A-Jay

Year in and year out, one of the biggest challenges for me when it comes to staying fit and especially getting in the gym, revolves around keeping myself motivated. While the convenience of the home gym is awesome, the view never changes. It’s like ground hog day – every – single - workout. The addition of the years I’ve been at this can be a double edge sword at times. But keeping my eye on the prize and the big picture often helps me be ‘creative’. However, I can only change a workout out so many times and at some point everything old is new again. Bottom line, basics work. There’s just rarely a need for anything else. Same thing goes for my diet. Even still, The 63 year Old Guy in me has a voice, and it’s been getting louder with each passing year. He sings the same song. It’s called ‘Blow it off’ and it seems to be his favorite tune. Hope to keep him at bay again this coming year. Managed to do it 181 times in 2022. Looking back is a motivator for me. 2023 Here I Come ! A-Jay

Plenty of notable deals going on in this one ! Early in the 2022 season I managed two smallies over 6 lbs which was a first for me. They ended up anchoring a bag that went over 27 lbs. Late summer 2022, I was able to introduce myself to these two mutants. Biggest of which was a popper fish. Hard to beat brown tanks on topwater. Finally, but no less memorable for me, I was able to help a fellow basshead document his new PB Smallie. Really special. Good Times A-Jay

Interesting how it happens (or doesn't) sometimes. That 7.29 was a freak of nature when it comes to shape. Almost looks like there was something wrong with it, but maybe in a good way. As for the when & where; that was/is definitely a time & place deal. One that I have capitalized on just about every late summer/fall since. First found some bass feeding on perch in about 8 ft off this flat several hundred yards from where I eventually caught this one. I kept seeing feeding bass in 'shallower' but could believe the bigger bass would "be in there". We're talking 3-4 feet of crystal clear water, dark bottom helps but that's still pretty skinny for 5, 6 & 7 lb brown bass (not spawning) to be feeding in- so I 'thought'. Next morning right at daylight, I was waiting for them. It's was like a light switch went on literally & figuratively. Carnage. Topwater when it's flat & something moving when it's not; spinnerbait, Jackhammer. A-Rig came into play later in the morning when the fish moved back out to the 8-10 ft zone. Bottom line, it's sort of not 'typical' but does demonstrate fish will go where the food is. Tried the total darkness deal, and there were was no sign of life. Get that very first light (before the sun) on the water - it's magic baby. Overcast can extend it. Any other Boat traffic totally kills it. Sometimes it's over in less than an hour and it takes me at least 2 closer to 3 hrs to get up there & on the spot. But it only takes one cast. I'm almost always In & Out of there before ANYONE else is even on the lake. Then boats totally rip all over that area just about all day, none the wiser. A-Jay

This last block on the 2022 calendar was reserved for Total Body 3 this morning. Went well and I'm ready for a de-load. Taking a few days off but plan to come back with a slightly different deal to start of the new year. Stay Safe. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Not sure but my thumb is really cramping right there ? A-Jay

Picked up a modest selection spring 2022 ~ Never got a bite all year. Some day I'm going to learn me some jerkbaitin' stuff. A-Jay

I'll be spotting many of you bassheads quite a head start. So for now, I'm just going to drop this one off as comic relief . . . Get one for me. A-Jay

Brown Bass ~ and I don't always wait until all the ice is out . . . . A-Jay

Three for me ~ Green, Brown & Striped. A-Jay

What are your fishing goals for 2023? With more calendar pages behind me than there probably are in front of me, there's quite a bit that needs to keep happening in order to be fishing in 2023 at all. Especially considering the average length of the hard water season here. Sitting on my duff for 5 months and then expecting to be on my feet for days on a rocking & rolling boat, making way too many cast, without at least some preparation, seems less than ideal. So staying healthy & active tops the list. A clean diet, regular exercise and ensuring I am getting sufficient sleep are all 'goals' that on the surface may not appear like they are fishing related but for those of us at this end of the road & beyond, we know the deal. Challenging myself mentally and keeping a positive attitude runs a close second. With all that in my hip pocket, I want to be on the water as much as I can. And when I do, I want to fish hard. Which can mean a few different things but perhaps most importantly means being & staying present. I am actually going to make a goal of 'slowing down' while on the water. That goes for everything, from my thought processes all the way down to & including my presentations. So quality over quantity then. Stay Safe A-Jay

A-Jay

Even our foster dog Aries is ready for game day.... Go Blue A-Jay

Valid point ~ Just checked and I'm about 15 weeks into this 'cycle'. Sure could benefit from one. But at 63, most everything gets stiff pretty fast. (No not that) At least some mobility can help. I might take an extra day or two after new years, but I'm not feeling like I need more than that. Especially mentally. Truth be told, I only have two modes, productive & destructive. Training keeps me away from the later. A-Jay

