A-Jay

My Last Trip out onto Lake Menderchuck in the Pro-V Bass for 2024 was productive . But more importantly, it was wicked FUN ! A-Jay

I'd describe my version of this as experienced rather than analytical. And so I do both ~ A-Jay

I may have a few more shots at improving my totals before the final curtain falls. But like most every fall in recent memory, I'll no doubt be cutting close. A-Jay

Before heading to Lake Menderchuck to make my assault on the local Smallmouth bass population, I knocked out Workout Day 3. Went well and I'm feeling it this morning. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

My rattle / No Rattle choice usually is determined by water depth and clarity. The shallower and clearer the area I'm fishing is, the more I am apt to choose a silent bait. This approach as paid huge dividends on big brown bass for me the past several years. I have also used silent baits as a 'clean up bait'. Meaning after I've been through an area and taken a few, but the bite seems shut off, going back with a silent bait has gotten me some extra fish I might not have held otherwise. Often some fatties too. The Megabass 110 silent in perch has been a solid producer, especially with the wind at my back in skinny water. One problem with many silent baits is, they do usually lack any type of a weight transfer system, so they are not the best casting baits #potatochip. Not the best deal when fishing skinny water where getting the bait as far away from the boat as possible can be critical to getting the right bites. Enter the Megabass 110 LBO (not the MAX). It has a magnetic weight transfer system, casts like a ROCKET, but is silent when worked in a traditional Jerk / pause manner. Runs shallower at like 3-5 ft or so. Just started fishing it this season and all indications are, I expect to be doing damage with this one. Now we NEED Megabass to come out with the 110 +1 LBO. I would be very happy. A-Jay

While the clips may give the appearance that I'm riding around, the reality is I always going someplace. It's just that there is often a bit of a cruise involved. But I am usually heading directly to trophy town. I don't pass go and never collect $200, A-Jay

Dedicated Jerkbait rod - I say yes. If you fish them enough and you enjoy fishing them and you might even get addicted to fishing them - like I am. Here's a little fuel for the fire . . . . A-Jay

Had to find a way to get out on the water today as it was just stupid nice for the 3rd week of Oct up here. Water temps at 54 were twenty degrees colder than the air temps. When does that happen in October ? Like never at the 45th parallel. Spent most of the afternoon working a favorite long main lake point. I was hoping for one good bite and I think I would feel good. Water was very clear and I started with an assortment of Rage Bugs on a swinghead - no surprise I suppose. After a while with no takers I went to the jerkbait. Good Move as a nice fatty nailed it on like the third cast. Worked pretty hard switching back & forth between the swinghead and the jerkbait. Caught a couple more 'trophies in training', the best bass was the 4 something. So I got my one good bite and I went home at sunset happy. This wildly nice weather is bound to change drastically and soon. So this season is not far from over. A-Jay

Ride around ? I know where and what I'm fishing before I get there. So Pre-rig with plan A, B C & D for me. Some days I fish one rod all day. Other days I fish every rod all day.. Those are usually tougher days. A-Jay

Had to find a way to get out on the water as it was just stupid nice for the 3rd week of Oct up here. Paid off too. A-Jay

Wake up to great coffee brought right to your room. Go be served breakfast. Go catch giant bass while enjoying gorgeous scenery and warm sub-tropical weather. Come back to be served lunch. Take a short nap. Go fishing until sunset. Come back eat a great meal. Go to sleep. Get up and do it all again - for 5-7 straight days. Oh, and your guide does it ALL. Now THAT'S a fishing vacation. Good Luck A-Jay

What do you hope to learn this winter? Do I have what it takes mentally, physically, spiritually & emotionally to keep this going for a 46th consecutive year ? A-Jay

@Ohioguy25 Of the presentations you mentioned, many are chunk & wind. Which is fine. But IMO, there are very few horizontal moving baits that rely more on angler input to generate bites, than a jerkbait. Many baits sort of whizz by the bass; jackhammers, spinnerbaits and the like. But a jerkbait hangs right in the basses face, she almost always gets a really good look at it and what it's doing (or not doing) So while any 'work horse rig' might get a few bites, having a stick that makes the bait do the magic dance in a manner that elicits many strikes, can be very beneficial. We can all accomplish that in different ways. I use and prefer a slightly parabolic M/F spinning rod for most all of my jerkbait needs. And I get a few. A-Jay

