Bluebasser86

Shocked! Really I am.

I would consider it subtle, the more yellowed version.

Bone is by far my most productive topwater color for smallmouth.

I haven't found a "right" way to fish them yet. I can catch a few on them, but they've never been real productive for me. Possible that it's due to the fact our water is generally pretty dirty.

Used to catch a lot of fish on a blue/silver #7 Skitter pop. Don't fish them anymore, not for any other reason than I moved on to the new hot item I guess.

I replace hooks if I don't think they're sharp enough, which is on pretty much any bait straight out of the package and any bait after a good amount of use.

The Punch CrawZ is one of my favorites on a very pressured lake, where I want next to no action from my bait, and it provides just that. I fish the whole thing on a 1/16oz head. I'm sure it stands and rocks pretty good on the pause, a lot like a real craw in a defensive posture.

Lemon Pledge. Spray it on, let it sit 30 seconds to a minute, wipe off with a microfiber towel. The citric acid eats away the hard water spots. Can't remember which pro I heard recommend it, but it's worked great for mine.

Looks like a fun day!

Bladed jig or jig would both be good options in those conditions. If it's fall when the water is cooling, I'd probably fish a buzzbait too. A spinnerbait would probably also be a good option.

Haven't had one that I can remember in a long time. Now back when I bank fished a lot, tall weeds and overhanging trees got me plenty of times.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Cool! Your bass look a lot like a fish here called the white perch.

I've caught a few nice ones out there too, but haven't caught one in a couple years (mainly because I haven't been fishing it). Just wondering if they were doing any good out there or not. Seems like the lower end of the lake would support a pretty decent population of smallmouth if they can get established and if the water level is ever stable enough for a few successful spawns. I'm sure there's plenty of them going home in buckets during the crappie spawn too since they like the same riprap areas about the same time of year.

It's more of a winter time/cold water bait in my experience, never done well much after the prespawn phase starts. Also, it's a gangly rig with thick wires and snaps all over the place, I don't think a fluoro leader is really needed. Lots of guys on the clear water Ozark lakes fish them on heavy braid and catch fish just fine.

I just picked up 2 7' 3" H/F Ethos Micro from Academy for $25 each, normally $80. I've had one for a few years and it's my favorite frog rod I've ever owned, couldn't pass up 2 more for that price.

I do best not matching the hatch. Our bass eat tons of baby bluegills, but for the life of me I can't catch a big swimbait bass on a gill bait. Caught lots of dinks to 3 pounders on gills, but no big ones. Now give me a big bone colored bait, or something in Hitch color, and I'll do work.

Ned fishes the Finesse ShadZ, which is a 4" bait. You're right though, it doesn't have to a half ZinkerZ or TRD to be a Ned rig. This is a great Ned rig bait, but I didn't tell you that.

This Zell Pop I bought some of the new Booyah Boss pops in the similar color, hopefully they will be just as good. I really like the R2S Bubble Walker 80 too (very similar to a PopMax, for a fraction of the price). I did pop for a White Python Pop Max this winter that I hope to get wet very soon. High, muddy waters have killed our topwater bite lately.

Yes, that's what one of my fishing buddies calls crappie.

First 2 are the same answer, either a dark colored bladed jig, dark colored single Colorado bladed spinnerbait, dark colored jig, dark colored big worm, UNLESS it's a bright moon, then I'll use natural or bright colors like a white spinnerbait or bladed jig. Once it gets uncomfortable to fish during the day, I start fishing at night.

War Eagle are great and Booyah spinnerbaits are really nice too. I like that both offer a variety of blade colors and types, like the hammered blades as well as offering gold, copper, and painted blades that work so well in the dirty water I fish often.