bigbill

Isn't there a popular trout river there? I think it's called the salmon river? It's stocked really heavy I believe.

I'm wondering if I should use the cork sealer on all my new rods? Does anyone else do this? There is a sealer made for cork on fishing rod handles. I use my rods for a very long time. I figure since my new rods cost a little more why not seal the cork handle? Good ideas? Or not a good idea?

Please I mean no flames here against anyone. I posted my results in testing the Combo C LECTOR a few years back, maybe a decade. My results was on three days only one color caught fish when no other color worked. For those three days only one color worked for the time I was fishing. On another day all the colors worked. I was just getting into bass fishing and seen a bill dance tv show about Dr Loren hill' s combo c lector. I also read some of doctor hill' s test results online too. I'm very interested in changing light and water conditions plus the suns effects on the plant life and hues in the water. And how it affects the basses eyes and the baitfish eyes to change when the lighting conditions change. This affects the morning, the noon and evening feeding times. I know it's easier to just go fish. But I wanted a little more knowledge about the color and feeding times why it happens. Again I don't mean to offend anyone. When I took the job of twenty years with the engineering group I look at things from the end product user as well trying to understand the engineering that went into it. I look at things from both sides of the fence. But mainly want to know why things work the way they do. The root causes. Why did I have success on one day and not the following day what's changed. Sorry if I posted too much stuff. I wanted to start fishing local tournaments in the early 90's but I had two knee operations that haulted those plans so I fished from shore harder. I love bass fishing.

If you know these big violent striking toothy critters are there I have two words? Thin wire leader @ Wal-Mart. I put in hours tweeting my first spinnerbaits as per Glenn's instructions when a 30" pickerel came on the shorelines very edge out of the water as I lifted my newly hottest spinnerbaits setup I ever had success with on the first day of using it. I couldn't believe my eyes to what I was seeing. It was in slow motion as this monster stole my hot spinnerbaits my mouth opened as my jaw dropped in awe. I swapped out the Colorado blades I took off other larger spinnerbaits that we're new. This new little spinnerbaits with the over sized blades was "thumpy" I just had to try more thump. I didn't record my changes. I didn't toss my rod, I didn't get upset but for 60 seconds I was ready to put my knife across my teeth and jump in the water after it, NOT ME. I just took a shot on the chin from Mike pickerel Tyson. What a fish. So I feel your pain brother. Another day I spent $75 the night before on new lures. I was in a rush to go fishing really bad. How bad? My casting direction savy was way off that day. When I left I left five new lures in the trees. The heart breaker is all five caught fish that day. My casting was out of control. I hardly ever lose anything lately. Does anyone offer lure insurance?

Topwaterspook we been through he'll together with our battles against the big C. I have one more challenge that life has thrown at me. I have had this lower back pain all my life. Now it's at its worst. I'm going to battle through this too.I have a good heart now too. I was over medicated when I lost 70# so quickly. My veins are ok too. I'm chomping at the bit to go bass fishing. The weather is still unsettled here with the wind. I want to take my 4 year old grandson fishing soon. I can't walk into the stores and look at fishing equipment so I ask you guys what's good and what's hot.

Yup that's it I can't say it or spell it I have no clue what it is but I got it.

Under Glenn's suggestions here I been using the Mann's classic spinnerbaits. From shore I like the smaller 1/4oz. Gold Colorado blades, with the blue glimmer skirt with a mister twister 4" split double tail grub for a trailer with a trailer hook with a shot of YUM shad scent. I set up the Mann's classic in chartreuse the same way but in chartreuse. I also use the smaller strike king 1/8oz spinnerbaits too. I set them up like the Mann's classic using the blue glimmer skirts or the hot chartreuse skirts and using the mister twister 2" split double tail grub as a trailer or I trim the 4" split double tail grub to fit the smaller 1/8oz. Spinnerbaits. I use the smaller spinnerbaits from shore. The 1/8oz. to 1/4oz. When setup right work really well. The grub trailer has to be installed exactly on the centerline of the spinnerbaits so it runs exactly vertical and doesn't spin around. I also prefer the Colorado gold blades too. But my water conditions are slightly stained to stained most of the time. Through trial and error I figured out what setup works here. Maybe a different setup may work where you are. But you understand a basic starting point. Now you just have to refine it and steel it in. Sometimes Mann's are hard to find. When a lure is hard to find I go to Amazon.com

