A-Jay

LOL ~ That's funny. And I just re-read that and it sounds like my wife lives in TN too ! I'm a crazy person. My brain might be froze up. A-Jay

It most certainly is my friend. A-Jay

So no lithium batteries. A-Jay

Hopes she's OK @Catt A-Jay

With just over an hour to go in this final period on the first day, J Wheeler in on top. Not a particularly new deal, I know. What is a 'new deal' (at least in my world) and has been for a few derbies now, is whacking bass on a jerkbait in the middle of the day, with high skies and flat calm conditions. Which is exactly what Mr. Wheeler is doing - again. Clearly that FFS deal is a big player. But man, I have always given up on that bite once it flattened out. Might think about sticking with it a bit longer and see what happens. Also, starting a Go Fund Me for A-Jay's new electronics package could be a thing. A-Jay

Drop Shot Hooks I've been through quite a few makes, models and even more sizes past few seasons - I've settled on these. Reasons are - they match my baits, they match the tackle I'm fishing them with, and most importantly, they HOOK & HOLD the Bass I'm Looking to Catch ! Both the Brown & Green models. Supplemental info - over the past say, three or four years, much of my drop shot fishing, especially mid-late season, has migrated to using 'bigger baits'; relative term. Where in previous deals I was using, the standard skinny 4 & 6 inch Sculpins, Robo worms & Dream Shots - and they catch bass for sure, I started drop shotting a baby rage craw, and then a full-size craw and then 4 & 5 inch Fluke and started getting bites from more bigger fish. But along with that, I was losing a few fish, because the hooks & manner I was using them was apparently inefficient. First off, in some instances, my hook selection was too small. Secondly, while I like nose hooking, seems it's not the best way when I'm targeting bigger smallies - which is ALL The TIME pretty much. Nose hooking also picks up eel grass when it's there and the little hooks have a tendency to skin hook a lot leading them to come unpinned too much for my liking. I do Tex-pose my drop shot plastic when needed but all things being equal, I prefer not to if I can. ***Note *** regarding the Hooks Pictured - I use SEVERAL DIFFERENT sizes - I offered these to allow for the name, brand, type, and model number identification purposes. So we've ventured into using a little bigger, longer shanked hook. So if you look at the Picture provided, the bottom row - those are all GREAT DROP SHOT OPTIONS and ones I still use a ton; mostly for nose hooking. That whole top row of hooks are what I go to for bigger baits and when I want to 'top hook' a bait; meaning inserting the hook like you would put say a swimbait on a jighead. Where the hook goes in the front/nose of the bait, is threaded into & down the body of the bait BUT comes out the top. Still a drop shot, but when a fluke or a caffeine shad is rigged like this, the hook up to land ratio goes way up. Brownies are generally impaled in the top or the roof of the mouth and they generally Do NOT come off. I definitely use a little 'beefier gear', like M instead of ML and 8-10 lb fluorocarbon leader instead of 4-6 lb. The bigger Hook size demands a bit more pressure to sink it successfully, but after that, it's just a matter to playing that tank into the net. A-Jay

Second period's underway. Wheeler & KVD are setting the pace at this point. Plenty of plus sized fish taken so far. Very few small ones - non-scorable. A-Jay Update ***** BOOM ! Mr Roy with an 11-11 . That's his PB and Mine too ! Seems he carried some momentum with him. Wow #Uboat A-Jay

I'm running Optima Blue tops 31M. These unit's are constructed of 99.99% pure lead. The Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) separators hold electrolyte like a sponge to eliminate acid spilling. A-Jay

Not a total expert but I think it's effective and safe at jumping both. A-Jay

The past several years, I've taken exactly 2 humans fishing with me. My Wife & Big Fish Jeff; who happens to live in Memphis, TN. I fish public water. I post threads here that often include dates, times and even some video. Routinely demonstrates much of what I do and how I do it. Specific or exact locations are deliberately omitted. Clearly any basshead with some local knowledge & a keen eye, could identify where I'm at. And I considered this prior to adding my fishing to the interwebz. So far, it hasn't really been a factor one way or the other. If & when that changes, I may need to reevaluate my approach to this. Finally, I have no interest in fishing another mans fish, ever. Seems, that might not be a common theme amongst the general masses. So there's that. A-Jay https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?t=644

Super cold, snow & wind here too - I'm waiting for the wind to drop off a bit before the 'snow relocation process' A-Jay

Started off with a bang this morning. First two bass on the Scoretracker were 7 & 6 lbs respectively. I like it. A-Jay

I like some of that stuff ~ at both ends of the spectrum . . . A-Jay

I'll add that if & when this thing makes an appearance, for a couple of reasons, I'm out. Don't be a flogger A-Jay

Me too. Although I did enjoy Both Of Randy Howell's recent green bass catches. #giants A-Jay

Nice ~ The Nimtz is really shaping up . . . . A-Jay

I'd rather be fishing, instead did . . . . . Partial Dead Lift ~ Body Weight Pull Up Bent Over DB Row ~ Cable Curl Off Day tomorrow and I have no problem admitting that I need it. Feeling my age a bit after this one. #borninfiftynine A-Jay

Might be a little tricky ~ Like casting a cotton ball. What rod do you plan to mount that reel onto ? A-Jay

Contact USAA https://www.usaa.com/?wa_ref=pub_global_home You'll be very glad you did. You've earned it. A-Jay

Me too - will admit that they do tend to attract a little unwanted company though. I've actually had a few deep water (Drop Shot) bass run right into my buoy line. What a mess . . .

Perhaps try this, it may help you establish how much repeatable confidence to have with your unit. Find some hard cover in water shallow enough to where you can see it from your rig. A log or rock on the bottom is good. Drop a way point RIGHT on it. Motor off. Come back to the way point and see how close your unit says you are to the actual spot. Then, use some triangulation action for the same spot and see how that works. You might be surprised. Good Luck. A-Jay

Here's a little fishing history for you. As hard as it might be to believe, folks caught bass BEFORE the advent of any type of 'electronics' or mapping. I know ? Crazy right . . . . My version of that included something called 'triangulation'. Once a 'good spot' was located, which often took quite a bit more time to find than it does now, three 'land marks' were noted (usually on the bank), something that if & when I 'lined them all up' I could get 'pretty close' to where I wanted/needed to cast. Was quite a bit harder at night, but as long as there were some type of lights, Tall trees, lake homes or something, I could usually zero it in. So finding the spot on the spot - is not even remotely new. This can totally still be done today. Learn this and using today's mapping feels a lot like cheating - big time. A-Jay

Paying Attention. A-Jay

"Objection- Calls for speculation !" A-Jay

In the shuffling madness . . . . Includes the rare Flute solo jam . . . A-Jay