RoLo

Tough question, because one size does not fit all. For proven sites, I'll kill the gas motor, let the boat glide quietly to the waypoint, then skewer the coordinates with the 12-ft Talon anchor. I'll normally begin by fancasting the upper water layer which is most time-effective. Just a few casts will quickly skim-off any aggressive or overzealous fish (before they have an attitude change). I'll then fancast the mid-depth zone (which hinges on water clarity) and finally ply the bottom, the most time-consuming. If feeding strikes aren't forthcoming, I may or may not decide to generate impulse strikes (depends on current situation). Depending on the results, there will likely be lure changes, depth changes, retrieve changes or even a whole new approach plan. In other words, I never put a time limit on finding patterns (give it the time that it takes). Roger

If one-pound bass are flying chest-high, better cross-your-legs for two-pound bass! Roger

If it were me, I'd take my business to another lake. Like the ole saw: "You can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear" Roger

Sounds like you might be in the heat of the spawn, a generally tough season when bass are more interested in reproduction and less interested in feeding. The spawning ritual is truncated by overlapping seasons, so it never seems to last very long. Once the spawn is history, you'll notice that the bass are more receptive, a period normally accompanied by a good topwater bite. Roger

It's highly unlikely that North Carolina would be experiencing a post-spawn period in April The post-spawn in Florida normally begins in April, while the post-spawn in Jersey generally takes place in June. Although the pre-spawn season is noted for heavyweight bass, it's not the best period for numbers of bass. Roger

Beautiful images Barred owls have such beautiful plumage Roger

Sometimes they also work during the Hunting Season

Like most bass lures, spinners work year-round, but that wasn't your question. In my experience, spinnerbaits work 'best' in early spring and again in late fall, a winter sandwich you might say Roger

They're both largemouth bass, and based on their lack of coloration, they appear like bass from a murky body of water. Roger

I can't think of any media issue that isn't way overblown. Regrettably, the public quickly buys into media hype (we're inundated with examples). Roger

When we lived in Georgia, I've been bitten by a scorpion (twice), but fortunately I have no reaction to their toxin. A ten-foot python? Now that's a formidable predator, and one that can easily dispatch a human. I would not fish under the limb supporting a large python, he just might be lying in ambush. But I'd definitely get as close as possible for some stunning photographs & would definitely catch heck from my wife Roger

You're not alone, more than once I've heard girly shreaks coming from the mouths of adult men. They sounded like grade school cheerleaders, but looked like 250 pounds fleeing from 7 ounces Thanks to tolerant parents, I've had several pet snakes as a teenager (today, I regularly see snakes in our backyard) You soon lose any unfounded fear you might have of snakes, and begin to understand their very simplistic existence. (They don't bother me, I don't bother them) Roger

It's highly unlikely for a snake to scale the side of a hull, but there are 3 ways they can gain access to a boat: >> By climbing up an oar resting in the water (happened to me once) >> By climbing up the motor shaft >> By falling from an overhead tree (happened to me twice) The main thing to remember is that a snake doesn't enter our boat because of you or I, but in spite of you or I (they're dumb). Some snakes are toxic, but none of them are especially aggressive. I have little fear of snakes but for my wife's sake, I get them back in the lake as soon as possible Harming any snake is not on my agenda. Roger

Coming from your boreal latitude, those are some awesome stringer-weights! Roger

Redeye Bass are a separate species of bass with bright red eyes. Redeye bass are indigenous to the Coosa River system in Georgia. Rock bass also have red eyes, which are not true bass, but then again, largemouth & smallmouth are not true bass either. Roger

Totally agree. The larger the bass, the higher the odds of an instant wolf-down

I would add: those are endemic criteria for a region lying outside the natural range of largemouth bass (Q: what time of year?)

You will notice that the Classics & Elites are generally scheduled to coincide with the "early pre-spawn". The early pre-spawn holds the greatest potential for heavy stringers, but is not the optimum season for numbers of bass. I agree with scaleface regarding the post-spawn season. The 'early post-spawn' is a brief period occurring on the heels of the actual spawn. During the early post-spawn, female bass are fasting, lethargic & supposedly recouping from reproductive stresses. However, immediately after this brief period, the cow bass are back on the feed. The 'late post-spawn' typically provides the fastest fishing of the year, the best topwater bite and an excellent opportunity for hanging a beer keg. Due to the schizoid nature of the post-spawn season it is mired in contradiction. That is to say, the doldrums during the 'early post-spawn' are followed immediately by an activity peak during 'late post-spawn', and the transition between the two is clouded by overlapping periods. Roger

When you free-line your dogs, do you prefer tail-hooking or the standard snout-hook-up?

Mud puppies?? I had them yesterday for lunch........Oh wait a minute, they were corn dogs Roger

Words are the only tools we have to communicate. A Bass Resource thread centered on "Secret Baits", is not a good time to misuse those tools. Land lizards are basically Brown or Green in color, whereas salamanders are Orange or Red and vividly spotted. The "plastic lizards" marketed by bait companies are indeed colored to imitate a lizard and not a salamander. If you've never turned over rocks in a stream bed, you may never see a newt or sally in your life (urban myths die hard). Roger

My wife & I watched the Glenn Lau series of bass videos. As you'd expect, bass would inhale the lure head-first...but not invariably. In fact, I found it quite disturbing to see a few bass whack the tail or the side of the lure! In any case, I will sacrifice the short-strikers and continue to strike the instant I perceive a strike. On the upside, that might help to explain some missed hook-sets that we blame on ourselves Roger

Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, Florida supports literally thousands of cormorants (Home of Legoland). Any hawk smaller than a goshawk would be foolish to tackle a cormorant, which is a considerably larger bird. On the other hand, the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes supports a strong population of barred owls and great horned owls. Although a barred owl poses little threat to a cormorant, I'm sure that great horned owls take their share every night. Sadly, the horned owl population isn't large enough to put a dent in the cormorant population. Roger

On his way to work, one of my neighbors embraced his wife and kissed her goodbye. My wife said: “How come you don’t do that?” I replied: “I would, but I hardly know the woman” Roger

"Motor oil / Red flake" Roger