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I do not fish poppers a lot. Most of my topwater fishing has been with Whopper Ploppers or walking baits like the Spook. I want to start using my Pop Max’s more. Do you (most often) pop once, pause, pop again…or lightly pop it on the surface multiple times in a row? I know the bass will let me know what they want at the time, but I’m interested in knowing which technique, or other retrieves, seem to work best the majority of the time.

Hello, I just had some questions about these two P5 rods. For anyone who has either of them, what would you say is the ACTUAL lure weight range in which each of these rods excels (if you could please say the total weight, i.e., bait + hook/weight). I plan on using the BF for all around finesse plastics and finesse jigs, and the WB for drop-shot/free rig/small jerks and small cranks/light topwater. Lastly, I do everything other than punching, throwing large swimbaits or glide baits, and heavy top-water (mainly finesse plastics, fb/compact/finesse jigs and other bottom-contact like drop-shot and T-rig). Will these 2 rods, plus a Tachyon Shaft cover all those techniques? Thank you in advance. I appreciate any and all of your information.

There was a good conversation last time I posted my crappie trip results and I promised that I would go into more detail on my next trip. Well, that trip was yesterday. Although they were not biting as well as the last time out (if you can consider 40 vs 80 fish a slow day) we were able to bring home some slabs for a friend who had never had crappie. That also meant I got to clean fish which was not what I wanted to do. This is my version of a crappie 101 and I'm sure others have setups they prefer. Gear: I included pictures of my 2 main setups. Obviously, I only use spinning rods for crappie but you could throw the float setup on a baitcaster if you are so inclined. Both of my spinning rods/reels are Quantum Smoke. Rods are 6'8" MH. I have 6lb mono on the casting rig and 8lb mono on my float rig. I have one longer rod that is a JLM Elite that I use for dropping baits between boats and docks. Presentation: There are 3 main ways I catch crappie. 1. Simple cast and retrieve on the rod with 6lb mono. Vary your retrieve depending where in the water column you want the bait to run. 2. Dropping and jigging the bait between boats and docks. Simply freespool the bait to the bottom (many times that's when you will get bit.) reel up about 2 turns of the reel and simply raise and drop your lure vertically. 3. Casting with a float. This is a great way to catch them and can be used from shore or a boat. I use the 8lb mono on this rig. Run your line through the float, tie on your jighead, put a small pinch weight about 3" up the line from the jighead (this helps the line feed through the float after you cast, acts as a stopper from reeling your jighead all the way to the float and gives better castability). Once you determine the depth you want your bait to be, I just tie a piece of fishing line above the float at that depth (you can use bobber stops). The line will reel up through the guides if I am fishing really deep but I like to keep my depth at around 6' if possible (that's why my rods are 6'8"). I cast the float setup out, let it settle, and then slowly lift my rod tip and pull the float, then let it drop. Pause for 30 seconds, then pull it again reeling up the slack and letting it sit. I do this all the way back to the boat. Most of the bites come as soon as the bait settles. Terminal Tackle: Although you might see a small spoon or a roadrunner or a hair jig in my bait box picture, 99.9% of the time I am throwing the Gamakatsu jighead I pictured. I also have small pinch weights and of course floats. I like the line through floats since crappie are light biters and will spit a bait very quickly. The Jigheads I posted are a personal favorite and are super sharp but it's a challenge getting 8lb mono through double for a Palomar knot. Scents: Most of the juices nibbles, etc., are a matter of personal preference. I us the 2 I pictured. I have found that the casting setup without the float normally doesn't need anything due to the moving action of the bait. I will say the Crappie Nibbles get stolen a lot and are sometimes frustrating trying to rig up. I use them to tip the jigs with either the tubes or curlytail jigs. I personally like the Smelly Jelly because it stays on the lure longer. I will admit, there are time either will increase bites. So there you have it. My go to set ups for crappie fishing and we had a great day. Any questions, just ask. Best of all, everything I showed fits in a small tackle bag and is easy to carry and transport. 3 rods and I can fish for crappie most anywhere. Sorry for the sideways pictures. This site flips and turns them and even if I go back in and edit them based on what shows on the site, they are never right.

