Bankbeater

Welcome to the forums.

Can you find any history on the water you are fishing? Talk to other anglers and find out the sizes they are catching. If others have caught 5+ pounders out of your lake, then maybe you need to change baits, or presentations. If 3/4 lb bass are the norm, then you might need to change lakes.

Look for cover around steep drop offs. The drop off doesn't need to be near the shore. I could be a ways out in the water, or at the end of a point. I would be fishing around wood, or any green vegetation you can find. If you have coontail in your lake, and the lake is deep enough, it will stay green all winter. Around here the bass move out into the flats when it warms up enough. If there are dead lily pads around the flats I would target those first.

My wife is leaving later today on her girls trip. I could not have gotten these at a better time. Not shown is one swim jig.

I've used both in 15# line size. I never noticed any difference in sensitivity, but the Yozuri is easier to work with.

The only time I really speed crank is when I'm trying to get the bait back to the boat to make a new cast. In the winter I'll bring the bait in slow, especially spinner baits and bladed jigs that I can crawl along the bottom.

Chartreuse Pumpkin in clear water. Bubblegum in murky water. Black Grape in any water.

Good video, thanks!

What gets me is that most of the time they don't catch anything.

I'd like to, but I probably screw up the timeline.

Strike while the irons hot!

A few of the lakes I fish see pressure on a daily basis. You have to learn to adapt, or the skunk shows up. I usually fish with a 4 to 6 inch weightless worm, or 4" stickbait. If there is wind I'll add a split shot up the line. If I have a jig and craw tied on then it is a small one, usually 1/8 ounce, sometimes 1/4 ounce. I thread on the trailer to keep the bait somewhat compact looking. Most of the local anglers around here use mid depth to deep diving crankbaits, so I usually fish with some type of wakebait. I will run it around vegetation and around rocks. Like @MediumMouthBass said, look to see what everyone else is fishing with. Good luck.

I read somewhere that "each bite tells you something".

Around here the bass are still in their summer pattern. I've been catching them on jigs, Texas rigs, and plastic worms in, or around, vegetation. I'm hoping the bass will become more active as the green starts to die off.

There are a lot of good points mentioned above. Many of the clear lakes I fish around here have matted vegetation growing in them, or are partially choked on the surface. If the mats are large enough, and I'm in a boat, I will cut the motor as I'm approaching the mat and try to get on top of it, so it helps hide me from the fish below. Sometimes a paddle or a good set of oars will be crucial to get back out into the open water. If the mat is thick enough and I'm fishing a weedless bait, I'll cast the bait on top, let it sit for a few seconds, and then drag the bait slowly off the mat so it falls over the side.

The small lake yesterday morning.

Prayers sent. Everyone keep your head down and stay safe.

Wonderful news!!

Nice catching and Congrats!

Maybe, maybe not. You've said that this is a "very local lake". Does that mean that it is just close to your place, or does that mean that the lake is open to the public and sees a lot of fishing pressure? If it sees a lot of fishing pressure then the larger bass may have learned to spot a bait or technique and know to scram. The smaller bass may not have figured out what a bait is yet.

Tenkiller will be interesting, especially if the air temps are up in the 90's.

I don't use 4# line unless I'm specifically targeting panfish. Either Trilene XL or BPS line. A 250 yard spool will last me all season.

I grew up fishing with mono. When braid and fluoro came out I tried those for a few years. I never noticed any difference when fishing with fluoro and I found braid to have it's own issues. I started fishing with Big Game line, and I haven't looked back.

I like to throw a white jig with a little bit of blue or black in the skirt with a salt and pepper or white pearl Fat Albert trailer. I have my best luck fishing parallel to rocks or rip-rap. Even better when the wind is blowing into where I am fishing.

Good tip about the frogs.