Bluebasser86

I've never been a big trailer guy, then this fall there was a hot big fish bite, for spinnerbaits with big trailers on them, 4.5-6 inch paddletails. I'll be doing it more often in the future.

I don't worry about stretching them. They catch fish just fine with or without salt in them. It's a simple technique, not going to go overcomplicating it with trying to remember whether or not I stretched my baits before I used them.

I've caught them on warts in 39 degree water. Fish them slow, then slow down about 1/2 that. Bites feel like it's starting to hang up on something, then it moves. Sticky sharp hooks are a must for that kind of fishing because they rarely have it good. It's a good way to get a big bite though.

I'm hoping to fish some NEKKA tournaments if I can ever get my schedule to line up. You'd think after 7 years at a place a guy could bid at least 1 weekend day off, but it hasn't worked out that way yet.

I was waiting for Evers to say something. Catch 60 pounds in MLF, just enough to get stomped by 30 pounds, that's pretty rough. A-A-Ron is a weird dude. I got to talk to him at an Elite event at Table Rock. I thought maybe he rambles like he does on TV because he's nervous, but he was the same in person, unless he was nervous talking to me for some reason. Thankfully it was cold out so his whole no showers or deodorant thing didn't overwhelm me.

I fish when I can, often when I know it probably won't be great fishing. Catching is just a bonus some days.

There truly is a wealth of information here. I'm amazed how much I learn even now from reading everyone's post.

Same ones I use. They wear out fairly quickly, but I just buy a new pair a couple times a year. When it comes down to it, what price do you want to put on your life? I hate sunscreen, which is why I used to get burnt often. Now it rarely happens because I just stay covered up.

I'd keep poison out of the equation if at all possible. You might be able to contact your DNR and have them shock the pond to remove the remaining fish and possibly even inspect them to see what is causing the die off.

Gizzard shad are far and away the more important forage for our bass. Often times, if you want to find the big bass, you have to find the big gizzard shad first, hand sized ones are about perfect sized. They are sensitive to temperature swings though, and it seems like there's always at least a minor die off during the winter.

I also use the Save Phace mask. When it's in the teens and I'm running 50mph across the lake, I wonder how I ever did it without one.

I had one of the older models of that rod, don't think I ever fished a spinnerbait with it. It did make a pretty good T rig and light jig rod though.

Bass on the long rod are fun, I used to fish for them with it pretty often. I haven't fly fished much in a few years until last year. I bought a lot on a lake and it has very clear water and loaded with big bluegills that cruise the docks, lots of fun to sight fish with the fly. While I was doing that I scored my first couple of brown bass ever with a fly rod, it was a lot of fun and a work out with my cheap rod and reel.

Deep cranking-5.1 Lipless-6.3 Squarebills-5.2 and 6.2 Jerkbaits-5.2, 7.1, and 6.2 WTD and poppers-7.1 Jigs and plastics-7.1, 7.1, 7.1, 7.3, 7.3, 7.3, 8.0, 8.2

What about melting and pouring is scaring you? If you're wanting to make them to sell, pouring your own is going to be cheaper than buying someone else's.

You'll like it, I've been loving mine so far.

Landing ratio is typically better with a line thru because the bait slides away from the hook and gives the fish less leverage to toss the bait. I have a much better hookup and landing ratio with line thru baits than I do other soft swimbaits.

Yes, I fish mono a lot, even for jigs and T rigs.

I use a 6' 9" H/F rod by Hammer Rods. It has a very parabolic action, not like what you'd think with a typical Heavy baitcaster. I believe it was @smalljaw67 that suggested the rod, and it's been fantastic so far. The only downside is the micro guides ice up so fast in the cold weather.

Never been to one, but less competition for BPS can't be a good thing.

That's when I bought mine, during the reel trade in last year. I got the very first one the BPS by me got in stock.

I use a leader on my spinning rods with braid when I need abrasion resistance or lower visibility line. I've never used a leader on a casting rod with braid and have no intentions to.

That one has a spot built into the deck for it so it takes up zero space. I'll get a longer one once I can start fishing kayak tournaments I'm sure. Catching them too long for board isn't ever a bad thing though

If only she was a couple inches longer