A-Jay

Nice Job ~ That bass certainly choked that one down. Must have been quite a battle - you lost a shoe ! A-Jay

He did. His answer - High Speed Trolling with deep diving crank baits. By all accounts, quite a devastating and rarely utilized tactic; often accounting for the largest bass in the system. Also, looking back at it, that was probably not the target species. A-Jay

I am not using split shot. The very detailed procedure Mr. Murphy provides, though compelling, is not something I am willing to do, for a few reasons. I do not want anything crimped on my line. I am fishing 10lb braid/leader not straight mono. And finally, I'm a tungsten fan. I am using the smallest tungsten bullet weights I could find. Instead of the crimping deal, I just use a stopper in front and behind the little weight. 1/16 to 1/8 depending on the water depth and wind strength. I have found the double anchor set up really is a must when fishing such a light weight in deep water. I could never maintain contact with the bottom or have any real sense what was going on with the bait otherwise. And despite their rather minuscule size, these little guys still provide quite a bit of bottom contour feedback. Of course the braid plays a big part in the increased feel as well. A-Jay

Trying to keep it simple and use baits/colors that I have confidence in. Mann's Jelly worm 9 inch and after the spawn I'll use 12 inch also. Zoom Magnum Trick worm only come in 7 inch Berkley Power worms 7 & 10 inch Assorted stick baits 6 & 7 inch mostly Senkos Colors are few - Black, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, Red Shad, And Black Grape. A-Jay

Ok, so here's my last trip. On the retrieve back in I had a visitor. It was one of those follows that you don't usually tell anyone about but you never forget it. These are the ones that make you keep going back to a spot over and over again even if you never catch anything. One thing that I'll mention here is about how this technique has required me to modify my mind set during the actual fishing. This method is so slow and requires such focus that I've had to make a conscious effort to reduce the speed at which I do everything while I'm out on the water. Those that know me would tell you that this is a bit of a departure from my normal presentation. But slowing it all down has helped me get accustomed to the technique. A-Jay

Thanks Dwight. The early mornings were calm but my 9:30 or so the winds came on pretty go - it's just the way it is. This lake's topographic orientation (Higher on the east & west and lower north & south) I get no break from anything north or south. East or west winds are more fisherman friendly. A-Jay

**** Trip Log **** Friday 07 June Fished 6am – 2pm / Air temp mid 60’s / Water Temp 62 / Winds NE 7 – 14 / Barometer 1015 & falling. The early morning set up is very exciting. There is always such a sense of anticipation and an expectation that any cast could be The One. This morning found me on one of my favorite spots on the most southern lake. It’s a spot in front of a big drop near a big beaver made brush pile that ends in 25 ft. of water. I set up in 38 ft. and fished the structure in front of the cover. I’ve taken nice bass here before but I was fishing the deeper section today. I’ll not be on the water again until after the weekend. According to my fishing logs, the next 2 or 3 weeks are traditionally very good. I’m really looking forward to sticking something epic. A-Jay

**** Trip Log **** Thursday 06 June / Fished 10:30am – 7pm / Air temp mid 60’s / Water Temp 61 / Winds NE 10– 15 / Barometer 1020 & falling. The sun was high and the wind was a factor; in a good way. I fished two spots on the middle lake that had the wind blowing in onto them. Mr. Murphy mentioned a couple of times that he found that the best big fish spots were open water areas that were routinely abused by the prevailing wind. Both the spots I fished today were in this category. These drop offs went from 20 ft. on the top and bottomed out at 35 ft. These type of areas are tough to fish. I tried to stay optimistic and fished hard today. Even though it was a mid-day outing I gave it it’s just due. Jambalaya was served. A-Jay

I'm out the door early this morning. I'll post up the report from yesterday as well as one for this morning when I get home later today. There is always something magical about a foggy morning. It brings the expectations up just a little higher. A-Jay

The sky is overcast and air temps are cool Barometer is falling and the new moon is on Saturday. I'm heading out - and I've got a plan. A-Jay

Thank Kent. I certainly appreciate the input. Besides have something close to 1300 miles between our "home Lakes", Steve and I are approaching this pursuit in 2 different manners. Clearly he has honed his craft and I'm just getting started. A-Jay

Very Nice ~ Some Good Looking Sweet Meat right there - Just waiting for a Sharp Thin Blade and a Hot Fat Bath . . . . . So you never did say, how did your Dad like that fine new ride of yours ? A-Jay

Congrats ~ ! Great Bass. A-Jay

Congrats shimmy What a great trip with so many fantastic Bass Pre spawn & jiggly piggly wiggly go together so well. A-Jay

Can't answer that one. Mr. Murphy promotes the method as a successful tactic for large pressured bass on structured lakes. I'm not fishing pressured fish per se and the structure on the waters I fish is quite a bit different than that described in the book. Also. large is a relative term. There are other methods presented by the author that could be called more traditional. As for my patience, you and I are both fishing. It's the catching that's different. Smaller bass are not my target, so my measure of success must be learning. A-Jay

