A-Jay

Well said. Additionally, I would like to start a motion that requires this mentality be applied to EVERY thread includes the word "Best" in the title ~ A-Jay

Blade Baits, Rattle Baits, Spinner baits, Jerk Baits, several Crank Baits, Jigging Rap, and almost anything on a jighead; including but not limited to a curly tail grub, swim bait, and even a craw. A-Jay

Haven't see any of this in person - But by the looks of his work here, appears top notch. http://www.davecampbellfish.com/master-grade-gallery/26-largemouth-bass-replica.html @18RangerZ520L - has utilized this man's services and seems pretty happy. No clue as to the $$$ but I'm betting you'll pay for what you get. A-Jay

Nah ~ It's all good. A-Jay

Sweet ! Congrats A-Jay

I'm a typo & re-edit machine . . . So I actually have no credibility here - At All A-Jay

Sweet ! Congrats on the New Personal Best A-Jay

I'm a big Boga Grip fan. I'm using the smallest (15 lb) model - The 'gripper' part of the unit doesn't really use pressure to hold the fish. It's more of an 'open & close' deal. I've used the 15lb model to maintain control of some hefty Pike & Musky. May not be the best way to weigh super heavy toothy critters but seems to work well on bass. Really love it to help keep me away from treble hooks while I'm removing them and I use it faithfully. A-Jay

Hello Chris and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Greeting on the week ~ WTG A-Jay

Always 'file a float plan' meaning - tell a responsible adult where you're going, what ramp you'll be using and where you plan on fishing, most importantly - when you plan on returning. And if you change the plan - TELL THEM . It's also a very good idea to take a few minutes and collect the following info and leave it with them - as they will need it if there's a problem; Your Cell Phone number (if you carry one), A description of your tow vehicle (year, make/model and tag numbers) same with your boat, motor & trailer along with registration numbers, your description, age & any health issues you may have as well as a list of med you may be on & why, ***The Name & Numbers of WHO this person should call ( U S Coast Guard, State / Local Police, Local Search or Fire Rescue) if you do not return on time ***** And if you plan on staying well past this time - you're going to have company if you don't let them know. Also, check your states websites on boating safety and regulations. There may be requirements that you should know about before going out on the water. Check to see what type / sizes fuses you have and carry some extras. Have a reliable tire pressure gauge to monitor your tow vehicle & trailer tire air pressure. A portable 12v air compressor & a trailer Jack can come in real handy as well. Carry at least one spare boat plug and have it readily available. Ensure you know how & can get yourself back into your vessel in case you fall over the side, especially if you fish alone. Using the out board motors 'trim' to help lift you onto the stern is a good way. Have a spare 'kill switch' lanyard and always wear one when the Out board motor is running. And then there's this ~ https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/boat-products.html That should at least start you on your way. Good Luck and Congrats on the new rig. A-Jay

Hello Bill and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Nice Intro A-Jay

If I have more than 3 or 4 on deck, which is standard operating procedure for me, it usually means I am either fishing new water, haven't been out in a while or just clueless. Which happens way more than I'd like to admit. ? A-Jay

Great minds think alike ~ I really love a good swimjig bite (which is right about now incidentally) One can cover water, bass almost always choke them & I rarely lose a fish. Good Times A-Jay

Yes ~ But you may not have to limit yourself to paddle tail trailers only. And in my area natural colors produce best. A-Jay

Don't tempt me - you know I'll do it Since I'll still be running the Opti between now & trading it in - I'll be 'babying it' Big Time. Might even drive 30 mph in the break down lane with the flashers on . . . Just to be safe. A-Jay

New Motor's a Go ~ Order went in this morning. Expected delivery date is 1 August. A day to mount & rig it on the Pro-V Bass and I'll ready for the Fall Bite. Pumped. A-Jay

Seemingly the identical scenario played out in this area as well. Not a fan. A-Jay

Nice & I like the red hook A-Jay

No doubt you have a lot of energy & determination to catch bass but it sounds like you may be a victim of your own enthusiasm. With just a little more knowledge, there a decent chance you could answer quite a few of your own questions. Perhaps center your initial focus on these concepts: How & where bass live seasonally & why. What they eat & how they feed. Then learn about the bait bass feed on - where it lives & what it eats. This info will help you with the following: where to fish, when to fish, what to fish, and most importantly WHY. Quite a bit of that information is available here - https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ There's no magic bait or special secret spot or technique that catches bass all the time. But bass eat most every day and if you can learn what that is & where it takes place you may find yourself being less frustrated. Good Luck A-Jay

Nice Bass ~ A-Jay

Don't do a ton of weighted wacky fishing but . . . For light line / open water applications - I like the Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head For heavier line / moderate cover applications - I like the Revenge Flippin Wacker head. A-Jay

I'll be right over . . . A-Jay

The current Two Stroke has just over a hundred hours on it - A full year left on the all inclusive factory warranty and looks brand new. While still having an almost a cult following, the big two strokes Mercs are No Longer made. Additionally, the funds expended on this new motor will be about the same as what I'd need to spend on an 'extended warranty' for a three year old motor. Instead, I get a brand new unit. Finally, although I'm still waiting to hear back, but I think these new motors come with a 6 years factory warranty. Either way, all that seems to make it a pretty good time to re-power. As for speed, I'm running @58 mph WOT, but I don't really race anyone. No clue what the new motor will do, perhaps at least what I'm getting now, but I'm expecting it to be quite a bit more fuel efficient. A-Jay

Finding smallies in the 'summer' can be challenging - it is for me. They seem to move all over the place - here today, gone tomorrow. Such opportunistic feeders that are very willing to travel quite a ways. My limited success with summer smallies comes from two basic thoughts. First - where they are during low light (early & late) seems different from where they hang out once the sun gets up a bit. So my approach early & late is to fish the shallower areas on or near the spots you listed above (drop-offs , shelves, humps, etc.) Especially areas that have an decent food source - for me that's almost always perch & / or crayfish. One of my favorite & top producing areas on most every SMB lake I fish, is "Inside Turns." Once I can identify what depth they are using, following a contour line and hitting the inside turn of Points, drop-offs, humps & saddle areas - and especially 'funnels" (where the bottom structure is such that the fish can 'run the lane' in the deep water, and shoot up shallow at any point along it to eat). Now as you mentioned 'there are so many areas' on any lake that can be potential bass fishing areas. Where does one start ? This is where the second part of my very basic plan comes into play. A starting point - By going to where you know the SMB spawned (where the beds are) and expanding from there, one can often locate a few. Simply expand your search from shallow to deep until you connect. Remembering that early & late they could be pretty shallow and move out as the day continues. Where & how far is the hard part. I usually don't use my electronics here to find fish, although it happens more now with the 360 imaging, more often I'm looking for bait & cover. Rocks & bottom composition transition areas can be good. And even if & when I find them, I have all but given up on trying to catch 'suspending' fish. Super tough. Every once in a while I can get a few to go, but can be & has been a frustrating deal. Early & late I'm using topwater & moving baits (depending on the wind) and once I start to look "deeper" I am almost always throwing a drop shot. But a drop shot can be a 'search bait' just use a small nose hooked swimbait, fluke, craw or a small curly tail worm or whatever you have confidence. Something that will not twist your line and that you can fish deep and bump along the bottom. Cast it out - work it back - repeat. This process ALWAYS includes a ton of 'eliminating water'. No way around it. What I have found is that the old adage "10% of the lake holds 90% of the fish" is more or less A Fact ! Hope that helps and don't despair - there's a reason it's a rare event that a big smallie is posted up in the middle of July & early August . . . Good Luck A-Jay