Bluebasser86

It was the same as every flathead I've caught on light tackle, a huge thump, set the hook into something that feels like a snag before it swims off, then it's like trying to lift a slow swimming log off the bottom of the lake with light line. Blues are the fastest swimmers of the catfish imo. Every time I've hooked one while fishing for bass they've done their best to empty the spool on their first run.

It's not even close really. If catfish hit topwater and jumped they'd probably get a lot more attention from bass guys.

Not a fan of those. It's the blanks from companies like Predator that my buddy paints for me to match my pre rap baits. They work awesome and cost way less than a pre rap bait.

I can do the packing and shipping if every one wants to send them to me and send some PayPal for return shipping or something like that? Or I can ship and then everyone can PayPal that amount?

I have a bunch of both pre rap and painted blanks. The one knocker blanks are a really good bait and you can fish them without worrying about losing them.

DOCO, Lone Star, Gardner in that order would be my choice. Flip the first two if you want a better shot at a bigger fish.

Very nice! They usually hit a Ned rig and go screaming off very fast when I hook one, sometimes I don't even get a chance to set the hook because they take off so fast.

I carry more rods with me usually, but all the baits I take are whatever fits in my pockets.

The only thing I add/remove from my tackle during the year is taking out my topwater and big worms when the water gets cold, and putting them back when it gets back above about 50 degrees. Too many times I've caught the fish on a bait that wasn't supposed to work at that time of year or water temp. One of my best days last year was fishing a big suspending jerkbait in 72 degree water in early summer.

I try to save money where I can, but I also enjoy fishing swimbaits that cost more than a lot of people will spend on their rod and reel combos, so there's that.

I sold my 70's and bought a Zillion TWS SV. I like it so much more than I did the Shimanos. Looking to add a couple of the Tatula TWS SV reels when I get some extra money to drop on them. They can cast a mile and are tough to backlash. Excellent reels for skipping if you ever need to do it.

When they're barely nipping at a wart it's usually good to fish it like you're dragging a jig. You pull the bait slowly using just the rod, then crank up the slack and pull again. You have to weight them to suspend or very nearly suspend to do this. I've caught them in 38-39 degree water doing that. Helps those fish nipping at the bait catch up to it. Great day on the water like usual!

As mentioned, bass can't digest most plastic baits and eating them can be fatal to the fish. This is why very important not to discard baits into the water. This is a very good read regarding the issue. https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/skinny-fish.html

I was going to go Monday but the stacks have been off and on intermittently this past week so I went to Wolf instead.

The wiper was on a trap, walleye was on a Ned.

He hasn't been on the site in almost 2 years, not sure you're going to get an answer from him.

Lake all geared up to go to the St. Patrick's Day parade. First time he's ever worn overalls, he liked having all the pockets to carry his Hot Wheels in.

I enjoy Hank III, gone but not forgotten is probably my favorite from him. I met Brad Paisley when I was working at Cabela's. He's an avid fisherman and he was in shopping with his band members before he did a show in KC. Talked to him for 15-20 minutes like a regular guy, then he asked if I was going to his show, told him I didn't have the money (18 year old kid making $8 an hour working retail, didn't have much expendable income). He said he'd put some tickets in willcall for me if I wanted to go. I told my girlfriend at the time when I got off work and I'm sure she didn't believe me, but we got there and there was 2 tickets for the 3rd row, middle waiting for me. One of my favorite country concerts I've ever been to. I really like Darius Rucker's voice and several of his songs, but I liked Hootie and the Blowfish before he started country singing too. I grew up listening to a lot of the classic stuff with my parents, so singers like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Haggard, George Jones, Don Williams, really enjoy a lot of the older stuff.

Now is a good time to be on Wolf to see a lot of structure you couldn't normally with the lake being so low. The bass like to be shallow out there, regardless of season and weather.

One of my favorites as well. I have one XRK50 in Tilapia left that I'm scared to fish. It's a great juvi bluegill imitation.

Use a straight retrieve, usually a pretty fast one. They're a decent bait for the money but there's a lot of much better options to be had without breaking the bank.

Whopper Plopper in a baitfish color would be a bait I'd try. A fast moving Spook is tough to beat in clear water though.

I replace most of my baits hooks with the exception of Megabass, Spro, and Berkley. I don't mess with the split rings as much unless they appear like they could be flimsy. I probably overdo it, but I need all the help I can get some days.

Put a buddy on one of his biggest wipers ever and his PB walleye yesterday at 5.20 pounds, on a Ned rig.

I prefer to chunk them up and turn them into big blue cats but to each their own