A-Jay

Hello Alex and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Bringing back older threads can often inspire some discussion. The subject of bait color has been hashed over here a few times over the years. While I can respect your opinion on the matter, I don't exactly share it. I fish clear water SMB quite a bit and haphazardly selecting bait color would see me catching far fewer fish. I would agree that bait size, profile, presentation depth, and speed all come before my color choice. But once it's all dialed in, there can be carnage. A-Jay

Sure have - go back one page ~ My version of nutrition goes like this . . . I look at ALL of it like a mathematical equation. The more things that are in it and that belong there, the better chance I have at coming out with an answer that's close to what I'm looking for. Conversely, the more 'wrong' things I add and/or the more 'right' things I omit, the lower the chances I have of ending up with anything close to what I was looking for. So nutrition is huge, but so are rest & recovery (sleep) & hydration. To gain something, I must give something; discomfort is the price for progress. First, here's what I don't do—which, IMO, is as important as what does happen. On a routine basis I do not eat white flour or sugar. So no bread and no dessert-type deals. No alcohol. Quit many years back, and it has been a huge benefit. Can't emphasize that one enough. Totally toxic to every cell in the body. Including the brain. No processed food, no dairy, and nothing fried. I do not count calories but instead exercise portion control. I do not snack. What I do find has worked for me for a long time. Keep it simple. Three small, well-balanced meals spaced evenly throughout the day, plus a post-workout protein drink on training days. I used to eat up to 5 meals a day, but as I've aged, everything has slowed, including my ability to digest large amounts of food. So getting the most out of what I eat is important. Need to get the most bag for the buck. Protein for me comes in the form of whole eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, and some red meat, but not a ton. Fats come mostly from olive oil and avocado oil. The little carbs I do eat, and I do believe they are needed, come from oatmeal, brown & basmati rice, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat pasta, as well as fresh fruit & vegetables. I drink my body weight in ounces of water every day (I’m at 165 lbs). Yes, I keep track and pee a lot. I prepare all my meals in advance (except breakfast). For me, meal prep is the easiest and most efficient way to keep on track. My meal timing is critical to my success. I’ll whip up a few pounds of protein and a bucket of carbs and have fruits & veggies on hand ready to go when needed. I eat, drink, train, and sleep on a mostly regimented schedule. If I’m not at home for a meal (like when fishing or on the road), I bring my chow with me—always. Protein bars help here. Don’t like skipping meals and do not believe fasting has any benefits, at least not for me. Finally, anyone can do this—but if it were easy, everyone would. But do they? Look around. I'm just some old guy who works out and puts up sappy videos of himself doing it. I realize that my pasty, untanned image is mostly unappealing and doesn't look anything like the popular YT workout gods seen elsewhere—but who does? That's my point—we don't have to be or do anything special to get unbelievable benefits from all this. The improvement in self-confidence & self-image alone is worth it. Good Luck A-Jay

Cold temperatures and continued brisk winds overnight resulted in bitter cold wind chills of -10°F to -24°F across northern Michigan this morning. And to be honest, it feels a lot colder. But this is a typical winter here, so most of us just take it in stride. Best part is, that it's Tanker Tuesday. Here's one of my all-time favorite Brown Bass doubles. It was a wide-open jerkbait bite that took place early in the season 8 years ago. These fatties came in at just under 12 lbs. 88 Days and a wake up. A-Jay

There may be several opinions regarding leader length, but proving that it's overrated seems like a stretch. On my boat, I routinely tie leaders in the 25-30 ft range, and I get a few fish now & then. Still don't use an FG knot though. YMMV A-Jay

If this is the place ~ https://www.lakefishingcenter.com/product-category/reels/?orderby=price-desc It's a complete sham. Prices are stupid and not cometitive. Thousand dollar reels for $200 bucks ? Ya- I don't think so. Move on; nothing to see here. A-Jay

Approaching frostbite-type stuff up in here ~ When the temperature is zero degrees Fahrenheit or below, it takes about 30 minutes for exposed skin to get frostbite. At 15 degrees below zero with even a little bit of wind, frostbite is possible within 15 minutes. 🥶 A-Jay

258 Days and a wake-up ~ But my reels are ready now ! A-Jay

Workout Day 3. I've been slowly increasing my daily protein intake a little bit since the first of the year. It's still too early to realize if there's any benefit to it just yet. Time will tell. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

I reccomend Thermal Layering (The "Three-Layer" System) A dry suit itself provides minimal insulation; warmth comes from the air and clothing trapped inside. Base Layer: Wear a snug, moisture-wicking layer (synthetic or merino wool) to pull sweat away from your skin. Insulating Mid-Layer: Add one or two thicker layers, such as high-loft fleece or purpose-built dry suit undergarments, to trap air. Avoid Cotton: Never wear cotton, as it absorbs moisture and will drain your body heat if it becomes damp. Extremities: Use thick wool or synthetic socks, allowing enough room to wiggle your toes to maintain blood flow. Don't forget to add adequate head and neck protection. Stay Safe A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Looks dead A-Jay

Maybe run the ball once or twice - It's pass after pass after pass after pass. And most of these throws are under serious duress and kind of bad. Or is it just me ? A-Jay

Air temps early season up here, which is prime time for plus-size fish, often start out a little on the cool side. I hate wearing gloves while fishing, so I grin and bear it. A-Jay

After watching the Pats-Texans game - this one looks like a different sport. In a good way. A-Jay

Pats will be playing against a former Pats backup QB in Denver next week. A-Jay

Probably not a tape they'd save for training purposes. A-Jay

I'm in the middle of my 6th decade and very happy to have made it this far. My strength, balance, flexibility, dexterity, mental acuity, endurance, vision and hearing have all experienced some decline. It effects my fishing as well as most all of my everyday life. I manage my fishing trips so I don't use up so much energy I put myself (and others) at risk. Fatigue is a huge factor in many 'accidents.' I added a set of trailer steps at the bow. Significantly smoother getting on & off my rig now. At the ramp & in the garage. Completed the install June 2023. Easy - a couple wrenches, a third arm and we were good to go. Spent some extra time with the fitment decision. Only wanted to mount this deal once. And I didn't have to move anything, which was nice. Here's 1 'before' pic and 3 'after install' pics. PSA - if you even think you need these - you do. A-Jay

Good job, @Glenn Some day I've got to give these baits a try. A-Jay

Might depend on the lighting during these pic captures. But most all of the bigger brown bass I get up here seem to have some shade of red eye. A-Jay

https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-qb-bo-nix-broken-ankle-win-bills-out-playoffs-jarrett-stidham A-Jay

Yup Jarrett Stidham is probably pooping his pants right about now. Oh my. A-Jay

Should be a heck of a trip @Dwight Hottle . Time to cross over into the Teener Club ! Let's Go A-Jay

Workout Day 2. The thought for today comes courtesy of Led Zeppelin. "Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on" #borninfiftynine A-Jay

The combination of wind and colder temperatures pumps up the lake effect snow enhancement between tonight and early Tuesday morning for northern Michigan. A-Jay

It might be shiny, But it's hard to tell since it's covered with a serious layer of sand, salt, and frozen road. Will stay that way for at least a couple more months. And another reason I trade them in every 3 years. Be ordering the new one in May for delivery in November this year. Always a good time. A-Jay