Nick

John, It's no mystery why people want you to paint for them! Keep them happy! Nick

Marty, Is it the shape or the color that you mean by pattern. And if it is the shape, how will you know if it's right? Do you go by the vibration, depth, or just the look? I really like the color except for the blue around the mouth area. Now if that were left the same, or painted red or chartreuse, or lime......I'd even go so far as to paint a line of red mouthed baits. Call them the "Cheeky" series.

You can learn for bass fishing yourself very thoroughly in about 30 years, or you can join a bass club and learn just about as much in three years. Seriously, find a local club with members who are open to teaching or at least allowing you to fish as a non boater. Most clubs really welcome non-boaters, because it allows the veterans to remain in the bow when tourney angling to call the shots while fishing. Many shortcuts to learning to be had while fishing with experienced anglers.

A step in the right direction. In Missouri where I live, I don't think 18 in. restrictions would have much of a beneficial effect, since many would poach, and others would still gig any big fish they see. I think that the vast majority of trophy smallies in our state die at the end of a gig. Our legal gigging season( for rough fish only) is over 4 months long, and our streams are gin clear down to 12 feet which is far deeper than most stream depths. Lots of bass get killed this way, accidentally, or otherwise.

Depends on how pressured they are, how clear the water is, and whether or not they are protecting fry. In the post spwan period when the larger males are still protecting, I usually want a noisy bait that stays put longer near a bedding site like a chugger or a prop bait. A few weeks later, I usually go to a walking bat to cover more water. In darker waters that aren't pressured much, I can get away with a buzzbait just about any time in the summer and fall. I like big, dumb smallies. Those can be had in the many streams in the north country, and even some less pressured tea colored lakes in the shield country.

I've bruised my ego checking the livewell inhabitants, shattered my dreams during tournament weigh ins, and chronically hyperextended my imagination en route to my next angling debacle.

How you going to top those? Very good looking indeed.

Bet style jighead I've found is on the Omega jig. Right shape to pull over both brush and rock. The line tie is also slightly elevated so it doesn't take a beating from bumping into objects. Check them out on their website.

I also like the white and chartreuse blades esp. in darker lakes and murky rivers. In clear northern waters with a chop on the water the same blade combo is a killer for smallies. The copper blade is another consideration (choice) other than the gold or silver blade. I tend to use willows about 90% of the time, except in very muddy waters where the big colorado blades are used with a pretty light head. In water temps above 60, I don't get hung up on retrieve speeds, but in cooler waters, better monitor your speed of retrieve.

Prefishing can kill an angler! I tried to force the issue with two spawning bass on day one that had comitted to a white tube the previous day, but both of these fish stoned me. I spent half the tournament day frustrated as I could not get these fish to bite. I threw the tacklebox at them and then some. In the pm I went fishing the backs of p[ockets and got five keeper bites only to lose three of them. How disgusted I felt. Since the bite was so good for so many anglers that first day, I knew my tournament was done even though two days remained. And so it goes. I've been in a real slump, but I get to fish the Ranger's owners tournament at Table Rock this Saturday. I'll keep on kepin on.

Find the warmer waters. Don't cast until you do. I would think the upper lake would have the darker color and probably warmest water, do check the north coves, but who knows? 1000 acres is not that hard to check out unless you have a motor restriction. Next, I would start trying to put together a pattern based on bottom type and slope. I've never fished a natural lake in MI early in the year, but I'm betting on warmth, maybe shallow bays with wood/boulders. Maybe they congregate where the sand contacts the rock and boulders? Maybe there's some bits of vegetation to check out. I'm going to start using a suspended jerkbait in clear, natural colors, then I'll go to a smoke grub rigged on a jig head using a very slow sleady retrieve close to the bottom. If the warmest bays don't pan out, then I'm going to the points closest to them also using the jerkbait, and maybe a pumpkin tube. Keep moving until you find the fish. My rule is 10 fan casts per new spot, then I move on to another possible place. The wind can be a real ally in clear waters. Look for those ripply waters for help in making those finicky bass catchable. Wish I had time to go fish this lake. Maybe I will! Nick

If there were 4-9 pound bass everywhere as you stated, you should have been able to at least try at catching a couple. I fish pro on the Stren series myself, and I gladly give my co- angler a chance to catch bedding fish if they are plentiful. Good to see you're fired up about your fishing.

