Bankbeater

I'll buy a new bait to try when I get gift cards as a present. Other than that it's just restocking items I'm low on.

It could be the bass are keyed in on a different food source. Around here the water willows are blooming, so it seems like all of the bass were trying to get the flying bugs that were landing on the water willow flowers.

This year I have lost 1 chatterbait, 2 crankbaits, and 3 jigs. The worst part of this whole thing is that I broke my lure retriever this year too.

I use a pop-r all summer long. The bass don't always want to hit them. If I cast a popper and I don't get a bite in say a half hour then I put on another top water bait.

That's a nice looking muskie. Congrats.

I do all my jig fishing with 15# Big Game.

Tightline. Even if I get a bite on semi slack line I will take up the slack first and then set the hook.

The worst itch I ever had came from chiggers around my waist when I was about 18. It looked like I was wearing a red belt. Got them walking in the weeds fishing around a pond.

I was taught never to trust the tension knob, or the breaks on the reel. Always use your thumb.

I have 15 lb. Big Game on the rig I throw Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and med diving crankbaits with.

Either a crankbait, lipless crankbait, or a spinnerbait.

That's a nice bass. I'd say it's at least a 4 pounder.

Glad you're ok. That looked awful close to the finger joint.

I did the same thing fishing from the bank, only with 8 pound line. This was about 10 years ago, and I ended up breaking the line. You have to keep the rod tip high and reel fast enough to get the bass up over the edge of the weeds.

Good going!

Weed wacker. In the old days we used a pair of grass trimming shears for tight places, and swung a grass whip on steep inclines.

I have a Bionic Blade and a Carbonlite which were purchased this year, and an old Tourny Special that is about 10 years old. I don't like them for bottom contact baits, but they're excellent for moving baits.

Last year Missouri had free fishing spring. I think the idea was to get more people into fishing so they would by fishing license. When the free fishing ended so did the crowds, but they left all of their trash behind.

Years ago I had a mh/F 6'6" spinning combo. I used that rig for everything from bluegill to catfish.

Nice smallies!

Congratulations! PB bass are the best!

If you are using a BC reel, check your level wind for sharp corners or nicks. Also pull some line off and check it before you go fishing, could be the braid has small frays in it.

My split shot rig is a weightless texas rig with a split shot above the bait about 12" or so.

I've got bouts with vertigo, and some arthritis in my back. I don't think I'll be in a kayak anytime soon.

I prefer the cylinder type weights, but I have clamped a split shot on the end of my line before.