A-Jay

Wow - that LMB looks deformed it's So Fat ! Nice Smallie too Congrats A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ It would be in your best interest to continue to read as much as you can in the Bass Resource Articles section. http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ Learning about the type of water you plan on fishing and then passing that along here will assist the very experienced & super helpful BR membership guide you along. Good Luck A-Jay

Yup - supposed to be almost 60 here tomorrow but with some winds. I'm going anyway - Sunday too. Hope you're right. A-Jay

Sounds good - but perhaps skip the SI and go right for the 360 imaging - you'll get SI as a bonus A-Jay

I'd build a wood rack near your dwelling to make the trip reasonable and store the boat inside - I'm willing to give a little to keep the boat in good condition. Chewed seats, chewed wiring, chewed everything . . . . Cold hands don't need to be "Repaired". A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Besides a good pair of split ring pliers - these Xuron 450BN Bent Nose Pliers have come in very handy for changing out trebles. And I change out EVERY ONE. A-Jay

They do in much of the water's I have the opportunity to fish Catt. Certainly doesn't mean they always bite but it can at least make them a little predictable & every once in a while, easier to find. Easier being a relative term. I'll also say smallmouth, especially in Larger bodies of water, are SERIOUSLY Nomatic . . . so I would not apply the same approach. A-Jay

Agreed ~ A relatable example of this is when fighting larger, long & hard running game fish (I'm speaking of saltwater here - tuna, bill fish etc) when a fish is taking most of the spool on a super long run, it's common practice to back off the drag. As the line left on the spool decreases the diameter size, the drag pressure definitely increases so if it was initially set at say 50 pounds of drag at the start with a full spool - with less than half a spool left there is considerable more than that being applied. I will also say that in the vast majority of Bass fishing applications, the IPT issue is something I'd address well ahead of drag pressure. A-Jay

Look at you making all kinds of sense at 9 AM ~ A-Jay

That seems like a typical late Fall pattern. Seems like in the fall for me the bite is ALWAYS best in the afternoon - during that warmest part of the day. And is OVER 90 minutes before sunset. I've beaten the water to a froth early & late in the day and have had very little to show for it; even when the middle of the afternoon has been killer. So now - when it's cold, 11 am to say 4-5 pm is when I concentrate my efforts. If I choose to go earlier (or stay later) - it's just to look for spots but I won't wet a like until the day warms up. The lake always looks great early & late but the bass are not interested. Your mileage may vary. A-Jay

Pats might be getting Dion Lewis Back - "Danger Will Robinson" . . . . A-Jay

Using your on board "Flasher" to locate fish. A-Jay

That's a Great Idea - And one I have done a few times - with a bit of success too. A-Jay It is fun (the dogs lose their MINDS !) but with the proper fitting gear no one's getting away ~ A-Jay

Nice ~ Tom you're an Old School Metering Fool . . . Who catches Big Bass . . . . A-Jay

SHA-Weeeeeet ~ ! A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Good Luck on the Tournament Trail A-Jay

Nice review - and here's a little info nugget I didn't realize until I just looked it up. That new Mojo Bass - SCIII model is THE LIGHTEST 7 ft or 7'1" MH Fast Casting rod ST Croix currently offers in it's Entire line of rods. Legend Elite - 4.7, Legend Xtreme - 5.0, LTB - 4.4, Premier Casting - 4.7, Mojo Bass - 4.2, Bass X - 4.7, Triumph - 4.7 . . . Doesn't mean it's the best - but if it's what you're looking for, It Is The Lightest. A-Jay

Perfect - there's a warm up in the forecast for here too ~ This is just the Zaniest Pre-winter period in recent memory - wish we'd have one that made the bass fishing better instead of such tough sledding . . . . . A-Jay

Well, I do remember that and Thank you very much for thinking of me & reminding me. More imortantly you are not allow to discuss your demise in any way, shape, or form. Your posts & pictures are too Good. A-Jay

Several Golden Nuggets of Knowledge being dropped in this thread. I love it. To the OP - If you're confident that you are fishing big fish locations, at big fish times, with big fish baits, especially if there is history of previous big fish catches while doing this, then there's a chance that instead of a "slump" something has changed. Either the environment, the bait, something. It could be temportary - it could be permenant. In an effort to get back on those bass, as long as they are still there, there may me a need to switch something up to account for this. When faced with this delema myself, I've found that the best and Only thing to change is LOCATION. This may mean a totally different body of water. As mentioned by the very seasoned and accomlished anglers above - keep throwing what you have confidence in, in the places you feel are the right ones, in a manner that has worked in the past; just do it in new water. Finally, I believe that for whatever reason something is off in many places around the country as it relates to bass fishing. Perhaps it's weather related. This "Fall" season has be unusually warm. Even the local Deer population is being skit-so which is giving the hunters here fits. We may not need to change a thing - perhaps simply wait them out. Good Luck A-Jay

Here too. Just taking a little longer tomelt. A-Jay

Nice Reel ~ ! Goose you know how I feel about that one ~ it's just Sweet. Please keep me in mind if you're ever in the mood to re-home it. I promise I'd take very good care of it. I'd read it a bed time story & tuck it in every night . . . . A-Jay

Please accept my Deepest Condolences . . . . . A-Jay