the lure makes a lot of difference I think. I've used rebel poppers in silver/black and chugbugs in both chartreuse and silver/blue with success. My favorite topwater is a Heddon Spit'n image, bill dance signature in Tennessee shad. It always seems to entice. I wonder if it's because it's less common and many people don't seem to use one around here? I've had some success with buzzbaits, but I don't fish them as much as I should. The few times I tried a Devils Horse... I got skunked. Maybe I'll have to give it another go.

I've been carrying daily for over a decade. Been carrying a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 special for a couple years now. I catch some flak for carrying a cowboy gun, but that's what I like and practice with, so that's what I carry.

It is what my Dad called me. He passed away when I was 5 years old. One of my only memories of him is when he took me fishing, afterwards he cut some donuts in a field by the pond, and said "hold on Bazoo!" I can still hear his voice 35 years later. I like to learn, there ain't nothing I can't fix. Ought to work out pretty good with a couple broke down boats.

Thanks for the welcome all. I've been checking out the forum here and it seems pretty nice. Lots of information. I'm a member of several gun forums, but no other fishing forums currently.

I haven't done it personally, but I know a gent that takes his on a calm river we have around here for bass. He said it does just fine.

Howdy, I just got back into fishing after about a 10 year break. First, I lost the 2 good spots I had, and then life got in the way. Having a 4 year old son has really spurred me to get back into it, and he now loves it as much as I do. I'm into firearms, mostly lever actions and single actions. Casting and reloading are as big of passions as the guns themselves though. I just bought a Buster Boat made by Splash Marine. Its one of them plastic bass boats. Im sure yall will see me posting about it some and asking questions as they arise. I have a 16' aluminum Rich Line v bottom I'm working on too. I am mostly a bass fisherman, but I will occasionally target other species. I enjoy trying new to me lures and techniques, as well as trying out vintage and new gear. From Zebco 33's to baitcasters and spinning reels, I use it all. I also like tinkering, both on reels and lures. I'm not into making my own lures yet... but that's coming I think. Favorite lure I think is the Heddon Spit'n image with Bill Dance signature in Tennessee shad color. Second favorite is a soft body topwater frog. I've been using the lunkerhunt pocket frog and the cheap Ozark trails popper frog a lot, and tearing them up and my lily pad covered hot spot. Not to mention lots of use of a weedless rigged lizard there. I look forward to learning new stuff and hopefully finding some new fishing spots in my area. Bazoo