Bluebasser86

I have 2 I use for DS, a 6' 8" ML/F Crucial and a 6' 10" ML/XF LTB. I like both a lot but it just depends on how heavy a weight I'm planning on using as the Crucial is a pretty light rod.

The ones I've had spin out if you reel fast or fish them on anything heavier than 4lb test. I really like the Yo-Zuri Killifish if I really need a tiny crankbait. It's 1 3/8" long and 1/16 oz. I don't fish them specifically for bass but have caught some really nice ones on it. Also landed a 23lb flathead out of a pond on one fishing it on 4lb test

If the water isn't too dirty I like a wacky rigged stickworm. It will stay out of the weeds/muck on the bottom and fall slowly right on their noses when they don't want to chase.

New Academy is awesome! Everything is priced a dollar or two cheaper than everywhere else and their brand baits look great! Got some great deals on some Rage craws and KVD rodents for $1.99 a bag!

nope, got slammed under a dock on a 5" Optimum but didn't even touch it with the hook, probably a drum.

H2O Ultralight crank 2" LC 0.5 1 3/4" LC Fat CB Zero 1 3/4"

Good job on that. Waiting to feel the weight is a tough skill to master with topwater.

You might have to go with a custom pour if it has to be a stick worm. Uptons have straight tail worms up to 19" on TW.

Jerkbaits for me

I used to buy all the new stuff when it came out, now I pick up a couple new combos a year at the most. I've pretty much just gone to buying the nicest stuff I can afford and sticking with quality over quantity.

I don't struggle with jigs anymore, I struggle with the fish that keep eating them!

Left side top to bottom: Mann's 10 or 15+ Strike King Series 4 or 5 Rebel Fastrac Strike King Series 3 Right side top to bottom Bomber Fat "A" Bagley Killer B1 Bomber Fat "A" Bomber Model "A" Not sure about the colors but I'm pretty sure about all the baits except the top on the left and the 3rd one down on the left. 100% that none of them are Rapala.

Big worms, shakyheads, jigs, C-rigs, and deep cranks except early and late when it's buzzbait time.

I fish finesse worms on an open, long shank hook sometimes if cover is sparse. Otherwise a hula grub, twin tail grub, or a craw can all be good.

I like to fish them fast just below the surface when fish are chasing shad in the fall, really kills them some days.

They were breaking loading the boat on, just rotten. One of the lakes I fish the ramp is right next to the kids pond and parents turn their kids loose to run wild in the parking lot and I'm assuming an empty boat trailer must look like a jungle gym because I've had bunks get broken while I was on the lake (assuming from people climbing on my trailer). Like I said I fish a lot and in 100+ degree temps in the summer to below freezing temps in the winter and normally go at least 3 days a week. That's a lot of getting wet and drying out, baking and freezing. I never bought 2x4's specifically for my trailer, I used leftovers from job sites I was working at, so that probably had something to do with the breakage. However I've been very happy with the UBB after 2 years of use and would not hesitate to buy another set if I bought another boat.

I think I saw something about that on Scott Martin Challenge one day.

Were they blowing up on them or just sucking them down? Buzzbaits are by far my favorite topwater. Way to go!

Fishing by myself a few years ago in February when I caught my biggest 5 fish limit ever. My small fish was 5 even, biggest was 7lbs 2ozs, and it wasn't until I caught the biggest one I realized I didn't have my camera My limit would have been 30lbs 2ozs, which is unheard of in Kansas, and I have no proof except an extremely chewed up bait

My wife wears thin gardening gloves when she lips her fish, otherwise she won't touch them

Pinch the barb down if you're using live bait or go with a circle hook. Otherwise a thin pair of forceps and a steady hand will get the hook out very easily with the technique J posted. I agree 100% with getting the hook out. I'm sure some will pass the hook or it will dissolve but more likely is it will keep the fishes throat pinned shut and it will slowly starve to death.

Oh yeah and I got my first Slammer fish out of Olathe on Wednesday He was just over twice the length of the bait.

