Paul Roberts

I was under the impression that trolling was banned bc of the space it requires. Why fly-fishing was banned I always wondered about. Not that it would be competitive.

I did that too!

I have to factor in water clarity and amount of cover. So, I start, and end, the years with UL, L, and M spinning gear. I'm using MH and H, spinning and casting, by summer.

Very likely, for several reasons -and more so in summer. Shore fishing is greatly limited in terms of water you can cover. High water temps can move fish deeper, and make shallow fish more apt to feed at opportune times -early AM, at night, and under deep overcast. Even in the smaller waters I fish, I find that bass generally move away from shorelines in summer. When shore fishing then, I have a couple long casting rigs -large capacity spinning reels and long rods- to throw out away from the shoreline. But, nothing beats a boat. Lastly, if you feel you are beating a dead horse -move! Try different locations, or a diff water body altogether.

I've seen a similar effect in my waters. I fish many small shallow waters and the bass don't have a choice. What I do notice is that high temps -mid 80s- can knock em down. Some waters during this time have a first light bite, when temps are coolest, that is amazing. When that hour is up, things get tough. There is no corresponding evening bite, so light is not the only issue. This year we had record high temps in June -100F days- and the fishing was tough. The bright sun played a big role, of course, but it was as if those bass were dormant. The ones I did scratch up were mighty thin. Then I've had years that stayed cool, and caught barrel fat bass all summer. I've come to prefer water temps below low 80s in my waters. Lotsa evidence out there that bass will feed well in high temps, but not, I believe, if food is at all hard to catch. They seem to lay low during such times.

Very cool. I love the well-loved cork on his spinning rod. Congrats to Mr. Evans. Awesome fish and story. Being a northerner, however, I couldn't help but take notice of this comment: "Although it would be considered a big fish anywhere, a 7 pounder isn’t necessarily a trophy." Hmmmmm.....

Gonna ditto Brian. Sheer catch rate, and diversity of water types, -a range and intensity of experience- is what offers the best shot at developing well-honed and versatile anglers. This doesn't mean good anglers can't come from more meager backgrounds; Just that if the opportunities aren't there, it'll take more time and likely more traveling within that state or area. In the latter case, one must be willing to search out diverse waters and conditions. Making up those catch rates though may require more than just work, it may require a more observant and quicker learner as well.

I went barbless (crushed barb) with soft plastics years ago due to deep hooking. I then extended it to treble-hooked lures -cranks and topwaters. It makes hook-sets easier, and releases cake. Very few lost fish I could say were due to being barbless. Fish I have lost were due to slackening of line and jumps. Some species, and certain conditions, fish are more apt to jump. I've always back-reeled with spinning gear and am long used to handling fish. The lures I do not go barbless with are jigs, where the weight is tightly affixed to the hook. Fish can spit loose a barbless jig too easily IME. I keep a barb on heavy casting spoons too. The trend in quality hooks nowadays are micro-barbed hooks, compared to the giant barbs of yesteryear. And when I knock down a barb on trebles I mash it, but not all the way.

It... depends. Water conditions (temp esp), scaled tackle, and individual fish, and how it's hooked. Pickeral, and pike, maligned above can fight if allowed to do what they do best -bolt! But they don't have the body depth to hold position on you. They are mighty fast if allowed to use their fins. Problem is, they are most often caught on heavier tackle often when bass fishing, tackle designed to drive a big hook and pull bass (a deep bodied fish) from cover. Hook a pickeral, or small pike, on UL tackle and Zzzzzzzzziiiiinnnnnnnng! They can be mighty fun.

Rock bass. They give up almost immediately.

Or if the water's clear enough -vertigo.

I hear you. I'm a small water guy now too. And I'm definitely circumspect. I do find though that sharing with the right people comes back around. I can't be everywhere.

Nope, probably no fish down there. And if there were bass down there you'd not be able to pull them to the top without barotrauma issues.

There are plenty of spots-on-a-spot out there to go around, especially when you factor in timing. Now... what was this thread about??

