A-Jay

This famous photo was called "Into the Jaws of Death" when it was taken on June 6, 1944. Original caption: Down the ramp of a Coast Guard landing barge Yankee soldiers storm toward the beach-sweeping fire of Nazi defenders in the D-Day Invasion of the French Coast. Troops ahead may be seen lying flat under the deadly machine gun resistance of the Germans. Soon the Nazis were driven back under the overwhelming Invasion forces thrown in from Coast Guard and Navy amphibious craft. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, now in the National Archives) Via Navy Times A-Jay

Agreed ~ Boat position – it is SUPER critical to learn why & how to use it to your advantage. Every cast I make, every bait I throw, they’re level of effectiveness is predicated on where & how my rig is positioned on the structure I am fishing. There’s no way around it – that’s just how it is. These are the things I take into account when determining how & where to position my boat to fish anything. The depth of water I’m planning to fish and the depth of water I need to be positioned in, water clarity, wind speed & direction, the position of the sun (where it is the sky as it relates to the structure and how high or low in the sky it is), The type of lure(s) I’m planning on using, as well as any boating traffic in the area including other anglers. If I have the choice, I prefer to fish from shallow to deep – every spot - all year round – just how I like to do it – because it works. Also because going deep to shallow, although easier I guess, often positions the boat on or directly over the bass and I may end up casting into dead water. Instead, I’ve had much more success sneaking over to the shallow side so as not to burn the spot and casting off to the front/sides of the point, for instance. I commonly will use one of three ways or methods to hold/ position my boat – first is the common anchor & rope – total PIA but once you know how to do it – it works. Did it for years – still do in the canoe and will continue to do so. Then there’s ‘holding’ on a spot with the trolling motor – I do not like to do that but will when I have to. The newest Ultrex with the spot-lock is sweeping the bass fishing world – I’m not ready to cash in the Fortrex just yet. So my left foot will continue to get a workout until I am. Then there are the shallow water anchors – for me, it’s the Talons – might be the best investment I ever made after the Lund itself – Love the Talons - Super effective. A-Jay

My three 31M trolling motor batteries are under the rod locker, which is usually full of rods. While I LOVE and prefer that battery location (centerline and low in the boat) it makes 'servicing' them fairly inconvenient. Enter AGM. Thank you. Just replaced mine when I pulled the boat for hard water (Nov 2021) They were operating OK (with a bit of juice reduction) but after 6 years - it was time. I've been know to run in some sloppy conditions, so having batteries that are very resistant to vibrations and leak proof, adds peace of mind. A-Jay

With the rod for sure. Like a jerkbait mostly. It has a sweet little roll or shimmy right before it comes to a stop on the pause. I feel like it's an important aspect of it's triggering deal. So I make sure to include several 'stops' per retrieve. A considerable percentage of bites come not so much on the pause, but immediately after - like on the very next movement. I change out the hooks & hardware - unusually plus size at least the front treble anyway. Box on the left - top two rows A-Jay

Hello Donavan and Welcome to Bass Resources ~ A-Jay

My favorite here and a Real Sleeper in the category, is the Rapala X-Rap Sub Walk ~ Casts great, barely runs 12 inches down, can be worked easily to walk the dog (at any speed) - Sub-Surface and perhaps it's best attribute, besides suspending on the hesitation - it has a very attractive side roll right before the suspension on the pause. All of this makes it very suitable in shallow water or in the skinny water over cover, when fish seem hesitant to commit to a surface bait and a jerk bait runs too deep. The Sub-Walk has accounted for many bass for me. A-Jay

Going Old School ~ Gitzit: "A bait that revolutionized modern day bass fishing" Ray Scott, founder of B.A.S.S. I'm thinking Bobby Garland approves Nicely Done @roadwarrior A-Jay

I say the same. But I don't have to mess with it all for 5 Years. So normal mainainance for the AGM is pretty much nothing. Big Fan of that. There's plenty of deals in my life now that are NOT in that category. I'll pay the extra $$$ just for that. More time fishing. A-Jay

