Bluebasser86

I use 12lb Big Game on my deep cranking setup.

I still have a deep 3700 size box of cranks, just the basic colors and my favorite models of each. To me, I'd rather catch fewer fish on another bait, I just don't enjoy fishing cranks for the most part, even when they're working. As for the zebra mussels, it's like fishing in a lake where the bottom is covered with razor blades, broken glass, and rusted sheet metal. It's not like they're just here and there in the lakes they're in either. The bottom and anything that is in the water in the lakes look like this.

Depends on the bait but as long as the line is kept tight, it's not much of an issue. I pinch the barbs down on a lot of my baits and it doesn't seem to change my landing percentage.

If I have my bladed jigs and weedless jigs I'll catch fish.

I think you're right on track. I like a Colorado/Indiana tandem to be able to fish quickly but still have good thump in stained water. I use a lot of gold and copper blades also. Color, that's all up to the fish, but solid white is usually a solid choice.

Don't know unless you go. Days like that just make the good days that much more rewarding!

Lots of factors will play into it but as long as the cover and food is there it's likely that fish will at least occasionally revisit the area.

I take people of all skill levels fishing with me and really enjoy teaching new people. The only ones that irritate me are the guys that have obviously watched a ton of Youtube and TV shows, so they've learned the terminology, bought the gear, so they look the part and try to act like they've done it forever, when they're really just learning. Nobody starts out just knowing how to do it and guys that have been doing it forever are still learning (or at least should be). I'd much rather they just be honest. It lets me prepare and plan a trip better that way. A lot of lakes I fish are lakes I'd never take a beginner to, because they're not easy lakes to catch fish at, I fish them because they have big fish. Just tell them that you're looking to learn and you'd really appreciate if someone wouldn't mind you going. Make sure you tell them you'll have money for gas, maybe offer to buy or bring lunch. I don't think you'll have much trouble if you just come out and tell the group what you want.

I posted pictures and video in one of your other post about this frog.

Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler II

My boat is rated for 4, johnboat is rated for 3, and my yak is 13' rated to 600 pounds. I'm not little and most of my fishing buddies are bigger than I am so I know all about having a lot of beef in the boat.

They haven'tbeen effective for me in years, I don't enjoy fishing them even when they're working, I can't fish them in a lot of our lakes anymore thanks to zebra mussels, bladed jigs have basically replaced them. There's other reasons, but those are the main ones.

I've got my boat, a 15' johnboat, and a SOT kayak at my disposal so I can get a half dozen people on the water.

I'm in Lane, about an hour south of KC. These are about half the baits I'm selling.

I've been fishing pretty stained water with KVD Magic and it's been working well.

I use to love crankbaits, can't stand fishing them now, trying to get rid of most all of mine. One of my biggest Kansas bass was on a Strike King 5XD in green gizzard shad color. She was in about 7' of water and ate it off the ricochet.

I've caught a ton of 12 inchers on my 130's, and similar sized fish on a 9" Slammer. Fish don't have any idea how big (or small), they actually are. The only way to determine if they can eat something is to try. Once you throw them a little bit, it makes it clear how small a 130 really is compared to what even a little 2 pounder is capable of eating.

With all the baby shad in our lakes right now, one of those little swimmers on an 1/8oz jighead has been wearing out all different kinds of fish. Had a smallmouth, walleye, white bass, channel cat, and a drum in 5 consecutive cast with my dad a couple weeks ago on the baby swimmer.

I believe the flat rap is a floater, while the X rap suspends, and the shadow rap is a slow sinker. They all catch fish.

Those look more like standard prop baits than the WP. I like the looks of the Top Notch and Lane Changer.

Location is more important than presentation IMO. You put a Ned rig or Dropshot Roboworm on a big fish's nose, there's a good chance it will eat it because it's a low risk, easy meal to catch. If you pull a Strike King 1.0 past the same fish, it might not be the same results because it has to chase down that small meal that is going to be very minimal calories gained towards the calories burned chasing it. I've seen fish come a long ways to eat a big topwater, spinnerbait, or swimbait, because the reward of chasing down a big meal is worth the extra exertion and calories burned.

I've had good luck cranking a Fat Free Shad in shallow water from shore. I crank it very slowly so it scoots slowly across the bottom, kicking up silt and bouncing off rocks. They're not too expensive either, which is good because you're going to lose some.

The lake I grew up fishing had one. There was a small area that stayed open in all but the coldest winters. I was always so excited to get to that spot as soon as the ice went out. I'd park my little 2 man and catch fish after fish until I got tired of catching fish.

Where are you located? Lots of lakes are getting tough with high water temps this time of year. Fish become more active at night, and lots of them head for deeper water and only feed during short windows.

Turnout is always so poor I'm not sure if there's any plans to keep them going. I really wanted to make it to the last one but with a newborn at home, it was too early to be going on an extended fishing trip. I'd love to see everyone come to Table Rock in late March/early April. I could bring the whole family to one that close. Everyone can just park their RV's in our field and I'll put you all on some local lakes for a serious dinkfest!