frogflogger

pork

Here's a what has worked for me countless times in pads - breezy to windy day throw a furbit - calm days work a white senko t-rigged over and through the pads -

notched river runt, that's an old trick - that's when we learned you could crank a bait fast as you could and catch fish - I believe Heddon developed the sonic from that idea.

It's close and the whole concept is based on the effectiveness of the original Chuck Woods beetle. But the elaztec plastic is amazingly durable (100 fish on one bait is not unheard of) The mushroom or shroom head gives the bait a movement that is unique and has been proven to be a very effective lure - try it you'll like it.

I've been using sebile snaps on my silver buddies this winter - kinda of small for my big fingers but they seem extremely strong for the size

natural (black&silver) shad rap works well in clear water

ned rig and old phillips crippled killer (other prop baits would work I'm sure) rig for numbers - ck for the big ones over 20"

We start out at 9' - 10' and go up or down from there depending on what happens - Mike Bucca has a good article on how to cast the rig - not brain surgery but there is a learning curve - it has been an amazing producer for us this winter and I might add the most fun I've had in years with a new technique. One of us shakes and one of us swims until you figure it out.

ned rig or 1/16-1/8th hair jig - will do the job

First, there are some successful guides in Kansas - it is a great multi species location Second - being a good fisherman is important but being good with people is paramount. you want folks to have a good experience - do that and you'll do okay. Third - respect your clients - good fishermen or not they are your bread and butter and they don't have to hire you. From a retired fishing guide

we caught bass through the ice in the 1960's - some over 5lbs. - almost all were caught in less than 4' of water - we fished 1/8 maribou jigs and and 1/16 oz.beetles (no spinner on the beetle) - Haven't lived where it ices over enough to try it since.

ned rig

Skinny dipper does a pretty good job also

ned rig with 1/32 oz mushroom head - any small plastic - you can swim it above algae - experiment with this and you'll catch some fish - the frog and weightless worm as mentioned above are also effective.

Don't be intimidated by expensive tackle - spinning tackle especially can be inexpensive and functional.

When Rojas caught that record sack on Kissimmee they saw a bass they were convinced weighed 25lbs. Doug Hannon said he had tangled with record sized bass in some remote small Florida lakes - if there is a record in the state it will be north of the big O

I was taught "you kill it you eat it" ethic - if I can't do that I release them - even oscars are decent eating.

Go fishing and write about it - there are a lot of writers in the angling camp so try to find your own angle on angling.

Lake Biwa must be in the mix - it is huge and obviously has some huge fish, as do some waters in Zimbabwe and South Africa - California can be in the mix if they restart the heavy trout stockings that gave them the lunker boom - I still believe Florida has some world records swimming around - there is so much water and vegetation there despite the constant degradation of their waters - there are a lot of teeners caught in Florida that never make the news. I also believe there should be different records for northern strain and Florida strain bass - a 10 pound northern strain bass is much more a trophy than a 12 pound Florida strain.

Years ago without technology or much money we mapped small lakes and pits by counting down jigs - sound tough? We called it fishing. And has already been mentioned big topwaters catch big bass in small waters.

Most of my big fish (5-9lbs) have been caught between 10 AM and 2 PM - frogs, spooks, prop baits and large worms - with frogs being my most productive - these in water temps up to 90 - all that said if I was fishing for numbers, early and late with jigs and finesse baits may produce more quantity. Bigger bass do what they want when they want.

While it/they are not a lake I am surprised the Florida everglades are never mentioned - year in year out they produce big stringers and unbelievable numbers of fish.

I feel there is a difference between "horsing" a fish in and landing it as quickly as possible - I've followed this rule (landing as quick as possible) with everything from bluegill to blue marlin and feel it is the best practice for angler and fish.

Get the fish in as quick as your tackle will allow and you are doing the fish a favor. Long fights kill fish.

sufix tritanium is very tough