Bankbeater

First thing I change up is my retrieve. Sometimes the bass won't go after a jig being hopped, but they will go after a jig that is dragged. After that I'll change the depth, bait, and color.

My skill level depends on how the bass are biting on the day of the trip.

I'm not too worried about what the rod looks like as long as it does its job. I do wipe them down after a trip to get the muck off.

Most of the time I start off with a craw or a creature bait to get a feel for how thick the mat is. I'll fish that on with a double weight if I'm having trouble getting through the mat, Usually a bullet weight in front of a barrel weight.

For a 4" Senko I use a 2/0 EWG hook. For 5" and up I use a 3/0 EWG hook.

I have pitched a black jig with a black trailer and not caught squat until I removed the black trailer and put on a blue one. Sometimes they like the color, but the bait needs to be modified before the bass will hit it. Most of the time, I have to change the profile. I just keep changing until I find what the bass are biting.

I like a few of today's artists, but mostly I listen to classic rock from the '60s and '70s.

Zoom Mag 2 in watermelon red, black grape, or tequila sunrise. I like a heavy weight when I can get away with it to keep the bait down close to the bottom. Deep for me is between 15 and 20 fow.

I catch more with watermelon or black/blue jigs. I would rate my pb&j success right up there with straight brown, it's non-existent.

I used to think that a couple of beers was no big deal while out fishing. Then I fished Lake of the Ozarks a few times during the summer. Now I don't want any alcohol in the boat with me.

I look at the weather to see what the conditions will be like during the hours I'll be fishing. I'll look at my logs to give me an idea of how I caught them on the last trip. Then when I get out to the lake I usually wing it.

I fish with weightless flukes and senkos on my baitcaster. For the rest of the weightless plastics, I use spinning tackle.

I always Texas rig my tubes. Too much grass for an exposed hook. I fish them like a jig.

Congratulations to those young men.

Were you around grass? This time of year I see a lot of musky in the grass waiting to ambush prey.

Some good tips in this video.

The Egg by BPS is 2" to 2-1/2", and is 7/16 to 3/4 oz.

I've let them sink to the bottom and fish them like a Texas rig. It will definitely keep the dinks away.

Either Zoom or Strike King. It's hard to decide.

I'd try a Rapala floating minnow around the outside of the grass. If that didn't work I would start fishing with a fluke.

Some nice smallies.

You caught some good ones.

I bring granola bars and water. Usually 4 to 6 bars and a gallon of water.

I've caught more catfish while bass fishing than I have when actually catfishing.

I'd say a slight touch would be the tail of a bass barely skimming the deck. That bass crashed and bounced.