Bankbeater

I'm careful, but I don't abuse my gear. My reels and rods do have some scratches on them from years of service.

One thing to think about is the registration and fees. I'm not sure how it is in Iowa, but in Missouri you don't have to register a kayak unless it is motor driven.

That is one big bass.

That shiner pattern on top is a killer around here. Too bad they stopped making it in that color. My bad. After looking at the Bill Lewis website, it looks like that color is still in production, just under another name.

Even when I don't catch a fish, I take a breath, look around , and I'm thankful that I can still get out and wet a line.

I swap around the reels and rods until I get a rig that feels right to me. When I buy a new reel or a new rod, I start the process all over again.

90% bank, 10% boat. Most of the water I fish is either no boats, or electric motor only.

The Redfin and the Original Floating Minnow are two of my best baits. I retrieve them steady, just deep enough so that they don't cause a wake.

Welcome to the forums.

If you catch a bass that size around here, you are expected to release it back into the water unharmed.

I do go fishing in the early morning. Sometimes I get fish, and sometimes I get skunk. I've noticed I have better luck on days where the air temps don't move very much.

The finesse jigs I fish are 1/8 and 1/4 ounce.

A couple of years ago I had a Premier spinning rod break just the way you described. I used it for about 1-1/2 years. One day I had it laying on the table, running line through the guides, and snap. I was holding about 8" of broken rod in my hand. I'm still not sure what happened. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I went out and purchased another Premier spinning rod. This second one has been going strong for going on 3 years now. The only thing I can think of is that I did something when I was running line that caused the rod to break.

Throwing rocks into the lake is a nuisance, but it's a lot better than throwing in empties.

A spool of 15# Big Game, two Rat-L-Traps, and I'm waiting for the Spring Classic to see about a frog reel.

Nope. My jig rod will be 16 y.o. this year and it is full of battle scars.

If the bite is slow like it is now, I try to rig everything with a low profile. After I get the profile how I like it, then I start swapping out different colors.

It really stinks when you have the trip all planned out and then the weather doesn't cooperate.

I may need to make some changes, but right now this is what I have loaded in the tackle bag. Crankbaits. Lipless Crankbaits. Spinnerbaits. Vibrating Jigs Hard Jerkbaits. Flukes. Swim Jigs. Bottom contact jigs.

Most of the time I either use white, or green pumpkin. Once in a great while I will fish with white / chartreuse color.

Within the next couple of weeks I will be able to get out and wet a line. Since Friday night I've emptied out my tackle bag and refilled it twice.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I like the life jackets with the flotation in them. No chance of a accidental inflation, or not inflating when you need it.

No I don't.

I have been using a Fat Albert on the back of a swim jig for a few years now.