Bankbeater

I usually carry one rod each for jigs, Texas rigs, moving baits, and finesse presentations. If I can put an accurate pattern together I will be fishing with one rod most of the day.

Most of my rods are 6'6". Those are easier to carry around fishing off of the bank, and they don't snag the tree limbs as much when casting.

Be safe and get some big numbers.

Some of my best fishing in the fall has come on cloudy days, but I don't think the cloudy days by itself was a factor. Wind, water clarity and water temps also play a part, IMO.

Cool piece of history, thanks.

I can't fish all day like I used to. I can go 5 or 6 hours before I have to stop and recharge. While I'm out on the water I try to make those 5 or 6 hours count.

That is a nice one!

Welcome to the forums!

I'm glad everything is getting back on track for you.

I started making my list three month's ago. The problem is that I keep changing it.

Growing up in the city I had three options, the Missouri, the Mississippi, or the conservation area around 30 miles away. It wasn't a good idea to even go near the water in those rivers back then, so my dad and I would go out to the conservation site on the weekends. Back then the fishing season out there was from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I was too little to cast a reel, so my dad gave me a sectional cane pole to fish with. I caught a lot of sunfish with that pole. I get out to that conservation site about 3 or 4 times a year now. I can't really say anything bad about it. I learned how to fish vegetation, pressured water, and how to adapt out there.

I remember making my own costume, getting a pillow case from mom, and then it seemed like it rained every year.

I'm rigged up whether I know the lake or not.

Depending on how large the lake is, weather, wind and vegetation growth I would be starting on that 10' flat and work my way back to the dam and that deep hole near the dam.

I've had a lot of days when the bass are locked in on one bait and they ignore everything else. When this happens on a large lake I crank up the motor and move somewhere else. If I'm fishing a small pond then I leave and look for a different pond.

In my experience, an east wind is better than no wind at all.

It's not just the baits, but it can be the presentations too.

I haven't fished that lake in a long long time, but it sounds like several others around this area that I do fish. I'm guessing that the bottom is mud, and that the water clarity is murky. If so, that water in the shallow areas is going to heat up quickly with all this warm weather we have had lately. I'd try fishing early morning in the open water around the brush piles. As the day goes on I would target the boat lifts, water willows, and any other shade you can find like trees hanging over the water. Try fishing jig and craws, Texas rigs, or plastic worms. Don't work the bait too fast if the bass are not in a chasing mood. After the weather cools down, and starts staying cool the bass will probably start chasing baits again.

When I'm retying a palomar knot most of my break offs come while I'm clinching down the knot. I think it's either from tying the knot wrong, or not moistening the line enough before I clinch the knot down.

At least you didn't drop anything into the lake while trying to snag the boat.

That's how you wrap it up!

Nice! You scored big time!

600 acres? Lake St. Louis?

Zoom Z-nail and the Storm Sub-Wart.

It depends on the bait and where I am fishing. If I'm in open water fishing with a crankbait, then maybe a 3 because the trebles will do a lot of the work. If I'm in heavy cover fishing a Texas rig, then I'd say a 6 because not only do I want to get the hook into the fish, but I want to turn that bass away from any cover it may be trying to get into.