hookset on 3

That was meant to be, she would not give up the chase. Congrats on really nice Northern Strain Largemouth.

Ice, you've got to try the new sinking Slug-go. It's loaded with salt for a quick descent, but it has the same erractic action.

You mentioned that your preferred baits are mainly slow moving bottom oriented lures. Maybe the bass in your favorite lake or pond got too conditioned to those. You start throwing a faster reaction lure and wallah! Keep experimenting, especially with erratic retrieves and you can really get dialed in on the pattern some days or a part of the day.

dday, tell us about your home waters in So. Cal. clear, murky or stained? soft weedy bottom or hard rocky type? I assume at your latitude, the bass are spawning or post spawn. That dictates the general depth of the water colunm you should be concentrating on. hookset on 3

Paul, that's a very meaningful Thoreau quote, as it relates to your observational skills. Some people go through life with blinders on. To them a fish is just a fish or a bird is simply a bird. They don't think twice about it and unless it is directly in their sphere of influence, the world around them is not the countless miracles of nature that we see. You, like myself and many outdoorsmen, take it all in and really feel alive when we're out there fishing. Like that old saying if you have to ask a fisherman why he does it, they'll never understand.

Paul, you have acute situational awareness. It's an innate sense of one's surroundings. I've been reading a lot of your fishing and other outdoor adventure stories for a few years now. Great attribute for fishing and hunting sucess. Were you in a branch of the military? You've got that "Jerimiah Johnson" thing going on!

Epic Day Clayton! It's been a looong cold winter. You deserve it. Knocked their lights out, Bro.

LMAO!

Good idea for a post topic, Sam. I've had a few close calls over the years, the most recent was last week wading. Took on water when I got stuck in some muck. I thought to my self after, that they'd have to grappling hook the pond bottom to find me. Thanks Sam and A-Jay. It's time for me to wise-up. I'll be 53 next week and have 2 sons.

Yes they will. As my Uncle use to say "That's because Bass don't have any hands".

O-M-G ! These is an absolute lock. I have never seen a smaller fish following a bigger hooked fish. I guess they know better, not to mess with them. Because when the big-un gets released, the little one's got some explaining to do.

This is one I've always believed.

Also, one of those most famous fishing journalists, Homer Circle. May they all Rest in Peace.

You should make that second photo your new avatar picture, FWIW.

What where ya using? Lol. Your the Man Paul.

If you're looking for a similar style drop shot bait that floats, try these badboyz! Z-Man FattyZ

The afternoon time frame is one of the best times to fish in late winter, early spring for the reasons nascar mentioned. I like a breeze to help the fish from getting too skitish like when it's flat calm. A suspending jerkbait is another option if the jig bite is off. What is the body of water you're fishing like? size,water clarity, types of prey for the bass to eat.

This is an excellent post, MNBassman23. Y'all should read this a few times and remember the key points being made. - fall rate should be a reflection of the fishes mood. The heavier and faster drops will get them really good some days. At other times they need to be lulled into coming over to investigate what they saw out of the corner of their eye. You may even deadstick that jig for a time and then the slighest twitch, the bass inhales it. - lighter weight for thcker weeds and muck, so you don't bury the jig in a soft bottom. This is when I like a floating chunk or craw trailer that waves back and forth while the jig rests on top of the weeds or bottom.

Slounch Donkey! I need to try out some underspins. Nobody fishes them on the lakes and ponds I have access to. The Bass are over the whole spinnerbait thing, I will tell you.

I'd be all in for that. I used to live in Jersey and I know how you stay tight with your Home Boys. Bonus Time. Another Jersey Kid is leading that little Derby out in Okie!

Having fished natural New England lakes and ponds for about 40 years, I figured I'd chime in. I noticed you like to fish soft plastics, right? That's great for when they will hit a slowly worked lure. I have a lot of my success using lures that move through the water when I move them by reeling and using the action of my rod tip. Crankbaits and jerkbaits for example. I use these lures throughout the water column, top to bottom. I reel them medium to fast with an erratic retrieve. I'm looking for the reaction bite, most of the time. When bass have a long time to examine your slow moving soft plastics, they are more than likely going to sense that it is a fraud or fake and not hit it. These are the fish that the bass are most likely eating, especially the little ones about 2 to 4 inches long. sunfish; white perch; yellow perch

We need to contact Norman Lures to insist that they come out with a Silent version. Do you know how many bassers would line up to order those, in their favorite colors!

ww2, remember when Hank Parker won the the 1989 BassMaster Classic on that Mann's spinnerbait? I used to slap those bass with that lure in the 3/8 size?

I remember in the 70's when my Plano tackle box (not bag), used to smell good when I opened it. Now, whew, I've got nasty scents like Powerbait sauce, Smelly Jelly, Bang, all kinds of garlic ones. Don't get me wrong, I use them faithfully, but when it's hot out, my tackle bag (not box) opens up it could gag a maggot.

LMG, thanks for taking me back to my fishing adventures down in Florida, over the years. Also got my mind of our BLIZZARD!!