Great stuff. Love the description of the thermocline interface -like a mirage. Very cool. It shows up on sonar too. I was going to pipe in that it's likely temperature in a clear water quarry rather than oxygen, but for most fertile bass waters sub-thermocline waters are often low in 02. This dead zone talk is true in most bass waters (mesotrophic and eutrophic) but not so in trout waters (oligotrophic) where there is plenty of 02 down deep. Such coldwater fish can go down well below the thermocline, the actual depth dependent on the species temperature preference, food availability, and how deep the thermocline is at the time. I've also recorded big hooks on sonar from a research vessel, well below the thermocline in a mesotrophic lake (sans trout) with oxygen data showing that sub-thermocline water being nearly anoxic. We all figured those big fish down there were the lakes' BIG pike, (the ones that anglers only find in winter and spring), big pike needing low temps and can handle very low 02. Was neat to see.

Tri-hulls... can hurt! And wear you out. John calls it 'slap' I called it 'pounding'!

Yeah, I was thinking of this one, and some others, when I posted above. (I don't agree with everything he says, but that's not the point.) It just doesn't get the level of interest other types of vids do. Just like on the forums, there's way more traffic discussing the toys. Which, to your point, is the easy part. To be fair, learning about the gear is where everyone starts and even old salts must revisit. However I think that what most interests fisherman -at least those that have gotten somewhat serious enough to take wondering beyond a shrug- is the methodology behind successful fishing. This is what is so often asked for and so rarely provided in much detail. I still get riled when I read, or hear, "...depends on conditions...". It's a tough job though, bc there's a lot to explain, and we simply don't always know why things work. What interests me is going a step further to understand what goes on under the water that could explain the fishing results. That kind of info is rarer still, and adds incredible complexity to something the majority really consider a "pastime". I guess I'm a true wacko. But I come by it honestly.

Short answer: No. But, knowing bass, you never know. If they were there, who'd know? I did once caught a pickeral off a downrigger at 80ft!

Yes. I use basic sky and water conditions, as well as specific circumstances that might influence/have influenced how the day goes/went. That's standard. When I'm fishing a lot, and have my finger on the current trends, I can add more details.

There is a lot of fishing content on YT, actually. But, it seems some of the most popular vlogs appear to be primarily social in nature, rather than content oriented. The audiences for these seem to be young people. YT is the new TV.

Well.... I've been working on just such an animal: a video documentary on bass behavior, shot from both above and below. Got the spawn pretty much wrapped up and am working my way through the year. Not sure where to put it: YT, Vimeo, a pro videographer I know suggested I contact outdoor channels. I don't think I have the visual quality to make TV though. I'm shooting in/on public waters with clarity limitations (there's a reason Glen Lau moved to FL), but I've got some good stuff. As to fishing vids, I'm making some of those too -with actual content. We'll see how it all shakes out. Not ready to publish yet. Quality takes time.

Me too. I've had to fish lefty for up to a year at a time. I'm on my second go 'round. My doc's first case of "Basser's Elbow" as we call it.

Never seen that. Here the males do the guarding. Some waters have bigger males than others but, here, they're never over 17inches. However I do see big females chase bluegills.

I like 20# braid w/ short mono leader. The 'twitch' with wacky is a great trigger and best produced with line floating above bait. Leader length varies from 3 to 6ft depending on water depth. i tend to fish wacky's shallow in my waters. Like Mosster, straight FC can be helpful at times, esp in deeper water and in wind.

Our cottonwoods haven't popped yet. Getting ripe though. Bass spawn is over in my smallest ponds. I note the trees (maples) flowering when the bass spawn is imminent. Then come the wild plums which coincide with the spawn. Tree leaf-out is beginning then too. Problem is the plums bloom over quite a period, so you can't watch one bush. One may bloom 3 weeks after others. Just like photoperiod, and the Julian calendar, this appears to be mostly ballpark resolution. Good enough if you only can get out on weekends. Are you fishing lakes or ponds?