Interesting turn of events. I'm just so glad to know that the "Mad Starving Whitey Tighty Killer" was finally apprehended. Or I guess, Re-apprehended. Now that's a video . . . . A-Jay

And I do - a little just about every time. Strangely, my waters aren't exactly pike infested. Unless I fish without a wire leader ~ ? As for the wire reducing bites. I chose to lean the other way on that. So did both of these fine ladies. A-Jay

Losing baits to pike is a bummer and a regular thing here unfortunately. Donated one of my favor/most effective Megabass Jerkbaits just the other day. Hate it. I tie my own leaders with this And while a FC leader seems to work in a pinch, there's a fine line between effective bite protection diameter needed and not jacking up the action of a bait; especially a shallow and or suspending jerkbait. The AFW product is & has been the best option for me. It can 'weigh' a bait down a little so there's that. A-Jay

Whenever I'm throwing treble hook baits for brown bass I almost 'expect' a few fish won't make it to the net. Aerial acrobatics are cool, but do not help my cause. I start out with quality hooks/hardware and just try to do what I can to keep a bend in the rod. Either way, seems I lose more bass (relative term) on crank baits than anything else, including topwater. This fatty was doing everything she could to earn her freedom. And she got it, after a brief stay in the Pro-V Bass Boat. https://youtu.be/QB1VOTaQuvE?t=96 A-Jay

I fish from an Old Town canoe several times a season and am a huge 'anchor the boat' fan. Always have at least one and have used 2 on may occasions. I don't fish in current so I can get away with securing a single anchor off the starboard quarter (stern). https://youtu.be/02fPoZHOri8?t=1144 A-Jay

I like & use FC almost exclusively on casting gear. However, I had to 'learn' how to use it best, for how I fish. During the learning process, I experience 'Mystery break offs'. I actually called them something else , but decorum prevents me from noting that here. Either way, whether it was from over stressing the line, backlash damage or whatever, it cost me fish & baits. Not a fan. To help combat this mysterious phenomenon , I've tried to use a high quality product AND change my line at regular intervals OR at the first sign of anything that might jack it up. Things have been better ever since. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. A-Jay

Me too ~ And 'zoo' can be a relative term, but either way, most trips my rig is the only rig in the parking lot when I leave. However upon my return, there are ZERO spaces left - regardless of the lot size. Especially after like noon time. I have ramps I use that are some driving distance from a major road way, which get less use, I like that. Also being on the water at first light and off by 10 AM, usually keeps me ahead of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Baily and most all of the circus. More importantly, I get the best part of the fishing day all to myself. Of course, fishing at night here is like being on a different planet. #nooneelseever A-Jay

Hello Casey and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Not so much in the places I fish. I have caught some very respectable brown bass during the first light of the day as well as right at sunrise. Love getting to the lake under the cover of darkness so I can be on "my spot" right at first light. Especially in the late summer & early fall. A-Jay

Hello Victor and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Another vote for early morning topwater ~ Big Brown Bass love it . . . . https://youtu.be/PNaFczbbKEU?t=32 https://youtu.be/6Ds4Z22ywnY?t=139 https://youtu.be/QB1VOTaQuvE?t=95 A-Jay

The aisle with the Krispy Kreme Pizza or Bacon and peanut butter sandwiches. ? A-Jay

Having the the right presentation is Critical ~ #Chewbacca btw ~ I don't participate in bed fishing and more importantly, I wish this young man would wear a Life Jacket - just one time. A-Jay

Hope you're OK. Frost here this morning. Come at me Bro A-Jay

Right back at ya ~ ! A-Jay

Most any scissor type deal can have the 'edges' tunes up with a stone or light file. It's especially easy if they come apart; the better ones do. The unit I posted above is small and good for intricate work; like cutting off the tag ends of the leader knot off super thin braid as well as small diameter FC. Just saying. A-Jay

I know ~ Sorry. I'm blaming Covid recovery Probably should delete the whole mess. A-Jay