bigbill

I carry just about everything with me. I use a ritual of baits till the pattern develops on what they want. One lure can be hot at a certain spot all summer I've seen it before. But next year the hype can be over. Fishing from shore at the same exact spots the so called hot baits do change. I use them all, sometimes even when another bait works I switch to a different bait to see if there stuck on one bait. There are days I find that one color or one type of lure is hot. Other days anything I throw works. Go figure. Don't limit yourself.

I try other brands but I prefer Excaliber Silver Thread copolymer. When they tested it. It surpassed the abrasion test and bending tests when they compared it to other lines. I have no lost fish due to line failures.

Checkout www.lurenet.com it's a few companies own by lurenet.

Depending on the size of the plastics being wacky rigged, I have 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0 weedless hooks. I use eagle claw 249w and there other one. I use any other brand that's affordable too. I use snap swivels on the end of my wacky rig. This way I can change out my prerigged baits very quickly. Time matters when the bite is on. Do not be afraid of going up one larger hook size on the wacky rigged plastics. Too small of a hook means less hook ups.

I leave my tackle boxes open so the lures can dry after use. If I rotate my lures to store them I wash and dry them. Shore them when there completely dry. I use no rust protectant. There stored in a dry place. But we need to store our hard baits away front salted plastics too. I don't put plastics in the same tackle box as my hard baits.

There are different kinds of bass. Besides small mouths and large mouths. In my rivers that I fish the bass have more of a greener color wise. A smaller mouth too.

She's been having back problems from all the dancing and wild moves. She's not that healthy. She took some time off.

My water shed is owned by the town now. No one has been fishing it for many years I don't think it's ever been open to the public. Sounds like the springtime will be awesome bass fishing in a untouched place. My only problem for night fishing is a 350/400lb local bear. He's been in my backyard already. And seen near where I plan on fishing.

Example, I match my hot chartreuse spinnerbaits skirt with milktruese or chartruese trailer in dark stained to muddy conditions. Why not the same with jigs. I use a green pumpkin jig with a green pumpkin trailer. I haven't tried mixing jig and skirt colors yet? I wonder if another color would work better? With sparkles? Sometimes breaking the norm could mean success? Now you have me thinking, my natural crawls do have red sides and black backs? Combo colors? Black jig with a red craw trailer. Forgive me I'm still learning jigs. But with colors I'm a color freak I admit it.

Everyday is a gift now. I enjoy my 4yo grandson and my family too. God bless, bigbill

Stitch I said your going to be ok from the beginning. Trust me my gut feeling is always right. I have two more injections to go the next six months. My cancer numbers are almost not measurable there that low. I can't wait to get off the injections and get my energy back. Stitch you and me have a special meaning to the "thanks" in thanksgiving this year. For me each holiday is a gift from now on. We made it through the worst of times. My cancer doctor said my prostate cancer could come back in three years, or 12 years or never come back. Who cares I'm going bass fishing 24/7. Now it's time to enjoy life and the family for sure. We hit a speed bump in the game of life it's time to get back in the race. We survived it. God bless everyone for your support. Happy ThanksGiving to everyone and your families.

I like the Excalibur silver thread copolymer line the best overall so far.

Spinning reels, Fin-nor Okuma exiptor Rods I'm liking the older bass rods.(Spinning).

I picked up the flying lure on a deep discounted price years after it was on tv. I went to a hidden unfished place. It really worked on that trip. But these fish never seen a lure before nor a fisherman. In a stained/ muddy water condition who knows what will work. Don't throw your older lures away yet. My first line up of lures are decades old and still are dependable fish catchers. The bomber, the original rapala, inline spinners still catch fish today. I like to purchase new and discounted lures to see if they catch fish or not. I have fishing spots locally that hold a good number of bass. They tell me what works and what doesn't. I estimate that 90/95% of lures work. The cranks that don't work need tuning. The rest relies on the presentation. Have the faith and keep on trying them. Practice all the different presentations.

