Bluebasser86

1/4oz swinging football head with a 3/0 EWG hook is a killer. They're a great C rig bait too.

Grease them up with some Megastrike and keep some Mend It handy and they'll last quite awhile. They're great limit getters, especially around water willows and other vegetation.

Strike King makes the Burner that is a really compact bait but only up to a 1/2oz I think.

Hard to beat a Senko for big, finicky pond bass. Rig it weightless on a spinning rod with braid. Walk softly, stay low, be quiet, wear natural colors, and make long cast. Catching big pond bass is really almost as much hunting as it is fishing at times.

I've been fishing since before my first birthday, bass fishing seriously since I was 9. I caught my first (and only) DD on my graduation present trip to Mexico in 2004 when I was 18. So either 17 or 9 years depending on how you want to look at it.

I'm trying not to doubt the guy but it just didn't look it to me I guess. It's a beast no doubt, but when you keep holding it a foot away from the camera it makes it really hard to tell. Like others have said, why do 2 guys, both sponsored by Berkley, not have a decent digital scale in the boat? I guess I always though those spring scales read from the top (still would have made it an 8+lb fish), and not the bottom of the marker? I just can't see that fish being half a pound bigger than this one. Trying not to be a hater or doubter here, but my skeptical side just isn't letting me accept that as a 9 pound smallmouth. Maybe it's because I've never seen one much bigger than half that size. Maybe because they look so much different than largemouth at that size, but I just don't see it.

I've got the Baby DD and it gets down to about 10-12 feet on a long cast with 10lb copolymer fwiw.

That's still a fatty. I had one the same length that went 7 3/4 last year, it was 18" around, so your fish must have been pretty close to that too

Awesome fish! My wife caught her PB smallmouth and largemouth both last year about 2 weeks apart. It was pretty awesome being there to see it both times too.

And that is why I never pass up the chance to make a few cast at a new place no matter how big. My dad's friend has a small pond about the same size as the one you described that we decided to fish one day. He told us there were no fish in it. We caught no less than 20 fish over 3 pounds that day and the next day He caught one over 7! Since then we've caught 2 more over 7 pounds and countless 4-5 pounders, you just never know unless you try.

1/2 black jig with a black trailer black and blue flipping tube with a rattle 3/8oz black and blue bladed jig

Probably have some free ones, but you'll have to win them

I guess it depends who you're fishing with. I'll have enough for everyone, but I won't be sharing

Nice trout! What kind of bass is that? Cute little fella.

Cut the senko in half and put in on a 1/16oz jighead, crappie (and everything else), killer! I've caught some really nice crappie pitching timber and docks on 1/2oz jigs. 2 of the biggest crappie I ever caught were 15" on a Zoom Horny Toad and 17" on a 3/4oz spinnerbait. They're not shy when they're feeding.

I'd probably bring a boat and some fishing gear as well

Well I was shot down on the truck I was looking at by the boss. I guess she's too good to actually have to roll a window down So after much more searching I came across this one. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=66030&endYear=2015&modelCode1=TRAILBLZ&sortBy=mileageASC&showcaseOwnerId=103364&startYear=1981&makeCode1=CHEV&maxMileage=60000&searchRadius=200&maxPrice=18000&mmt=%5BCHEV%5BTRAILBLZ%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=371275832&Log=0 I'd prefer a truck but I can see some benefits to an SUV. The price is right, the mileage is good, 4wd, tow package, and power windows and locks As long as it isn't sold by then I'll be going to look at it the 29th while I'm down at Grand Lake or maybe this Thursday if I feel up to it.

Why not just go to the Little John DD instead?

20" and 7.5lbs! that thing must have been as big around it was long!

Started making a new color bladed jig for Mondo today, he's been having lots of guys asking for it I guess. Took awhile to figure out a way to get the blade right but I'm really happy with how they turned out. I beat this one up pretty good today just to make sure the paint would hold, not even a chip. and they work!

It's just a standard shaker blade that I powder painted with an airbrush.

Been getting a lot of request from local guys for this bait. Took a lot of looking around to find a way to do the blade that I liked but this one turned out great I think. The new Code Black That bait was cast against the the rocks and concrete slabs for 10-15 minutes just to test how well the finish would last, you can tell it held up great. I even managed to catch 6 bass and this guy in the process

I don't have much choice in the size of boat unless I want to rent a storage unit, anything longer than 19' isn't going to fit in our garage. It appears to have the tow package. http://www.tcmotors.com/2006_Chevrolet_Silverado%201500_Meriden_KS_228403208.veh

Anyone have any experience with the 4.8L V8 Chevy engines? I've found very mixed reviews for towing but I found a barely used Silverado in my price range with the 4.8L V8 but I'm concerned about it being underpowered for towing. I know it's capable of doing it, just worried about the long term wear and tear of doing it.

Lots of companies make them, but I make my own