ak6388

Out yesterday for one last time on the kayak with a few friends. We caught around 10-12 fish with the majority being on shallow cranks and a handful on finesse swimbaits. Water temperature was 54-56, not a bad day for mid November in Ohio, they were definitely feeding heavily. Biggest fish for me was 3.30 caught on a flat side crank bait right off a submerged laydown.

Went out for a few hours on the kayak while the kids were at school and caught 5 in about 4 hours. Water temp was 64-66 depending on location. All my bites came off the first area of cover in coves off the main lake. 3 on a Senko wacky rigged and 2 on a crankbait. The little bass that you catch on cranks always make me laugh! Biggest was 2.1 lbs which is largest I’ve caught at this lake in a few months. I did find a few off shore schools but no fish on a jerkbait or dropshot. I got a few bites on the drop shot but came back without my minnow tail a few times so not sure what was going on there.

Wow thanks everyone for the replies, definitely why I love coming to this site! I swapped over on of my right handed fuegos real quick and it’s definitely more comfortable size wise even though it’s only slightly bigger. Moving the MGL reel over to my smaller cranking rod as I do like the way it casts and performs, just couldn’t get over working a bait continuously while palming the reel. I plan on picking up one of the new Tatulas next month for a different combo. Will compare that with a 150 size Tatula for jerkbait combo while in at the local tackle place. Disappointing on the size of the zillion reel comments. I guess I never really noticed it while handling it not attached to a rod and definitely glad everyone chimed in on the alphas size before ordering one from overseas. I’d love a Steez but the pocketbook might not lol!

Hey all, I was hoping everyone might be able to help me with a reel recommendation. I currently have an SLX 70 MGL on my jerkbait rod and it’s just too small for my giant hands when palming and working the rod. It’s fine if I’m just reeling in but working a jerkbait for any prolonged period of time is no fun due to the ergonomics. Im a Daiwa guy most of the time and was looking at an Alphas due to the exchange rates right now but was hoping someone that had some experience using both could chime in. Open to other recommendations as well!

Woof even worse. Will be interested to see AOY now. According to BassTrak this morning he’s moved to 3rd in the AOY race. Hamner is 1st and Huff 2nd.

Yep, took him from 2nd to 63rd. Don’t think he’ll be late again..

Cracks the door open for AOY as well and he basically could have shut the door after this tournament. Wild....

I came back at the end of his weigh in, why was he late?

Anyone notice they weighed about 4 anglers before weigh in started? Cody Huff already on the board at 29lbs and he didnt go yet.

Kennedy with another great glide fish. Seems like a lot of the schools move around, I wonder if he burns it down while he has the chance. A several pound lead will be hard to beat for sure.

Took some time this week and went fishing for 3 days out on the kayak. Tried to focus more on stuff that I’ve learned here and other things than just sticking to the same things. Went to my same lake and a few new ones. Wednesday I only went out for a few hours but caught a few bringing a Fogy Pro bladed jig through some scattered submerged grass. Thursday, more of the same except this time they came on a 4” swimbait. Today was by far the most productive day, caught several along rocky banks with cranks and then dragging points with a small Keitech football jig. Never caught fish like that with a jig, felt cool finally catching them out in 15 feet of water. Biggest of the week came today on a Seibert Fogy Pro, brought it through a school of baitfish unknowingly along a seawall. It got smoked and the ball of baitfish also spread on the surface, was a really cool bite. Tight lines!

Benton catching some bigs throwing a spinner around. So awesome to watch!

The Johnston brothers are probably 2 of the most consistent anglers on the elite series. No matter where they go or how the lake is fishing one of them have a chance to be fishing Sunday. Their record is impressive with such a short time fishing with BASS.

Man you gotta feel for Sumrall at this point... Lost a giant sight fishing this morning. A ton of time with no bites and now has lost 2 in the last 20 minutes. One popped off the other outside the mouth sight fishing. Can't catch a break!

Suddenly nobody is around complaining when a good portion of the top 10 is non-FFS fishing and talking about how the tournament is going. Johnston is still using perspective but more so to check beds. Very interesting getting to see his approach with it.

Interesting Bryan New making comments during weigh in about fishing in the locks after just getting DQ'd for blowing beds out....

I needed this info before I set my fantasy lineup, great article! Good to see Hackney back on the right track.

He's killing them on topwater today. Great to watch and Clunn doing well for himself as well.

Jordan Lee off to a hot start today!

Out today after work on the bank. I’m guessing water temp around 55 based on last time in the kayak and other friend on the boat today. Both bites on a finesse 3.25” Swimbait on a 1/8 jig head. Both were also about 15-20’ offshore on the end of laydowns in the deeper part of the lake. Not giants but always fun when something pulls back!

Caught first one in the new kayak today. Spinnerbait in about 2’ of water right on a stump. Lost another on a crank trying to fumble for my net, should have just flipped him in. Live and learn! Bonus white bass on the crank as well!

I will definitely keep you posted. I have a kayak tournament this weekend so will be out Friday and Sunday. Later this year I’ll be getting a 2nd 360 for my son so we can get out on some of our smaller waters and we can fish.

Upgraded the kayak last weekend to a NuCanoe Unlimited. Took it for a brief spin before adding some upgrades but wind got the better of me. Added my Garmin unit, anchor wizard and Leverloc for some creature comforts. Excited to get it out this weekend and fish with the new addons.

Stocking up on some basics that I was running low on for the year from BPS and Tackle Warehouse. Also picked up a few new items to try including the Picasso spinnerbaits recommended by @FishTank.

All this talk of young guys just scope, they wouldn’t be there without it etc etc. Yet nobody has even mentioned McKinney snapping a pole pulling a fish out of a dock and boat flipping him on camera. Yes the game has changed, but to say they’re there just because of scoping is disrespectful. I’m sure there are some that have made it farther because of it, but you don’t just wander your way onto the elite series. All the older guys on live, at weigh in, on social media being crusty and complaining about getting their ass kicked is not a great look. They've had the technology for at least 5-6 years and didn’t utilize it, that’s not the other anglers fault.