Bluebasser86

Shore I’m probably a 5, I’ll catch some fish but unless it’s a pond or I’m catfishing, I don’t do it much. Kayak I’m probably an 8. I’m pretty good at getting to them and keeping the kayak near where I need to be, just a matter of me executing. Boat I’d say 7. I use to be. Better with it but lack of use has made it feel weird every time I’m in the boat anymore.

No, it wouldn’t be a good Ned rig bait IMO. It has kicker claws that require sufficient weight to make them do anything, which is much heavier than a Ned head.

Yes, Strike King will usually replace them.

Watermelon when it’s sunny, Green Pumpkin when it’s cloudy. I’ve had good luck with it but I like watermelon/purple or blue flake better.

It’s just a state record? I’m taking pictures and measurements and turning it loose. If it’s a world record? I’m going to have to turn it in. So few people care about the state record fish, I’m not blowing up a lake to have my name in a book nobody cares about.

Best-Versatility- I can catch them doing about anything. Worst-versatility- I have a hard time deciding which technique at times and bring too much gear and over complicate it.

Jigging spoons and drop shots are what I drop on them, unless I don't have them tied on, then Ned gets sent down after them.

Welcome to the team Mike!

The first fish in the Kansas article was DQ'd because the guy put steel bearings in it's stomach 🙄 The old record that is reported to have been 22" is old enough that the accuracy of the measurements is probably pretty questionable. I know our state record "spotted bass", is very likely a largemouth bass that was mistakenly identified as a spotted bass instead, wouldn't surprise me if they messed up that crappie also.

Strike King Rodent or Big Big Baits Yomoma are the easy choices for me. Black and blue flake or Okeechobee craw in the Rodent, watermelon red/black neon laminate or sapphire blue in the BBB.

Took my oldest out in the kayaks for a couple hours Saturday morning. He had a fish caught before I ever got the kayaks set up. Took a last second comeback for me to even the score with him before we had to head home 😅 I had him a little more official with my spare measuring board and a net this time. Hopefully he'll want to try out one of the Tuesday night tournaments before too long.

The -1 is a very sought after bait if you can find the earlier models. Not sure exactly how to tell which is which, but I see people looking for them often. I use to catch a lot of fish on a Baby -1 but haven't fished one in years despite carrying them still.

I don't have a favorite one, but I use several of my own around docks for skipping and pitching. A ballhead finesse jig or hidden eye flipping jig both get a lot of the action.

I split shot rig, or probably rather mojo rig fairly often. I peg either a 1/16 or 1/8oz bullet weight 12-24 inches above a straight shank hook (Owner Cover Shot usually). One of my most effective split shot baits is a Zman SMH worm in Mood Ring color, especially around smallmouth.

It's a nice little walk the dog bait if the conditions are right. It's a little finicky because of the smaller size but it can be pretty deadly in the right situations.

Junebug is an all or nothing color for me. It's either the best color going, or they won't touch it. Not a big shock to the Florida guys I'm sure, it usually produces best for me in dark water with vegetation. I tie my own junebug color jigs and they 100% are a color I always carry. Too many people fishing black and blue jigs? Junebug it is!

How long did you think you had a bass? I've caught enough flatheads on lures, I can often call it before I set the hook that it's a flathead and not a bass. They inhale a bait so hard, it feels like someone grabbed your bait and yanked on the other end. At least a 20 on a flipping rod doesn't take too long to boat if you can get it away from heavy cover.

Not sure if there's anything special about it, but it's always very noticeable for some reason. I caught my "Dottie", several years ago on a Shine Glide in January.

