A-Jay

Going into Workout Day 3 I felt like I was ready. Tried to take advantage of it best I could. Rack Pulls for reps always gets my attention. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

You might need to J but don't let that stop you . . . . 🤓 A-Jay

Like this then ? A-Jay

You tell me ~ 😎 A-Jay

We can take the dog out of the snow, but we can never take the snow out of the dog ~ Remembering Miss Fenway ❤️ A-Jay

Yea, that happens here too. A-Jay

My personal 2024 MVP 2nd place wasn't even close. Mine came straight from the motherland. A-Jay

Before I had a single Megabass 110 - I fished the heck out of that KVD bait - still do. Not sure what it is about it, whether it's the profile, the sounds, the movement or the little roll it does right before the pause, but some of my BIGGEST SMB have De-Molished both the 300 & the 300D. Three most fished /productive patterns for me are Clown, Ayu and Yellow perch. all seen in a fishes face below. https://youtu.be/s5YAlFDZ_C4?feature=shared&t=991 https://youtu.be/8p_YjczqvhE?feature=shared&t=454 https://youtu.be/zHxHdDmKudQ?feature=shared&t=740 Although not pictured here (yet) but if you have some "Deep" jerkbait spots, the new Strike King KVD 300 Sinking Deep Jerkbait is making a run at 'best deep bait' in my boat. A-Jay

I sit here at my keyboard, staring out the window at “The Wintery Mix” of snow, sleet and rain. Not exactly the most motivating deal. Either way, I’m going to use this thread as a way to help take my mind to a better place. And here we go . . . . . . While many of the previous editions of this annual thread have include quite a bit of supplemental bait information, this one is going to be short & sweet. Meaning simply limited to reflect the title of this thread. Many of the same baits from last/past seasons are once again showing up here. Here’s the link to 2023’s entry if you feel the need. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/258333-productive-baits-2023-~/ I will have to say that most all of the listed selections may be a direct result of where & more specifically when (time of year) I was on the water hunting plus size smallmouth bass. So without further ado . . . . Baits are listed after the picture. Megabass ITO Vision 110 – the Standard Bait, the Silent Bait, “LBO” model, the 110 +1 and the 110 +1 Jr. were all good. Letting the cat out of the bag right off the bat ~ The ITO Vision 110 in “shrimp” was easily my MVP for 2024. Just crazy good. #likeaperch SK KVD 300 and 300D LC 127 “Real Skin” – a perennial producer for me. Z-Man Jackhammer 3/8 & ½ with Yamamoto Zako Trailer SK Hybrid Hunter Jr. and Shallow Jr. Evergreen Grass Ripper Swim Jig – This one is like the Jackhammer of swim jigs – very High Quality. ¼ and 3/8 oz with a Keitech Swing Impact Fat trailer. SK Sexy Dawg Hard Knock Walking Bait Rapala X-Rap Sub Walk 5/8 oz. After my GoPro’s died during the post spawn, I had a day with this one. Megabass Pop Max – So Good. A-Jay’s Swinghead deal. Read last years installment for full details. I love fishing this deal. Jackall Drift Fry 4.0 & 5.2 On a Keitech 1/8 oz 3/0 jighead Megabass Giant Dog X Walking bait (this ones pretty small and NEEDS calm water to be effective). Freedom Tackle Freak LM/SM Willow Kilter Spinnerbait ½ & ¾ oz. I use a SK Blade Minnow Trailer. Had some ‘problems’ with A-Rigs failing past few season. Needed choose a new one and stick with it to see what it could do. Decided on the Hog Farmer Baits Tactical Bassin Mini Flex Rig. Changed pout terminal tackle to Sampo Ball bearing swivels and Owner Hyper wire split rings – so no clips. Head are Dirty Jigs Tactical Bassin Finesse Swimbait jigheads all 1/8 oz. Bait are either 3.8 or 4.3 Keitech Swing Impact Fat swimbaits. Managed a few plus sized fish – one just under six pounds. I use 17 lb mono on a MH Mod stick and I landed every fish that struck. So no gear failure. I like that. So there it is – now let’s hear and see what carried the load for you and maybe even a bait or two that actually saved your bacon. Stay Warm A-Jay https://youtu.be/V3OYj82bUXQ?feature=shared

Do It ~ ! A-Jay

Nice bass but unless you caught them on a spinnerbait, there's no credit applied. 🤓 A-Jay

I may be a week or so late posting this thread this time around and truth be told, I'm not 100 % sure Lake Menderchuck is even totally frozen over yet. But we've already had two fairly major blizzards in the past few weeks (first one broke an 80 year old single day snowfall record), so at this point, that's good enough for me. This is the part where I make my (never even close) obligatory ice out / open water date prediction. This year I'm tossing convention wisdom (like I have any of that) right out the window. I placed several random dates in a dog bowl and let Tank Pick it. He'll probably just nail it knowing Tank. Friday 11 April 2025 is what he's telling me, and I'm going with it. So that's 117 Days from today https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20250411T12&p0=5787&msg=A-Jay's+Annual+Ice+Out+%2F+Open+Water+Countdown+Thread+~&ud=2&font=cursive I've already started working on my gear and there always quite a bit to do with that. Even more this time around. So I've got time. As always, please feel free to add your comments, support, and yes, even the jabs; as I know they're inevitable & always quite entertaining. And for those folks that can & will get out on the water while I shovel my roof, don't forget to add a few pics of recent catches. All of which may help to pass the time, while I day dream of doing this again as soon as possible. Stay Safe A-Jay

