Bankbeater

Most of the bears in Missouri are in the southern half of the state. I still keep my eyes open because you never know when one or two will want to move north.

Probably when I can't see them. Some of the lakes I fish are muddy, and the others have vegetation, so the bass have plenty of places to hide.

"Before you go fishing, could you do something for me". Turns into a 1/2 day job.

I normally use a size 30 president on a 7'0" ml spinning rod. I have 6 pound mono spooled on it. I sometimes have problems casting out an ultralight, and the ml rod gives me a little more peace of mind in case I catch something larger than a panfish.

After the bait starts getting beat up is the only time I worry about where the hook is.

Maybe moving it was the problem. I've had days where no matter how slow or fast I retrieved a jitterbug I just couldn't get a bite. Then I started casting it out, and letting it sit for about 30 seconds. After letting it sit I twitched the bait, and started getting good bites.

There is a BPS about 10 minutes from my house, and a Cabela's that I pass on my way to work. We'll see what happens.

I have one of the cheap Rapala scales. I've had it for about 10 years now and it works pretty good.

The closest thing for me this year has been a jig and craw, Mann's 1 minus, and a t-rigged Zoom ultravibe speedcraw.

Good job to both of you!

This pic from the summer of 2013 is one of the last times that my Dad went fishing after he got sick. He bought my daughter the UL rig he is holding, and wanted to show her how to use it.

Man that's rough. So sorry for your loss.

In the winter I will fish for crappie and bluegill if the water is not frozen over.

I use the same colors that I use the rest of the year. I will start off with a matching trailer. If that doesn't produce I will swap out the trailer for a color that gives a little more contrast.

I usually find things like bullet weights, or bobbers. I find baits when the lake levels start dropping.

I like to use black/blue jig with a blue trailer, or a black jig with blue trailer. Usually one of those colors will work for me.

I like the water to be clear enough so that I can see the stumps before I hit them.

I can usually get out all day on Saturday, or Sunday. Family stuff, and work, eat up the rest of my time.

I don't like to use a weight with flukes so if the water isn't more than 10 or 15 feet then I Let the fluke sink. When I move the bait I keep the rod tip down.

I fish from both. When I fish from a boat I can get down deeper so I use heavier baits. Both plastics and crankbaits. I rarely use more weight than 3/16 for plastics when fishing from the bank. 1/4 or 5/16 is the heaviest crankbait I will use from the bank.

I use a 2" sassy shad with a 1/8 ounce jighead, or a 2" floating minnow. I like a ML rig more than an UL rig because you never know what is going to hit these baits.

Wow! That was some trip!

My wife doesn't fish, but one morning before sun up back when I was learning how to fish jigs, she said "don't come home until you catch one on a jig". Around 7:30 PM she called me wondering where I was.

My mom really never cared to fish, but there was several times that she went with my Dad and I. I think my favorite pics are the ones with my mom out on the water holding a rod, trying to get into fishing.

Welcome to the forums! This is the place to learn about bass!