Bluebasser86

I have an economical BFS rig, a KastKing Spartacus Plus with a shallow spool that was less than $10, on a 7' ML Fenwick, spooled with 8lb mono. Cast a little 1/8oz jig very nicely. I wouldn't ever want to use it for trout though, a spinning rod works so much better for the baits I use for them.

20lb Big Game or CXX with a Palomar or SDJ knot.

Tuesday because I'll be working the rest of those days.

I've only ever lost one rod to a fish, probably a carp, I was fishing under a mulberry tree during the berry hatch and that rod launched into the lake like Ike threw it out there. One of the Lane brothers had a rod jerked out of his hands by a big spotted bass several years ago while he was fighting the fish. It was really hot and he was cranking the face of a dam or something and as he moved towards the back of the boat to land the fish, just lost it. It happened so fast that I wasn't sure what had happened at first.

Sunrise on the water yesterday morning.

Got 2 new species added to the list this weekend, a white bass and a spotted bass.

I'd happily fish for a week with bad conditions if it ended with a 9+ pound fish in my boat.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

I would not suggest going above 8lb on a spinning reel. Anything above that is very difficult to manage on a spinning reel. If you really want to do it, I would go with a 3000 or 35 size reel.

5 or 6 dollars, they've been on TW for a couple months

Interesting design, never tried them though. I use Decoy egg snaps for my swimbaits.

Welcome back!

It's currently snowing almost whiteout snow here right now at the start of my weekend, dumping snow into our already cold lakes the day before I'll be fishing the next 2 days. You'll get no sympathy from me because your "cold front" killed the topwaters bite ?

This is also why the phrase "A bass is a bass", is often true, until it isn't Nature is constantly adapting to situations and surroundings, which is why good fishermen are constantly adapting as well, trying to stay one step ahead of the fish.

I just splash a little water on mine to clean anything off of them, but rarely even have to do that.

Couple of my best days so far this year were on days the water temp was barely breaking 40. I haven't seen 50 degree water anywhere but the powerplant lakes, and the warmest of those shut down last week so it's below 50 now too. I'm going to go way out on a limb here and guess that there's fish to be caught where you're at, but you haven't figured out how to catch them yet.

Welcome!

Probably be a few in a couple weeks if the warm forecast sticks this time, but I'd guess 3 weeks to a month will be the main event. Right now and the next week or two are your best chance at a big fish though. Prespawn is when the big girls are feeding and as big as they'll be all year.

It accounted for all 3 fish in the pictures as well

This is a very real thing, I've ran into it more than once.

I use the 1.5 size a majority of the time. There's a BPS exclusive color called "river minnow" that has been one of my most productive crankbaits the last couple years. Green gizzard shad is also high on the list along with the always popular chartreuse black back.