A-Jay

Tips to imitating crayfish ~ Ability to hold breath & Megastrike cologne might help Sorry ~ A-Jay

You love those shell white baits ~ wonder why ? A-Jay

Two words ~ Back Plate. A-Jay

Interesting premise. As a user of both techniques, I've not noted one method 'faster' than the other; meaning I guess more casting per hour. A-Jay

I am totally in this camp as well. Braid & a mono leader routinely. The only expectation is when using a LC 128 south of the border - it's usually in & around mutant trees, HV action casting rod & at least 20lb mono. Super fun and doesn't happen enough. Otherwise, when presenting JK's in local water, it's spinning gear the vast majority of the time. A-Jay

I started recording some of my fish catches a while ago - I use a Garmin Virb. Super easy 1 button on & off switch or with a remote. I see it as a fun way to document catches and clearly offers more of the story than a simple photo, which I still do too. This turned into videoing more of the day to include pre & post trip clips which again allow for even more of the trip documentation. I have since added a GoPro which I'll no doubt use this coming season. Either way I don't do very much in the way of editing; none in fact unless there is a need. I do not add music or anything else. Instead I prefer to just turn the thing on and whatever happens, happens - I'll admit to making a conscious attempt to curb some of what could be considered colorful language. Usually successful. Basically I'll do them the way I like to watch them; including some narrative when appropriate. If a viewer can enjoy it & learn something in the process - I'm good. btw - a super benefit from the video's is one is able to grab Great Pics right from the video - often the kind rarely possible with a still camera - especially when fishing alone - no tripod needed. A-Jay

Never been a fan of "tenderizing' red meat. My personal consumption of red meat is infrequent enough that if I need to repeatedly inflict multiple punctures or somehow otherwise pulverize my steak, I probably should have selected a different cut. So when this is not an option I'll wait until it is. A-Jay And I bet you're a happier man for it. I've been able to do it here once every few winters or so - And it's always a very special deal in more ways than one. A-Jay

I am a red meat eater - not overly but as a part of a hopefully balanced diet. While the favorite method will always include some type of direct natural wood, charcoal or at the very least open air gas flame, during the cold weather months I use a cast iron pan cooking method on the gas stove top for indoor preparation. After lightly pre-seasoning a choice cut, and with the overhead stove hood fan on 'high", the Steak pan is pre-heated until very hot. Meat is placed into said pan & then cooked for only 1 minute and then turned and cooked for only 1 minute. This process is continued until just before the desired doneness is reached, at which point the savory goodness is removed from the pan and set aside for 5 minutes to 'rest'. There's a brief learning curve required as far as number of turns required to find the best red, pink or shoe-leather like level of doneness you prefer. It may not be quite as good as putting meat over fire but it's pretty darn close. Try it - you'll like it. A-Jay

Well Done ~ Thanks While not a dedicated big bait angler - I'm more apt to use that kind of cash on one bait with a decent track record. A-Jay

Hey @"hamma" don't knock it till you try it ~ That 'gut feeling' drives quite a bit of my overall fishing in general; and has done so for a long time. Right off the bat, there's a lot of water in my immediate area (& beyond) to choose from. So simply deciding which one to fish is where it all starts. Then choosing 'the spot', the bait and of course 'the cast', can and often are part of that gut feeling. I can say with a fair level of confidence that believing in and following through on my own gut feeling has accounted for some memorable days & decent catches. Haven't really committed them all to memory but one recent situation does come to mind. While on a little paddle only lake this past August. I had ‘that feeling’ as we past by a rather nothing looking 4x4 ft patch of pads in the middle of a mostly in descript soft bottom flat – turn out pretty good. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

@rippin-lips Daiwa spool materials knowledge level ~ MASTER. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Best of Luck with the New Rig Congrats A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

@Outdoor Zack Fishing new water is one of my favorite aspects of this awesome past time. And every angler can certainly benefit from the abundance of time tested advice offered in this thread to date. When considering the basic premises you listed above, each of us probably has a different approach and the reasons for this may be as varied as the levels of success experienced. For me it comes down to knowledge first & experience second. Having some of both is helpful but as has been proven many a time, not totally necessary. So with that in mind, there can be a few different things to consider. First, each body of water is its own deal. Many can be & are similar. Important thing may be there are No set rules. So what may produce fish in one place or local may or may not garner the same results elsewhere. The old saying ‘That a bass is a bass’, can & should be still held close to the heart. But understanding how & perhaps why each habitat may see the bass in it displaying the undeniable adaptability these fish we love chasing are so famous for may help guide one toward success. There is no replacement for time on the water, however one usually will benefit most from this with eyes wide open looking to learn. On that same note, many very successful bass anglers have been down this road ahead of us and have offered their findings & experiences for all to see in the form of various books, publications, video’s & articles. Clearly there’s so much it seems overwhelming. This can be said about most long standing pastimes where humans are so passionate. There may be no short cut to it. And getting ones ‘degree’ in bass fishing can be tough and in my own case, a lifelong quest. However knowing and being able to apply “The Basics” is never a bad plan and may be just what you’re looking for when discussing primary forage, key features / bottom contours, & the life cycle of a bass. Still, there’s no denying that weeding through even this can test one’s constitution. May not be a need to read & know it all, only as much as & what you feel will benefit you and your fishing. I believe that my own fishing has truly benefitted not only from time on the water but especially from learning what I can; both on and off the water. And when it comes to fishing new areas, my own years of angling have me believing two basic concepts. First, and this is something that can be both reassuring & defeating depending on one’s own perspective, just because I’m not getting bit in a spot, area or even an entire lake, may not mean that the fishing isn’t Excellent. Which leads me to the second thought. Regardless of how ‘fishy’ an area or spot appears both on the surface & below (with mapping etc) the proof is in the pudding; meaning there are so many other factors that come into play besides what it looks like, that I may need to fish it many different ways & at many different times before unlocking the secret. THIS ALWAYS TAKE A LOT OF TIME, BUT IS TIME WELL SPENT. Sometimes it pans out in the form of bass in the net and often times it does not – but despite the occasional bits of frustration that might come with it, I love to do it as often & as much as I possibly can. Because I'm still learning. The Bass Fishing Satisfaction experienced with new Lake Success, even many years and decades later, is still one of the things I love and appreciate most. A-Jay

Hello Teng and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Super Glad your Mom is doing well. Here's to continued Good Health to you both moving forward. A-Jay

Although not a standard practice by any means, I think they may benefit more from firing The Owner. A-Jay

I know ~ I had to. With so many stud BR bassheads all using it successfully, the peer pressure was too much. I caved. Sort of glad I did - like the line in the right situations - but even though I try to buy in bulk, I'll never like the price. A-Jay

Hello Robert and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello Joseph and Welcome to Bass Resource A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Jig colors & trailers can usually be broken down into four simple colors. Black, Blue, Green Pumpkin (or Brown) and some kind of green. Regardless of where you're fishing or what the conditions are, if the bait is presented correctly / effectively, and if they're going to eat a jig & trailer, one of or some combination of these will usually work. Unfortunately, I do not follow my own advice nor does this seem to apply with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, chatter baits, swim baits, topwater baits, jerkbaits . . . .on & on & on . . . . . I think you get the picture. The bait Monkey really drives all on this . . . . . . YMMV. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Best of luck to you on your future endeavors. Especially your State Record Bass Quest. A-Jay