I'll post my best 5 Brown Bass stats & pics below, but I would be Very Surprised to see something clear the OP @Dwight Hottle efforts. #giants After this season, my 'life time numbers' are at 7.29 lbs, 6.94 lbs, 6.54 lbs, 6.25 lbs & 6.20 lbs for 33.22 lbs Baits that caught them in the order above: Spinnerbait, Ned Rig, Jackhammer, Repo Man, & a Megabass 110 +1 Jr. And for the inquiring minds that was way points 343, 927, 555, 186 & 1113. btw - someone ask me again if I want to retire somewhere else - Go ahead. Fish Hard A-Jay

Right off the bat, the only split ring I use for anything is the Owner Hyper Wire. Size 2 for this purpose. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Hyper_Wire_Split_Rings_Black/descpage-OHWSB.html My first choice for an actually ball bearing swivel, is to repurpose one off a larger spinner bait that's been fished beyond it's life expectancy - 3/4 and 1 oz baits mostly. As for 'replacing spinnerbait swivels few companies offer actual ball bearing after market versions that are small enough not to hinder the action/vibration of the spinnerbait wire. Sampo Ball Bearing Swivel w/ Split Rings IS THE GOLD STANDARD in the category but they are hard to find and not cheap. https://usatacklestore.com/collections/sampo-1/products/sampo-ball-bearing-swivel-w-split-rings-d-series-12-pc-bags Accordingly, I resorted quality barrel type swivels and frankly I can't tell the difference in the water. Blades all spin fine. Here's what I go with . . . SPRO Power Swivels: Size 10 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/SPRO_Power_Swivels/descpage-SPS.html Owner Micro Hyper Barrel Swivel: size 8 or 10 *****These units are Very Small. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Micro_Hyper_Barrel_Swivel_10pk/descpage-MHB.html Hope this helps. Fish Hard A-Jay

Great Bass ! Congrats. (I am out of my allotment of likes so you get the double smileys instead) A-Jay

What else would it be ? The spinnerbait arm loop is always closed, so that didn't open up and 'let' the blade out. The next line of defense is the split ring. When the baits come back on board with a naked arm, I'm left to make that deduction. I may not be a smart man Jenny, but even I could get to that one on my own. A-Jay

I'm taking the long way around on this one. (I got that kind of time) When I first started night fishing here for smallies, a spinnerbait was my most productive deal. Still is at times. A single Oklahoma blade was killer. (I Frankenstein a SK Hack Attack bait). But I was getting massive strikes, and never getting a hook in the fish. And to add insult to injury, the bait was coming back with No Blade ! ? ! Turns out the fish were striking the blade & not the skirt & swimbait trailer with the hook in it. A closer examination revealed that the split rings it both ends of the ball bearing swivel were seriously inadequate to deal with the carnage and would simply fail. Hence - no blade. This was putting a serious damper on my deal and required immediate attention. The remedy was up grading the split rings. Sounded simple enough but now there was another problem. The opening in the stock swivel ends are pretty small, too small to accommodate anything other than the thinnest wire rings which we had already determined were no good. So I need to plus size the ball bearing swivels just enough to get a slightly bigger and much stronger split ring through it. After quite a bit of trial & error, we got her done. But it was a heck of an affair. Worth it though, because now when they hit the blade I just keep right on reeling and they usually end up in the net. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. A-Jay

I've collected a few myself over the years. Fish many of them. Sold a bunch. And saved some special ones to help remember a certain time in my life, a notable trip, or that special fish. It's just one of the many aspects of this sport that can always 'take you back' to a memorable time & place. This Mud Bug does that for me. (circa 1974) A-Jay

How much do y’all talk about fishing in your daily life ? It's probably 50/50 dogs / fishing up in here. A-Jay

Maybe ~ Has happened to more than a couple of big fish hunters (of various species) over the years. Folks following them around, waiting outside their homes, chasing them around the lake. All to catch another anglers fish - weak salad if you ask me. Noting like that has happened to me yet but I haven't posted up a 10 lb brown bass video either. Chances are double powerball slim I would even ever see a fish like that. However, if I ever chose to even post something, let's just say that there would need to be some careful consideration on how, when & where I did it. Other wise it's just not worth the hassle. A-Jay

Thanks ~ Big fish spots can be like buried Treasure Chests and Timing can be the key that can open those chests. Since I have to make my own keys, I guard them both pretty closely. And still wish every angler that happens across any treasure chest the very best of luck. A-Jay

Total Body 2 this morning. Looking to build some momentum as I finish off this year and carry it right into 2023. I have some serious work ahead of me. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

There's a hoodie in that picture ? Nice Bass ! A-Jay