A-Jay

First I would encourage you to read up on your states regs regarding live bait https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/laws-regs-licenses/OhioFishingRegs_English.pdf Next those sound like some mutant large crayfish. As a kid up in New England, I used a minnow trap with almost any type of dead panfish in it to catch crayfish for bait. They were definitely smaller than you described and we would free line them on a #4 bait holder hook. Using med spinning gear, Hook them through the tail cast them out to a likely area with the bail open, and just wait for the line to start running. It was fun and we caught some nice smallmouth bass doing it. A-Jay

Total Body 1 this morning ~ Started off with a Vertical Leg Press. Really feels good. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

How about The spoonplug. Odd little contraption if you’ve never seen one. A chunk of bent metal adorned with some sort of painted pattern resembling anything from a frog to a minnow. Buck Perry wrote a little bit about it some years ago. A-Jay

Cost of everything has increased while my income has not. I'm feeling it. However, there is a rather lengthy list of deals I pay good money for that don't bring me any where near the joy & soul cleaning satisfaction that a day on the water does. Seems so important to my overall physical & mental health. In that regard, I feel like I should be able to have my health insurance pick up my tab for all things fishing related. Either way, I've been out in the Old Town Canoe a bit more this summer. A-Jay

Thank you both very much for the kind words and support. I had a most crappy day today and this certainly helped. Plan on 'releasing' any & all pent up frustration I have bright & early tomorrow morning in the home gym. Can't wait. A-Jay

Maybe the bodies are just too short. A-Jay

Sketchy move. I might take the GMC right over that boy and perhaps even drop it into reverse to finish the job. "But Officer, I had no choice !" A-Jay

What are you scared of ? Being unprepared . . . . It's something that drives me. Also Charles Lee "Chucky" Ray Not sure if it's his size, the crazy eyes or the bad hair cut, but that psychopathic half pint gets me every time ! A-Jay

8 lbs is a fish of a life time ~ IME, defending or cleaning out a spawning bed may not be the same as "Eating". If brown bass only ever nipped at the tail of whatever they were looking to dine on, that prey, whatever it is, would get away a good percentage of the time. Smaillies still suck in their food (crayfish, baitfish, insects etc), smash it up with their crushers to kill it, and then it goes down the hatch. None of that needs to happen to move an intruder from a nest, especially one that the bass has no intentions of eating. Just grab it, relocate it and set it free. A-Jay

Total Body 3 this morning. Started of with Partial Dead Lifts. Been steadily adding a few lbs to the bar each week while working in the 10-12 rep range. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Hooksets are free ~ I Don't wait. Most anytime my bait 'feels different', I'm coming tight on it. And different can be a few things; heavier, lighter, weightless, mushy and of course, that exciting feeling that something alive is on the other end. The more I fished, the better I got at it. But I still get 'surprised' on occasion. A-Jay

Yes and while you're at it pick up a few of the Rage Menace as well. Just a slightly 'different' action that plays well in several scenarios. And if you're looking for a perhaps 'plus size' offering in these, the Magnum Rage Bug, Rage Lobster and the Magnum Menace fit that bill. btw I'm a big Rage fan ~ If you couldn't already tell. Good Luck A-Jay

@BJCas What would make you think there's actually a limit ? ? A-Jay

Lots of great advice so far here ~ A Q-Tip can be a great way to 'check' any guides integrity. Simply spin one inside (the front/back of mircos) your guides. When the Q-Tip doesn't hang up or 'fray', you're probably good to go. If it does, there's most likely trouble in paradise. A-Jay

A very important factor to consider when trying to 'predict' where to be & when revolves around what we think (or hope) the bass may be looking to feed on in that area. My hunt for brown bass deals almost always revolve around perch & crayfish. Sometimes that happens together but at least half the time, it's one or the other. So knowing at least some of the habits of both is pretty important & usually helpful. A good way to learn what primary forage may be is by using the live well. When & where the state regs allow - retain your catch for at least a while. Give them a chance to gag up/poop out some chow and show you what they've been dining on. It may stink to high heaven but it's worth it ! The only other way to know for sure what they've been eating involves a fillet knife and I'll have none of that action. A-Jay

Good Stuff ~ If you do, how go you clean the cover btw ? A-Jay

@Randy Price I'm currently fishing 4 different Shimano spinning reels including the Stradic FL and the Vanford. All very good reels for their price point IMO. None are 'decidedly' better than the other. If there are 'differences, they are slight. To that point, and other than knowing which type handle is on which reel, if I were blind folded, I'd be hard pressed to tell them apart. (which is sort of like fishing at night) Bottom line, I do 'like' the Stradic just a little bit more than the rest, but just a little. (to be fair, it's the new kid on the block, so there's that) Don't tell the other reels please. A-Jay

Hello Danny and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

That's a Beast. Really hope you're planning on sharing a pic or two of that 'Highlight' ~ A-Jay

I agree with @Bluebasser86 above ~ Bass seem to relate more loosely to cover at night (except in the presence of bright moonlight or artificial light, then it’s just like day time). They can & do still tuck into places but often times they’ll be “around it" rather than in the middle of it. This is a good thing because it’s not easy to make pin-point presentations when your depth perception is all but non-existent. Seems shadows are just as important at night as they are during the day, fish like them. A-Jay

Thank You ~ That's actually the spring loaded Pop-Up Tackle storage. Added a little 'fancy work' to it - left over USCG habit. Live well's just aft (HUK stickers on lid) Boat's a 2016 and Lund has since discontinued it's use. Too bad, I really like it. A-Jay

Sweet ~ Hope you were rewarded with some of that winning $$$ If not Did you at least get your Bug Back ? #notabuddy A-Jay

Oh Yes ~ We are totally color coded. There simply must be a method to the Madness . . . A-Jay

Rage Bug on a Swinghead has been very very good to me. Especially in the fall. A-Jay

Not exactly sure why, but I've always really liked training on Sunday mornings. Knocked out Total Body 2 and it went well. #borninfiftynine A-Jay