You have one lucky friend. I hope he can fish! Take care. Nick

Buckwheat, Where you been? I've been making them for years out of sugar pine. I traded with several members who like my baits quite a bit. It's all in the weighting and balance and hook placement. If you want a few wood blanks, hardware and wood, I'll send them to you very reasonably. I'll even send you a finishedone for you to inspect how I do it. Shoot me a pm. Nick

Another super looking bait, Big M. Have you caught any on it yet?

These are really good spinnerbaits, Dink. I'm sure to whack them on your fine baits. Thanks again. Nick

It can feel about like anything different from just water. With practice you'll get better and better with the feel. When the fish are really "on" the jig usually a dull thud is felt. That's the jig being sucked in and adjusted in the maw of a bass. That's why people don't wait to set the hook on a jig. If a good bass sucks it in, it's all in one motion, and now it's time to set the hook. The most vicious strikes I get are when I go north and fish around the plentiful grass/weeds around docks. Those northern bass have a bad attitude. They really crush the jig. Often here in the Ozarks they bite a football jig pretty hard, although occasionally a slight tick -tick that I think is a bluegill turns out to be a solid 4 pounder. You can develop your feel by casting to shallow water and watching the jig slide across slick bottom, gravel, rock, weeds etc. By looking and feeling at the same time, you'll develop your sense of feel. Use a quality graphite rod in medium heavy action, flourocarbon line, and keep your rod tip pointed nearly straight up to increase feel. Many keep their fingers on the line also just ahead of the reel.

No one else?

Thanks for the words. These baits are meant to fish. Once I had a complaint from a fellow."The bass knocked all the paint off after I caught about 100 on one of your topwaters. Would you send me another one free of charge? " I'm still grinning about that one. Always wondered how many other baits he could catch 100 bass on? edited for advertisement-LBH

Slower is a good game plan, but with the wind blowing pretty good and the temps around here falling about 10 degrees into the low 50's, the bass in prespawn have continued to bite jigs, cranks, and spinnerbaits at Lake of the Ozarks. They really havent left their cnhannel swings and secondary points. I heard a very reliable source tell me today that the bed fish at Table Rock were still on beds after two days cold weather, but with two more days of freezing yet to come, they might back off the beds. And for many, they have been up for about 7-10 days already, so this may be the end of their spawn cycle already. So go into a day with a negative attitude, just because those who read "the book" tell you they shouldn't bite.

Although I regard myself as a purist, I'd be inclined to use live bait, if legal, to catch her! Arond here a 7 lber. is a real good one!

If I know how far I'm going to run in a tournament, it's easier to know. I like to think about a dollar per mile up to 30 miles of boat distance with a $10 minimum. I wouldn't expect over $40 maximum. I run an efi, not an opti. In national events, some pro's won't take a dime. Others complain if they don't get at least $35.

I fish as a pro and guide on the Meramec River. I have lots of time to fish(retired) and enjoy going to new places. Have bassboat for tourneys, river jet for stream, and will go on fun trips when I have time. If you'd like to learn how to catch 'em at your place, or go with me on a smallie trip or largemouth trip, get in touch. If I'm going to your place, heck no, this isn't a guided trip for money. If you want to go with me on a Meramec trip, I do charge for that. On a fun trip to prefish for a tourney, we'll split costs. Thanks.

I'd like to wap with anyone else who still has a little inventory to share. I'll send three topwater walking baits in return for your specialty. Thanks, Whittler John, for all your help.

78 DD in Aurora Black, TN Shad, and Char. Shad Why don't they make a DD 90?