If you had to choose a single technique to use all year in clear, inland lakes in Michigan, what would it be (Largemouth primarily)? I ask because I am familiar with dozens of techniques, but not a "master" at any and I want to prioritize my learning. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hey Guys, I read a very interesting article on a technique called Junk Fishing in Bass Angler Magazine. It's where you hit your prime spots, start with some search baits like a square bill and a chatterbait then dial in the big ones with a jig. The idea is to move fast and the article is spot on to how I fish. So, Who junk fishes? And What are your 3 picks? Mine: 1.) Strike King Squarebill 1.5 Sexy Chart or Craw (Water Clarity) 2.) Zman Jackhammer White Chart or Black/ Blue 3.) Some Strike king jigs or Seibert's Jigs

Hey guys, I fish a small 3 acre private pond once a month. The pond has bluegill, trout, crappie, and largemouth. It has a very healthy population of all species and is well managed. There is 1 or 2 MASSIVE largemouth bass! I'm talking a 9 and 10 pounder! I haven't had great success in this pond but the few fish I've caught were very healthy. So my question is how do I catch these behemoths? There is a dock, brush piles, and sunken trees. Any advice would be much appreciated!

What kind of flies or grubs/jig(weight?) do people recommend for float and fly? And also for popper trailer? Ive got some standard el cheapo eagle claw 1/8 and 1/16 oz ball head flies (marabou, white). Wondering if I should try something like a wolley bugger or maybe a small split tail grub, or gulp! Minnow even? Also What jig weight works best? thanks all!

I really wanted to understand the reel, rod, line combo when I started. it takes me a long time to find the best gear. I still have to learn what, when, where. The right technique in the right condition. can't wait your answer guys, have a nice fishing day.

I'm gonna be moving here shortly to Florida, and i've gained quite the arsonal of freshwater lures, which i'd like not to go to waste. Can i use my freshwater lures in saltwater? Will they work? If so which ones?

I know there are a lot of different fishing techniques, rigs, baits, ect and all suit different conditions however, as a beginner fisherman is best to focus on just a couple techniques or rigs and get really comfortable fishing those as opposed trying your hand at a bunch of different ones even if you are trying to match the conditions? It can be very confusing, not to mention expensive for a new fisherman.

I will be a freshman in high school this year so this will be my first year of fishing tournaments. Please let me know if you have anything that could possibly help me at any point of my highschool fishing career. Anything like how to practice, tournament strategies, getting sponsors, improve my fishing skill level, e.t.c. Anything will help. Thank you.

Good evening all, Is there a fishing magazine that is of the quality of Field And Stream? I really enjoy all of FS fishing articles but I am not a hunter so subscribing to me would be a waste. I'm looking for a magazine that will cover more than just bass fishing. Is there such a magazine? tThanks

Throwing a lipless crankbait, or "trap" as we like to refer to em as, is one of my FAVORITE tehniques on grass lines, especially after a cold front and any time during the spring. I'd like to say I've mastered the technique but as we all know, there's always room for improvement and everybody has their personal secrets. Share yours below, I would love to hear your thoughts on the techniques and what y'all do to tweak it. Especially those fishing in the south and grass impoundments.

Haven't posted in here since the fall, it's been a long while! Excited to get back into the swing of things as it gets warmer but I have a question about current conditions. For the past few days, it's been much warmer out in central PA as temperatures have been in the upper-40's to mid-50's. Today, it was 58 but it rained a bunch. There has been ice along the shallows at the Susquehanna and with all the melting snow and rain recently, the river stage is up quite a bit. Given that temperatures have been rising and there has been ice around the shallows, how would you fish a river with stained/muddy water after a fresh rain? I'm hoping that it'll get some of the fish active even more and I can catch some biggins'. I know that topwater is out but what do y'all recommend? Any help would be phenomenal!

Hey guys, I’ve been quiet since my introduction, but I’ve been reading more then I write. For a those of you who didn’t see it, I am a Rookie angler who is getting into the competitive scene here over in South Africa. Fishing for around 18 months now, and enjoy learning every chance I get. Anyway onto my question. I follow this forum, and two local forums and google plenty of articles on *** and bassresource as well as watching the FLW and BassMasterElite series on youtube ( As we don’t get them here ) also plenty of other stuff on youtube. What else can I do? Where else is there to look and to learn. My best biggest curve is to turn diving crankbaits into a confidence bait, not something I am managing to do too easily at the moment. Also my main question on this thread is what are the best bass magazines to subscribe to in the states? I was hoping to see if I could get 2/3 subscriptions going ( cost dependant ) as a way to learn, but I haven’t a clue what magazines are the best/ most informative. Anyways thanks for the time! Tight lines! Ross

The wonderful season of Autumn is finally approaching us. As it creeps closer I have found that some people get sad that the summer months are over, while others get excited for the cooler weather and holidays. I know for my situation it is not good due to the fact that my ponds will freeze, and in turn, so will my fishing. The only thing I can do is hope to make the most of this last season in any way I can. What are some of you guys' favorite methods, tactics, techniques, and tips for fishing in the Fall? We all have our preferences. Some might work, while others might not. I want to make this an open share-point for fishermen of all skill levels and styles to talk about what they plan on doing this Fall in order to make the most of the rest of the year before the freeze sets in.

