Bluebasser86

Is it possible the weather had a big influence on the good bite? Some of the lakes I fish often produce poorly during nice weather days but fish really well when the weather is nasty. I've certainly been guilty of overthinking it, and also missing the obvious signs until it was too late. Just means I need to go more often so I can stop making those mistakes

Find some weeknight jackpot tournaments you can fish with a friend, or find some open tournaments where you fish against other nonboaters and draw for your boater. I started in the latter format when I was 16 but we actually fished against the boaters and nonboaters in that club. I learned a lot, asked a lot of questions, made some mistakes but I think through clear communication with my boaters that I was inexperienced with how tournaments work we were always able to navigate through it without any issues. Did very well my first year with 2 wins, ROY, and 3rd place overall in the club. You never know until you try.

I like walking banks of lakes looking for lost lures. Get into jig tying, you can waste a ton of time and money doing that. Learn to service your own reels. Big money saver and very time consuming. You can even make money doing it for other people of you get good at it.

It hasn't caught any particularly large bass, just an obscene number of them along with several other species. One almost 5 pounds is the largest I can remember it catching other than a couple 8lb range wipers.

#6 might be too big for a 1/2oz. Too big of a blade and not enough weight makes them not want to run right about as bad as anything.

I'm sure a day is coming when it's number will get called, but it's been fun getting this bait scarred up the last couple years.

That's some backbreaking work all around.

Had to shorten my day a lot Friday due to a sick kid, but got some good ones while I was out. 4 fish, 3 were keepers for a little over 14 pounds, biggest was 6.41.

That would be too deep for spawning if you have dark stained water in the lake. Florida bass seem to prefer to spawn in thick vegetation so I wouldn't be surprised if that's where they're at. If you can find some that are in a sandy, rocky, or clay bottom that is probably going to be preferred over a straight silt bottom for spawning.

They look and feel really nice. I got to handle one at BPS a couple weeks ago. I have no need for one right now, but I wouldn't turn one down if I found it for the right price.

When I worked at Cabela's in KC there was a guy that use to come in and buy bigger model Stellas for catfishing the Missouri River. They weren't $1,500 then, but several hundred dollars for a catfish reel was still way overkill. He upgraded to the new model every time it came out too. I guess if you have the money to spend.

1/2oz #5 at the smallest, prefer a 3/4 or 1oz with a #6 or #7 but they're hard to find without making a custom order, especially with the hammered copper or gold blades that I like.

Largemouth bass will usually spawn around some form of cover, so if the cattails are the only form of cover in the lake, that's probably where they'll be at.

Call your local game warden for an explanation would be the best advice. I know that we have to keep the fish whole until we're done fishing. Once the boat is on the trailer or all your gear is put up the fish can be filleted but the fillets have to be kept whole (not chunked up or cut into strips), so that the number of fish kept can still be determined. You just can't fillet them while you're still fishing.

Agreed, bluegill beds. They kind of look like tires on the bottom of the lake if you can see them from above the water.

That fish is a great example of how camera angle can make a fish look way bigger/smaller. It's also a great example of why I like fishing in the winter. You might not catch the numbers, but it's a great time of year to catch a big one.

I'd guess around 4.5, time to buy a scale!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

42 is the lowest I know for sure I've caught them in. Back of pockets in spring right after ice out in about 2' of water.

Those are Guidewear sun protection gloves. It was probably 60-70 degrees out with water temps in the 70s still.

It's a premade bubba shot, and I can't catch fish with a bubba shot, so I won't be trying it.

I love watching him catching those big smallmouth in those little rivers, but man I wish someone would set the guys drag for him, drives me crazy how badly it slips all the time. I don't know how many times I was sure he was going to get hooked by a flopping fish too. I wish our rivers had smallmouth, pike, and muskie, instead of catfish, drum, and gar.

Any particular reason for running braid to a leader for a chatterbait? And are you clipping the fastech to the snap on the chatterbait blade?