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

X2 ~ ! Sun exposure is just another one of those seemingly innocent situations in life that while it's happening, feels good. But once you realize that you've over done it, sometimes it too late. Despite all the warnings and advertisements, so many just refuse to believe that it can end your life quite prematurely. I wrap myself up like a mummy and that's all there is to it. A-Jay

A-Jay

I'm glad you're enjoying it and thanks for saying so. It's fun for me as well. I have intentions of keeping this going as planned and will post trip reports and comments as I get out. Unfortunately my lady has been having a tough go of it this past week. I have not gone fishing. Her Chemo is on Monday, that usually takes her a few days to recover from. We are looking forward to better days and take nothing for granted. A-Jay

Congrats Chris ~ That looked like a very good time. A-Jay

A-Jay

Congrats to you Both ~ ! Looks & Sounds like one of those days we all hope for every time we go out. A-Jay

I'm throwing 1/2 oz. almost exclusively. My swim jig use is usually pretty deep, and so as you mentioned, I am using a slower retrieve. The actually baits I use are pictured below. A-Jay

Directly from the man himself ~ A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/118549-favorite-swim-jig-trailer/?p=1297244

Though it's not new, it's effective either way. A-Jay

I'll say to you right off, this is not meant to discourage you as I'm right there with you, working out 4-5 days a week. Fact is, I've been resistance / weight training for going on 35 years. And as for routines, I employed many more than I can remember. One small bit of advice I'll offer to you is this; "Bulking" and "Cutting" is fun, and it takes a lot of hard work and commitment. But as you Push yourself past what is your genetically programmed state, it takes a toll. How much of a toll depends on how hard and how long you push. While in your 30's and 40's you might not recognize it. I didn't. Once in your 50's and beyond, mark my words, you certainly will. You may even adversely affect the quality of your life. Think about it this way, your body has only so many "Reps" in it. If you use them all up early, there may not be much left later. And later, is tough enough when you're in good shape, let alone if you're worn out. Instead of attempting Wild Fluctuations, I encourage you to find a place in your training where strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health and reasonable body composition all meet and stay there. This might not be what "The Cool Kids" do, but you'll be much better prepared to face your day to day life when you get to where I'm at right now. I wish someone had given me this advice 20 years ago, though I'll admit that I might not have listened. A-Jay

Since a "Punching Rig", instead of a standard jig, is the bait of choice to go through the thickest and nastiest Mats, how does a standard jig fish through heavy hydrilla and duckweed more effectively ? A-Jay

X2 ~ A-Jay

This is pretty close ~ A-Jay

X2 ~ A-Jay

Nice Job ~ That's a Pretty Golden color on that Laker . . . . A-Jay