Dwight Hottle

Great photos & memories.

Try a Manns Bait called a 1-minus. Sells for about $6.

Those are some nice fish. And your thread is putting a big smile on Steve's face.

I have found bass coloration differs based on water clarity & depth. Many of the washed out colored fish are tight to the bottom & the colored up fish are suspended. These two fish came out of the exact same spot 15 minutes apart and caught at the same depth on the same bait. I figured the dark one had been on the bottom longer than the light colored one. The dark one was 23" long.

Congrats on the new PB! Don't forget to change your pb status under your avatar.

Looks more new than used. Time to get her slimed up.

Having read thru the previous years fishing reports for that time frame I noticed a lot of topwater bites. Imagine your first DD on a topwater bait!

I love it when I can hear the wheels grinding.

Great idea for all involved. I'm sure you all have lots of great memories from those 4 weeks.

Try here. I don't know anything about those spooted bass. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/120706-whats-more-fun-to-catch-2-largemouth-bass-vs-smallmouth-bass/ http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/121210-vs-3-smallmouth-bass-vs-spotted-bass/

So as I look back at what I’ve done so far, the places I’ve fished, the times and conditions I’ve fished in, the baits and techniques I used and the few fish that I have caught, I’m not really putting anything together here. If anything, I’m starting to believe that perhaps the bigger fish I’m after are actually suspending out over the deeper water during neutral periods. If those fish are indeed suspended the crankbait presentation is below them. In clear water suspended fish will rise quite a distance to key in on a distressed bait fish (jerkbait).

Maybe a topwater, or dare I say it a jerkbait presentation might work for those suspended mamas.

Your hooked now. Nice first smallie.

A big congrats. Love the pic of one brother watching the other sleeping.

My buddy had three days in a row where his first fish of the day was a 6lb+ smallie.

Nice. I'll remember that when I take you dink smallie fishing.

Wow! Sweet trip & fish.

That's embarrasing.

Good luck with your new boat. Sounds like you made a good choice.

Same to you. Like the new avatar.

Have you considered the auto pilot. Your motor either comes with it or it can be added as an option. I use the hand/wrist control instead of the foot control. That would eliminate the foot control failures. Just a thought.

Do you want some cheese with that whine?

I'm washing my hands of this whole thread.

It was my braid of choice before they brought out the 832 line. I still use it because it is often discounted where I shop. I had some 10lb braid tested at IGFA in Dania Florida & it consistantly broke at 17lb + or -1lb. The guy doing the testing was very impressed by the consistancy. His comment was that most braid breaks very inconsistantly. Very good braid for the money.

Nice outing. That bass in the first picture looks bigger than 4-11.