A-Jay

Thank you I'll be stepping away from here for good while as this brutal deal runs it's course. When it comes to life's tests, this one's up there. Going to find out just how much metal I may have left. Take care. A-Jay

Latest diagnosis includes stage 4 heart failure. Just doesn't get much worse and I am completly numb. Some brutally hard decisions need to be made the next few weeks. Nothing will ever be the same. ? A-Jay

Woke up to a fresh 46 degrees and it's currently 66. I like it. A-Jay

Super Glad to hear ALL of That action ! Congrats . . . A-Jay

Seaguar Tatsu Line 15lb 1000yd ~ You'll probably never see this any cheaper . . . https://www.amazon.com/Seaguar-1000-Yards-Fluorocarbon-Fishing-15-Pound/dp/B0094FLO1G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LK5FR7333OGD&keywords=Seaguar%2BTatsu%2BLine%2B15lb%2B1000yd&qid=1662332819&sprefix=seaguar%2Btatsu%2Bline%2B15lb%2B1000yd%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1 A-Jay

A-Jay

I don't think it's needs to be exact. Just getting sort of in the ball park is usually good enough. A-Jay

After a brief and much needed respite, I was back in the home gym this morning. Coming back after a deload is always humbling and an instant reminder of just how fast a body can revert back to being untrained. (insert weak). Modified my routine to match my somewhat calorie restricted diet and we'll see how it goes. I'm coming back feeling rejuvenated either way. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

It took a while, but once I learned how to 'use' my time on the water, to help me 'teach myself', success came much more often, was usually repeatable and has been the single best source of confidence in my fishing. There's no video about it, few if any articles that cover it, but being able to slow down, think about what I'm doing & why and then make modifications as needed, is the very foundation of every bit of success I may have now. Over time I've learned to Love this aspect of my 'fishing'. Fast track has nothing to do with it. In fact the LONGER any success takes, the more satisfying and truly meaningful it is for me. Dare I even use the word passion. Fish Hard A-Jay

Thank you all, I am a big time internalizer when it comes to coping skills. May not be the best but it's how I do it. Eventually the overwhelming reality busts through and it just hurts. I'm ok, but truely hate the feeling. Every chance you get, Hug your love, hard. A-Jay

Incurable diseases are ruthless. They never let up. There's never a break. Just beating us down every single minute of every single day. They only seem to compound and get worse. Wife's been battling with several for over 22 years now. Don't know how she does it. Modern medicine is at a loss. Feels like us against the world. My cup is getting dangerously full. Good thing winter's on it's way.' That should make it better. A-Jay

I hear ya ~ And this has been a long time running joke and I do enjoy going with it. But the truth is these places are ALL public lakes (both large an small) that get some fishing pressure throughout the year and they are certainly not hard to find. Any level of success I've have on any of them almost always boils down to a couple of very basic concepts. I'm fishing in the right place, at the right time and doing the right thing. Might take me 2 years to figure out just what that may be, but that's the deal. There's no special technique employed, not secret bait, just head down fishing for bigger bass. Might not be a traditional deal or even an easy type of fishing, but that may be the beauty of it. At this point, I bet I could post where & when I was going and even what I planned to do where I get there, and I'd still be the only one at the ramp at 3 am. Finally, and this is something I bank on, just because we may watch a Bruce Lee movie, doesn't magically make us a Kung Fu Master,. Fish Hard A-Jay

When I first retired & moved to Michigan, I definitely needed a crash course / refresher on fishing for brown bass. Mark Zona seems to be fishing in places & in a manner that suited my style. I watched several of his early videos and learned a TON of exactly what I needed. From tubes & swingheads to A-Rigs & jerkbaits. Quite a bit of my early success can be directly attributed to his stuff. A couple of years ago when I was shopping for my rig, I saw him at a sports show near Detroit and I got to tell him as much. Saying Thank you didn't seem like nearly enough. Despite his on camera presentation, I found him to be perhaps a little zany, but for the most part, a regular & humble dude. Besides, he's a fellow paisan. A-Jay

There is So Much water around me, I could fish a different lake every day of open water and it would take me several seasons to fish them all. Here's a pic of all the Lake Menderchucks that I've fished so far. Knock Yourself out . . . I haven't even ventured into the Upper Peninsula yet, which is loaded with world class fishing. Fish Hard A-Jay

https://www.theitem.com/stories/bassmaster-releases-its-rankings-of-best-bass-lakes,348217 Seems this article is listing their version of 100 Best Bass Lakes of the Decade. Also they divided the nation into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach. As for bragging rights on which state has the most fisheries in the all-decade rankings, that title goes to Michigan with seven lakes. Right behind the "Great Lake State" there is a three-way tie with California, Florida and Texas each placing six lakes on the list. I can honestly say I'm not surprised by the bold type, just that they actually acknowledged it. So many Lake Menderchucks, so little time. Fish Hard A-Jay

Certain you CAN NOT Go Wrong with either one. I trusted my life professionally to Mustang for 3 decades in environments most could not imagine. Comfort is a personal deal and may have a lot to do with ones frame & body type. I chose the Elite because it fit's me well and its Aerodynamic 3D chassis design reduces drag at high speeds. https://mustangsurvival.com/products/elite-28-inflatable-pfd-auto-hydrostatic-md5183 A-Jay

I've wondered if bass actually miss target when they feed, because the prey can blend in so well at times. What are your thoughts here? I can not say for sure. However I do believe that a big bass is the master of her domain. Also sight might not be the only 'sense' that she uses. That lateral line is said to have some role in detecting what may be around her. Could be especially important in habitats where a bass in not the top predator. Either way, while I will use some color & flash on baits, as well as knockers & rattles, with some margin of success, the clearer the water the more I prefer to have my baits be camouflaged; matching the color of the surrounds the bait is being presented it. Finally, and to prove my point about being aware if her surroundings, fishing a black Texas rigged worm at night can be very good. But when I initially started doing it, I was amazed 'that she could even find it' in the first place. A-Jay

This has been me the past week or so on two different lakes. And it should get better the rest of this month Fish Hard A-Jay

The fishing can be epic here in September for both numbers & size of brown bass. Got my PB in September. Have to find the bait and then bass will usually be close. Could be 3 feet could be 30 feet. Can make for a tricky and somewhat frustration day of searching. And the weather is like fools gold. September starts out all warm & summer like and in just a matter of a few days it goes straight to nasty. Sort of like Late April & early May, freezing cold mornings and then hot Azz afternoons. So I can either be comfortable early & sweating later, or cold early and comfortable later. Seems there is no middle ground. But there's no denying that the horizontal moving bait action can be worth it all either way. Gotta go every chance I get at this point. It winds down fast. For reference my surface temps this morning were mid 60's already. A-Jay

Big fan of refreshing my more 'seasoned' spinnerbaits. This special bait has accounted for a redonkulous number of very respectable brown bass; including the only 7 lb smallie I've ever seen. No exactly sure why but I do know that retiring it was simply not an option. Couple of minutes of TLC and this hero is once again fully operational. Fish Hard A-Jay

Hello J and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Not exactly sure what type of mystical bass fishing powers your friend may or may not have. But the only way I can 'know if the bass are biting' is to go fishing and find out. I will say that seasonally speaking, my expectations change a bit here & there. btw - perhaps you friend uses one of these . . . A-Jay

A simple photo editor - You can probably do the same thing with your phone, lap top if you have one or your PC. A-Jay

May depend on how you define 'count'. A-Jay

Very Nice ~ Congrats on a couple of Great Looking Bass ! A-Jay I helped you out a little . . .