I support my local mom and pop shop too. They have a clearance rack and I give the lures to the kids too. I get info on the local hot spots. I look for deals or what's the hottest new thing. I try to spread the wealth after all everyone has to eat. Remember to support our sponcers first. With out them we wouldn't have this awesome forum.

I'm really advancing into jig fishing more. I purchased many of the different jigs, sizes and colors. I'm thinking once I show the five family members how jigs work I'm gonna need more of Mike's quality jigs. I find my new daughter in law is a pretty good fisherman too. It's great to see my son has a partner who likes fishing too. I enjoy giving tips along the way and seeing them catch fish. Don't put a limit on colors. All colors will work under certain conditions. On a slow day change colors till you find the one that works. Just try it. Fact just look at all the different worm colors we use? Jig colors are no different. Having a assortment of colors in Seiberts jigs = success. Don't put on the color blinders. I have a cheap orange spook that proves this. Who'd of thunk it? With Mike being a bass fisherman too that helps his development with colors he knows what works. Now it's up to us to find where the fish are at. My two sons were side by side catching bass after bass. One son turns to the other son and goes were catching fish like the guys on tv?

Enjoy the festive holiday. With family and friends. As we get older every holiday is a blessing. I really enjoy and cherish the family even more. Plus the food is good too. I look forward to the sausage n cranberry turkey stuffin more than ever. Plus the baked stuffed shells too. But it's the gather of the family that rocks. God bless, bill It's snowing here but it's time to throw that 6" money minnow so don't put away your fishing stuff yet. Fish till the ice is on.

In my small ponds, small lakes the natural crawls have black backs with red sides. Now in the rivers there a light tan or beige color. I use the rebel BIG CLAW crawfish cranks in the ponds and lakes. In streams we use the rebel tiny craw crank the shallow diver. The hottest crank craw color has been the chartreuse. The BIG CLAW CRANK dives to 10' but it's a floater too so it can be used in a topwater presentation too. For trailers on jigs my jig is a 3/8oz football jig in green pumpkin. I use the uncle Josh pork chunk trailer in green pumpkin. Fishing from shore around points and dropouts it seems to work for me just hopping the jig with short hops. At one of my favorite rivers the housatonic there is one area that's in falls river that's full of empty craw bodies. I mean the shoreline and shallows is littered with them. This area is a heavy wooded forest too. I have no clue what animal can do this.

Your state of mind, If you say I'm not going to catch any thing before you go. STAY HOME and be negative. Think positive, stay upbeat, stay motivated, keep going. Practice all the different patterns and presentations. Read and learn everything here and watch the videos too. I also refresh everything over and over during the winter. If you want to get better the more we learn then go on the water we will find out all this stuff does work. Listen to the pros but watch what they do too. Watch how the hold and work the rod with certain baits.

Fishing from shore I'm limited to where my location is at. I can't spin around the body of water to fish the private part of it. So I throw a variety of baits and colors and sizes till I get action. Most of the time a red, green, Brown, chartreuse bomber crank will work. If not it's topwater like spooks and poppers. The blue max is what I call my rapala f7 original floater minnow in blue. The mepps #3 anglia silver blade gray tail, strike king inline silver/black, the Joe's fly bass 1/4oz bass size. Panther Martin #6 silver yellow/orange tail. Read the water condition. But it can change as the water gets deeper. Don't stand there casting for nothing. Salvage you trip don't get skunked firetiger is the key color when it's a tough day. I've read the water conditions wrong a few times. Trust me. Try to vary your presentations. Then go to plastics with a Carolina rig with a senkos or brushogs. Don't be afraid to drop a split shot rigged worm. A shot of scent can turn them on too. Failure is not an option. Never give up, stay motivated and focused you can do it. Think, rethink, change baits, change colors, change presentations, attack!!!!! Don't forget my secret weapon my Hank Parker Special the Mann's baby 1 in brown craw. Just reel it slow. There Ya go all my tactics secrets........

