Bankbeater

Fishing clear lakes with grass I stick to natural colors. Most of the time I'm fishing with different shades of green. If there are a lot of trees casting shadows on the water I may be casting out a black/blue jig.

Doesn't bother me.

I'm probably a 5. It depends on when and where I'm fishing. As a rule of thumb, if I catch a bass then I make about 5 or 6 more casts into the area. If I don't get anymore bites then I leave.

I've never been able to take the cold weather for very long. When I go outside I need to layer up or the shivering begins.

We got about 2" of snow yesterday on top of the 11" that we got last Sunday and Monday. It was in the mid 30s today and the weather people are saying that it should be in the low 40s tomorrow. Hopefully it will melt some of the snow before the next cold front comes through.

I don't think I have purchased a jig in 3 or 4 years. My daughters ask me what I want for my birthday and I text them manufacturer, color, quantity, and weight.

Welcome to the forums.

Right now it is largemouth bass. I started bass fishing around the time that I got back into fishing and found that I liked casting a bait around, trying to find them, and figure out what they would bite.

I'm going to try not to hook myself this year.

Prayers headed your way.

Thanks Glenn!

Jerkbaits and Lipless Crankbaits. I've gotten away from using them the past few years.

In 2024 my top catching baits: Plastic Worm - either Texas rigged or weightless Jerkbait 1/4 oz Jig and craw Spinnerbait Senko type - either weightless or wacky rigged. Surprisingly, this year I hardly caught anything on a split shot rig.

In winter I like to fish around dead lilypads. Most of the time I'll be using a spinnerbait, swim jig, or Texas rigged plastic.

Pocket Fisherman from back in the 70s.

A shorter rod like that is excellent for fishing from the bank.

The rod I use is mh/f, but I use it for all of my heavier moving baits.

We are getting our first real taste of winter today. Areas south of us are getting freezing rain, but right now we are getting a light mix of sleet and snow. Later on it is suppose to turn into all snow with between 4"-10" accumulation.

About 20 years ago there was a 12 lb largemouth bass caught at one of the Mo. Conservation lakes here in Missouri. The story goes that the conservation office weighed the bass and then the angler took it back to the lake and released it. I never saw it, but the conservation office said they had a pic of this bass tacked up on their braggin board near the concession stand. It was taken down after a few weeks because of the ruckus it was creating. I'm thinking that if a giant can be caught out of one of these smaller size lakes, then it's quite possible that a giant largemouth is swimming around in one of the large reservoirs.

It's going to be 1-1/2 to 2 months before I even think about going out. Me and cold don't mix.

I wonder how many baits have been discontinued since this thread was started.

I fish in a lot of coontail. Sometimes it is growing almost to the surface, and sometimes it is a few feet below the surface. If I can tell how deep the vegetation is I will fish with a jerkbait or a lipless crankbait. Most of the time I'm using a weightless worm, fluke, or senko, a light jig and craw, swimjig, a wakebait, or a topwater bait.

My mom used to say Our Father looks out for kids and idiots.

This is the first time I have ever heard not to sharpen a hook. Most of my worm hooks get hit with the file before every trip.

Happy New Year BR! Here's hoping 2025 will be a good one.