Bluebasser86

Hit Wabaunsee Monday. Could have caught them every cast with the Ned but they were mostly small. Jig wasn't doing much until I switched from my normally mismatched jig and pork trailer to a matching plastic craw, it was on after that. One of Drew's custom warts was doing good on smallies and of course a couple drum. Biggest fish was 4lbs 6oz, should have had a limit of over 18"s but 2 fish pulled off and one broke off, so just the 3 overs on the day, all on a homemade jig. Bassyakker and I hit Gardner for a few hours Tuesday (after taking my boat through the carwash and giving it a bleach bath to soak in overnight). He got a couple pretty quick on a popper while I caught a crappie on a Ned, then a couple bass on a popper. Missed a big fish on a frog, hate to guess what it weighed but there was a lot of back sticking out of the water at one point. Picked up a baby brush hog and really started to put it to them, even caught a solid keeper. Got around to a little cut that Jon said a guy that lives on the lake says holds lots of big fish. I'd barely gotten "I never catch anything here", out of my mouth when my wobbler got slack lined. 4 pounds even and a new PB for Gardner for me. Called it a day shortly after that after we caught a couple more little ones.

Smallies will hit that thing for sure, even the little guys!

Zebco Dock Demon is a great combo for tight creeks, to carry in your truck for "emergencies", or for it's namesake dock fishing. I bought one for my 1 year old to play with (in my avatar), and was really surprised how nice it was, especially for $10. Rod is almost unbreakable (if a 1 year old can't do it, it probably can't be done), the reel cast well and the drag is surprisingly smooth (I cast a small dog toy for our 70lb golden retriever that test the drag really well).

It's a very expensive pay-to-play lake I believe. I think it might be Dream Lake in Alabama.

Little John and Sixth Sense Crush flat 75X.

Yep, like the Poppa and JR too. The Poppa is a good bait to fish weightless and buzz across the surface like a finesse buzzbait with a big profile or fish in place of a toad.

I've been catching topwater fish since April in KS. You're topwater bite should have started a long time ago.

I prefer driving down the river and shooting them out of the air with my bow

Academy Ethos. Both of the blue rods to my right in the picture are Ethos rods, and there's 7 more of them in the rod locker. Best rod under $100 (under $50 on sale), without question IMO.

One of my homemade bladed jigs in black and blue. I've since beat nearly all the paint off the head and I almost need to cut the skirt off and retie it, but it keeps catching fish so I just keep fishing it. Xcaliber Zell Pop and XR50 Slender Pointer 97Mr and 78 pointer Pair of 78's The King Shad that caught my biggest 5 fish limit in KS 7" Slammer

Fishing the lake right by my house this morning with a buddy from work who has been doing well out there. I hate the lake, 5 minutes from the house and I fish it 2 or 3 times a year. Did surprisingly well this morning, mainly on topwater and baby brush hog. Got to one little cut he said a local told him holds big fish. I'd barely gotten "Weird, I never catch anything here", out of my mouth when my bladed jig went weightless. Typical big fish bite on a bladed jig, turned into a very not typical fish for that lake. 4 pounds on the nose and my PB for the lake.

Grasshoppers work great in ponds for catfish. Cut bluegill does as well. Good chance that they'd eat the 17 year cicadas that are everywhere right now with gusto.

Jigs, bladed jigs, and baby brush hogs getting it done for me.

The way I see it, if you buy someone you're trying to get into fishing gear that is nice enough to work with minimal problems they're more likely to stay interested. I made the mistake of going cheap with my wife's first combo. It got constant knots and she'd get frustrated and give up, which ultimately would cut down on my fishing time. I popped for the Quantum Energy PT and St. Croix Avid Pearl she always liked at Cabela's and those problems went away and she enjoys her hassle free fishing trips much more now.

Berkley Power Minnow on a light jighead.

15lb Big Game for me.

Braid with a leader most of the time.

Table Rock spots are always such good looking fish to me. Tattoo'd smallies are tough to beat. Big, fat, and healthy always looks good on a bass.

Nope, just a funky colored largemouth.

Still remember my first jig fish. Congrats!

Corn works great for me. Nightcrawlers or crawdad tails work good too but hard to keep the catfish away most of the time.

Ned rig works great when you're limited for whatever reason.

I grab them around their back when they're small most of the time, regardless of how they're hooked.

Every water snake anyone sees around here is a cottonmouth. I've spent countless hours on the water here, and I've seen a grand total of 1 cottonmouth in KS. Other than that, 1 great big one at Table Rock sunning itself on a rock. Lots of water snakes in our lakes, but all harmless.

Tons of fishing within much less driving from central MO. I love those Ozark lakes, Pomme, Stockton, LOZ, Table Rock, Bull, all great lakes for their own special reasons. If you're located more towards the northern part of the state Mozingo is great, Hazel Creek at the other side of the state, Paho has the best density of bass over 4 pounds in the state per acre. Lots of little lakes all over that have good fishing.