A-Jay

@snake95 What has helped me quite a bit boils down to preparation. Depending on the conditions, the gear and just about anything else that can factor into it, knowing what I want & need to do, in advance of get the bite I'm hoping to get, has been invaluable. When I first starting recording my fishing, it was obvious to even the most casual observer, that my fish fighting & landing 'technique', needed work. Streamlined the entire process. Being and staying Calm, Patient & Smooth, best I can. Once the fish is in the net, I can lose it and it doesn't effect the outcome. Good Luck. A-Jay

My objective is not to bring a wild, jumping & thrashing brown bass boat side. I prefer to slip the net under a 'controlled' fish. Doesn't always go that way but sometimes it does. We all hate losing big fish. Here's a clip of a decent smallie I got on a ned rig and an 8 lb Tatsu leader. (Even though I say 6 lb in the video, it was 8 lb). I was pretty sure on the hookset that this was a full grown one, so I took my time. Fish took a lot of line (turn up the volume and you'll the drag working) https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?feature=shared&t=61 A-Jay

Totally get that. A-Jay

"Being at stage 5 kidney failure my health is not the best to begin with and now I was facing what seemed like an impossible task and there was not another boat on the water." While I agree with your sentiment, I do believe there are exceptions. The above passage is from the OP and what prompted me to mention a motorized unit. A-Jay

And then there's this . . . . Frost in September. A-Jay

House, garage, dog kennel, boat, vehicle, mowers as well as any & all associated Lawn & snow removal equipment. If I can touch it, I can clean it. With the exception of the underside of my truck, I do. Along with that, if I can dismantle something (within reason) I clean that too. So my version of 'clean' is full send. Regardless of my somewhat relentless efforts, dog hair will forever be a condiment in our home. A-Jay

It's not the only way to present the bait, but it's how I 'figured' them out in the beginning. And it's been such a killer bait, I just needed to slow my roll. What I'm describing is very similar to fishing a blade bait. In cooler water the bait is allowed to go back to the bottom on a tight line. In warmer conditions a slack line fall seems a bit better. Good Luck. A-Jay

@galyonj @ol'crickety @Mobasser PLEASE consider changing the name of all your chatterbaits to "Vibrating Jig". And then think of them and fish them that way. #likeajig. Meaning ONLY move the bait with the ROD, not the reel. You'll be glad you did. My work is done here. A-Jay

I have never been in Jerry Seinfeld's kitchen. ? A-Jay

Late summer into early fall can be boom or bust for me. Fish seem really scattered all over the lake. But when the conditions are right early morning, shallow topwater can be the deal. Fish Hard A-Jay

Here's to staying safe out there. A-Jay

First off, Some Great Brown Bass right there ~ Nicely Done. More importantly, Congrats on hanging in there for that grueling journey back to the ramp. I'm so glad you made it safely and hope your next few days go OK. Perhaps it's time you invest in a motorized rig ? That type of deal can happen again. Be safe. A-Jay

Push 1 this morning. Chest, Shoulders & Triceps. Finished up with a new to me core exercise. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

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Clint Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations." What are yours? Here are some of mine: Never caught a fish on a glide bait. Years in the gym have improved my casting accuracy & especially distance. I have seriously consider adopting a Goby. I have a full arsenal of rigs - at least that's what I'm calling it. As hard as I try, waiting up to an hour for inexperienced boaters taking forever at the ramp to launch or recover their rigs, makes me want to spoon out an eye. Just I'm not a patient man. And if you want, share what you do well too. Here's me: I am a walking bait and popper ninja. Besides being mostly addicted to the presentation, it's accounted for many trophy class bass both internationally & domestically. Jerkbaits and Vibrating jigs are my spirt baits. I can burn a big spinnerbait until one or both of my arms fall completely off my torso. I have quite a bit of boat handling skills and experience that have come from hours on the water. (insert North Atlantic). I live for the night. I will fish as hard as I can for as long as I can, unfortunately including the travel, I max out now somewhere between 6 - 8 hours, start to finish. I wear too much HUK gear. A-Jay

Yesterday makes it a week at home. All I can say is, Amazing. Lynn's just about made a full recovery (serious relative term if there ever was one). Started slowly but now she's up & about and feeling considerably more stable on her feet. Even gets out with the dogs a few times a day. We'd both love it if she could get out on the water with me again, but that still seems a little ways off. Maybe next season. We've been through several of these kind of 'events' over the years. Each one seems to get a little more serious. Lynn's desire & ability to bounce back mentally, physically & emotionally is inspiring. True Inner Strength & Courage comes in all shapes and sizes. Thank you all for watching over us. A-Jay

Took my scheduled off day plus a Fishing Day and this morning I was back in the home gym. Workout #105 for 2023 and it was Legs 1. Believing in and then focusing on mastering the basics, has proven helpful in many aspects of my life. And seems especially important when it comes to health & fitness. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

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Hello Dave and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ I'm not a Kayak angler but am still looking forward to reading about your exploits here. Btw, what took you so long to ? j/k A-Jay

I just have no choice Man ! A-Jay

Fishing for smallmouth here, I have Never had a 100 fish day, nothing even close. 20 lb bags is a different story though, had a few of those. Usually takes 5 fish but I've done it a few times with 4. Although I've come close, I haven't been able to make it happen yet this season, but there's still some time. The previous two season were better. Best 2022 bag of brown bass came in May ~ 27.92 lbs. That one included two over 6 lbs. A first for me. Best 2021 sack came early April ~ 28.16 lbs I struggled in 2020 especially when compared to May 2019 ~ I recorded my heaviest one day 5 fish smallie bag to date ~ 29.46 lb. My personal Holy Grail would be to eclipse the 30 lb mark. I think about that a lot, especially during the long, cold, hard water winter. Either way, I dusted off and added my video efforts that recorded these most special days on the water. https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?feature=shared https://youtu.be/zIqCmH_52IQ?feature=shared&t=387 https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?feature=shared&t=60 A-Jay

Oh, I am most certainly part of the young and dumb club. If we're lucky, eventually we figure it out. Usually the sooner the better. A-Jay

Having a moral compass. As well as the confidence and self respect to use it. A-Jay

After a useful off day yesterday, it was Pull 2 this morning. Getting plenty of the right type of calories, hydration & sleep almost always sets me up for effective training. This felt like that. #borninfiftynine A-Jay