A-Jay

Yes. A-Jay

Unless it's a G Loomis, Me & Travel rods just don't get along. A-Jay

I've fragmented a few; OK several. Usually on the hookset and most of them were Heavy action 'Travel' rods. Seems they start out in 3 pieces but ended up in more. Here's what my latest and somewhat comical effort looked like ~ A-Jay

The quest for the biggest brown bass up here in the north woods revolves around open water & access. Open water can be as early as April and last as late as December. However, the very beginning & late season angling can get pretty sporty with some stiff winds, challenging waves & air temps well below the Mendoza Line. Still, if I can be out on the big water then, where the giants roam, sometimes I can poke a few. My records show that April, May, August & September offer the best opportunity for plus size fish. October can offer some of the best 'numbers trips' of the year. The largest smallie for me the past two seasons, both came in May but my PB (in 2017) came in September. I do not fish beds so that's off the table in this case. A-Jay

Does it all. - Every time I re-spool new Tatsu, it makes me smile. Yup, I'm weird. A-Jay

This or this A-Jay

Hello Matthew and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Congrats on your trip and having your green bass fishing ruined forever. If you've been before you already know what I mean. If this is your first trip, you're about to find out. (it's a good thing). The lodge sends you an info packet (email) that has a list of things to bring including recommended tackle. Having most of that is a good idea regardless of when you go. We use 20lb FC exclusively, except 20lb mono for topwater. If you look through my Baccarac report threads I always list gear and baits we use. Good Luck and be careful, you might get your arm broke. A-Jay

Co-founder of the In-Fisherman. Really sad. RIP Ron. A-Jay

Hello Scott and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

15, 17 & 20lb InvisX ~ Used the 20lb on this one . . . . A-Jay

Shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan A-Jay

Any day now ~ This was 18 Nov 2018, so we're a little overdue. A-Jay

The first signs of winter at Elliot Falls, Pictured Rocks National lakeshore. A-Jay

Me too ~ A-Jay

Hello and welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

The AFW product pictured is knot-able. Meaning you just tie the desired length of it to your line and your bait. A-Jay

October 2018 I was most fortunate to spend another 6 ½ days fishing with my good friend and truly a great stick, Jeff Howell. This was my 7th trip to this special lake and once again Lake Baccarac showed out ~ Big Time. Both Jeff & I are not ‘numbers’ guys – meaning we generally do not count how many bass we catch. Instead we choose to fish for the biggest bass; an approach that may not always result is high numbers but hopefully bigger fish. However as this special week in Mexico continued and the numbers of true giants began to and continued to go in the net – we had no choice but to keep track. In an attempt to simplify things, we decided that in order to be a “score-able bass’ the fish would need to be at least 7 pounds. These would be the ones we ‘count’. This trip got completely nuts. How Nuts you might ask ? Well the best example I can offer is….. the first three casts my friend Jeff took after lunch of the second day, produced a 12-4 Beast of a New personal best bass which was followed up two casts later with a 10-8 tank ! Btw – It’s all on video . . . . OK so here’s the final count for two guys fishing for 6 ½ days (approx. 65 hours) on Lake Baccarac: Number of Bass Over 7lbs ~ 20 Number of Bass Over 8lbs ~ 16 Number of Bass Over 9lbs ~ 11 Number of Bass Over 10 lbs ~ 4 Number of Bass Over 11 lbs ~ 1 Number of Bass Over 12 lbs ~ 1 Jeff kept track of the catches on the water on his phone - So that’s 53 bass over 7 and of those, when we figured in all the exact pounds & ounces, the average fish was right at 8 ½ pounds. It’s also one score-able bass every 73 and a half minutes. Jeff's biggest 5 of the trip were: 12.23(a PB), 10.58, 10.22, 9.96, 9.61 = 52 lbs 9.6 ounces My biggest 5 of the trip were: 11.30, 10.22, 10.14, 9.83, 9.28 = 50 lbs 12.3 ounces. That was my 'fishing of a life time' deal. A-Jay This 6 1/2 day trip can be seen in much more detail here ~ Part 1 here ~ https://youtu.be/yyNe7yUK7j4 Part 2 here ~ https://youtu.be/MX37lAClaUE Part 3 here ~ https://youtu.be/eVdYLCPqtAs Part 4 here ~ https://youtu.be/jxR9UIZFTNI Part 5 here ~ https://youtu.be/xlytrBl5yig Part 6 here ~ https://youtu.be/HbtDHtFNgnE