I just posted a starting point, it's a baseline. When we get into a rut it's good to review the basics to get back in the groove. Nothing is in cement or a given when fishing. We all are different fisherman. But shore fishing were stuck were we are and have to figure it out. We just can't move the boat. We have to work it for what it is. Paying attention to the light and water conditions and using the right lure colors does matter. There is a time between dusk and twilite just before dark sets in at night the brighter colored lures will catch you a few more fish. Before it shuts down. Example, in the evening while is was still light before dusk I'm throwing a joesfly in blackgnat. Silver Colorado blade with black fly. As it got darker the bite shut down. I put on a joesfly in firetiger apache and caught a few more bass till it got dark. Never limit yourself on certain colors for different lighting conditions. I like to breakout and try different things just to see if I can land a few more fish when it slows up. I notice a change in lighting conditions can shut the bass down. Getting back to Dr. Loren Hill the bass can't see certain colors all the time. I know the fish are there yet the bite stopped. I changed to a brighter color and caught bass again. Again an overcast light rainy warm day. I threw the same joesfly in firetiger apache and caught 19 bass while fan casting in one spot. Using a brighter color in a cloudy rainy overcast low light condition. It's just some food for thought. Another thing I seen when the bite slows down on a clear day while catching smaller fish and it shuts down. I try two different things. First I try a brighter color in the same size lure. Next I throw a larger lure in the same color. The bigger fish come closer to see what the smaller fish are feeding on but they won't hit the same lure. As soon as I throw the larger lure its bigger fish on. Don't forget I'm not using a fish finder. Im going by trial and error to pin point what's changing as the bite slows down. I am not tornie fishing so I'm not pressured to fish or gun and run. I can stay in one spot and research why it happens and what the cause is. I know the fish are still there. I'm a firm believer in this color thing. Sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. We need to figure it out and when to stay in the game when it changes. Nothing I said is set in stone it's a starting point, just basics the game can change at anytime you guys know this.

Ok you guys throw light plastics, weightless plastics with a bait caster? Please clue me in. Brakes off and the friction knob turned out?

I can't review them till I swim them. These little Chinese swimsuits look so real in bluegill and sunfish. There about 2" long if that. I have many of the decent looking one's. The more lures we learn the more knowledge and skills we learn the better fisherman we become. Live it, try it, learn it, the success will follow.

My point is I carried a tackle box with lures and didn't know how to use them for many decades. I fished for trout only. I got into bass fishing just before my son broke his leg doing motocross with his dirt bike. Before the cast was dry and boardum set in we took him fishing using a lounge chair. We all supported him and went fishing together. Before we knew it we were hooked on bass fishing. I was glued to the tv watching Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Jerry Mckinnis, fisherman, dime store fishermen, Roland Martin etc. Then we had the internet when the bass resource guide was just born. This sight was the icing on the cake to hone our bass fishing skills razor sharp. Now I like to see everyone catch bass. It makes me happy, happy to see others catch fish.

I have a spinning out fit for crappies and a baitcasting out fit for crappies too these are micro lites. Dang if I can work them. Then I have a 4'6" & 5' UL trout spinning setups. My bass setups start at 5'6" and go to 7'2" in freshwater bass setups they are a mix of baitcasters and spinning. I have shore fishing and boat fishing setups. Then my heavier setups for bass are inshore spinning outfits for tossing the lures like the 9" rainbow castiac trout lure. I believe my three inshore setups are 7', 7'6" & 8' rods.

