Bankbeater

Had a dream last night that I was in the boat fishing a suspending jerkbait. I could see the bait in the water, my tackle bag, rods, and all of the stuff I bring with me in the boat. Couldn't tell what water I was fishing. And then the alarm went off. I think I am getting restless about the October fishing trip.

That's about the size of what I call a pocket. You can cast all the way to the back of it. I anchor the boat and fish them really thorough.

Around here we call a small cove a pocket.

I get more back lashes casting than pitching. I think that is because I forget to look behind me sometime while walking the bank. Hitting a bush while bringing the rod back can really mess up your line.

Is the water you fish under heavy fishing pressure? You may need to use a bait that the bass haven't seen in a while.

Thank you, sir!

0' to 1' Mann's 1 Minus 2' to 3' Mann's Baby X 4' to 6' Cordell Big-O In deeper water I through a Rat-l-trap and let it sink.

Some of my best bass catching days came when it was raining so hard that you could hardly see the end of the boat.

The one thing that fishing weekends has done for me is taught me to adapt. When I hit the water I am ready for anything

I don't mind the colder temps, or even snow. When that wind is blowing off of the water then I call it quits.

DIY upgrade?

You would not be able to use a 10' rod from the bank in some of the places I fish. Too many bushes and trees.

Nice going!

I wish someone would have told me that if the hook in your hand has no play in it, then it is through something solid, and you should go straight to the ER. You can push the hook through and cut the barb, you can back it out and cut along the barb to free the hook, or you can tie a line around the hook and yank it out with a quick snap. When that hook has gone through something or is around something, then you might cause more problems by trying to remove it yourself. Found that out about 30 years ago when a treble hook went into my hand. In the ER they told me that the hook had gone through nerve tissue, but luckily it was not severed all the way and would heal over time.

I have been keeping a log for the past 12 years. I use to hand write everything down now I use an Excel spreadsheet. I record every trip whether I caught fish or not. It gives me somewhere to start before I hit the water.

It depends on the topwater bait. For poppers, I like a 6'6" m/f spinning rig. For frogs, buzzbaits, and jitterbugs I like a 7'0" mh/f with a baitcaster.

Nothing I like better than a day of fishing all by myself.

Around here when that happens it is usually due to the weather. The first thing I do is try to see if the bass are still around, or if they have moved off somewhere else.

Wow!

I use old pill containers from the pharmacy. You can put them in your pocket without getting hooked, and if the box spills then the hooks are not scattered.

I don't think I have ever caught a bass on the first cast with a new lure.

If no one else is catching then getting skunked doesn't bother me so bad. It stings when you are the only one not catching.

I Hooked a bass on a jitterbug one morning before the sun came up. I'm not sure if the knot was bad, or the line was damaged, but it broke and the bass got away. About 45 minutes later when the sun came up, and we could see, my partner found my jitterbug floating at the bank,

Learn about the brakes and tension settings for your baitcaster. Then go out in the backyard and practice casting with it. Remember that once the bait is in the air the wind can take it, and adjust your cast accordingly.

I've always used 15 pound.