This past weekend was a tournament weekend for the Kansas Kayak Anglers on Cedar Bluff Reservoir in western Kansas. It's about a 4.5 hour drive for me and another guy that lives close by, so we carpooled out in my 4runner since I've got a tandem trailer. It was about 10pm when we got to the lake. Too late to launch but not too late to walk down the ramp to the water (which is probably 15' below where it's suppose to be), and make a few cast. Only got one bite on my homemade blue bladed jig, but it was a promising sign. Thursday morning we launched from the same ramp and I got work right away with a swim jig. Immediately after releasing that fish, I flipped a Neko rig a standing tree and caught another nice one. It slowed significantly from there until we got a good ways from the ramp. I started throwing a Choppo at the buckbrush and catching smaller fish at a pretty fast pace. The wind picked up strong like it always does though, and I started to get concerned about safety on the main lake and headed back for the ramp. Glad I did because I was eating waved by the time I rounded the point into the ramp cove. Had to stop and check out my favorite tree real quick on the way in. I'd caught 3 dinks off it on the way out, this time there was a much nicer fish waiting for my jig. It was only 2pm but the wind was wearing on me and I felt pretty good about what I'd found, so I pulled the plug on the day and just hung around the campsite and catfished the rest of the day. Caught several nice channels that all looked like this one. Friday there was supposed to be 20-30 mph winds, with gusts over 40. Derrick and I decided it wasn't worth it to even launch and instead drove around bank fishing. Caught a bunch of small fish, including one I think was a meanmouth, only the second I've ever caught in Kansas. The winds were brutal all day. Tournament day was going to be tough. Winds were going to continue to be strong from the south in the morning, then switch from the west and eventually be from the north by noon. I opted for the safer choice and launched from the south ramp, despite wanting to go out from the north ramp that was less protected. I had prefished mostly on the south side, but the north side seems to hold more quality fish. I had caught several nice fish in practice though, so I thought maybe I'd be okay. I wasn't. By 11am, I'd barely managed to scratch out 2 13 inch fish, 1 14, and 2 15 inchers. The wind had switched and was way stronger than they'd forecast. I texted Derrick and said I was going to the north side. We got back on the water just after noon. I thought about going to the dam to just salvage a decent finish off smallmouth, but I quickly vetoed that decision and shot across the waves to the timbered pockets looking for big largemouth. It wasn't long before my Choppo got sucked down by a 17 incher. Right outside the pocket there was a point that had a clump of trees that I cast a big YUM creature bait in and got hit. I stuck another solid fish and flopped a 17.75" fish on the board. I started alternating those baits and on another clump of trees on a small point, I got bit and the fish was immediately stuck. I could hear my line squeaking and could tell it was a heavy fish. My heart was pounding as I leaned against the tree. I looked and saw it was only 2.5' deep on my depthfinder. I put the spotlock on and was about to jump in when the fish popped loose from the tree and I scooped it in the net. The 20.25" fish made me feel like I was back in it. I worked to the point and didn't get any other culls, turned around and was speeding towards the back of the cove, flipping clumps of trees as a I went by. I hit one of the clumps I'd caught a fish off of earlier and got bit, set into another solid fish. When it came up I couldn't see my bait, so I flipped it, and the bait popped out. Dumb mistake with the net sitting right there. I ran all the way to the back and realized the water was different and there weren't anymore clumps of trees. So I put down the flipping rod and started with the Choppo in the calmer water by the buckbrush. I told myself "I just need to find another dumb one". Almost immediately, the water erupted and I hooked into another good one. I fought it carefully, and it popped off as soon as it touched the net. It was 2:13 when I released that 18 incher. I'd catch a few more little ones in that pocket but I couldn't cull the last 15" fish in my limit. I ended up with 88", which I thought might get me paid, but it ended up only being enough for 5th as the big fish were apparently biting. First place set a new club record with 95" and had big fish with a 21.25 incher. I was still very happy with my finish and the way I'd battled through the difficult day to end up with a respectable finish. The move faired well for Derrick also as he landed a 20" fish of his own and ended up in 7th place.

I fished Patoka in a BASS Regional tournament many years ago and from what I learned, I absolutely believe that you only caught 1 fish in 2 days. I fished it for 3 days and only caught 2 or 3, winning weight for the non-boater side was 10lbs for a 3 day total. I almost qualified for the final day with my 1 little 2.5lb keeper I had on day two.

Anywhere a bridge crosses the lake at Perry is a solid starting point.

It can be good but I haven’t been since winter time.

I'll never be disappointed when I catch one of these guys when I'm messing around fishing for anything that will bite.

His motor was already running, just waiting for his partner to get back from parking the truck. Just completely unwilling to be a good person. Not only that, the guy was still bobbing around in the waves while we were trying to recover his boat (he had a lifevest on but still). He could have moved out of the way, recovered the other boater onto his boat while he was waiting, and still been right there when the other guy got back. It was really frustrating but I was just glad the guy was okay and we were able to recover most of his stuff for him.

They're great for flipping in cover when fish see lots of T-rig baits and jigs. I use the screw lock hooks also, and push a toothpick through the middle of the spring (perpendicular to the ends of the bait), to help hold it on even a little more. I just cut it off on each side of the bait.