You know I get it. I'm living my own version of the mindset. Decent chance we both know that the 'mindset' has about 10 layers and only comes with countless hours on the water. Even then, there's no guarantee that the light will go on. Always impressed by the way you go about your business and the results speak for themselves - Haven't even mentioned that it all happens at night which is borderline insane. A-Jay

In a nut shell ~ Well Said. I fished 8 hours yesterday for one bite and Never got it. Catching half a dozen tight eyes wouldn't have made me feel any better or less sore. Nature of the game. 👌 A-Jay

@The Budget Angler As mentioned above, there needs to be big bass in the system you're fishing. If there is not, that's your first move - Move. Also if you are, STOP using dink bass baits to get bites. Clearly, big bass eat small baits but dink bass eat them too. Perhaps Eliminate the use of neg rigs, anything with the word neko in it as well as 'downsized' stuff. Fish baits 8 inch bass can't eat. Replace the above with full sized Jigs with a trailer that's a mouth full, Big Spinnerbaits, Swimbaits of at least 5 inches and A-Rigs. And although I am allergic to them apparently, and might be the only man on the planets that is, Full sized Glide baits get big bites for everyone else. I think you get the idea. A 3 inch Senko isn't your friend right here. Good Luck A-Jay You are fishing is big bass heaven. Try thinking big bass in northern Vermont and get back to us ~ A-Jay

My 'hooksets' are tackle dependent. Each type of tackle, (rod, line, terminal tackle & hook), will transfer my 'power' in it's own way. So my hooksets are all the same, mostly. But the amount of force applied changes. No matter how 'hard' I set the hook, with medium light spinning gear, I can never duplicate what happens at the end of Heavy casting gear. So rather than trying to guess what I need each time, I do the same thing and let the gear do what it's designed to do. If I get choose the right gear, I'm usually OK. YMMV A-Jay

That unit served us well for a long time so really can't complain. My alternate heat source is a wood burning stove and I have plenty of fuel for the fire. But it was Too Warm to light that deal up. We would roast unless it's at least below 20 degrees and we were in the 40-60 range. So it wasn't so bad. Either way, we're good to go now. Lynn's recovery as always has had a few bumps in the road. But trending OK. A-Jay

DAIWA SERVICE GETS YOU BACK ON THE WATER https://www.daiwa.com/us/service/warrantyservice/index.html ROD WARRANTY Daiwa rods are covered by a 1 year, 5 year, or limited lifetime warranty accordingly depending on the model of the rod. The warranty extends only to the original owner. Once the rod is received, our service technicians will inspect to identify the issue, and if it is determined to be a manufacturing defect, we will repair or replace the rod at no charge. In case the damage to the rod is determined to not be warranty eligible (missing parts, accidental, misuse, inadequate care, wear and tear) a replacement rod will be offered for a discounted charge. An estimate will be sent to customer showing the cost of the replacement. The customer must make payment to Daiwa before shipment of replacement rod. Please follow these instructions when returning rods or reels for warranty repair: *DO NOT CUT RODS*, enclose proof of purchase and a Repair Request Form with nature of problem. Also, please list the model name and number of rod and your return address. To protect against loss or damage in transit, your rod should be carefully packaged and adequately insured. Please retain all shipping receipts. SERVICE REQUEST FORMS REEL SERVICE REQUEST FORM - CLICK HERE ROD SERVICE REQUEST FORM - CLICK HERE A-Jay

Yup ~ Still making it happen. Workout Day 2 today. Switched up the repetition sequence on this one. Added some 1 and 1/2 reps to the deal. Always a good time. Looks like a fishing weekend so I might take an extra day or two off. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Sorry about your stick. Once you understand that quality $59 rods are long gone, you'll be able to feel better moving forward. I'd recommend looking seriously at the new St Croix Avid line. Both spinning and casting. I just invested in a bunch myself. Very happy. Good Luck 👍 A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Good Luck on your Boat shopping and quest for the 12 lber. A-Jay

I name it Lake Menderchuck and visit at the best times. That usually means early season and tomorrow. A-Jay

Workout Day 1 today. Had to squeeze this one in late afternoon. Not my favorite time of day to train, but certainly wasn't going to blow it off. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Here's a few jerkbait eating specimens ~ A-Jay