And as I continue down life's road, Intuition is something that I have tried to nurture and quite frankly 'depend on' almost daily. Intuition as it relates to bass fishing is an interesting subject. I feel like I may tap into it more to assist in the the decisions of where & when to go bass fishing, more than perhaps, when to set the hook. Either way, this thread made me sit back and think about it some and then do a little research. I found this (text below)- which I rather enjoyed and have decided to share - There's a link at the bottom. Thanks Tom @WRB A-Jay "Intuition is a form of knowledge that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation. It is not magical but rather a faculty in which hunches are generated by the unconscious mind rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge. Often referred to as “gut feelings,” intuition tends to arise holistically and quickly, without awareness of the underlying mental processing of information. Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated how information can register on the brain without conscious awareness and positively influence decision-making and other behavior. Where Intuition Comes From Psychologists believe that intuition relies on powers of pattern-matching, as the mind combs experience stored in long-term memory for similar situations and presents in-the-moment judgments based on them. The automatic information processing that underlies intuition can be seen in the everyday phenomenon known as "highway hypnosis,” which occurs when a driver travels for miles without a conscious thought about the activity of driving the car. Is intuition the same as gut feelings? Intuition is often referred to as “gut feelings,” as they seem to arise fully formed from some deep part of us. In fact, they are the product of brain processing that automatically compares swiftly perceived elements of current experience with past experience and knowledge, and they are delivered to awareness with considerable emotional certainty. How do gut feelings relate to first impressions? Intuition, like first impressions, serves the brain’s need to predict and prepare for what will happen next. First impressions are rapid, holistic assessments of people based on subtle perceptual cues and judgment of intent to help or harm. Both rely on automatic processes and, as rapid evaluation systems, both are subject to error, especially from biases we hold. Is intuition a sixth sense? Because human survival depends on avoiding danger, our mental apparatus is wired to be especially sensitive to signs of danger and to register them before we can recognize and act on them. That knowledge is a product of the brain’s built-in negativity bias and can feel intuitive. However, it is not always accurate, as the early warning system errs on the sides of false alarms. When to Trust Your Gut Our gut feelings are often correct, but we tend to attach a certainty to them that they do not always merit. They do tend to be more accurate in some domains of experience than others, such as in the formation of first impressions. Intuition is also often valuable in detecting deception and other forms of danger, and in detecting sexual orientation. Should I trust my intuition? Gut feelings do have their value in complex decision-making. Studies of top executives show that even after they analyze mounds of data, the information does not tell them what to do; that is where intuition is a guide. People typically cite rational-seeming criteria for their actions and do not disclose the subjective preferences of feelings that arise spontaneously. Is my intuition always right? Experts find that intuition, no matter how right it feels, is more reliable in some areas of activity than others. For example, it can help you generate new ideas or new figures of speech, but don’t count on it for comprehending vocabulary, where reflective thinking better fits the task, or in judging job candidates. Many situations actually utilize a combination of intentional reflective deliberation and automatic intuition. Are some people more intuitive than others? Intuition is a thinking style, and people differ in the degree to which they rely on intentional reflection on the one hand and automatic knowledge on the other. In addition, people differ in a specific facet of intuitive ability, namely implicit learning, or the capacity for taking in complex information without being aware of having learned it. Too, some people have more experience and expertise stored in their memory database against which current perceptions can be matched. Is learning intuitive? Learning relies on memory input and retrieval, and although the mechanisms of memory operate outside conscious awareness, most often deliberate effort is needed to acquire the information to be stored in memory. In fact, intuition is not a good guide to how well you are learning something. Intuition suggests that long stretches of studying or practice are best for learning, when evidence indicates that studying in shorter chunks is more effective. Can I improve my intuition? It is possible to hone your powers of intuition. To some degree, intuition stems from expertise, which relies on tacit knowledge. Strengthening intuition requires making use of feedback, comparing the real-life outcomes of situations with the intuitive decisions you made. Even so, being highly intuitive in one domain of experience doesn’t guarantee reliability in every area." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/intuition

I am right here as well ~ Could be spinning gear or Casting gear A-Jay

This one was Pretty Crazy ~ A-Jay

I am going to need to completely rethink my hairdo ! #mulletsrule A-Jay

? A-Jay

That explains it. I will admit, I was scratching my nugget pretty good trying to figure that one out. A-Jay

Perhaps use the units 'simulator' to help learn what the returns you are seeing might be. https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=nMNhF33v9j5v2nRrBgvIy7 A-Jay