Colors? Matching the color to the different sunlite and different water conditions can mean catching a boat load of fish or going home a beaten fisherman. Keep this written in your log book on the first page. Clear water, Smaller, natural colored baits fished faster so the fish can't get a good look at them. Slightly stained water, Same as above but fished a tad slower than fast, a little brighter color of flash can be a plus. Stained water, Slightly larger than smaller sized baits, to medium sized baits. Speed wise it's a slower presentation. Bright colors. Fished slow. Muddy water conditions, Largest, brightest colored baits fished the slowest to very slow presentation. Now having a rattle, a shot of bass scent is a plus in any situation. Wash your hands before going fishing. Do not touch gas before going fishing. Now what's my favorite color? It's the one that catches bass. Fish catching colors do vary from colors that catch us fisherman. I'm a color freak. I have and use just about every color. I find on certain days one or a few colors will work. On other days I swear they woould strike a bare hook any color works. I have a ritual of baits and colors I throw. Most of the time they will strike a bait when I get the bait, color and presentation correct. If I go through my ritual of baits and caught nothing I repeat it practicing different presentations. Colors? Brown-Red-dark green- green- citrus- yellow- black- purple- blue- orange- baby bass- pearl white, white, shad etc. Every color will work at a certain time. Example, I purchased a cheap discounted orange spook. I was sitting relaxing at the shore kind of in the zone but not awake yet. On was at a point that jetted out. I casted it out and caught the first fish. I fan casted the area by skipping around the point and caught a bass on every cast. I laughed at myself when I purchased the orange spook. It was one colored spook I didn't have. Checkout the discount, the clearance and Mark down sections at your places you shop at. Please support our sponcers here too without them this forum couldn't survive. Our sponcers also have good buys too. Do not limit yourself with colors.

My neighbor was 74yo and he passed away last week. We talked all the time about politics, crime and the weather. A little Tim Allen over the fence chat. I mentioned I was going bass fishing and he perked up but said nothing. In the news paper his obituary said he was an avid fisherman and they had a picture of him holding a bass in his boat. I feel really bad I been living here going on eight years and all this time with the both of us being retired I could of taken him fishing. We could of fished together. He was a quiet nice old man who kind of kept to himself. I would offer to help him at times but he refused my help. My point is if you have a neighbor talk to him and see if he fishes. You could learn from these elderly gents. Don't miss out on the good fishing trips you could of hand like I did. I moved into a neighborhood were there all old timers who lived here for ever. I'm the youngster at 64yo. I enjoy talking with some of them about how things have changed through the many years. My street was a stagecoach trail and a nearby house was a layover. There is so much untold facts and history. I fear once we lose these people the stories will be gone forever. God bless, happy holidays. Remember to enjoy thanksgiving. Bigbill

I talked here in the beginning when we were dressed in animal skins and carried clubs. Glenn here will remember. LOL I always carried a tackle box of rusted lures eons ago. Now with spending hundreds of dollars in New lures this rust had to become a thing of the past. I hate rust. One problem is wet salted plastics left on hooks. Don't leave salted plastics wet on hooks if you plan to reuse them. Desperate them and leave them out to dry. Do not mix and store crankbaits, etc, with salted plastics in the same tackle box or container. All my salted plastics are stored in seperate plastic bags. I keep the wet used salted plastics in a separate bag. In fishing in the rain I keep my tackle boxes closed as much as possible. I leave the tackle boxes open when I get home so it can dry out. I remove the really wet stuff so it can dry out better. Sometimes if my stuff is that wet I empty the whole box to wipe the box dry then let it air dry too. Moisture and rust is our enemy. We need to do tackle box maintenance too. After every trip. Once we get into doing it, it will get easier. One thing is to carry a smaller tackle box or tackle bag? I hate leaving tackle at home. I rather put it in the car and not need it. Once I separated the salted plastics to another tackle box it kind of stopped all of my rust along with leaving my box open.

I normally go up one size on the trebled if they don't interfere with each other if there's two hooks. Or I put the larger one in the rear. I get better hook ups this way on the crankbaits.

1974 feels like yesterday. 40 freaking years ago.I was 24yo.