A-Jay

Good Enough and you're welcome. A-Jay

While I've not ever actually defined what the 'purpose' of this thread is - The general 'theme' if you will, revolves around my open water prediction date and my overall impatience waiting for it whenever it comes. As for catching bass immediately after ice out, I've had some success there. In fact, the first two weeks of open water often account for some of the largest brown bass I'll catch all year. EVen put a few very respectable bass in the net while there was still ice on the lake. So that certainly adds a level of anticipation to the whole deal. I'd encourage you to 'try' fishing now if you can do it safely. A lippless rattle bait & a jerk bait are both great early season presentations. Good Luck A-Jay

@heavyduty I left the plastics in the original bags and they are positioned side by side with two rows end to end in each speedbag. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Most all the bags are 'full' more or less. So that helps make them 'sturdy' enough to facilitate stacking; otherwise, they would not be at all. In my particular case; with 10 bags - I have 5 each stored in two different compartments - 4 on the bottom with 1 only on top of the 4. Works fine and nothing is being 'crushed' as to misshape the baits in the bags on the bottom. The capacity of the large size speed bag is somewhat dependant on the type of baits and the size (especially the width) of the original soft plastic bait bag. Plano lists the capacity as 40 bags. I'll say that unless they are 3-inch stick baits - that might be pushing it a little. However, 20-30 'average' soft plastic bag is very do-able (excluding larger swimbaits /paddletails). Check back for that picture tomorrow . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ This is a great place to help start you in the right direction. A-Jay

If there's a shallow water smallie that won't eat a ned rig, I haven't met him or her. Spawning or not. A-Jay

LOL ~ That may be because these we made up a little closer to open water, so I may have been a little less suicidal . . . Good point though and I know better than to attribute my success to anything remotely related to skill. If it comes to it, you might end up seeing a few added. A-Jay

I was looking forward to this one; so much so that I forgot to do an intro. The Push workout (specifically Chest, Shoulders & Triceps) is always a fan favorite. Just like the last workout, I eased into this one. Applied a solid effort but didn’t want to push it too much just yet. It’s coming though. This clip includes the last set of each muscle group along with some on the deck core work at the end. Next up – We’ll be doing some “Pulling”. A-Jay

That's a nice problem to have ~ Good Luck with where ever you go. A-Jay

I'm using the Plano KVD Speed Bags size large - Cabelas has them in stock and at the best price - just saved you a few bucks right there . . . A-Jay https://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/tackle-storage/tackle-binders-utility-boxes/pc/104793480/c/104777280/sc/104620680/plano-synergy-kvd-speedbag-worm/2590622.uts?slotId=7

Past few seasons I've been using label gallon zip lock freezer bags to hold the baits in their original package. I'd put the bags into a milk crate. This winter I bailed on that deal and went this route. Plano Speed Bags - size large. Ditched the milk crate and just place 1/2 in each rear compartment - port & starboard respectively. I expect it to be just as good if not better than what I'd been doing. A-Jay

What a Great Bass ! Congrats on your new PB and Welcome to the 7 lb Club. A-Jay

It's my main line on casting gear and leader for spinning gear on 90 % of my jerk bait fishing. That bulk spool will last me 5 seasons or more. A-Jay

1000 yds of 10lb Tatsu - for $90 ! That's $10 less than TW's price on 1000 yds of InvisX Seems almost too good to be true but there it is. With all the funny business going around regarding Seaguar - I'm skeptical but if you're willing to take a leap of faith, this one's a steal. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094FLH8G/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_5?smid=A2YODKRGOWPVDD&psc=1 A-Jay

It's pretty intense - especially if he's close. We hear them occasionally while out on the trail with the dogs. The dogs know they're around way before we do. There is that 'elk park' on the east side of Gaylord right near the Road Commission facility. It's an overlook down over a big piece of elk woods. There's almost always a few there as people feed them all the time. It's fenced off from town to keep them from strolling the streets. (the elk, not the people - ?) When I was initially looking at my house with the realtor, he told me about the local herd and that I'd probably be able to hear them. I thought "yea - Right'. Turns out he wasn't just 'working the new guy for a sale'. A-Jay

A couple of locals were going at it yesterday just outside of town. A-Jay

Mr. Iaconelli is a skilled and experienced bass angler no doubt. I do enjoy his efforts when he is explaining a bait or technique as his presentation comes across as articulate & genuine. However, is on-camera persona when he's fishing appears in line with the old WWF - Hacksaw Jim Duggan would be proud. Definitely not my cup of tea. My mute button gets a workout. At least he's not simultaneously sporting the Tommy Biffle short shorts. A-Jay

There ya go ~ Best of luck my friend. A-Jay

Yes ~ And that's at least partially by design as I'm targeting brown bass a good majority of the time. But I have to say that if I were to put a percentage on my spinnerbait color catch rate, it would be something close to 60% caught on Chartreuse & White and the rest caught on a combination of everything else. So I do fish the old standby quite a bit too. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll post a pic of a few of my more productive non-chartreuse / white spinnerbaits - And although I've only been fishing them effectively for I guess 2 years, my vibrating jig color patterns are much closer to all jig color skirts - with only a very small percentage caught on white & anything. Guess that could be a whole new thread. A-Jay

Enjoyed a couple of days off, but it felt good to get back at it. After several weeks of Total Body training, these first few workouts will see me sort of ease into it. While ramping up the weights a bit this time, the last thing I want to do is jack myself up. This clip is a small sample of my efforts today. I’ll be hitting a ‘push’ workout day after tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it too. A-Jay

No doubt that's an effective pattern in many circumstances. I make & use my own skirts. (so easy an A-Jay can do it). All kinds of greens, brown, orange & even some reds. I have caught some fairly repectable smallies on spinnerbaits that had the same skirts I use make for & use on my swimjigs jigs. Not magic but can certainly be a viable option. A-Jay

Sweet ~ You're Welcome. Let me know how you like it. I'm shopping for a packable set for trips south of the border. Currently, I'm without one & just get wet. A-Jay

I actually add weight - especially when I'm looking to burn it and keep it high in the water column, which is at least 1/2 the time I fish it. I wrap solder around the shank of the hook. How much weight it adds depends on the type length & size of solder used. Adds length to the cast, is centered perfectly on the bait to ensure it runs true and allows for max speed while keeping the bait just under the surface. I just push the trailer right onto it. I will not use a trailer hook unless I absolutely have to - which is sort of rare. Works wicked good ! But let's just keep this our little secret. A-Jay

A-Jay

Big fan of that bait myself. A-Jay

I have not fished that line. However according to the manufacturer, the 20lb. is listed at 0.017 in and the 30lb comes in at 0.022 in. Seems both tests have a slightly smaller/thinner diameter than the industry standard. If I could still make the casts I needed to and get bites, I'd go for the 30lb; especially since it's only 0.002 inches larger than most brands 20lb. btw - I like 25lb. Good Luck A-Jay