Wether your new or experienced this may help even I forget or draw a blank sometimes weTher it's brain fade or I need a snickers it happens to any of us. Lure color vs presentation vs lure size,,,,light vs water conditions 1. CLEAR WATER CONDITIONS; Smaller natural colored lures fished the fastest. Shad colors, craw colors etc. 2. SLIGHTLY STAINED TO NOT AS CLEAR WATER CONDITIONS; A mix of natural colors and bright colored small lures fished fast or slow. 3. STAINED WATER CONDITIONS; Medium to large sized, brighter colored lures, fished slower. 4. MUDDY WATER CONDITIONS; Large to the largest size, the brightest colored lures fished the slowest. 5. LOW LIGHT, EVENING OR EARLY MORNING FISHING AT DUSK OR TWILIGHT. These two different times of the low light I fish them backwards. In the evening as the sun goes down I'm throwing natural colored lures. As the light turns to dusk I switch to brighter colors like firetiger, white, bone etc. Something the bass can still see as the light disappears. In the early morning from dark to twilight I'm throwing brighter colors like chartreuse. Firetiger, white, bone etc. Again a color they can see in the low light. As the low light becomes day I switch to natural colors. UNLESS there are over hanging trees causing shaded darker spots. Again throw smaller brighter colors. Now remember to make soft casts. Don't let your lure hit the water like a rock. I fish from shore mainly. I don't let shore fishing bother me. Once you practice this you will learn we put limits on ourselves. Just stay motivated and focused. Get into your own zone think fish. Use and apply what you have learned here. Presentations like lure speed can be very important. In clear water conditions you want the fish to get a quick glance of your lure not a complete picture of it. In stained or muddy water you know he can just about see it but he knows the meal is there. Go slower to give him a better peek at it. Having a rattle or using a scent is a plus. This may seem like a big picture right now once we learn it, it's like a little kids puzzle this knowledge means more success will happen to us. It's increasing our skills. I'm no pro I'm just an average Joe who loves bass fishing. I like to see everyone have success in fishing. I'm not competitive with anyone when I fish. I compete with myself to do better on every trip. I don't have the time to compete with other people. I'm in my own zone to fish that's it. Think fish, eat, sleep and dream fish.

Read and reread every bass fishing article here. Watch every video we have here. Let's start with a split shot rigged black 6" worm. Cast it out let it fall. Now if the line is going away from you on either side set the hook. The bass will hit it on the fall. If it falls to the bottom let it sit. In a few minutes move it 3" then let it sit and repeat slowly etc. Now other places to fish a Split Shot rigged worm. I look for submerged weeds. I move the boat off the weeds till they disappear in the water. Anchor the boat and cast into the weeds. It's a slow process but it can be very successful. This presentation of plastics also works well in a rocky shoreline too.

The most northern part gets the most Sun for a longer period of time. Right now the bass are gathering in the warmest area. It's before the spawn but there feeding right now and keeping warm. Just like we are out in the 60's to 70's temps.

I've caught baby bass in puddles after the water level returned to its normal level. Luckily I was trout fishing with small hooks.

I have some International Harvestor tractors you can work on. I never made good money in the early 70's being a mechanic. When I became a machinist and then moved up to building manual and cnc lathes is when I started using my talents. When I went supporting the engineering group is when I peaked using all my talents and money wise too. Skills and knowledge works everywhere. Never limit yourself. After being a drag racer and building engines in my younger days I been dying to build one more old school drag muscle car with 750 to 1,000 hp. Just one more time. With two sons my daughter is the gear head of the family she loves fast cars. I would build a car with her and give it to her.

I try to keep an eye on the water temp somewhat. I fish everyday anyway. When the spawn happens and when the bass do come off the beds they are really hungry. For many years I was fishing by the mauri charts in the outdoor life magazine. They no longer off it. I caught my BP of 10# when the charts said good early. These charts go by the moon phases. You need to adjust the charts to your time frame and where you live is what I mean. Fish by the moon phases if your trophy hunting or trying to break a record. Believe it or not the more time your line is in the water the better chance you have. The guys at fisherman did a show on fishing by the moon to catch record breaking fish.

I have one LEWS heavy action 6' spinning rod I'm not sure what to use it for yet. For larger heavy lures I use inshore saltwater spinning setups. I think I scare people when I take these out of my car. But now with my mistake lower back with a crooked spine the larger longer rods maybe a thing of the past.