Hello, I'm fishing in Florida,from the bank. The lake is full of grass ,I'm fishing text.rig, lipless crankbaits even tried a chatter bait. Every cast I caught weeds, sometimes I couldn't even see my lure. I saw fish jumping but I just couldn't find the technique or color need for a catch. Now the grass I pulled in was green and crisp but it was so much, it took me out of the fishing mood . The water was dark not muddy but I couldn't see more than a foot or two, can anyone help me with what i should be doing when fishing this area, as well as lure colors. P.S. I haven't slept good since my trip I need to find out what I did wrong I feel helpless . Thanks for all your help

So, what are your favorite types of fishing...we all have those methods we are really fond of. For me...I love fishing topwater frogs and poppers in the lily pads. Crankbaits through submerged trees...sign me up. Flipping and pitching, who can resist, and fishing a fluke over a weedbed or worms in the stickups are always a recipe for good times. So, maybe you are an ice fisherman, maybe you are a Kevin Van Dam crankbait burning son of a gun, or you love your dropshot rigs...whatever your poison, tell us about it, we (or at least I) want to hear about it....river fisherman welcome too. On another note....I HATE ponds/lake with banks that have manicured grass running right up to the edge....there is usually no structure, just muck, and water full of ammonia and algae from the decomposing grass. Personally I can't comprehend why one would willingly choose to fish in such a place. Any types of fishing you think automatically makes one eligible for metal health counseling (e.g. ice fishing)? Most importantly, the best kind of fishing is on that lake that feels like a slice of the wild, of heaven...the flit of dragon flies, the shadows of minnows darting through the cattails and reeds stirred by the wind, the ripple of a bass' fins breaking the water to the rhythm of the whippoorwill's last early-morning song on a sunrise painted lake, as life seems to bloom around you and you feel small and transitory, but part of something larger, magnificent. That is my kind of fishing...no manicured grass banks for me, thank you.

I fish the SRP canal in Arizona just about everyday but i have only been able to catch a few bass out of it. I have been fishing the canal for about a year and I have become obsessed with trying to the catch big bass that i see in the canal everyday, but I have been unable to do so. The canal has a light flow, and it run from 3-7 feet deep. The water is usually a little stained and clear on some days. Almost everyday is a nice sunny day with temperatures going as high as 100-115 degrees in the summer, 65-80 degrees in the fall and spring, and 35-50 degrees in the winter. The canal walls are made of concrete with some cover ranging from tires, shopping carts, buckets, garbage cans, dead submerged bushes, and plenty of other things that shouldn't be in there. Even with all the cover the bass never really move to far from the flow gates. As far as life in the canal goes there is 1-7 in. tilapia, 1-5 in. bluegill, bass ranging from 4-17 in., there also catfish and a whole lot of carp. I don't see any crayfish or crawdads but I have seen bass caught on soft plastic craws, though I've never caught any on them. I've also seen different types of urban lizards around the canal. I'm looking for any advise, tips, or techniques you think might help. Anybody know something I don't, I'm all ears.

Hi I'm new to the forum and I've started fishing a lot. I know how to fish a Jerkbait but is there any tips or techniques anyone can give to fish a Jerkbait during the summer.

I fish the SRP canal in Arizona just about everyday but i have only been able to catch a few bass out of it. I have been fishing the canal for about a year and I have become obsessed with trying to the catch big bass that i see in the canal everyday, but I have been unable to do so. The canal has a light flow, and it run from 3-7 feet deep. The water is usually a little stained and clear on some days. Almost everyday is a nice sunny day with temperatures going as high as 100-115 degrees in the summer, 65-80 degrees in the fall and spring, and 35-50 degrees in the winter. The canal walls are made of concrete with some cover ranging from tires, shopping carts, buckets, garbage cans, dead submerged bushes, and plenty of other things that shouldn't be in there. Even with all the cover the bass never really move to far from the flow gates. As far as life in the canal goes there is 1-7 in. tilapia, 1-5 in. bluegill, bass ranging from 4-17 in., there also catfish and a whole lot of carp. I don't see any crayfish or crawdads but I have seen bass caught on soft plastic craws, though I've never caught any on them. I've also seen different types of urban lizards around the canal. I'm looking for any advise, tips, or techniques you think might help. Anybody know something I don't, I'm all ears.

Im a shoreline fisherman. At least until i meet someone with a boat. lol. Ive had lousy luck so far this fall and winter. I literally havent caught anything my last 3 times out. Where are good places to find the bass when the water is cold? I live in PA so it gets pretty cold up here. What are good lures and techniques to use when its that cold? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I need to catch some fish! Ill try multiple lakes in a day as well, still nothing.