GrandSlamBasser87

This one was out of a 14' jon boat, but I did catch my 2 previous 8lbers off the shore on a Terminator Spinnerbait. The 8-08 lber I have on the wall was a shoreliner. Basspro- The one we drive down the hill to that we went to a couple times when you have been around.

Those are very respectable bronzebacks!! Nice job and welcome to the addiction!

I have caught fish myself and seen a television show where just your normal dropshot rig length didn't inhibit the effectiveness of the rig despite the weight not being in contact with the bottom. Try a 2-3 foot leader, a little longer than normal but will get the weight out of the picture for the fish, but should be manageable. I can't remember the name of the show I saw, but they were dropshotting for smallies and they marked one on the graph at 18' even though they were in 25-30' of water, and they dropped their same rig down and let out that length of line and they caught him. Worth a try and experiment with the leader lengths, figure out how long you can make them, but still have them managable.

It is harder to get those longer distances with light lures with a boatcasting setup as opposed to a spinning setup. Normally, I will use my spinning setups to throw smaller lures, less than a 1/4oz as BP72 mentioned before, and 1/4oz and greater lures with my baitcasting setups. That being said, my best advice is to use your spinning rods to throw downsized lures and your new baitcasting setup to throw the heavier spinnerbaits and such you may use. Keep practicing and you will get the hang of throwing lighter lures with yer baitcaster, but you wont get the distance you will with the spinning reels.

I would definately say its the new look to bass that will produce...always nice to go back to something and have it produce over today's selection...You can't go wrong with giving them something different to look at as you are finding out! Stick with it

Like RW said, these fish can be difficult unless they are related to structure or baitfish...I would say all your tactics listed were the right choices and would have been the same I would have tried...I have heard of marking suspended fish at a certain depth and targeting that depth with a drop shot rig with a senko or your preferred drop shot lure...Might be worth a try next time you find that same situation

The soft tip definately helps but if thats not available, just think about maintaining your retrieve until you feel the fish. If your lure is paused when u get the strike, immediately begin some type of retrieve until you feel him. It's always hard to hold back long enough but thats how I keep myself from being too jumpy with the hookset!! Nothin' like a good topwater bite!!

Congrats man, its that pound for pound fight that gets people hooked on them!!! I love taking time away from my lakes and ponds to let them rest and hit the rivers for smallies!!

Nice Job, been meaning to give night fishin' a try for bass but haven't gotten around to it. That's some good lookin' water you go there!

For my 4" tubes, I will use 3/0 Texposer hooks and and a bullet weight T-rigged. For my 3.5" Gitzits, I will use 1/4-3/8oz Ikey heads which allows you to T-rig the tube and still use a jighead. I have never used rattles but I can see where they would be beneficial in off colored water.

That is the story of my summer so far and have caught two over 8 and numerous over 5 and 6, and no camera to get the picture! Congrats, and likewise, I will no longer be leaving the camera behind!

Congrats!!! Nuttin' like catchin' 'em on something different for a change, the main thing is having the patience to try something new and you were rewarded for your efforts!

Nuttin' like a new PB!! Congrats to your dad and to you on the nice net catch!! HAHA You didn't knock it out like the net dude in the thread about the possible world record that got away...haha

Went to a pond I had left alone for about a week this mornin' around 9. Started off Jig flippin' a few spots along the bank that normally hold fish and caught 5 pretty quick. Moved out and started throwin' a Bomber 6A and caught 10. I had been fishin' for about an hour and had 15 so I was more than happy, despite the biggest only being 2lbs, but always fun to catch them on a Jig flippin'. I was gonna call it a morning as not to fish it too hard, then I remembered a spot I had gotten hung up on something with a C-Rig the week before so I decided to try and find it with my Jig; no depth finder or any other way to find anything. I was using a 1/2oz Strike King Pro Model Jig in Camo with a 4" Gambler Ugly Otter in Watermelon Red trailer. My first cast was just an attempt to find the structure I had hung before and boy did I find it. I began feeling some limbs in contact with my jig and I popped it over them and let those paddles on the Ugly Otter flutter to the bottom. I raised my rod to about 10o'clock and that's where I felt the slightest bump. I kept tension and I saw my line moving off to the left and I immediately set the hook hard and it was solid!!! I was able to keep her to only one thrash and lipped my new PB jig-fish at 8-02lbs! Of course I was by myself and no camera to take a pic but she swam off great to fight another day. Thought I would share a great hour and a half morning with ya'll and that was my second over 8 this year. This one had the head of the 10lber I have been trying hard to get but she was spawned out, still a great fish!

WOW, now thats dedication and determination right there!!! Congrats on another nice fish and it sounds like 100 is right around the corner!!!