Shane J

Bass aren't always "normal", or doing what they're supposed to be doing. That being said, yeah, with water temps at 52, they're still being pretty active for at least a part of the day, and alot of times, that'll be during the warmest part of the day during the late fall/early winter.

It may or may not ever go back to the same countour as it was. I fish a river system that doesn't stay the same for a whole year... ever. All it means, is that you have to replicate those spots that were productive before, elsewhere, wherever that may be now. Use a 1 oz tungsten on a C-rig to feel your way around the new layout to learn it.

Fantastic! Great fish and pic! I love that color Lobster, too!

The color of a Cumara won't matter to me at all! That is one sweet rod, and I'd use 'em even if they were yellow (sorry, Skeet). Glad the new ones are coming out, though, probably how I just got Cumaras on sale from TW for $99! I grabbed 3 of 'em!

Merc, a soft plastic can expand to 10 times it's original size by being in water long enough. I've found Senkos that were 2" in diamiter, and over a foot long. I do agree with you on the use of big worms, though. They do catch big bass!

Great trip, lots of nice smallies!

Oh yeah, buddy! Looking for property down there now! Ps- (I wish!)

They're in all the canals, and all the lakes. Just ask someone who fishes, and they'll tell ya where to go for 'em. Have a good time!

Hey, you should go snakehead fishing while you're down there. All you need is Rage Toads, braided line, high speed reel. Good times!

Congrats! Nice job!

Change over from 1/2oz jigs, to 3/4 or 1oz jigs.

Definitely a drop shot rig, and throw a Baby Craw on that shakey head, and you can catch any bass in the place. ps- I'd either trim back that skirt on the jig a touch, or even better, use a full Craw or Lobster.

I usualy buy tungsten in the colors I use, but for unpainted stuff, I'll use nail polish and clear coat. Black, dark green, and brown are all I ever need. I use it on my keel-weighted hooks, too. Just match the color tone of the bait you are using.

Congrats, 38SF!

It WAS a dream trip, and thanks!

Depends on how hard it's raining, and what the wind is doing, but I will add glass rattles to my jigs, Sometimes use bladed jigs (like a Chatterbait/Rage Craw), and go with big worms Tx rigged (Thumper, Anaconda, or Recon Worm). If it's a good time for topwater, not much beats a Rage Shad in the rain.

Hahaha! That's funny. But seriously, though, they don't taste as good as they smell. Just sayin'.

A few years ago when the Tru Tungsten came out with thier little hard bluegil swimbait, I got 2 of 'em (like $29 a piece), because they looked good, and I was playing around with cranks and trying some new stuff at the time. I couldn't catch a fish on that lure to save my life. One day, I gave one to my fishing partner to try out side by side with me, and he caught a few nice fish, but me..... nothin'. I went back to soft plastics and whooped him. Go figure. I gave both of 'em to my buddy.

When your 4 year old actualy thinks your boat IS your office.

Well, Kent, you'll have that pleasure again at the upcoming roadtrip, because he told me he was planning on being there. And no, he doesn't have a single hard bait in the boat. Not like there would be room, because there is not less than 1000 packs worth (some are in bulk bags) of soft plastics in his boat. And yes, all his combos are the same (all 30 of em'), and I had no problem with his rods, but brought my own reels. If he reeled the same as me, I would have just used his reels, also. He is extremely forthcoming with his knowledge of the sport (which is unsurpassed), but he is also a very generous host, and a heck of a fun guy to hang out and fish with.

Wow, that's nuts! I'd love to see a sturgeon that big! At least you freed it from the line, and she's still out there! Cool story.

Haha, you're right, A-Jay! Suddenly, catching 5's, 6's, 7's, and the occational 8 doesn't seem that exciting, when we were hunting for fish in the teens. We were dink dropping 7's and 8's, and changing spots if that's all we were catching. We did face some tough conditions that week, however, and very low water levels, so no flipping bite, but to witness how Big O breaks down water, and figures out fish, was the real treat of the trip. The guy is a fishing machine, and I'll be forever better after fishing with him. Ps- also impressed with your Granite State reference!

Welcome! If you've got questions, you've come to the right place. I would recommend just doing some reading in the articles section, then read through the vast library of informative threads in the forums section. All the info you need (and more) to really get you going, is right here.

Start planning now, and he might be able to get you out there early in 2015!