I seen these bigger bass within a few feet from me at the drop off. The shore is three feet above the water. I can tell pretty close to the size of the fish I'm seeing. I'm saying bigger than 10# maybe a new state record of 12#14oz. Somewhere in that class. I didn't state 14#. But she's way bigger than my 10#er. I'm trying to raise an awareness there are big DD bass in most of our bodies of water there not being caught. I wear polarized glasses 100% of the time and scan the water too.

Jimmy Houston caught I his first DD bass in candlewood lake in ct. He often visits relatives so he can fish too. The stumps in candlewood hold big DD bass.

There's a red flake senko and a amber red flake stick o color that's impossible to get. I asked mister twister if they would made the color but got no answer. No one offers this hot fish catching color. Luckily I'm stocked up on them for a while. After going through so many yamamoto brand senko' s like one per fish I switch to the BPS STICK O cause the last longer and are close in color. Now with Bps Not keeping up with the supply and demand on certain colors I jumped ship again and I'm trying the mister twister comidas.(senko type baits) we will see how long these last. The gambler ace in electric blue works great here too. (Senko type) As well as the gambler electric blue worms too. But the amber red flake is the hot color. Ok I need to sit and open a bottle of spring water and chill and try every senko color someday to see what works and what doesn't. But the water conditions and light conditions does tell us when to use what color. It's no different than crankbait colors too right? 1. Red 2. Brown 3. Dark green 4. Light green 5. Blue 6. Chartreuse 7. Shad 8. Albino 9. Black 10. Pumpkin 11. Purple 12. Violet 13. Firetiger 14. Firecraw These colors should work because the crankbaits work in these colors? But we need to think about the flakes and pepper colors too. Like black red flake? Pumpkin pepper? Don't forget about Dr. Loren Hill and his experiments on bass seeing colors. Under certain lighting and water conditions the bass only can see certain colors. There eyes aren't like ours. Understanding this it tells me they can hear the rattle and feel the vibration of my lure, they can smell my scents but they can't see it because it maybe the color they can't see at that moment. It's not the color to use at that time. In my little testing that I did with his color c LECTOR I had days were any color worked and times were only one color worked when no other color worked. All the days were blue bird days but the sunlite/ hues in the water were a tad different. So there were days any color would work. There were days when the color that was seen was limited to a red, or a green or a brown only one color would catch bass. Again only the one color worked. One more tip to tell is I find the lures with the Orange bottom seem to be hotter than the other lures without the Orange bottoms. Mike at Siebert Outdoors offers jigs with some strands with orange too. Someday I may paint up some plastics to try with orange bottoms. It's no hidden clue that one of the main big DD bass diets is bluegills and sunfish. There orange colored breast right? It's not about the color not working, it's the bass when they can't see it. This is why I throw a variety of different colors and lures to see what color the bass can see and what presentation they want per there mood. Once you get into the rythm it's easy. I throw topwater(green/chartreuse), cranks(red, Brown,chartreuse,shad,light green, dark green, violet etc) spinnerbaits in white or chartreuse depending on the light and water conditions. Then the c rig with electric blue or red or Amber senko. Then the silver/Gray or gold/Brown mepps dressed. A panther Martin silver/Orange fly, Joe's fly in black gnat, fire tiger apache. Don't stay with a bait that's not working for hours. I fan cast it and switch, when it's dead slow firetiger or chartreuse can be your best color just keep changing your speed and presentation. I will make fishing from shore more successful for you. I posted all of this because I find that crank colors work in plastics too. We tend to forget it or not realize it. If example, green cranks are working go with green plastics. That's the color for that moment. If your negative before you go fishing then stay home and watch Bill Dance.

A 10# bass is ok but I personally have seen bigger swim by me. Again I lost two bigger bass too. My point is to fish and fish hard. It's not easy but these dd bass are out there.

Well my number 1 son has two degrees one in robotics the other in mechanical engineering. Plus he has the hands n knowledge about structural design, welding and fabrication and CAD SYSTEMS My daughter has one degree in accounting and another degree in marketing. My other son is a cabinet maker. All of them own there own homes and have 401k's. There all in the mid to late 30's. Me and the misses are very proud of them. They all worked for what they have. Bigbill

35#? I was going to give up fishing with the bar set that high.