Nice_Bass

congrats!

1/124th got to have some Missouri rivers/streams around you after all.

ice spoons or live bait- drill holes where the bass are.

I am with you on a tighter budget this year and last, really it was more fun simplifying and getting a bunch of junk out of the boat anyhow. Berkley powerbait flat back shad/lunker city shaker and Conquistador 3/4-1oz jig head. Good substitute for more expensive ultra realistic swimbaits. Only a 6-7 inch profile but still catches good fish. Berkley powerbait soft plastics- last longer than most brands, don't need to buy scent, etc. etc. pocket knockers to quickly retrieve jigs and crankbaits. This was my best money saver yet as I already used everything else.

Sounds like the upper Midwest springs...hint hint.

Fluro for jig and worm reels. Mono for swimbait reels YZ hybrid on every other reel I own.

That's tough question. Know what baitfish you are trying to replicate or that the bass are feeding on; figure out what depth those baitfish are holding at, and pick any bait that you can keep in that zone based on speed etc. that you are able to fish it or need to fish it at. Suspending jerkbait is a tool and what makes it a useful tool is that it suspends in a specific depth under whatever cadence you are doing that day. Other setups can do the same, drop shot, etc. But that does not do you much good if you need to suspend a bait at 8 feet in 25fow. etc. etc.

I agree- I am have always been happy with rouge hooks. As far as strike king hooks I agree not too good, but I also fish Norman cranks and you do not need to change those at all. Make the switch for yourself and be happy!!!

get rid of gear/tackle I wont use, and have not used in years, but always keep in the boat "just in case".

let us know the first time you try to go up on plane now with the tm still down and not stowed. You would think its a one time lesson...but no...

I would also just run the wires on the starboard side where all your others run and hook directly into the fuse box as well. That would be the simplest solution. No real need to hook up directly to the battery that I can see. Someone let me know if I am wrong here.

Glad to see lake of the Ozarks made a push up, although for size and numbers I still think it could be higher. Speaking of higher, whoever put Rend lake on at #69 is on drugs. Really, really good drugs. Shallow and dull, average numbers and size for IL. No chance it should be on there, let alone rated higher than others on those list.

I made the switch to 10 and 12 inch power worms exclusively for worms- catch good numbers of small fish as well as the bigger ones. I don't agree that however that they get to the bottom faster though, it actually is a bit slower since I use the same weight I would on a smaller worm, and the water resistance is a bit more. I hop, drag, etc. and all works well. Hook set is a bit different for me though. Don't be intimidated by the size your hook will look in them, but do make sure you use the correct size hook. I prefer a 5/0 but have thrown on a 4.

Rockford/aurora A bit more north but still pretty darn close.

yes, fat side up, and I only trim a bit of the fat off to make it uniform, and then remove some again after resting. I move to a layer of heavy duty foil wrapped tight with the extras in there in the oven, and then on the lower rack of the oven on a baking dish. Much easier to foil it, after you take it out and let it rest for an hour or two as well after it is fully done.

Top rack for me but I also don't think you need to brine a butt at all- it will be flavorful and tender with the fat content in it. all you really need to do is trim and rub. I used to inject and marinate and found the only difference was the mess I made. 225 is perfect but I think mesquite is too harsh to do the whole thing at, a bit at the beginning and then fruit wood for most of the cooking. I assume you are doing a bone in boston? Are you doing the whole thing? I honestly usually smoke until it gets to 170ish, wrap with juice, honey, beer, whatever, and move to the oven at 225 to finish. You really wont get anymore smoke flavor after that temp anyhow.

this just made me want to get one! thanks...I think?

IBL? It is a fake show, I hope everyone realizes that. What he said was stupid and ignorant imo, and I am talking about the content in its entirety.

I go through the same thing- I also have a similar situation with when and where I will take out my net from where I keep it stowed. There is 0 correlation between either of these things and my success or lack thereof for a day on the water- but it crosses my mind every time.

It appears we may be done fishing until after the new year. I have and will go to some powerplant lakes, however never if it is below 40 since I am scared of freezing ramps. Anyone have any insight on freezing ramps? I would not mind going if colder, but would most likely be alone and it has me worried. obviously, need to get rid of a bunch of this snow first...

find shade from either angle of the sun and shoreline drop offs, or from visible cover.

Try FEW if you can. Amazing stuff but I am doubtful much of anyone outside of 200mi or so of Chicago will find it. Slonez- try it if you run across it sometime, should not disappoint. I am with others though as well- prefer scotch or rye over bourbon.

just the tourney culture that the sport seems fixated on these days- from the "pros" peddling there sponsors to tiny club guys who think its their right to butt in on taken water because they donated their tourney fee that day to some other guy. I enjoy tourney's, I just cant stand a lot of the culture that surrounds it. also, IL waterways are awful in terms of size/availability.

1) find big fish water 2) learn and understand structure on said lake. 3) know bass/prey cycle on said lake and implement that on correct structure.

Lake of the Ozarks. My favorite lake out of everywhere I have ever been.