12 Sept 2024 ~ A-Rig Bass in September (short video)

[A-Jay]

 

Feeling nostalgic this morning I visited the flat where I caught my PB Smallie 7 years ago.

Well all of that was quickly put to rest by Mr Pike who Clobbered my walking bait.

And then tried his best to make me believe he was a big bass - no such luck.

Never did get the topwater for bass deal going despite what looked like semi-idea conditions.

Limiting factor - no bait shallow.

In fact, it took me most all of the morning to even find a couple of schools of yellow perch.

But once I did, my efforts were rewarded. 

I'll get out again, just don't have a clue when that might be,

I was thankful for this one however. 

A-Jay

Side bar - been down to only 1 GoPro for a while now.

But ordered two new units that should be up and running in a couple of weeks.

Hope I can still fish. 

 

[TnRiver46]

Nice!!!

[T-Billy]

Congrats on the nice fish A-Jay. Just curious, what was the water temp?

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Congrats on the nice fish A-Jay. Just curious, what was the water temp?

Thank you my friend.

Water temps noted when I landed the brown bass were 67.

I am fishing that rig sort of in an opposite manner

of the tradition approach in the warm, shallow water.

I go burn with a pause rather than slow with a quick burn.

Strikes often come on the first reel turn after the pause.

I fish a spinnerbait this time of year the same way.

Routine visits to the home gym all year

certainly help throw/crank that rig for hours at a time as well.

You know what it's like.

Hoping to get back out this coming week;

maybe Wednesday morning. 

A-Jay

 

[T-Billy]

Nice work Andy. Good job operating outside the conventional wisdom with that bait buddy. I wouldn't even have considered it in water that warm, neither would anyone else I know. Thank you for that info. I'll definitely pick the rig up earlier this year, and give your technique a try. I just received a big box of Keitech Fat's in the mail the other day. I'm pretty well stocked for this fall now.

 I'm gonna be on night patrol the next few to see if I can go on another tear like I did around the August full moon, but I honestly don't know what the fish are doing. I've worked the past six days, and my guide buddy has been off the water this week, busy with a side project. Hopefully they'll be hot on the blades and cranks again. 🤞

[pdxfisher]

That was an awesome fish! I bought a few A-rigs but I am afraid to throw them in the kayak. I see myself spending a day untangling 8 rods that are in one big snarl

[Swamp Girl]

12 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

That was an awesome fish! I bought a few A-rigs but I am afraid to throw them in the kayak. I see myself spending a day untangling 8 rods that are in one big snarl

 

I also own a couple, but have yet to throw one because I'm afraid of the toll they'll take on me. 

[A-Jay]

On 9/14/2024 at 8:36 PM, pdxfisher said:

That was an awesome fish! I bought a few A-rigs but I am afraid to throw them in the kayak. I see myself spending a day untangling 8 rods that are in one big snarl

 

On 9/15/2024 at 9:08 AM, ol'crickety said:

 

I also own a couple, but have yet to throw one because I'm afraid of the toll they'll take on me. 

You both seem to be beating up on your local bass population without resorting to heaving that rig around.  Feels like I'm casting a chandelier.  A balanced bait & tackle helps but it's still a commitment.

Somehow when it pays off and I get 1 or two fatties, the next few trips,

fishing it doesn't seem like such a chore.

Either way, don't remember ever catching a brown bass that was less than 5 lbs on it.

So there's plenty of confidence right there.

A-Jay

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

I also own a couple, but have yet to throw one because I'm afraid of the toll they'll take on me

That 766 Sierra is the rod for the job if you do decide to throw it. 

26 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

A balance bait & tackle helps but it's still a commitment.

I agree 100%. Better to err on the stout side when it comes to tackle IMO. I struggled with it for a while, only picking it up for short periods before getting frustrated and going back to something else. It wasn't until I committed myself to throwing it for long periods of time that I started having success. 

Prime time is when the water temp starts with a 4 or 5 and baitfish are forming large schools.

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Feels like I'm casting a chandelier

 

Ha! 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Somehow when it pays off and I get 1 or two fatties, the next few trips,

fishing it doesn't seem like such a chore.

 

Fingers crossed you do, buddy.

 

 

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Fingers crossed you do, buddy.

Thanks ~ 

It's been a weird & wild season so far.

Completely different from the past several I've fished.

Just don't know what the heck to expect on any given trip.

I know what I'd like to see in the net,

but it's anyone's guess if there's even a chance.

I'm staying positive.

At least this last trip was a good sign anyway.

Full moon mid week, and it sets well before astronomical twilight.

Always a good sign in my book. 

I'll be out there. 

A-Jay

 

[Swamp Girl]

47 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks ~ 

It's been a weird & wild season so far.

Completely different from the past several I've fished.

Just don't know what the heck to expect on any given trip.

I know what I'd like to see in the net,

but it's anyone's guess if there's even a chance.

I'm staying positive.

At least this last trip was a good sign anyway.

Full moon mid week, and it sets well before astronomical twilight.

Always a good sign in my book. 

I'll be out there. 

A-Jay

 

 

[Bankbeater]

Nice looking bass! Good job!

[pdxfisher]

On 9/15/2024 at 6:58 AM, A-Jay said:

 

You both seem to be beating up on your local bass population without resorting to heaving that rig around.  Feels like I'm casting a chandelier.  A balanced bait & tackle helps but it's still a commitment.

Somehow when it pays off and I get 1 or two fatties, the next few trips,

fishing it doesn't seem like such a chore.

Either way, don't remember ever catching a brown bass that was less than 5 lbs on it.

So there's plenty of confidence right there.

A-Jay

 

Wow! I am surprised that it is so large fish selective.  Of course I never caught a smallmouth under 10lbs on an A-rig