Bluebasser86

Mondo tackle is a local tackle store and yes he is carrying my baits.

Weatherman was forecasting 25mph winds today and Mother Nature did not disappoint. So I decided to just stay close to home and put the jonboat in a public pond and see if anything was happening. Water was very muddy and cold, not the best conditions for sure. The wind was immediately shoving my light little 12 footer around but I was also immediately greeted by hungry fish I mainly threw one of my bladed jigs and they were loving it. Several of them slack lined me on the strike and I had to crank like crazy just to catch up to them. They were all pulling really hard and as hard as they were hitting each one made me think I had a monster. Homemade finesse jig got in on some action Caught this one off a willow branch that was hanging in the water In the shallow water I didn't figure there'd be another on that limb, I was wrong. Next cast back was immediately greeted by another slack line bite and bulldog fight. Biggest fish of the day (and the year so far) went 19 1/4" and 4lbs 6ozs. Anyone who doesn't think bladed jigs are effective in cold water needs to rethink that. Our water temps are in the high 40's at best after 2 nights in the low 20's and highs in the mid 40's when the water temps were only 45 last week. Just check out how red this fish's teeth still are! Right before I left I got a little guy on one of my double jointed bladed jigs.

Shouldn't be a problem for you to get bit on a 6 incher at Grand, just stick to it!

Tie direct, if you add something to it some of those higher baits are built so precisely that even a split ring or small snap may throw the action off. If you're really concerned you can always tie a loop knot so you don't restrict the baits action.

When I was learning how to fish a jig I fished nothing but green pumpkin and black and blue. I didn't know when to fish them so I just switched back and forth. I never noticed one doing better than the other in a certain water clarity. If you really want to solve the problem, put a black and blue craw on the back of a green pumpkin jig

Don't know about the bass fishing, other than they don't get very big. The weather however, sucks. Really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter. Wind blows 20+ about every other day and it's really flat so nothing to stop it. One good thing is in Omaha you're close to the Missouri River and far enough north that it holds fish other than catfish, drum, and carp. Personally never fished it but some of the members have and from their pictures it looks like they do very well there. You also get more variety and better opportunities than what we get in KS, especially for fish like pike, walleye, saugeye, and yellow perch.

Jerkbaits, wiggle warts, shakyheads, jigging spoons. I've heard about something called a "Ned rig?" I guess it catches fish out there once in awhile too.

Really?? Fish caught from stocked lakes in Kansas, in 2 trips ; 4 3/4 5 1/2 Big double 6 1/4

CXX is great for moving baits, but too much stretch and memory for me with jigs and plastics.

Wiggle warts are terrible about doing that, but they catch fish like crazy so I deal with it.

Whatever is tied onto the first rod I pick up.

Frogg Toggz is where it's at for lightweight, fairly inexpensive rain gear.

The plastic ones are still available. That one looks like a wooden one though, which seem to be going for around $40 on auction sites.

Like this? I get excited when I catch a fish on a big swimbait because it takes discipline and commitment to catch fish on a big bait like that, but I don't think I'm any better than someone who chooses not to fish one, but I enjoy it and will continue to fish them.

What's the water clarity like at the place you're fishing? Jerkbaits are mainly a clear to moderately stained water presentation, so if you're fishing water with a pretty heavy stain to it, that might be contributing to your problems. I think a lot of guys get in to big of a hurry with jerkbaits and probably fish them too aggressively. When the water is still really cold like it is, I use very gentle, short twitches, sometimes even a short, slow pull and pause will get them. Once the water warms up is when you can really start snapping them again. I'm not patient with them I must admit, so what I have to do is count every pause. I usually start at a 10 count and work up or down depending on how the fish respond.

When most guys refer to a break line, they're talking about a drop off in the bottom. When I say a break line, I'm talking about a long, fairly consistent drop off, like a channel edge or stair step drop.

You've got several members right around you then. Unfortunately, none of the lakes or ponds around you are very good. There's some decent bank fishing at Lake Lenexa, can probably catch some right now in fact.

It was what we call a red bellied water snake, which I believe is actually a northern water snake.

This video instantly came to mind while reading this. Oddly enough, it has frequently been the center of discussion among myself and some of my coworkers and how we should get "trunk monkeys" installed at work. Next time someone is running their mouth or refusing to do what they're told just push the trunk monkey button, problem solved

They were inconsistent all year, not surprised to see them out early. Pretty disappointed that the Shockers are out, I was hoping they'd run the table.

KCCO, DAR, BFM!

They aren't the lightest or most sensitive rod out there but they're a good rod for the price you're paying.

BPS carries them or one very similar. http://www.basspro.com/Organized-Fishing-Rolling-Wire-Tackle-Trolley/product/10200787/

Personally, what I'm looking for in a cranking rod versus what I'm looking for in a jerkbait rod are two very different things. If I was going to try to use one for both the rod you described would probably be about where I'd end up. It will be a better cranking rod than a jerkbait rod but since I fish cranks longer than I do jerks it would make sense to get one that leans more their direction.