Bankbeater

If it is posted "No Fishing" or "No Trespassing" I don't go there, plain and simple. There is usually a reason why those signs are up.

When the water is not frozen I will try and get out about once a week.

So sorry. I went through the same thing about 5 years ago with my shoulder.

Alcohol has been a problem in my family and my wife's family. The both of us combined may have 3 or 4 drinks a year. I learned a long time ago that there was more to life than just going out and getting hammered.

Congrats!

Read books, organize the tackle bag, clean the reels, buy new stuff. Rinse and repeat as many times as needed.

Good luck!

I go through the plastics in the big bag, and take out 2 or 3 baits of each type. That way I have a little of everything to play with. When I get back home I empty out the hard box and put the baits back in the big bag.

Why do I have to live somewhere that gets cold? I could be fishing now in Florida.

I like a jig, somewhere between 1/8 and 3/8 in size. I'll swim it through the deeper grass, and tick the top of the shallower stuff. If it is early morning I will try and get a topwater bait into the weeds as close as possible without getting hung up.

Nice going!

Well they're both bigger than anything I have caught this year.

Nice catch, and thanks for the pics!

Funny right there! Redrum!

In certain lakes around here the bass will tear up a bubblegum colored fluke in the spring. I like a 3/0 size EWG. The hook doesn't add that much weight and the fluke still sinks slow.

Casting a 3/8 jig one time from the bank and I hung a weed behind me that I didn't see. When I cast out the rod bent backward, and when I looked around the jig pulled free. I had on a knit cap and a sweatshirt hood, and even through that I got a nice bump on the head.

I have had a cold since Friday night. Back hurts, shoulders hurt, and my chest is sore from coughing. Now my voice is starting to go. If I have fever it is so slight I can't feel it.

I usually use something until it is worn out and not worth fixing any longer. I keep up on what is out there and the new technology, but I don't run out to buy the latest thing.

Probably one of the green Johnson Century 100A spincast reels. It belonged to my Dad and I can remember using it in the late 60's.

Tubes are great! I like to use them around rip rap instead of jigs. I don't have as many break offs.

That's how you cure cabin fever.

I fish them without rattles. I can fish the same make, model, size, and color jig and the one with out the rattle usually produces more fish.

I am more worried about buying quality rods and reels than expensive baits. Keep those rigs in good condition and they will last quite a while. I would rather have a beat up jon boat that I can take into the middle of cover than an expensive bass boat and be worrying about the hull all of the time.

This time of year my water is cold, and I'm off of the bank, so I will be using shallow running crankbaits, spinnerbaits, 1/4 ounce lipless cranks, and finesse jigs. For plastics I usually use small finesse worms and tubes.

Nice fish!