Here's to an uneventful procedure and a speedy non-complicated recovery . . . Good Luck A-Jay

After my scheduled Off Day was spent relocating a couple metric tons of wet snow, I took a maintenance day yesterday. Back in the gym today for Workout Day 2. Went OK but I was feeling my age a bit in this one. Have to expect that, but I don't have to like it. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

My first entry into the 7 lb club came on 12 Sept 2017. She choked a big Biovex Spinnerbait on a vast grass flat. Got the video running just in time to capture the last part of the fight, the net job and the jubilation that ensued. https://youtu.be/IsGq2UNY_K8?feature=shared My second entry into this most prestigious club, came this spring, 6 years, 7 months and 11 days later, on 22 Apr 24. Sunny but super windy afternoon but the bite was nuts. She clobbered a Megabass Vision 110 Jerkbait in 10 feet of water. I had already released several 5 lb fish and a beast of a 6 lber. But 'this one' felt different right from the start. I dream about an 8 lber just about every night. A-Jay

Line is already sitting and on a spool. I just moved it from one spool to another. Also, it helps when you invest in the best line. A-Jay

Excellent ! A-Jay

Just fill up the space on the blank with something that won't melt when you heat up the shrink wrap grips. Doesn't take a ton of heat but as long as I went slow I was OK. I used the gun on 'low' so like 300 degrees I think. Good Luck A-Jay

Thanks ~ The spinning rigs split grip had a small diameter, so I needed a 'thicker' product to take up the space to come close to the grips that are there. Went with this https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-Cork-Bar-Tape-Marble/dp/B001V6SA1S/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.27b41115-b206-47c3-8621-713097e8442c%3Aamzn1.sym.27b41115-b206-47c3-8621-713097e8442c&crid=10KB2GLGHC7YM&cv_ct_cx=cork%2Btape&keywords=cork%2Btape&pd_rd_i=B001V6SA1S&pd_rd_r=adebbab9-dc02-4a18-ab13-4d0e0c31b31f&pd_rd_w=qX5N6&pd_rd_wg=BcXPJ&pf_rd_p=27b41115-b206-47c3-8621-713097e8442c&pf_rd_r=ZDY2D6W1A3SPJNC22HBG&qid=1734211798&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=cork%2Btape%2Caps%2C152&sr=1-4-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&smid=ARIZE2JCT3XTI&th=1 The casting rigs had a larger diameter blank which called for a 'thinner' product. I went with this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8DXGS4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?pd_rd_i=B07B8BWWSJ&pd_rd_w=gL9Mr&content-id=amzn1.sym.f2f1cf8f-cab4-44dc-82ba-0ca811fb90cc&pf_rd_p=f2f1cf8f-cab4-44dc-82ba-0ca811fb90cc&pf_rd_r=P1YWKJJN8MD4AT3956A2&pd_rd_wg=wfqcI&pd_rd_r=e7037fe5-b1ad-4da8-9fdf-954f3f2fe504&s=sporting-goods&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1 All completed utilizing One single layer backing with NO Overlapping. A-Jay

Done ~ A-Jay

Recently I mentioned in the 'Winter Projects' thread, that I was in the process of converting the remaining split grip rods I fish into what I'm going to call a "Hybrid Full Grip". Both spinning & casting rods were getting the treatment. I've had this 'idea' bouncing around in my head for a while now but was somewhat hesitant to make it happen. To reiterate, I am NOT a fan of Split grip sticks and felt like I have tolerated them long enough. I'm a two hand caster and really like something substantial to hold onto. Initially, I was just going to re-home many of these sticks, but there are way too many memories wrapped up in them at this point, so I went to plan B. Finally took the plunge, purchased 'the supplies' and went to work. The supplies included a Super basic heat gun, a few packs of Accu-Cull Rod Grips, and some cork tape for a base layer under the grip. While hiding in my basement from the excessive winter, I finished this deal up today. Came out a bit better than I actually expected, which rarely happens and without burning my fingers or melting a rod in half. #nosplitgrips A-Jay

New casting reels spooled and ready to ~ Project #22 A-Jay

Guess who stocked up while the Sunline website was dumping it all at half price with free shipping ? This guy. I use it as mainline for cranking, A-Rigs, and some topwater. Does double duty as leader material as well. A-Jay

So NASCAR then ? A-Jay

We am NOT routing for Global warning. Need the cold, ice & snow. Don't like it, move to a warmer climate. A-Jay