Catt

Wally World, Academy, Bowie Outfitters, name doesn't matter. It's my unwinding time 😉

@Siebert Outdoors

3 rupture disc, torn ligaments, permanently damaged nerves, arthritis, bursitis, calcium deposits, & bone spurs definitely changed how I cast & set hook. Loss of the sense of balance requires even less tackle on the deck, can't be two stepping around rods. 2022 put a hurt on me physically, first was almost tearing my hamstring. Close to 3 months of not walking or walking on crutches caused me to lose 7-8 lbs. Everyone says that ain't bad, it is when that weight is muscle. At 72 with my list of physical ailments putting on muscle is difficult. I followed that with having two stents put in for clogged arties. Now I got a list of meds for both day & night consumption. I got a little brown bottle I'm told has to stay on me at all times. My wife & kids told me fishing alone or wondering around on off the beaten paths is a no no. Like @Mike L stated, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

When it comes to jigs everyone has their own personal repertoire of confusion! What I look for in a jig is a smooth transition from the line to the eye & around the belly, which requires the eye (either one) to be slightly rolled forward. The reasoning is I want my jig to follow the line up to the cover & then slide over or through the cover smoothly.

For the bass it started when they began to move towards staging areas.

Stayed above the dirt 😉

Interesting since that's exactly what Josh says he does. One video he started at the boat launch & caught a hawg at the launch. You & me both 😉 I'm still doing quite well out a Jon boat with a little Helix 5.

24/7/365 😉

Why? Everything else they said is relevant except that part?

@Dirtyeggroll did you watch the video? Both Josh & Chris stated you can simply turn the FFS on & ride around until you see fish. And yes they both agreed once you find em you still gotta catch em. FFS has eliminated the hunt, one no longer needs to understand structure, weather effects, bass behavior, just turn it on & go. Don't remember if it was Josh or Ben Milliken who stated once they launched their boat, they turn the unit on & ride around until they see fish they want to target. I seen videos of guys using cameras, that way they certain it bass.

Competing against younger anglers is one thing competing against technology is another. If you listened both Josh & Chris said FFS takes no skill to locate fish. Yes there's a level of skill required to catch the bass once located. I know I'll catch backlash but to me it's like sitting in a little house up on piers, watching a feeder & calling it hunting! In my opinion the hunt is more enjoyable than the kill.

6-12' would be good as would 10-18' Those numbers are not written in stone

@AJ Hauser The wider the bottom width the greater the stability. 48" bottom with is bare minimum I would go. I fish a lot with my youngest son who is 6' about 280#, I do occasionally remind him, Scott stand in the center of the boat. Not that it leans a lot but just enough to irritate my already bad back. Fishing in a Jon boat or a small fiberglass for that matter you have to pay attention to details. Weight distribution is more critical than in larger boats. Setting up the motor properly is also critical, less horsepower to overcome errors.

Now if y'all wanna talk swim jigs none beats Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig.

If you fish waters where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try a white spinnerbait with a white trailer.

Gold or silver ?

@AJ Hauser I'm running a Alweld 1652VJT 16' length 52" bottom with a Tohatsu 40 hp. The VJT is a VV Marsh series with a tunnel hull. Yes with the tunnel hull the motor is permanently mounted higher up off the transom. The trims tabs lifts the rear end instead of letting it squat down. I would have look but you should be able to add a console to the Invader.

The only time I don't like braid is fishing wood or brush. I know this Cajun, I will get hung up, the only way to get unhung is cut it.

Another reason I like BG is I fish a lot of timber & brush so I respool often.

Berkley Big Game 15# .015 20# .018 25# .019 This dumb Cajun perfers the additional thickness, more material to abrade. If ya gotta KVD Line & Lure

In 2 or 3 computers that I mothballed a few years ago. Doug Hannon has lots of information out there that I don't keep up with anymore. If memory serves he use to contribute here. @Team9nine might be any to shed light on where to find Hannon or Bass Professor content.

#1 most productive lure Doug Hannon's Answer Plastic Worm (Texas rigged) It's a long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish. Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities. Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit. Studies have proven that the plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER! That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them. That's why you cannot continue to catch them on your honey hole with the same lure over and over. Bass will stop eating that which will eradicate them. Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them.

The plastic worm...period ?

1,200 miles of shoreline ? Ole Tom (WRB) loves to tout his hero Dee Thomas & his dramatic win on Bull Shoals but that wasn't his first tournament. His first tournament was the week before on Toledo Bend where he failed to make the top 50 & the next year he failed to make the top 100. Dee said of Toledo Bend, "I was awestruck, that lake has such a target rich enviroment that I tried flipping them all." This past spring over 125 double digits were caught on the Big Pond.