A-Jay

There's some very good sticks in the BR membership who have 'several' DD fish to their credit including some well into the "Teener" category. Rarefied Air for sure. I've only caught a handful, none past 12 lbs and all caught south of the border. But what always strikes me is the sheer size - just so thick & deep; and love those bugged out eyes. As for the fight a few bull dogged very hard. Enough to know that there was a chance it was a huge fish without seeing it. But I've caught plenty of 8's & 9's that really pulled just as hard or even harder - and it seems the not quite DD's jump more. DD's still totally jump but sometimes it more of a wallow than a complete catapult out of the drink. My DD fish came on an assortment of baits - in order of there catch - a 1 oz spinnerbait in 25ft, a 3/4 oz Rattlebait in 12 ft., a 1 oz black & blue jig with a 7 inch Senko trailer in 20 ft, a 1/2 scrounger with a white magnum fluke trailer in 8 ft, and a 1 oz fotball jig with a 10 inch bull worm trailer in 30 ft. Here's a clip of the release of my first one - I was fishing with just my guide Geno (who doesn't speak English but is a Rock'n guide) If I look & sound a little pumped up, it's because I was a little pumped up ! btw - I was fishing for big fish only -and she was The Only fish I got that day. A-Jay

There have been too many really killer improvements in fishing over the years to count. From better hooks to braided line, from to electronics talking to trolling motors & shallow water anchors, so much of what we do has been made better. The sheer unpredictability, the here today & gone tomorrow and every season is so different yet sort of the same deal, is very foundation of what makes bass fishing my passion & addiction. However if there ever comes a time where "data" could actually put fish big bass in the net with any regularity, I'd be done and collecting stamps. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ The BR Articles section has a ton of useful information. Here's a list of 'beginners' how-to bass fishing articles. https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ A-Jay

Hello and Thank You for your service ~ Welcome to Bass Resource. A-Jay

I test drove a couple of the 05's but wasn't really feeling the 5.7L - In 06 they dropped in the LS2 6.0L. Seemed like a nice upgrade. Glad I waited. A-Jay

Hello Al and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

I fell in love last fall with the Freedom Tackle Stealth Swim Jig head. Hung a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG and a Rage Bug on it - and it was doing work on the fat fall smallies here. Picked up this season right where it left off - in fact I caught some fish on it today. A-Jay

You know I can relate to that ~ Besides, time is on your side. A-Jay

@everythingthatswims ~ Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to post that. Looking forward to the next chapter and your next adventure. Congratulations again. A-Jay

Not exactly a 'car guy' - but I had a blast with this one. Bought it new in 06 and babied her for 10 years. Sold her to a collector with 15K I miss her a ton but she funded a good portion of my Lund. So that helps me cope. A-Jay

Fun in the sun & wind this morning ~ A-Jay

Yes - Report to follow. A-Jay

There certainly is . . . Be up in a bit. A-Jay

I'll apologized in advance for burning your retina but this juvenile Musky is The First One I've caught here. The lake used to have a quite a population back in the day. Recently (a few years ago) DNR began a re-stocking program. Looks like it's working ! This specimen was fat, very healthy and quite a surprise when it rocketed 3 feet in the air next to the boat. Seems a few years from now I may have a legitimate Musky lake very close by - I'm a fan. A-Jay

As he battled his musky, Captain Jason Quintano had no idea the fish he had hooked was as long as it turned out to be. “If I had, I probably would have had a heart attack,” he said. Once the musky was unhooked and he started picking it out of the net, “she just kept coming". Read the rest of the story here ~ https://www.muskyhunter.com/archives/5693 A-Jay

What do I think ? I think NICE CAMERA ! Wow A-Jay

Go fishing now ! Don't know where you're at but one sure fire way to mis-time it, is to wait too long. In this neck of the woods the bass seem pretty 'activated'. Good Luck A-Jay

That sounds like it should work - Does that work for you fishing in a small body of water recently sprayed with weed & grass killer ? I must be doing something wrong . . . A-Jay

I will openly admit right here & now - I have no clue. What I do know is that I'm not catching bass anything like before the spray. It's like they died - but I never see any carcasses anywhere. One of my favorite go to lakes was recently blasted. It's the place I'd go to 'test' baits & presentations because of the sheer numbers & seemingly always cooperative bass there. That was 2 years ago - the place is still Toast. Great for water skiing & jet ski's and riding around in circles in a pontoon boat 25 feet from shore - but as for the bass fishing . . . . #forgetaboutit. A-Jay

I can't say for sure but I've never experience Better fishing after a weed kill. Sometimes it has little to no effect. Other times - it's like the Dead Sea - for a while. May depend on the size of the body of water. Not to be the harbinger of bad news, but there are a few smaller lakes that I didn't fish for 2 season. After they were 'sprayed' the bass & bait took a couple of seasons to 'come back'. A-Jay

Thanks and you may be right on both accounts. She was a Freak and 'short for her weight'. And I hope she's still out there and making as many more freaks as she possibly can for years to come. As for the live well deal, just watch the video's - it's fairly easy to spot. Seems the smallies I display for the camera after a brief stay in 'the pool', look considerably more 'colored up' than the exhausted, 'I just fought for my life' sort of bland versions, held up fresh from the net. A-Jay

Just drop a way point on it and turn around. A-Jay

@Logan S and @J Francho beat me to the punch but are no doubt right on the money. There's a few things you can do to get more depth from a suspending jerkbait. First & perhaps the best way to go is to just get deeper running baits. The SK KVD 300D and the Megabass 110+1 have both been very good for me. Next you can adjust your line type & size - 10lb test gets baits a bit deeper than say 12lb and a quality Fluorocarbon will usually out depth a mono line. Then, as you mentioned you can change hooks to something heavier. This is usually only going to have marginal improvement at best. And can negate the suspending aspects of a bait if they are too heavy. You can play with types, sizes & brands to get what you're looking for but it's a somewhat tedious process - been there. (long winters). btw- if you really want to dial it in - you can even add split ring size to the equation . . . . Finally Strom makes Suspendots & Suspend Strips - these are small stick on strips / dots of lead that you apply your bait to get a desired affect. Again this also takes some time and has a bit of a learning curve getting them positioned / centered just Right. Mis-aligned weight can & usually does adversely affect the way any bait will run, sit and or suspend. Have fun. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Good Luck with that back. A-Jay

That's a great price ~ I picked up a white(ish) one to wear south of the border this fall. There's always big wind there in the afternoon so I'm hoping I'm not fighting to try & keep that hood on my squash the whole time. A-Jay