Shad_Master

HawgHunter, The problem for me is not the equipment or the line, the wind always blows here in Nebraska and this cuts down on the feel and makes it more difficult. I do feel bites most of the time, but have noticed (especially this year for some reason) that the bite has been so light that I often don't feel it. Today, I was passing by a lake on my way back from a meeting and stopped to wet a line. The wind was blowing about 30-35 mph from the north. I managed to find a rocky point positioned on the south east side of the lake and casted into the wind. As I was jigging my worm back in, I thought I was hung on a limb of a laydown, until I noticed the line was moving away, into the wind. Set the hook and landed a 15" to 16" bass. Never felt the bite, but was able to tell I had him on by watching the line.

If you have wire cutters and can cut the hook without doing further damage this is always the best. However, cutting the line and leaving the hook intact does not keep the fish from feeding. I have caught fish within two to three days of the time that I cut the hook and found my other hook still in 'em (I think I know cause I use Power Pro and almost no one else who fishes that pond does). There is also a procedure for removing the hook (known as the In-Fisherman method) that has been discussed here that can work in certain circumstances, but takes a little practice to learn -- perhaps someone can post a link to the website that shows this.

You're right AceHigh, I forgot about the "mushy feeling". Sometimes you just don't feel anything -- the best time to set the hook is whenever it "feels different". I was on my third tournament this year and had caught several dozen good bass before I "felt" my first bite this year. As for rod position, I usually try to keep it between 9:00 and 10:00 o'clock (or 2:00 and 3:00 o'clock if your looking the over way ) when fishing soft plastics.

There are several different answers to this question and I am sure you will get them all on this forum. The long answer is that a bass bite is usually a "thump-thump" as the fish sucks the bait in. It is important to watch your line, 'cause sometimes that is the only notice that you have that the bass has taken your bait. There are times when the bass will pick up the bait and run with it. This is a possible sign that there are other bass in the area and they are trying to run off before another fish snatches it away. Other times you will feel the "thump-thump" and when you set the hook, nothing is there. This is often a sign that the fish sucked in your bait and spit it out immediately. In this case try something else to see if they like it better (a good time to use GULP!, 'cause they will chew on it a while, giving you time to set the hook). Some times you will feel the bump, but nothings there. This can mean that the bass are checking out your bait and "blowing" on it (phewie) to see how it reacts. This sometimes happens with highly pressured bass who are wary of the bait. The primary difference between a bass bite and a blue gill bite (IMO) is that the BG bite will have a vibration to it, although they may run with the bait also. The short answer to your question it that it is the greatest feeling you can have with your clothes on -- unless you are one wierd fisherman ;D

The thing that got me interested in this is that I have recently caught three bass, similar size right in this same spot. One was pale, washed out like you described. The next was almost coal black it was so dark and then this one (green and yellow -- just like a catfish/don't know my catfish well enough to say which one), but he was definitely "bright yellow" enough so that it was obviously different. Just a curiosity I guess.

Went out to my regular fishing hole over the lunch "hour" today and managed a very fat, healthy looking 14-15"er. Most of the fish I have been catching in this lake range from very pale to very dark and all tend to have blue hue to them, but this one had a very definite yellow tinge to it. It was about the color of a catfish ??? I have read/heard that fish will become lighter or darker in color based, to some extent on the depth where they have been hanging out, but go to wondering -- does the color of the bass give some clues about the bass (what they are eating, etc.) that can help figure out how to catch 'em?

All you need to know about ESPN -- in between the coverage of the Classic, they were airing competitive eating matches

The one's that I lost were yellow - I got them at a fly shop in Branson MO and they were fitovers. Haven't replaced them, but I would check their website.

There is a company called "Fit Overs" that makes sunglasses for guys like you and me that wear prescription glasses. You can check out their website, they make lots of different styles. Also, if there is a flyfishing shop near you (Orvis, etc.) they sometimes carry them. I had a pair until I went for an unexpected swim during a tournament one day, they don't float with a d**n :-[ I think Solar Bats also makes a "fit over" style, but not sure.

I have also heard of "mean mouth" which, I believe is a cross between a small mouth and spot. Is this right? Do any of you guys have any experience with these critters?

You know, I remember guys tellin me Senkos don't work either, 'course he was selling Chompers and didn't carry Senkos. It's all about promotion, but I can't buy into the concept that all professional bass fishermen are prostitutes. I'm sure some are, just like people in my business. But if you are gonna put your name and your reputation out there for something like this that absolutely doesn't work, you won't be pullin in the johns for long.

LBH, that picture looks like late fall in Nebraska

Not sure what you learned -- buzzers are topwater bait, I think the question was about from how deep would they pull the fish to hit on the topwater. At least that was what I was referring to.

Hard to fish for bass around here in the winter -- Senkos won't sink and it's h**l to launch the boat :

Try a frog ???