Cbass12 and I fished Wabaunsee Thursday. Never really caught them fast but it was very steady all day and the quality was pretty good. He lost a nice smallmouth right out of the gate and then I went on a tear. I put 3 keeper largemouth in the boat off 2 docks. First was a 4lb 4oz, next cast a 3lb 12oz, then a couple casts later a 3lb 11oz, all on one of my home made finesse jigs. We missed a couple good bites and I sight fished one on a frog under a dock (really cool to watch). Then we had a little lull in the action with just a couple dinks here and there. Ryan got a nice smallmouth on a jig. then another lull of nothing but dinks. Right around noon we ran back over to the boathouse to eat lunch and while I was still eating Ryan made a couple casts off the dock. I was watching when he set the hook on a really solid looking fish that I assumed was a drum until I heard him calling for the net. Turned out to be his new PB smallmouth at 19" and 3lbs 14ozs. Back out in the boat we fished across the dam and didn't get much other than one skinny 17" largemouth. Ryan picked up another nice smallmouth on a rock bank I switched to a big worm looking for our last keeper bite and was about to give up on it until a big fish ate it off my rod tip when I was reeling in. 4 lbs 11ozs was our big fish of the day. Right before we left I finally got in on the smallmouth action with a bright red eyed 2 1/2 pounder. Our best 5 were 20 1/4 pounds and all but the biggest one were on jigs.

Cbass and I fished Wabaunsee Thursday. Never really caught them fast but it was very steady all day and the quality was pretty good. He lost a nice smallmouth right out of the gate and then I went on a tear. I put 3 keeper largemouth in the boat off 2 docks. First was a 4lb 4oz, next cast a 3lb 12oz, then a couple casts later a 3lb 11oz, all on one of my home made finesse jigs. We missed a couple good bites and I sight fished one on a frog under a dock (really cool to watch). Then we had a little lull in the action with just a couple dinks here and there. Ryan got a nice smallmouth on a jig. then another lull of nothing but dinks. Right around noon we ran back over to the boathouse to eat lunch and while I was still eating Ryan made a couple casts off the dock. I was watching when he set the hook on a really solid looking fish that I assumed was a drum until I heard him calling for the net. Turned out to be his new PB smallmouth at 19" and 3lbs 14ozs. Back out in the boat we fished across the dam and didn't get much other than one skinny 17" largemouth. Ryan picked up another nice smallmouth on a rock bank I switched to a big worm looking for our last keeper bite and was about to give up on it until a big fish ate it off my rod tip when I was reeling in. 4 lbs 11ozs was our big fish of the day. Right before we left I finally got in on the smallmouth action with a bright red eyed 2 1/2 pounder. Our best 5 were 20 1/4 pounds and all but the biggest one were on jigs.

Cbass and I fished Wabaunsee Thursday. Never really caught them fast but it was very steady all day and the quality was pretty good. He lost a nice smallmouth right out of the gate and then I went on a tear. I put 3 keeper largemouth in the boat off 2 docks. First was a 4lb 4oz, next cast a 3lb 12oz, then a couple casts later a 3lb 11oz, all on one of my home made finesse jigs. We missed a couple good bites and I sight fished one on a frog under a dock (really cool to watch). Then we had a little lull in the action with just a couple dinks here and there. Ryan got a nice smallmouth on a jig. then another lull of nothing but dinks. Right around noon we ran back over to the boathouse to eat lunch and while I was still eating Ryan made a couple casts off the dock. I was watching when he set the hook on a really solid looking fish that I assumed was a drum until I heard him calling for the net. Turned out to be his new PB smallmouth at 19" and 3lbs 14ozs. Back out in the boat we fished across the dam and didn't get much other than one skinny 17" largemouth. Ryan picked up another nice smallmouth on a rock bank I switched to a big worm looking for our last keeper bite and was about to give up on it until a big fish ate it off my rod tip when I was reeling in. 4 lbs 11ozs was our big fish of the day. Right before we left I finally got in on the smallmouth action with a bright red eyed 2 1/2 pounder. Our best 5 were 20 1/4 pounds and all but the biggest one were on jigs.