A-Jay

Yup ~ I was on a school brown bass earlier this spring, all big 4's. They were fighting over my jerkbait but I couldn't get a hook in them. I'd get a poke and have one for a second or two and then she'd spit me . . . Happened a few times. I eventually started getting the steel in them and did manage to keep 5 good ones pinned up. But I was pretty frustrated. Jerkbait strikes for me a usually a done deal - crazy that day. Made me question my deal. - Hate that feeling. Went back the next day and hammered a bunch of big 5's & a big 6. Two on jerkbaits. All was right in the world. A-Jay

btw - do Musky count ? ? A-Jay

Each Manufacturers 'published' line diameters, for all types of lines, seems to vary wildly. I've found that the the only way to know if a line is right for me - including diameter, is to get some hands on time with it. May not mean I have to fish it, but being able to compare them in person at a local retail outlet is helpful & very enlightening. A-Jay

X2 ~ I will say that this spring I spooled up a couple of Daiwa Tatula LT Silver 3000 spinners with Power Pro Maxcuatro Spectra Braided Line Moss Green in 20 lb. It's the same or smaller diameter as the 832 in 10lb. So far so Good ~ Casts & handles nicely. I like it. Can't say for sure yet if it's 'better' than the 832, but it's certainly not worse. A-Jay

Nicely Done Congrats A-Jay

Hello Robert and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Unfortunately I've not fished Lake Murray so I can't offer anything in the way of local knowledge. Keep at it though as the journey of learning this deal never really ends for any of us. Good Luck A-Jay

"Points" are sort of low hanging fruit; as they are usually pretty easy to find & perhaps even fish somewhat effectively. This does not in any way diminish them as a very reliable & productive bait & bass holding structure. However, by utilizing some of what is available in electronics & mapping today, enables me to find, mark & very effectively fish, the spot on the spot. Might be a point, might not. #thejuice A-Jay

Perhaps take a page out of @Will Wetline 's play book. He fishes Quabbbin and does well. A-Jay

Congrats & Good Luck ~ A-Jay

Pics a little deceiving because I'm actually a huge midget. ? A-Jay

Yes ~ A-Jay

And the strike was in-sane ! A-Jay

An excerpt from Chapter IV of Brown Bass tools. I'll fish green bass the same way many times. "I almost always prefer to approach any point from its shallowest or nearest to the bank end. I’ll fish the ‘inside turn’ before I get to it as not to ‘burn’ (spook off) any fish that might be up there. ( the inside turn at the base of any point can be a good spot and even a pattern at times) If the light is low enough and there’s sufficient water on top of the shallowest areas of the point, I’ll fish that first. If that’s the deal I’ll stay off it and keep catching. If not, I’ll move up onto the point and position my rig to fish the sides & eventually, off the front. On some Big points, the ‘Top’ can be pretty massive and by covering it all, there could be may fish to be had. So there’s no need to hurry through it all looking to fish deeper if that’s where they are. OK so now it’s time to approach & fish the ‘sides’ of the point. Let’s take a second and discuss a few things. As mentioned, much of the water we’re fishing is clear; add some sun and a boat shadow – there’s plenty going on here that can alert the bass to my presence well before I make a single cast. And that’s The Last thing I want to do, is ‘burn’ the spot – especially after I went through all the time & effort to ‘sneak in’ from the bank. So, if I don’t need it, I turn off all my electronics. May not help, but if they’re off, they definitely can’t hurt. I’ll go easy on the Fortrex – and even using the wind a bit if it can help get me where I want to go. I’ll often make the choice of where to come up on the point based on the wind. But that can work two ways; it can help move me up and along but it can also blow me onto fish I don’t want to burn, so choose wisely Grasshopper. This is where the Talons really earn their keep. I think you can see why. Points that have cover (weeds, wood, just about anything that offers bass or even better, a whole school of bass, a place to relate to) is what we’re discussing here. Often the bigger or more cover is better, especially if it can & does hold bait. But sometimes one rock or one dead tree or one 10 ft square weed or grass patch, can hold several very respectable bass – you just never know. They all but disappear on it." A-Jay

I use that bait - quite a bit. Prefer to change out that stock hook (hate it). I use Gamakatsu Short Shank Magic Eye # 4. A Mustad KVD Elite EWG short shank in red on the front is option. I get a few. Also if you care to, using a small rubber band to secure the hooks when not in use can reduce some hook rash during travel. A-Jay

No Way ~ Can't possibly give those sticks up . . . Nice try though . . . A-Jay

Nice work but perhaps this may be more of a January project than a June thing . . . . Despite the current deluge I mean. A-Jay

Despite living in the day & age of digital and immediate information - I believe that 'the facts' or truth, you are asking and perhaps ultimately looking for, is long gone and forgotten. It may end up remaining that way. Back in the day (we won't say exactly when that may have been) looking back at those old records was part of the Lore & History of Fishing. As is bound to happen, times have changed, quite a bit. Facts, figures, photo's, video & proof, rule the present day record keepers, very little of which may have been even a small part of what we're discussing here. In the end, I'm OK with it. If an angler were to catch that magic Mama that would surpass the current 'record' you can be certain that ALL of the proof in the world would need to be displayed - and beyond a shadow of a doubt, in order for it to be recognized as the new state record. I'd love to see it happen, though I will admit to being a bit skeptic in both the validity of the current record as well as the potential for a fish from this state that would be bigger. Said this before but IMO the 9.98 lb state record smallmouth has a much better chance of being bested, perhaps a couple of times, before a 12 lb green bass shows up. A-Jay

Yup ~ Kind a cool. Never know what the days gonna bring. I just put together a mudhole cart that includes what I'll need. Looks like I have my first 'winter project' lined up. Thanks again. A-Jay

https://www.lamiglas.com/collections/saltwater-inshore-blanks/products/mb-841-e-7-honey-fiberglass-light-saltwater-and-live-bait?variant=4897369784361 Here it is. Allen Sold out ☹️ A-Jay Edit - Mudhole has it !

LOL ~ I'm drawing up the blueprints for the Ark now . . . The tricky part of the state record verification process may be the hands on biologist requirement. I believe that may help eliminate the, I caught it last week, caught it last year, caught it in another state, caught it with a cast net stuff (OK, I threw that last one in there for comic relief). I like to be prepared so at the start of every season I print out the current year state record info and application. as well as the list and contact info of all the state biologists. Who this year happens to be Jennifer Kieitich out of the Gaylord DNR office. She covers Otsego, Emmit, Cheboygan, Charleviox & Antrim Counties - busy lady. And to take it a step further, I've actually discussed a potential 'weigh-in' with a supervisor at the local wal-mart. She said - heck ya ! A-Jay

I'm not a big 'rod builder' but I dabble. If this blank was out there, I'd seriously consider spinning one up . . . . A-Jay

I'm fishing them a lot again this season - hefty but I like them. A-Jay

Got it. I do like Mr. Thumbs up (Vault Boy) though. Might be seeing more of him here & there. A-Jay