Bankbeater

Is the hook sharp? When I have that problem I hit the end of the hook with a file. Usually fixes the problem right up.

I can remember the details of how I was working the bait, how the bite felt, and what the fight felt like. Ask me what the temp was, how the fish was hooked, or whether the wind was blowing or not, and I will need to check my log.

That's great!

If the rod has a hook keeper I use it. If not I use the reel. The one thing I will not do is put the hook into the cork handle of the rod.

I usually bring along four rods. M spinning for light t-rigs, MH baitcaster for jigs, MH baitcaster for heavy t-rigs, and a M spinning for crankbaits. I put some confidence baits into a tackle box to carry along. Food, water, sunscreen, etc. stays in the car.

Nice bass! Good catching!

All I can say is WOW!

That's a nice birthday present!

I have a 6 year old president, and a 5 year old president. No problems with either one of them. I am thinking of getting another one for my ML rod.

Zoom, Heddon, Mann's, Bill Lewis, Arbogast, Rebel, Rapala, and Cordell.

Basically any plastic I have with me at the time.

I store mine in the basement on old tackle boxes, and tackle bags.

Try looking at Bing Maps. I was on there the other day looking at a pond, and the picture was from 8 or 9 years ago.

When I hear thunder I go back to the boat ramp. End of story.

If the bass are biting light I will set the hook anytime I feel something.

I've never hooked anything with feathers before, but I have had snakes go after a topwaters and jigs.

Wow, congratulations!

When I get out on the water what usually happens is that I catch a bunch of little ones, and one or two scale worthy bass. I like to have a mix of numbers and size on each trip.

Jitterbugs, and humpback rebels. I've had people shrug their shoulders, and tell me "that's an old bait", when I tell them I am using a jitterbug. Now I just tell them I was using a topwater bait.

I have found that if the channels can't find anything dead on the bottom to eat, they will begin moving around and hunting. I usually throw one c-rig out on the bottom and have another rod with a slip bobber on it. I keep moving the c-rig, and changing the depth on the bobber until I find them. The baits I like to use are cut up shad, dead minnows, and small sunnies.

Try using an older bait. A lot of people get caught up in using the bait that is hot right now, and they forget about what has worked in the past.

Original floating Rapala, and the Shad Rap.

I can't believe you went to work.

That's great! Hope you keep catching.

It was back in 1972, and I guess I was 8 or 9. My Dad was catfishing, Mom was in the car reading, and I was finally started catching sunnies. My Dad was cutting up the sunnies and using them for bait. He told me to go over to the rip-rap on the dam and see if I could catch some more. I was using a three piece, screw together cane pole that was about 9 feet log. It was baited with a nightcrawler, and a bobber. When the bobber started moving fast I knew I had a sunnie on the line. This time the bobber just went under, and my line started moving. I pulled back on the cane pole and it was heavy. I slung the pole around and had a channel cat on that went about 2 pounds, Every day for the rest of the summer, as soon as my Dad got home from work, I asked him if we could go fishing.