A-Jay

Thanks - You called it. I'm writing up a short report post now that includes a very brief video of this particular catch. A-Jay

I am addicted to a wide open jerkbait bite. Past few years, I've done OK fishing a jerkbait in windy conditions. https://youtu.be/W2jqCf7BVAE?feature=shared But calmer conditions have been pretty good too. https://youtu.be/k3Z48BqFWuw?feature=shared&t=586 A-Jay

Swing heads at sunset today ~ A-Jay

The Best of my sunset swinghead bite today ~ A-Jay

A-Rig & a Spinnerbait came through for me ~ A-Jay

I live & fish in northern lower Michigan. 95% of my fishing involves chasing Smallmouth bass, mostly in open water type deals. So I'm not flipping much and rarely do I throw a frog. But I'm good with that. My topwater rigs are all similar to this ~ A-Jay

Workout Day 2 today. The benefits of living this life style are many and can not be over stated. If you're not exercising regularly, I sincerely hope you'll consider making it a part of your life. It's never too late. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Besides jerkbaits in the spring, Fall topwater is my jam ! I really look forward to it. And that 'pause' rules. A-Jay

5 https://youtu.be/-yyTutHFUlg?feature=shared A-Jay

Tough to beat a Stihl Farm Boss. This MS290 20" bar has done some cutting. Keep it tuned, the chain sharp and not much slows it down. A-Jay

I am fairly particular when it comes to my line selections, because IMO, it matters. I've had some decent lines and leader materials come & go. My preferences have change a bit over the years. I use all FC mainline casting reels. Braid & leader for all spinning reels. Leaders are either FC or Mono depending on the application. A couple of years ago, on the advice of @WRB (Thanks Tom) I switched from Big Game (green) to Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo for my mono leader needs. Smaller diameter for the same test, good arbasion properties and supreme Knot strength. Especially when connected to thin Braid. I like it. Big Game was good but I think this is better. Maxima Ultra Green is very good as well, just has a bit bigger diameter for it's test. A-Jay

From Minn Kota Web site ~ SHAFT LENGTH RECOMMENDATION: Choosing the proper shaft length is important; if it’s too short, the prop won’t be sufficiently submerged. We recommend submerging the center of the motor section at least 12 inches. (*See below for a few exceptions to this recommendation) *Add 5" to waterline measurement for fishing in rough water. Optimal operating mode is with the engine trimmed all the way down. *Add 9" for bow-mount Hand Control motors. *We recommend that the propeller tip is submerged at least 12" below the water line to avoid churning or agitation of the water surface. Remember these are just 'recommendations'. As @Dwight Hottle noted above, fishing big water often requires a longer shaft length to compensate and account for the rise and fall of your rig over a decent swell. Especially if the waves are close together. I use a 62 inch Fortrex, which is a bit longer than 'recommended by Minn Kota for my rig. But there are times when my prop is still grapping air half the day. Not Ideal but it's the longest shaft they made at the time and the new ones are even shorter. BOW TO WATERLINE (IN) RECOMMENDED SHAFT LENGTH (IN) 0" to 10" 36" 16" to 22" 42" to 45" 22" to 28" 48" to 52" 28" to 34" 54" to 60" 34" to 52" 72" to 87" 52" to 72" 100" Good Luck with your purchase A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Better be a cold WHITE Winter, we REALLY need it. Something like this would be good . . . for at least 5 months. Nov - March Besides I can't do an Ice out thread with no ice ! A-Jay

I knew I was getting older when I forgot what CRS stands for. But the good news is, now I can hide my own Easter eggs. A-Jay

Well, the fishing was anything but decent, so I did not take an extra day off. Back in the home gym for workout Day 1. Going into this one, I didn't feel like I was at my best. But I dropped it into 4 wheel low and powered through best I could. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Been some seriously tough sledding for this guy the past few trips. And it doesn't look like it's going to change much right away either. This entire first HALF of OCTOBER, the weather has or is forecast to be, TOO NICE TO FISH. Never though I be putting that one out there. Could a brother get a little cloud cover and some seasonable daytime Coolness ? 🥴 A-Jay

Hate it for both of us, but I am right there with ya ~ Last two trips on two different lake Menderchucks. I went Sunrise to Sunset, (Plus the drive) which is a marathon for this OG. #toast Got No Bass - so you did better than me. Worst part for me is, I'm clueless as to when the smallies are and perhaps more importantly, where the heck they might show up next. Expect better results here in Oct and it's Not the way I want to wrap up any season. But I'll keep fishing when I can and we'll see what happens. Might have to breakout the Old Town Canoe and play some small ball. Help me . . . . 😎 A-Jay

And just to finish this one off ~ I've run my Leash equip rig around Lake Menderchuch a couple of times now since the initial install. As always put her through the paces. Bottom line, Boat still runs like a raped ape. And like I said before, pretty much forgot it was even back there. Stay Safe A-Jay

Workout Day 5 today. Always feels good getting through each one of these five training cycles. Looking forward to my off day tomorrow. Might even take an extra one if the fishing's decent. Either way, I'll be ready for the next one. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Looks like a most excellent time was had by all. Plenty of Fat brown bass too. Congrats A-Jay

@T-Billy beat me to it ! Yes. In my mind nothing else displays the same 'little vunerable school of bait' better than the rig. I also do not discount the magic of all the vibration made by 5 smimbaits, not to mention the visual appeal. I would use four 3.3 inch dummies and a 3.8 or 4.2 inch Hooked bait in the middle. Finally, I fish SEVERAL DIFFERENT BAITS for brown bass. The A-Rig Is The ONLY bait the bigger bass will follow All The way to my boat and often still eat it. So there must be something to it's hypnotic power. YMMV A-Jay

I can fish 5 hooked baits here but the middle and bottom 2 baits are the only ones they ever eat. So to lighten the load, I use dummies with no hook at the top two, and 1/8 oz heads on the bottom two and the middle. Rig ends up far easier to fish all day and still gets bass. Especially for an old and feeble gent such as myself. A-Jay

How many home runs have you hit with one at bat ? A-Jay