basser89

Thanks for the insight! I wouldn't think the juice should be running through there either (from a safety stand point!).

Nice pics LR! I've been wondering if its possible to volunteer for one of these surveys before.

Interesting post rocknfish! I have two lakes in mind that I want to try trout swimbaits here in MD. I've seen surveys DNR has done and it definitely has some nice fish in there (up to 7#s is what they have shown in their press releases). I really wish I would have had a swimbait last fall when I was out on the on lake last fall. While I was fishing (had the whole lake to myself) when DNR pulled in and unloaded a truck load of trout.

For some reason, I've had a tough time in the fall after the water drops below 70. Don't know why, I just get all rattled for some reason.

Fishing grass filled lakes is one of my strong points. The one lake I fish (505 acres) is just loaded with hydrilla. Don't forget to look for points, pockets and holes in the grass. Also, having other stucture such as a laydown tree or rocks is another key location to target. Hope this helps!

Sorry to hear about that! That really does stink! Here's possibly a positive out of it. You could try switching up and cast with your right hand. A few weeks of practice and you might just catch on! Might help you get a your lures into certain spots a little easier if you could just switch hands for that different angle needed! Just a thought, hope it helps and heal up quick!!!!

Bought a pair of hip boots for wading on the Potomac in a couple of places. Went with the hip boots because when I'm fishing that way, I'm usually after musky and I'm not going to be out that deep with one of those beasts on! Anywhere else I fish (here in MD) I'm either on my boat or I'm on the bank because they do not permit wading for one reason or another.

Great posts Chris! Your temp break down is real close to what I try to follow as well!

basspro, How big is the white spinnerbait???? Can you give me some details on it? The reason I'm asking is it looks alot like the old Ledgebuster spinnerbaits and I only have 3-4 left. I'd like to make some since, as far as I know, Ledgebuster is no longer manufactured.

Welcome to the forums kid with a rapala! I've been fishing most of my life but I've been seriously bass fishing since the early to mid 90's. To be honest, I haven't figured out all the techniques n' such! It takes time, alot of time to figure it out! First tip I'll offer is read as much as you can on this site! It's a great place to start! Secondly, pick maybe 3 different lures to start with and fish them as much as possible! With the knowledge you gain reading and the experiences you gain fishing, you'll learn what works when (usually)! You'll gather a sense of your fishing style and what techniques, lures and rods will work best for you! Once you've figured out the basics for your first couple of lures and feel comfortable using them on a regular basis, add one, maybe two, more lures a year and repeat. Trying to absorb everything in all at once will just make your head spin! Hope this helps!

A few years back they drained the one lake I fish down about 3/4's of the way. I went in and took pic's with an old disposable camera. After they filled it back up, I took a two of my friends there and was able to remember where the drainage ditches and the creek channel were. I was able to pull 3 out that day (if I remember right, the water temp was still in the 40's). Hold on to those pics, they will come in handy!

Hey rattletrap, Try this link: http://www.illinoiswaters.net/heartland/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1743 It used to be on Bassmaster's site, but I couldn't find it there last night. Hope this helps!

basspro and CJ have both given you good information! I'll add read up in the fishing articles section! Also try "googling" Van Dam's 6 season guide. IMO, its gives you a good break down season to season! Hope this helps!

The bass in my pic was caught and released 3 years ago. IMO, it's the best looking bass I've ever caught! It's not the biggest I've caught (probably is now). But I've kept the weight and measurements and I'm getting a replica made so I can enjoy seeing that bass all the time! I have to agree with the rest, don't kill a bass unless its a world record!!! Even if its a state record, I'd try my best to keep it alive so I could release her afterwards!

Here's another confirmation for the date that bass was caught. We've had that picture at work for a while now and I'm willing to bet I have the Bassmaster magazine with the article of Jed's catch!

I have a 1668 jon boat that did not have a livewell either. I had someone make a box (I believe the dimensions are 36x12x12) out of a heavy gauge aluminum. I cut out the center of one of the bench seats and removed the styrofoam so it would fit. Then came the hard part! Drilling a hole in the bottom of the boat! Yep, all the way through and also through the livewell box. I removed the box and applied a large amount of marine grade silcone to the floor of the boat all around the hole I cut. Then place the box back in. I bought a plastic fitting that allows you to be flush with the bottom of the boat and can be tightened up with a nut (that completes the seal). Allow everything to dry and you're good to go! I've kept a limit worth of bass in it all day and haven't lost a fish yet (knock on wood!)! The only time I run my aeriator is when I'm running the outboard. Hope this helps!

senko77 named a good one! I'm just not ready for switch over to color yet. I have an Eagle Fishmark 480 on the front of my boat. IMO, its one of the best gray scale units out there and only $200.

Welcome to the boards 12 gauge! CJBasswacker and Chris covered a lot of good information! One thing I'll add is when the water reaches about 50, you may want to try throwing a spinnerbait around that shallow cover too! I've caught some of my bigger bass in the prespawn with spinnerbaits! Read up in the article section and if you have some specific questions, "fire away"! That's why we're here to learn from one another reguardless of your skill level!

I've taken my Daughter out a handful of times (she's now 5). When I take her we fish from the bank at a small pond or a small stream. I set her up with something small so she can catch bluegill and sunnies (she's like her Dad, she has to be doing something! LOL! So it's usually a small grub she can cast out and wind back in). If she gets bored, I let her do her thing. After a while, she comes back to her pole for another go. I'm also on board with leaving your rods at home and giving them your total attention! Hope this helps!

#1. KVD! I really love his style of fishing! Can't wait to me him some day! #2. David Walker - Met him twice, he's a great guy. He was willing to talk to me after a seminar for about an hour answering any questions I had. 3. Woo Daves - I've seen him several times. He's a great presenter in his seminars! And has gone above and beyond to answer questions I've had for him. As far as e-mailing me after he did some research first. RR, I met Zell at the Classic last year. He's a real down to earth guy!

I have a 1668 jon boat with a 12V 43# thrust bow mount. It gets me around ok, but I'm looking to upgrade it to a 24V 52# (maybe bigger) in the future.

I'd have to throw a Quad Shad spinnerbait (white) or a Spittin Image (threadfinshad) or a shallow diving clear bodied crankbait or maybe a weightless t-rigged tube (smoke color) on the outside edge of the school. Hope this helps!

Thanks T Mike, Great article! Learned a good bit from it!

Welcome aboard! I've tried this a couple of times and it hasn't been too far off. I would go to weather.com and look up the old weather results for about a 30 day period (the longer the period of time the more accurate you'll be!). Add up all the highs together and average it out. Then do the same with the lows. Then I'll add those two averages together and divide that by two. That should put you within 2-3 degrees Of the temp. The last time I did this, I was going to a new lake (fairly small) and wanted to put a game plan together. I did that formula and was close to the actual water temp! As for the spawn, the majority of the bass will start the spawn somewhere in the mid sixty degree range and typically starts around the new or full moon. This is what I have observed over the past 5 maybe 6 years on one of the lakes I fish here in MD. I've also read that some of the bigger bass will start spawning in cooler water temps. So I can see where some might say the spawn lasts from 60 up to as high as 75 degrees (depending on the size of the population and the size of the lake). Hope this helps!

Hey Fishie, Drop shotting newbie here. Couldn't you benefit from flurocarbon? I would think you could bump the # test back up to 10 and not sacrifice numbers or break offs. What's your thoughts?