Bluebasser86

My dad started me on spinning gear, never owned a spincasting reel.

Fishing our Thursday night tournament this past week at what has been the best lake for us all season when I decided to start it off with a bang, catching my PB for that particular lake pitching a Pit Boss into the water willows. That Okuma Mat Daddy ain't no joke! Anyone that's fished water willows knows how tough they are but I pulled that fish plus a whole clump of them out of lake!

I didn't think I'd turned the camera on yet Thursday night but was pleasantly surprised to catch our only fish worth showing on camera.

My frog rod is an Ethos micro guide rod from Academy. It's a 7' 3" H/F that cost me $60 on sale. You don't need anything fancy for a frog, as long as it loads to cast the bait and has the backbone to get the fish out. It's been a great frog rod though.

A hookset in deep water with a football jig is different than a hookset pitching a jig to a dock, at least for me it is. I use a 7' 1" MH/XF with a high speed reel to wind like crazy while the rod loads before I sweep into the fish instead of crossing their eyes like in shallow water.

This would be my vote if you want to dedicate it to certain techniques but like others said it's a great all around rod to just put a medium ratio reel on with 12-15 pound copolymer and have available for whatever you need it for.

Adam said they had a 100 fish day at Melvern.

The H2O bait is a great bait. They have 2 versions, the Slush Daddy and Slush Minnow. I have both and they both work. I like the Slush Daddy more when they're feeding heavy on bluegills. Hard to go wrong at $4 and $6 apiece.

Not quite a new PB but I did get me a fence panda at Melvern Wednesday night! About the only thing I caught on a tube all night. I think the dark night had them messed up. Tiny white bass biting everywhere though. No catfish or walleye all night surprisingly enough. Drew caught all 3 flavors of bass, I couldn't get a spot but I did get the other two. Drew had big fish (that counted), of the night with a 17+ inch smallmouth that appeared to fight about like a tree branch, don't know what it's problem was. It was so dark out that we didn't run around much though and ended up in the marina and on the dam most of the night (2 of my least productive areas this year). Those of you that were there know that Miola kicked out some nice fish Thursday before the storms. My first fish of the night was second biggest I've caught all year in the tournaments at 4lb 3oz flipping a Pit Boss into the water willows. Unfortunately we couldn't get the last 2 to fill out or limit and Chris and Jake caught a couple really nice fish so we didn't get big bass either I know, you're just heartbroken for me

You should come fish some of the terrific bass lakes here in Kansas you're always hearing about! You've never heard of any of the bass lakes in Kansas? Exactly... Do some internet searches on the lakes you're fishing and I'll bet you find some good information to get you pointed in the right direction. Getting started into bass fishing is a trial and error process (mostly error at first). Patience is your best friend right now. This is a tough time of year as well so don't get discouraged. I've been doing it fairly successfully for almost 30 years now and the last few weeks have been a challenge at best.

Jig

I've left Gammy and Owners rigged in baits in the bag and they rusted. Maybe I'd fished them and the combination of moisture and salt rusted them, but it happened, even with premium hooks.

I've had several PB's brought into my boat by other people, always an exciting moment. In some cases it was their first of that species, others it was just a big fish.

Something in between the two rods you have will be best. Of the two options you listed, I'd put light braid on the light action rod.

A fly in trip is something that every fisherman should experience in their lifetime. I've only done it once a long time ago but would jump at the chance to do it again.

X2, I use 10lb Super Slick but there's a couple new braids out there I'm looking forward to trying soon.

Some tanks in that video!

Lures will out fish live bait at times just because of how time consuming live bait fishing is. Bass do not just automatically attack a live prey item just because it's there. I've watched bass examine a live bait fish for an extremely long period of time, and occasionally they'll turn and swim away. Of course there will be times when live bait produces a few fish when lures strike out. I fish livebait specifically for bass a few times every year (usually shad). My preferred method is to freeline live shad in likely areas. I use a small octopus hook through the nostrils and they'll swim well and stay alive for quite awhile.

St Croix LTB 6' 10" ML/XF

Glides are about the only thing I've been able to get bit on this year for some reason. Last year it was all about the Slammer, this year they won't touch it.

As much as everyone remembers the planes crashing into the towers, I think a lot forget about the folks that fought and gave their lives to prevent a much greater loss of life. True American hero's died in that field, people who didn't sign up to protect their country but still did so when called on. I remember it very vividly. I was a freshman in high school, coincidentally enough, I was in American History class when it happened. Our teacher got a phone call and it was obvious something earthshaking was going on. When he turned the TV on and we watched that second plane hit the building, my body went numb with disbelief and then rage when I realized what was happening. I don't think there was a boy in that room that wasn't ready to fight that day had we not all been 14 years old at the time.

I just haven't gotten into the Huddgill hype I guess. As much as bass eat gills around here I can't get much love on gill swimmers. I've got a Gantarel and Bullshooter Jr that I like the size of a little more than I think I would with the Huddgill. I really like the looks of the 6th Sense Flow Glider 140 (not new, just caught my eye recently). The Savage Gear Shine Glides really have my attention. The realism, size, and price are all great. As much as I didn't like the Real Gill, I'm hoping the Lucky Craft Real Ayu will be as good as it looks. I want to fish it for smallmouth where the zebra mussels are bad so if I lose it I won't be as hurt as if it happens to a Deps. The Duo Prometheus Glide (and the crappie glide bait that I've seen pictures/heard rumors of), both look terrific. I haven't tried any of their other baits, but I'd like to try one of the Livingston swimbaits that are coming out. I'm sure I'll be trying both of the smaller sizes of the Spro Rats. Just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. It could be an expensive winter.

Just be glad your bait monkey hasn't been surfing the interwebs looking at all the new swimbaits that have just came out/are about to come out

I've caught lots of 1-2 pound smallmouth on a 7" glide bait. Main issue with a 6" Hudd will be them getting it in their mouths well enough to get a hook in them but the Cali guys catch monster spots on 8" Hudds so I say go for it.

Welcome!