A-Jay

Creating successful habits, being accountable to someone, focusing on small victories and maintaining an insatiable hunger, helps keep me committed & inspired. A-Jay

Check these out. Been using that Swim jig head for a while not - very good IMO. The Stealth Swim Jig head (top link) comes through cover better than the other two. Comes with a screw lock that I do not use either. Just about Any hook will work here. A-Jay

OK Thank YOU Bet you think it's worth it though. Am I right ? A-Jay

Sweet bait Is that the soft blade Tranquil ? If so did you make the journey to the motherland ? Seem that's the only way to get your hands on one here . . . Asking for a friend A-Jay

I get it ~ But that's a very coveted spot and I'm waiting for one special bait to go on sale. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143210003618?epid=19022802963&hash=item2157fb3ca2:g:RCAAAOSw-GNcO-nv Might have to sell a couple of rods . . . A-Jay

It's only a matter of time ~ A-Jay

Thanks. Which one ? A-Jay

Which we both know is a whole different deal. Casting 'at nothing' Talk about using The Force . . . A-Jay

I'll be very happy to share my methods and perhaps more importantly my philosophy regarding the changing of hooks & hardware on jerkbaits. However, I think it's only fair to warn you that my ideas on the subject do vary quite a bit from 'common thinking'. First here's the jerkbait hook changing deal . . . I make NO ATTEMPT to ensure that the after I'm done changing hooks that the bait suspends perfectly level, or even suspends at all. I add weight to most baits to get them away from the boat more and to ensure they run DEEP; especially on silent baits that cast like a potato chip to start. Once I start working the bait, how it sits on the pause - in my mind does not matter. Nose up, Nose Down, whatever. Because when a bait fish if fleeing for it's life, it does all kinds of crazy stuff trying to get away. Bass Don't care - they'll eat it if they can catch it. That level/neutral suspending stuff IMO is more of marketing deal, and not something the bass have ever bought into, just us basshead. Does it get bites, of course, but IMO it's more about where the bait is & when, than whether it's sitting perfectly still or perfectly level. Some of my best baits, sink like a rock. So in the end, I want the bait to have quality hardware on it, cast well, especially in the early & late season winds that are often blasting me in the face, and stay deeper or closer to the bottom, where the bass I'm looking for are usually at. This approach works for me. YMMV. A-Jay

Stiff wind & single digit cold here today, going back and watching a few fish catches helps warm me up. This was a good day that ended with what might be my favorite 'quote' I got on video. A-Jay

Thanks I like it as well. However that was a pre-season pick from last year. Some of those baits don't look so good right about now. But that's a good thing. #allchewedup A-Jay

I sure hope so my friend. And this time around, I'll actually be wearing the right gear to fish on those 20 -30 degree mornings. Got a few toads early but I earned them. #ironballs A-Jay

It's 5 degrees here today. I'm shivering. A-Jay

Treble hooks – I change them. All my topwater, jerk, rattle, square & crankbaits, even blade baits & even spybaits all get aftermarket trebles. And topwater baits that have feathers, also get changed out, I just tie up my own. (So easy, even an A-Jay can do it) Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble Hook, Gamakatsu EWG Treble Short Shank Magic Eye and Owner Short Shank Treble Hook ST-35 all adorn my baits. Especially like that Owner ST-35 (Not for a tail hook though) as it features 150-degree Premium Point Position design, which splits two hook points out 150-degrees versus the typical 120-degrees between all three points. This allows the hook points to be positioned slightly farther out from your bait and help increase your hook up percentage. Opening the gap to 150-degrees also minimizes damage to your bait from the hook points, while keeping the hook points sharper over time as well. Note: Owner Stinger ST-35 Short Shank Treble Hooks are designed to be used with baits that have the hook hanger in line with the length of the bait. These will not hang correctly on lures that feature any hook hanger that is perpendicular to the length of the lure – some of the offerings from Megabass for instance. Had to include that because as great as these trebles are – they do not work in the situation described. Any & all questionable split rings are traded out for Owner Hyper wires. (including Line ties) A-Jay

I fish pike ( and Musky) water too. Even catch a few. IME, unless you're going to use wire, toothy critters will bite off anything else. I do use wire sometimes. Doesn't seem to stop the bass from biting at all, but it is a little PIA. I use this . . . Good Luck A-Jay

Is that the new math ? Once we add 'the wake up', it get's a little tricky A-Jay https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20220407T12&p0=5787&msg=A-Jay's+4th+Annual+Ice+Out+%2F+Open+Water+Countdown+~&ud=1&font=slab&csz=1

Clearly not a 'Bait Fish', but I'm sort of surprised Crayfish haven't been mentioned. Routinely found in abundance in these waters, they are a staple in the diet of many game fish, including bass. Both green & brown. 'Matching' that hatch simply means fishing low & slow. Hard to go wrong right there. A-Jay

'A Date Which Will Live in Infamy' A-Jay

The remainder of this season might be pretty Wild A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

And yet that's exactly what happened. A-Jay

Guess it won't be long before the Pink Jackhammer is blowing up on E-Bay. Perhaps they'll call it Funky Flamingo ? A-Jay

Can't really pick just one. Might be more about the overall goodness . . . A-Jay

The Snowy Stand off ~ The Chase is on ! Now where'd she go ? #tankslife A-Jay

A nasty cold front is whipping across northern Michigan today. Directly behind the front, head turning NW winds are expected with gusts of 45+ mph. This will lead to blowing snow, areas of greatly reduced visibility & isolated power outages. Winds subside tonight, but lake effect snow continues. 17 weeks, 1 Day & a wake up until open water . . . A-Jay