Bankbeater

Welcome to the forums.

If the bottom is somewhat clear of vegetation, I let the lipless crank sink to the bottom and then reel it back in just fast enough to feel the vibration. Every so often I'll pause the retrieve and shake the rod tip a little. I'll pause the retrieve on a crankbait and let it float up for a second or two, or I will just pull the bait with the rod, taking up slack in between pulls. Sometimes working a diver like a wake bait works well around vegetation.

Nice going!

Everything looks good when you're hungry.

You can’t beat a big black jitterbug at night.

So sorry for your loss.

Fishing.

I have used Tourny Specials, Bionic Blades, and Extreme rods. Never had any issue with them. A PQ2 will probably be my next reel purchase. Personally I won’t by the low end BPS reels. I have had issues with them in the past.

I use Zoom finesse worms, and the 3” BPS Stik-O. Usually nose hook them unless I’m fishing in vegetation then I t-rig the baits.

It was 52 here on Thursday, 55 on Friday, and 55 on Saturday. There was still ice on the pond Saturday afternoon. Not much ice, but you had to watch where you were casting.

^^This I have St. Croix, Abu Garcia, Diawa, Berkley, and BPS rods. I buy the one that feels right when I hold it.

How clear is the water, what time are you fishing it, and how deep is the cove? There is a cove on a lake that I fish that sounds a lot like your cove, but it is around 6 to 8 feet deep. You can catch bass at night, but in the daytime no bites.

First two that popped into my head were Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks.

Fishing from the bank I bring 3 rigs. Fishing from someone else’s boat I bring 4. Fishing in my boat I bring 7 or 8 rigs.

Between 2003, and 2008, my back would go out about once a year. I couldn't stand more than 10 or 15 minutes before the compression started to kill me. Each time they would send me to physical therapy, but my back would heal up after about 6 to 8 weeks so the physical therapy really didn't do anything. After my back healed up in 2008 I started working out my mid section and lower back on a regular basis. Haven't had any problems since.

I've had bass hit a jig hard and immediately drop the bait. When the bass are biting like this I just deadstick the jig after the first bite and wait for the second bite. Usually on the second bite the bass takes it all the way and starts swimming off with it. It's like they want to try and kill it before they eat it.

My oldest daughter was never got into fishing. My youngest daughter started fishing with me when she was about 9. We would go out to the local lake and catch sunnies, and bluegill. When she started high school all of that changed. She is now into track, and cross country.

I use 1/2 oz. most of the time. I like to let it sink down to the bottom and slow roll it back like a spinnerbait.

Just in MO and IL last year.

I really don't have a favorite manufacturer. I use Strike King, Booyah, BPS, and some that are made locally. As far as the skirts go, I look for one that has a lot of material in it, and is fairly flexible.

I remove the dividers from my 3700 boxes. If the bag of plastics still won’t fit then I do a little customization on the box.

4-1/2 pounder on a black jig with a black craw trailer. Got that one around some lily pads in about 3 feet of water.

I usually get gift cards for my birthday and for Christmas. I’ll go to BPS to see what new merchandise they have but the only time I really buy anything from them is when I am looking for a new rod or reel. I like to hold them before I buy to see how they feel.

I have some baits that belonged to my Dad and grandpa. I keep them in their own tackle box. I think the last time I used one of them was about 7 or 8 years ago.

Sorry to hear about your friend. Good friends are very hard to come by.