Dwight Hottle

10lb braid with a 10, 12 or 15lb mono leader.

Glide baits are a lot like jerkbaits in the sense they represent a dying or struggling bait fish. You can fish them with rod tip movements as well as a choppy reeling motion or stop & go cranking with pauses. Just practice with one boatside where you can watch & learn how to make it glide most effectively. Most bites will come when it glides or stops moving.

The OP's purpose for posting is not to wait & see what happens in the long run. The state is proposing to change the very regulations that have contributed to the success of a great fishery. Stickmarsh/Farm 13 has been catch & release regulations with no holding fish in a livewell. This has effectively maintained limited tournament exposure & healthy fishery. Those of us that have fished & appreciate what a great fishery it is want it to remain as it is. Be proactive now & voice your opinion to the state rather than be reactive when things go downhill.

That's a fashion accessory.

Great history lesson behind the man & his product.

Trilene XT is thicker in diameter than any other line manufacture pound for pound in a comparison test. You could use Trilene XL which is more manageable or pick another quality mono of your choice known for its limpness. Take the rated diameter of your 12 lb XT which is .015 in & compare it to an equal diameter of a different line in a higher pound test & use that instead of the XT. For example Trilene XL in 17lb test is the same diameter .015in. This will give you the extra thickness you want but with a more manageable line.

Top picture is a 14lber. The bottom picture looks like it could be heavier because of the gut size & being held out from the body perspective but it is probably much smaller than the 14lber. I'm guessing the bottom picture weighs 9-10lbs. When I first saw the top picture before Catt posted this I thought the picture didn't support the verified weight of 14lbs.

Target depth changes off the shipping channel. 15-25 fow. Deep jerk baits if they are suspended. Otherwise fish the bottom with jigs, blade baits or jigging spoons. Also hair jigs & senkos.

If it's private water & you can not convince the owners/management to cull some of the stunted bass your are screwed. If it's public you need to gather support from other fisherman & lobby the dnr about the problem. The bass population can't become healthy until the excess bass are removed. Most of the time catch & release does not work for ponds or small lakes because of overpopulation & subsequent starving of the general population.

Do the fish you catch look healthy & do they have full guts or do they all look skinny?

Usually in the spring after ice out it’s pretry slow until the water temps reach 39 degrees.

If I buy a 2019 Guide will you autograph it for me? ?

Rapalas all come stock with VMC hooks, a company owned by them. I have always found them sharp out of the box but I always replaced them at the first sign of dullness or hook bending. I have had hooks bend out by smallmouth all the time with a properly set drag so it does happen.

Welcome. I just was pointing out it’s an old thread & the guy who started the thread hasn’t been on this site since 2012. If you click someone’s profile it shows their last entry.

Did you know that this a 7 year old thread?

First of all let's put in perspective. A pro, a tournament angler or a fun fisherman are all created equal in my eyes. Color, education, experience, wealth & ability do not matter. Treat them all the same. The pro or tournament angler does not deserve any more respect or have any more rights than the recreational angler. Water rights revolve around first come first serve. First guy in a spot with limited access has the right to fish it without unwanted encroachment from others. Once he gives up a spot it is fair game for anyone else to occupy it. The only correct way to encroach or share a spot is if you ask for permission to do so and it is granted. People need to treat other fisherman the same way they want to be treated. If someone doesn't want to play by the rules call them out. Let them know if they are in the wrong. Many newer fisherman don't know what is acceptable behavior on the water. If you feel uncomfortable standing up for your rights it is your choice. Circumstances differ based on the situation and your own personal safety.

Sounds like you had a great tournament. Now if they can just get your boat sorted out. ?

Fishing Lake O and didn’t see a gator all day until this *#!&& ate my megabass 110 mag half way back to the boat.

That’s a great first bass of the new season.

Paul the best rapala slash bait I have ever found is the Maxrap13. It weighs a 1/2 oz and measures 5.5” long. It excels when worked fast very erratic & does easy 180 degree swings left/right. It has a smaller lip. It was priced around $17 when it was introduced to the market. The high price turned a lot of people off but it was well worth the price if you tried it. It has been discontinued but is still available in limited quantities. Another good slash bait is the Ima flit 120. Weighs 1/2 oz & measures 4.5” its available thru TW & other retailers. It has a slightly bigger bill than the Maxrap13. Good action but not quite as aggressive as the maxrap.

Big mistake. Take the survey & let the state know your feelings.

Welcome to BR

It's about time you graced us with your presence.

Time to change brands.

Try the 120s