A-Jay

Agreed. However there are gobies all over this country. Most will never see a fish like this with or without them. However if and when a basshead can combine commitment, dogged determination, over the top preparation and flawless execution, there's always a chance. A-Jay

Thank Scott ~ Pulled this one from the archives just for you . . . Not my smoothest deal but still OK. A-Jay

Thanks but don't blame me ~ It's all the fishes fault - I swear . . . . A-Jay

Local By-Catch on the bigger inland waters here includes Musky, Pike, Walleye & Trout. Early season, the brown and rainbow trout are a total blast on light spinning gear, putting on quite a show. My strike to land ratio on big Musky is pretty low but I've managed to hold a few. Pike are almost always a huge PIA, even when they are bigger. They trash everything. But when I hook a big one, I'll still work hard to land it; just to get my bait back if nothing else. When the toothy critters are thick, I'll either move or add a trace of wire. Then there's the walleye, I like them. Because they taste very good, I'll knock the sides of a limit of cutters just about every chance I get. I will often make them my target species after initially heading out for Brown Bass. Depends if the season's open on them yet or not. Panfish taste awesome too, just not a fan of cleaning so many at a time. A-Jay

I do use color coded rod sleeves to locate sticks in the rod locker. Which admittedly is often full most of the time. Still have to 'remember' which color means what. But I can usually get it pretty close. A-Jay (btw-this is only what I could fit on the deck)

Here ya go ~ The solution to all your problems . . . https://www.carvana.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=sem_b&utm_term=1&utm_campaign=382590914&utm_content=1220458366383788&utm_target=kwd-76278984290743:loc-71304&utm_creative=&utm_device=c&utm_adposition=&utm_rw=1&msclkid=c3101ffd50651b26777c798a43d97832 A-Jay

Nice Bass ~ Congrats btw- how about a new name for this lake. Might even improve your luck a little. At least you were wearing black A-Jay

Hate to sound like a cynic but while giving boating safety classes to tournament anglers sounds like a noble endeavor, it's a total waste of time IMO. And I mean total. This entire nation of vehicle operators ALL pass a rules of the roads test, and there's roads, and signs and even LEO presence all over the place. Are the roads safer - No. Face it, the lakes river & reservoirs have no roads, channels markers yes, but no one knows what they mean or even how to use them. Speed limit signs and no wake warning are completely ignored. Just like on the road. And with far less LEO presences on the water, every single day is a total free for all. Jet Ski's, Wake Boats, Water ski towers, tube pullers, Bass fisherman, no one's exempt. They can advertise and do whatever they want. We would all like to believe that Classes and education is the answer or maybe it would even help a little but it will not make much of a difference at all. It takes real people making unselfish decisions on the water to change anything. And that will never happen. At least not in my life time. Folks won't even wear seat belts. It's just amazing that the carnage isn't worse, but when it happens, I don't understand why folks act so surprised. 🥴 A-Jay

Thanks ~ Yes an Old Town Square Back Canoe. And fortunately we were anchored when both pike hit. A-Jay

Use HEAVIER TACKLE; much heavier. The 'fight' will be considerable shorter, with less time for things to go sideways. Good Luck A-Jay

You do know that any of these 'obscured' or partially obscured deals are easily over come now with another app. So either crop the entire pic off or just don't bother. A-Jay

I don't always fish a ned rig but when I do, the Big TRD is all I ever use. Green Pumpkin and The Deal have both been popular with the ladies. https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?feature=shared&t=61 A-Jay

I have to admit @MediumMouthBass I do enjoy being one of lucky few who have managed to purchase several new GMC trucks that remain trouble free for the entire duration of my ownership time. Can't imagine dropping that kind of scratch on anything less. When they run right - they're actually pretty nice. A-Jay

A-Jay

My full order arrived this morning via FedX. So at least there's some hope if others got their orders in prior to any inventory exhaustion, they would get it. A-Jay

So it's day 3 for me - Covid Again ~ WTH Enjoying all the same delightful symptoms while living in the basement. Might be 3 or 4 WEEKS before I'm able to be back in the home gym. But when I can , I will be, Yup, this sux. A-Jay

I drove the 04 & the 05 and they were both 5.7 and not my cup of tea. 3rd gear in the 06 with 6.0L sealed the deal for me. Driving it brought back so many memories. Fun actually driving a ride again - no tech. Just a seat, a radio, a big motor and 3 pedals ! Ah the good old days. Went through some rubber. A-Jay

2006, year before I retired, I bought myself a birthday present. 2006 Pontiac GTO (Last Year they made them). LS2 6.0L 6 speed short shifter along with a few other after market tweaks. ALWAYS wanted a rear wheel drive road eater and this what certainty that. Just a Blast to drive. After 10 years 2016, I sold her for cash to my local GMC dealer. The money help finance my Lund Pro-V Bass. I miss it a little. A-Jay

Big fish on spinning or casting ? We've all either done it or heard stories of crazy big catches on both gear. And while mutants on spinning gear routinely seems more impressive, it may not be The Best way to Go IMO. I believe it's important to define what we're calling "Big Fish". For me and for the sake of this discussion that would be LMB over 10 lbs and a SMB over 6 lbs. This sizes seems to challenge me the most from hookset, through the fight and hopefully into the net. I have only ever landed big LMB on MH & H casting gear armed with at least 20 to 25 lb mono/FC. And knowing what I know now, and while I might be able to do it, I'd never honestly fish for those big mouth beasts on spinning tackle. It's feels like bringing a knife to a bazooka fight. I have also been fortunate enough to land some very respectable smallmouth bass on both spinning and casting gear. As @WRB mentioned above, when the tackle is 'matched to the situation', both are equally effective in my mind. Finally, the biggest challenges for me when landing plus size bass on any gear, is to have a plan to land the fish in advance of hooking up and staying PATIENT ! Fish Hard https://youtu.be/UYTzJHDCdMo?feature=shared&t=882 https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?feature=shared&t=1014 https://youtu.be/W2jqCf7BVAE?feature=shared&t=18 https://youtu.be/c8ncmrbV3-M?feature=shared&t=615 A-Jay

The gathering of debris on trailer bunks when the boat is elsewhere, regardless of the type, is something that plagues every trailer. I figured out that a quick wipe down with something like 303 Protectant before I load my rig each time, cleans off the grit and grime, helps with UW ray protection while keeping the boat coming and going on & off the trailer very easily. Might work with Gator bunks too although I am just guessing. A-Jay

Congrats on your new personal best. Always a good time. Also I have a feeling that you're not done yet. A-Jay

Get the Duck Boats Ready ~ ! A-Jay

I wouldn't try that here. #montezuma’srevenge A-Jay

Workout Day 2 this morning. #borninfiftynine https://youtu.be/uZDOhCfbJNI?feature=shared A-Jay

And to add insult to injury, I'm pretty sure he caught it off his dock on a worm from a Walmart live bait container dangling under a bobber. A trophy smallmouth bass anglers worse nightmare ! The DNR 'verified the record' after the fish had been in the guys freezer for a week. Just shoot me now. A-Jay