I think texasbass1 is correct, it's not the depth of the water, but the depth of the fish. During spawn, I find the buzzbait is deadly on the shallow flats. During post spawn it slacks off and then picks up again in the summer when fish are suspended on grass beds. I don't think you could consistently pull them up from more than 6-8 feet, but I could be wrong.

I did an internet search for bass clubs in my area and then looked at their websites (most have them now) and made my decision based on the club activities and the interaction between the members on their forum.

My local club has dues of $20.00 and an optional $20.00 to fish in the Calcutta series. We fish two tournament trails, the Calcutta is fished on local lakes and boaters and non-boaters compete in seperate categories for place and for Big Bass. the club tournaments are a little further out and the whole competes for place and Big Bass regardless of boater/non-boater status. We also have dock side pools that are optional ($5 for big stringer and $5 for big bass - big stringer pays out 1st, 2nd and 3rd, but big bass is winner takes all). We also sponsor an Outdoor Flea Market each year and the proceeds, along with the club dues and a portion of the optional dock side pools is paid out to the place winners and Big Bass, based on a forumula. The remainder of the club treasury is used to buy "door prizes" (rods, reels, combos, lures, etc.) that club members in good standing can claim based on a drawing at the annual banquet. We pay our dues, but basically it is all returned to the members in some form and then we start all over again.

The rest of the answer is that you are going to miss some hits and this can't be avoided. Fish are sneakly little devils and we don't catch 'em all. But it seems like you are on the right track. Fishin time helps us all improve

A guy who knows a lot about a lot, but not as much as he thinks he knows :-/ told me that the guy who invented this used to work for the Japanese Navy and his job was to study sound and how to make submarines undetectable to sonar. According to my acuaintence, the guy has fish ponds all over his property and has been recording underwater sounds for years (fish, crawdads, etc.) and has been a consultant to Lucky Craft Baits in helping to design them by monitoring the sounds they make in the water. At $600 a pop, I don't think I will be getting one soon, but it sure seems like they are on to something.

I saw that show too and I think I remember him saying that he prefers to do it that way, but sometimes the conditions just don't allow it. If the grass is real thick, you may have to secure it with the surgical tubing to keep from getting hung up. I have read articles where some guys have mentioned using more than on trailer hook and alternating them (one with the point up, the next with the point down), but again this would only work if the water was open enough to allow it.

Originally from Arkansas. After spending 20 years in Kansas City, MO, I was paroled to Omaha where I have been for 13 years now. Looking forward to getting back to Arkansas one of these days and devoting all my time to fishing.

I stop by the "test pond" almost every morning to 1/2 hour to 45 minutes on my way to work. Then I spend my lunch "hour" at one of the local lakes nearby. In the evening it's back to the "test" pond around 8:15 until 9:30 or 9:45 (depending on how bad the skeeters are). On week-ends, if we have a tournament I will fish for 5 - 8 hours depending on the kind of tournament. If we don't have a tournament, I have all the honey-do's to get done, but try to work in a short stop on the way to run errands. What do you guys that have it bad do? ;D

Oh, I know, I was just trying to be funny (will have to try harder).

In the last three years, I have caught 4 20"+ bass: 1) Was fishing from the bank at the pond at my housing development (you are not supposed to fish there unless your property is on the lake, but since it was not completely built up, I used to sneak down there and catch a few). Had been hitting some 10" to 14" bass on a regular basis and had caught a few nice blue gill when I felt a thump and new it was a good'en. Tried to reel him in and he kept taking drag (though my reel was broken ). When he jumped I almost had a heart attack. Managed to get him landed and had to estimate the length/girth: approximately 21.5"/16" -- 6.15# by the fish weight calculator on this website. 2) Fishing a tournament at a local lake. Had been having some luck from shore on a particular bank but one of our guys had camped out on this spot and stayed there for a couple of hours. Wasn't doing much good elsewhere and so decided to move in after he left. On the first cast, caugt a 20.5" . Didn't get the girth measurement, but he was a realy hog. 3) Earlier this year I was fishing at my test pond. Lots of people fishing there in the Spring with worms and buzz baits. The weeds were starting to get thick and decided maybe I could get some bites by crashing a crank bait into the weeds. First cast, felt the fish bite, but he didn't hook up. Threw down my crankbait rod and followed with a 6" Vibra Tail worm and he took it (no more than 10' of line out) and he nearly ripped my arm off. Measured him at 20.5" with a 16" girth (just under 6#) 4) About a week ago, I was fishing over my lunch hour at a lake near my work. I had been fishing the weeds, but the blue gill were pestering me so bad, I decided to just have a little fun and tied on a 4" GULP Nightcrawler and let the blue gill drag it around. On my second pitch, I felt a pretty good tug and thought it must be big BG. Pitched again and felt the hookup, reeled him in and was shocked to see a giant mouth. I had to estimate his length at somewhere between 20" and 21", an easy 5#er.