MassBass

I think if you are going to fish sizeable lakes, you need to learn to capitalize on the wind bite. It pushes microorganisms and bugs, concentrates baitfish, and makes fish move up to feed from the pelagic abyss. When bass are in wind, they are usually ready to chase and feed, a flashy spinnerbait is often a good idea. The wind distorts the surface so they can't see you, or hear unnatural disturbances as well. If it is unsafe, (or will be unsafe soon) don't fish it, but in big lakes you could be richly rewarded by fishing the wind.

Some other species from somewhere north. These are chain pickerel, not pike.

No I didn't, but consider that increasing daylight cycle is just as important if not moreso to when they start spawning.

Bass were on beds weeks ago Charles river...I reckon the biggins have already spawned secretively and are post-spawn.

Common carp?

Striped bass

I think if you are fishing new water, whether it is a stream or lake, it is invaluable to cover water and search fish. Even if a spot looks good, but doesn't show a fish, you can make a mental note to check it out again. As you learn the system and find other spots, you may know what spots pay to be thorough in (and in which season), and which spots are worth only a cast or two, or are totally unproductive, only worth walking past or paddling through. There may be spots that seem good, but are mysteriously unproductive. It could just take the right combination of season, weather, and bait presentation for the mystery of the spot to be revealed.

Noted. Thanks. Interesting they are river tournaments.

I have to raise an issue with this. I feel you are saying attractor lures give off negative cues. They are not negative cues when presented the right way, they are attractors. Lures like spinnerbaits and rattletraps still have to be presented with care to actually work. I know for sure that sonar pings turn fish off of chasing rattletraps, but I digress. I don't care if a top bass tournament hasn't been won on a spinnerbait in 20 years or more, I will still be throwing spinnerbaits. I fish an urban river area for bass, and these fish see lures. Just a random spinnerbait isn't the answer. Too much attraction, and your right, then it turns into a negative, the fish shys away or spooks. It has to be just the right amount where the fish is so attracted that it bites. A spinnerbait on a steady retrieve really doesn't trigger the fish, it's just calling the fish in so much that they bite. Even if I told Joe Shmoe down at the river park, 'a spinnerbait', he would probably pick up a tandem silver or double willow silver, which seems to be a standard offering, but is actually A LOT of flash. Probably too much for most situations. A fish that has been caught before on a flashy spinnerbait will be more likely to spook from that. But a spinnerbait that looks more natural in the water, or with a different vibration profile, could make that fish bite though.

Nice brown. Jerkbait by-catch?

I don't have an issue with your finding, could be many reasons, maybe smallmouth like to use vision to feed in current, or I think a factor could be that bigger predators come out to play at night, so the smallmouth is more timid; cats, sturgeon, stripers, and if your river is tidal you don't really know what else could come up, in the spring nights when all the migratory species are active in the river.

Big brown and a 'bow

I think your original idea of a Magnum Rattletrap is actually a good idea for a striper, which is the fish I would suggest targeting at that time. Use what you know about largemouth and try to apply it to "The Basse"

'Fair weather fishermen don't catch fish' 'You need to suffer to catch fish'

It was good. Will have three meals. There is certainly a mysterious aura to Walden Pond. All the literature and legends didn't come from just another pond. There is probably brown trout in there that eat the stockies. The brown I lost with a bent hook was one of the most savage predatory strikes I have ever seen.

Big spoon

It's not bad weather it's big fish weather. Caught a big brook trout 3lbs and lost a trophy brown trout to. Brookie is a pin fish out of the depths of Walden Pond

I think the illness comes from the perceived over reliance on the tech, which is in itself, at least to me, antithical to the pursuit of fishing. When I look at the latest tech systems that they need to be competitive and catch bass, it makes me want to run for the hills with a fly rod, maybe to never return. It is not a choice for them. Everyone else has the advantage, so everyone has to get all the latest big tech sonar, or get sidelined to pitchin spinnerbaits and casting rattletraps. In their world if you are using a search bait for a fish you can't see, you are already behind.

Sure if you like playing around with the electronics, have at it. My angst is more directed to the new generation coming up on the pro bass tours, I feel physically ill when I watch pro bass fishing. I go out on the water, and read the water, not another screen. Every second your neck is tilted down at a screen, you just missed a following fish, a diving bird, a mouse on the shore, etc.

Got two real nice bass, one smaller but still quality Friday night. Can see the lure.

I have a dream of taking a hammer, going around and smashing every pro's computer complex on their bow, just before launch. Fishing and finding fish can be an instinctual skill, but I feel that can only fully develop outside of electronics.

Got a nice bass last weekend. Maybe try again this Friday.

Out in the backwoods of Minnesota there is a swampy place with giant pike eating stray cats and stuff no doubt in my mind.

Sorry man but I find it hard to believe there is not a record Pike in the whole state of Minnesota. I think maybe the pike you catch on bass lures may not be a fair representation of every pike in the lake. There is always a few giants cannibalizing on all the small ones.

Some ice and trout stream action from further North. Made for a dinner of Pike caviar and brown trout.