Bluebasser86

I bought some open pour molds from lurecraft as well. They work well but just remember they'll be flat on one side instead of round if you're pouring Senkos. I also made some of my own open pour molds from Plaster of Paris. I spray the plaster molds with Pam to help the plastic lift out.

I prefer once it gets below 60. 60-70 in the fall seems to put them in a funk, which is coming up shortly unfortunately.

I used this technique all the time when I used cheaper rods that didn't have the same sensitivity as the rods I own now. I'll still do it occasionally if I tighten up on something that isn't moving and I want to be 100% sure it's not a fish.

We had big storms here the day before my days off that dropped tons of rain. Fishing was terrible both my days off.

Congrats!

Yeah, they're a blast to catch. I mainly target them during the colder months but I'll fish for them whenever I find them. Tons of them in Milford.

I think that's pretty standard about anywhere. I've seen it pretty clear all the way to PC, but that was "only" about 8' visibility. We launched from Indian Creek last time and it was crazy how clear it was, makes for some tough fishing.

They're a neat fish. Lots of them in Table Rock anymore. I caught a keeper mean last time I was there. I was a keeper spot away from a Table Rock Super Slam that day (keeper spot, largemouth, smallmouth, and meanmouth).

Ned Kehde refers to any water clear enough to see the trolling motor head "Kansas Clear". 2-3 feet visibility is pretty clear around here. Go south a ways to Beaver or Bull Shoals and you might be looking at the bottom in 30'. I prefer a foot or two of visibility unless the water is cold, then I'd like to have 5' or so.

90 and 110 I fish on a 7' M/F baitcaster with 20lb braid, no leader 130 goes on a 7' 3" H/F 50lb braid, no leader

I have the rigged ones. Not as big as I though they were, kind of disappointed there. They've been good fish catchers though, and pretty durable.

Rapidly dropping water levels will pull them off the banks and often makes fishing very tough.

Black and red is a good jig color for me when the water is cold or muddy. I fish a bright blue jig a lot, never seen a blue craw though. Then again I've never seen any prey items in a lot of productive lure colors.

Can't start them too early! My oldest was 2.5 when he caught his first fish by himself, and I credit that a lot to the fact that he was just over a year old when I got him his first combo to play with. Keep it up and you'll raise your own fishing buddy!

I use to fish 300+ days a year before I was married with kids. Now it's probably closer to 100 days a year. I keep rods in my car and have a 45 minute drive back and forth to work each day, and I drive past several bodies of water in doing so. Combine that with the fact that I work nights, so I'm driving past these bodies of water in the morning when the bite is often at it's best, I do a lot of quick 15-30 minute stops to try the high percentage areas.

I'm very much a multispecies guy. I'm always down to chase something else if I find a hot bite for another species of fish. Spent some time after walleye Tuesday, and I meant to try for some cats on Monday but forgot my throw net to get any shad. Last week it was crappie and bluegills, the week before that I was casting a fly at grass carp whenever I'd spot one. I enjoy chasing all of them.

Don't put the trailers on them that comes with them and don't fish them on anything heavier than 4lb test and use a very slow retrieve. I either use part of a trout worm, or tie some yarn on for a trailer.

Shhhhh!!

Wind was killing me yesterday. Lots of bites but too much line out on a long cast in deep water to get the hooks in them. Only got this little guy to stick.

I've used braid as floss when I got food stuck in my teeth before.

I don't wash my car, it's a gas saver piece of junk that I drive back and forth to work. Survived Hurricane Katrina though, just got a few bumps and bruises from it.

Got to love it when they're eating the wobblers

I fish my Ploppers on braid and just reel into the fish. They will come back multiple times if they miss the bait and I'll usually end up with them pinned very well. I swap the hooks out on mine and smash the barbs down. Lots of trial and error to find the combinations that I like.

Most of our smallmouth tend to reside in less than 5' of water. 1/8oz is the heaviest head I use in a tube for those ones.