I'm going to keep it in perspective. I can take comfort in the fact that I've caught a few fish before this season's big fish pursuit that I worked hard to catch and am proud of. So I believe in my abilities. I'm not saying I'm KVD, but I have amassed enough time on the water with an open mind, that I enjoy this hobby quite a bit now. Bill Murphy fished for years and years And Years before he complied enough data to write his book. Additionally, he did it in a time and in a place that had Monstrous bass. I'm not in that place or that time. In my area a 7lb bass is a very big fish and you just never hear of anything much bigger. I'm looking to get on these fish more than 1 or 2 a year. They live in this lake, there's got to be more than 2 and they definitely eat more than twice a year. I just have to figure out where they are and how to catch them. I might take several seasons and that's OK. It took me quite a while to learn how to catch bass that make up 95 % of the population. I'm fishing for the other 5%. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. It's the journey not the destination. I'll admit it's challenging, but if I don't find enjoyment along this path, I'll never stay on it long enough to reach the prize at the end. Just imagine if you couldn't fish . . . . . As for paying my dues, I am not close and the toll booth isn't even is sight. A-Jay

Another Fantastic Bass ~ ! Steve you clearly have this jig fishing thing down. A-Jay

Ok - have you considered drop shotting a jerkbait ? A-Jay

Thanks for the props but experience doesn't always equate to routine success; at least in my case. I think I know how you feel and do understand what and why you're asking. You're situation is a bit different than mine in that, you appear to be doing two things at once. First time structure fishing and looking for that big bite. I don't think you can go wrong if you break these up. Using techniques that provide any success builds confidence which will help you out quite a bit to stay the course while looking for the bigger bite. Search techniques (baits that cover water) are part of bass fishing basics. You know this and have used them in the past. Now it's simply a matter of applying them to cover deeper water. Something that I've come to believe is this; Fish don't always feed in the same place that they spend the rest of the day. So I try to adjust my fishing accordingly. I try to fish feeding places when I think they are looking to eat. Conversely, I'll work spots that I think the fish are holding in when they are inactive and try to get them to bite. Sometimes a slow bait works and other times a faster / reaction bait does the trick. Downsizing has become a popular way to trigger neutral fish (drop shotting). Feeding occurs where the bait is. Routinely this is when we find fish shallow. Low light helps to keep the bass feeling safe up there and makes early and later in the day prime times (night too). ALL of my "Bigger Bass" have come either early or late in the season and were relatively shallow. Knowing that these bigger fish just don't simply disappear mid season, I am now on a mission to find out where they go and how to catch a few. A-Jay

Reflecting on the Journey so far ~ Driving home from the lake tonight I was thinking about some of my choices and how they have or have not panned out. In no particular order, I came up with these: I chose this lake because I thought I was familiar with it. NOT. The more I fish it and the more I really break it down, spot for spot – there is so much more to learn and the only way to do it is to fish it. Sounds simple, but before this evolution, it was like I was “reading about fishing” and now, I’m fishing. Big Difference. It’s tough to evaluate spots when I haven’t found even one that I’d call productive. So, I still don’t know quite what to look for. I thought I did, but the fish have the final word there. My tackle and craft are adequate but my sonar is only marginally effective for this. I know there is a tooth fairy; but is there a down scan fairy? I find myself referring back to the book quite often. Hoping to find something that I may have missed. Perhaps an important detail that I’ve overlooked that will help. I haven't found it yet, but I’m still looking – H A R D . Often times I work a spot for 2 hours and make 15 casts to do it – stitching is not for the faint of heart. Post Spawn very soon, Crank baits will be a welcome distraction. I’d really like to use my net, scale and camera a bit more. How long do I continue fishing this lake without big fish results before I pick another lake? A-Jay

**** Trip Log **** Fished 9am – 7pm / Air temp mid 60’s / Water Temp 64 / Winds NW 5 – 10 / Barometer 1022 & rising. As I launched, the morning was cool. I started off on a spot I’ve been back to twice now. This was the second morning there. With the super clear and warming water, weeds have filled in much of the “shallowest” portion of this drop. I worked that deep side weed edge pretty hard with a worm and then a jig/craw. As the morning wore on, the air & water had warmed up quite a bit. The wind had laid out flat and there was not a cloud in the sky. It is a whole lot easier to feel what’s going on with the bait as one stitches in these conditions. I’m fairly certain I nodded off a couple of times there. Guess that tells you I didn’t get bit. By 1pm, it was time to relocate. I decided to motor to a drop outside an east side cove on the middle lake. It’s a fairly small spot and one I’ve yet to fish. Once positioned, I found that the weed growth there didn’t extend quite as deep and the break was fast from 15 to 30 ft. A small feeder creek empties into the far back end of the cove. Turns out this area is Pike-ville. And they let me know in no uncertain terms, that if I keep crawling baits up the drop, they would be very willing to eat them. However at least half the time, I would not be getting my bait back. At 4 pm and 4 or 5 snot rockets later, I moved. As I was relocating, the sky clouded up and a bit of rain began to fall. It was refreshing for me but it was not forecasted and I didn’t have rain gear with me (go ahead, say it Dwight). Even so, I hoped that this change in conditions might inspire some action by a fatty or two, so I was willing to get a little damp for the cause. In what would have to be construed as a strategic move, (as it’s on the way to the ramp) I fished a drop on the first lake in front of the creek that connects the first and second lake. It’s a busy spot on weekend as PWC and pontoon boats go lake to lake, but mid-week it’s quite and there’s always a load bait in the area. Stitched a 6 inch stick bait. Couldn’t get bit deep and couldn’t keep the dinks off it shallow. By 7 pm, I was a definitely moist and getting pretty close to wet, so I pulled the plug. A-Jay

Despite the over night frost, the sun is shinning now and it's a nice morning. Looking forward to getting back out on the lake, it's been a while. Good to see that wind is light and variable & from the west. I'm heading out. A-Jay

Hammer - Time ~ ! Nice Job. A-Jay

Wearing your shirts is one thing, however carrying your handbag is definitely crossing the line . . . . A-Jay

A-Jay