Mottfia

close your eyes and pray Mottfia

I personally think a fat two pounder is a nice fish but my eyes don't really start sparkling until I hit a four pounder Mottfia

In fisherman did a study on how big of baitfish a bass will eat and it is amazing what it said. And if I remember right, a bass can eat a baitfish up to 70% of its length. Matt's lure easily fall into that category for the fish that people are looking for with it plus a few bonus smaller fish. Mottfia

The wind will generally make the fish more aggressive. Wind blow banks can be good if they continuously get hit for hours and ever better for days. Lure wise I would suggest a horizontal bait cause the fish will be more in a chasing mood. Mottfia

I'm like a number of guys around here. I'm a run and gun guy so generally I fish spinnerbaits around the edges but the best things for catch any size bass around the docks are trick worms. under the docks I love tube type baits. I catch fish consistently by skipping paca craws. but if its real touch, its hard to beat a very light shakey head under there. Spinning reels are a must. Mottfia

haha I guess I have to join the crowd that doesn't get into senkos much. Mottfia

she's a beaut! Mottfia

Now thats a story to join the forum with. lol Sorry to here about the slide but those are the things that make bankl fishing even more exciting. let us know how the next trip goes Mottfia

man that things is fat. I'd be proud of it on light tackle. Do you try any heavier tackle for bigger fish? Mottfia

haha Nothing to be upset about. You have a great place to fish that is slap full of big bass. Just get out there again and see if your luck doesn't get better. Mottfia

I have to respectfully disagree with you. I know people that don't make alot of money so they fish to help feed the family after work. I personally have no problem of keeping a few for the plate or giving a person a fish that needs it. In some ponds that has an over populated system, taking a few fish for the plate can be benificial to the whole system. back on topic, that pretty cool how you handled the situation. it speaks well of you to let things slide so easily. you have my props! Motfia

hmm...interesting topic. I kind of like weirdly relatived topics like this I'm all for fishing being an exercise. Alot of my summer fishing used to be with my friend wading through a creek. Walking miles a day has to be exercise. lol in a boat, I can see a run and gun guy getting a decent endurance exercise in his arm but the guy that sits down and worm fishes well I can't see that doing you any good. another thing that just popped in my head is that if you look at a numebr of pro...they aren't exactly looking in their peak physical prime. and they fish more than most of us Mottfia

That just about sums it up Mottfia

To be honest with you, I would much rather see them hit homers on the typical bodies of water that the rest of us fish. Those huge weights looks great for people that aren't as big into fishing or put the pros on a pedastool but as a tournament angler I love to see them fish places that aren't loaded with big fish. Its makes it seem much more real to me and I'm alot prouder of the guys that dominate. I'm not saying that they aren't already great cause they are the best but it just shows more when they catch a 20+ stringer on a lake where 17 normally wins. but thats just my opinion Mottfia

Haha I do the same thing, but the more you ask the more you learn. Just get out there and apply the information. Good luck brother Mottfia

The things that you should remember is that lure color becomes more important as the water clears and less important as the water gets muddier. My color selection is highly based on prey in clear water but it leans farther toward contrasting or brighter colors as the water stains. What you have read should make for a great starting point. Don't get too hung up on color though. There are much more important things. Mottfia

I do alot like WRB when I hear that I'm heading to a new lake. I get a map and study google earth to get a fill for the general lay of the lake. I call up a few people and ask around for more details on the type of cover available in each section of the lake. I also try to get a gist for what seasonal pattern are they in. I don't ask for exact locations tho cause they normally don't work out well for me. After learning that and getting to hit the lake I fish like I would anywhere else. Power fishing. I cover alot of water. If almost becomes a just fishing trip cause of the amount of different things I will try but assuming things go well I will be able to get on a pattern or gain an understanding of what the fish are doing. If things get bad I take a page from the older guys on the board. I will pull out deeper and begin fishing points. Starting with main lake points and moving in to creek points as I go. Fishing really slow with a worm...luckily I have only had to break down and do that only a couple of times but it paid off with a four pound spotted bass so I can't complain 8-) Mottfia

1) Depth- the lure has to get to the depth that the fish are using 2) Cover - does it fish effectively through the cover that is available at that depth 3) Prey and water clarity- This will point you in the direction of size, shape, color, etc The first two are by far the most important because if you can get a lure in their face then you stand a good chance of catching them. The prey and water clarity add that last little touch to sale the picky bass the bait. After defining those you should have your options narrowed down enough to feel confident that you have the correct lure/lures for the job Mottfia

question... How long can a bass go before it must feed again during winter? Can we get an approximation for every 5 degrees from 30 to 50 degrees with the size of the fish? Mottfia

Hey guys, The University of Alabama College Invitational at Lake Tuscaloosa is coming up this weekend and I have the oppurtunity to represent Troy University in it. I am leaving tomorrow morning to put in a few days practive before it gets here. I want to thank Natanestaban and Jeremy D. for their advice about Lake Tuscaloosa. I'll be back in five days to hopefully tell yall some good news ;D Mottfia

Around my area, when the bugs get out like that the bite can get real good in areas... I believe they are mayflies but could be junebugs...I'm not really bugologist We try to key in on the shade under the trees that the bugs are resting in. We will swim a jig or spinnerbait around that tree and up under it if it is possible. The swimming cause is to imitate whatever baitfish is down there to feed on the bugs. If that doesn't work we throw our lure into the tree and shake it to knock the bugs off into the water. Usually this starts a mini feeding frenzy of bream which stirs up the bass in the area. I believe that the bugs are more for the bream. The bigger bass that you would be looking for is looking to feed on those bream not the mayflies. The mayflies just make it easier to find the bass ;D I hope that helps. My mind is starting to fade cause I have my first practice day tomorrow. Mottfia

Spinnerbaits, jigs, and paca craws have made up the bulk of my catch but I have also had a few great days on shakey heads, trick worms, and carolina rigs. Its getting about time for my crankbait bite to pick up so that will be on the list real soon Mottfia

Davis and Netbait go hand in hand. Can't have a jig without a beast trailer.The netbait paca chunk is salted, scented with anise oils and also has pork in the plastic. Great action and colors, you could also use the paca chunk, baby paca , or even the tiny paca which is great for the smaller bitsy bug type jigs which is what I use mostly (since i fish on the finese side) either way you can go wrong with the Netbait line of paca craws/chunks. WackyDave, Where'd you come from? You need to call from time to time. I'm about to head back home to gear up for the tournament this weekend...and force jeremy to give me some of his x-wire spinnerbaits. I'm all out :'( . Let me know how the Jr. Bassmasters goes. Don't let the kids whip you too bad Go Trojans! Mottfia

Here is a great topic about jig fishing grass from one of the best http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1244458286 Mottfia

15 minutes sounds a little short for a few of its major functions. From what i have read river bass will travel miles to spawn in the same place that they spawned last year. Also in summer some "local" bass will travel back to where they were originally caught. In my humble opinion that takes a long term memory of at least a year for the spawning and a few hours for returning home. Maybe the 15 minutes is just for short term memory Mottfia