RoLo

I think that's a recirculating livewell, and the dude in the bow is trolling for baitfish Roger

For several decades I used "Trilene XL" and "Berkley Big Game" on all my spinning tackle (In saltwater I used Ande line). However, once I gave braided polyethylene a shot, that sounded the death-knell for all my monofilament lines. I probably have 20 to 30 bulk spools of mono, copolymer and fluoro. which are simply marking time in my tackle chest. Advantages of Braid Over Mono Near-Zero Memory <> Braided line is totally limp with full-blown amnesia. Birdnests with spinning gear are a thing of the past. Near-Zero Stretch <> Hooksets are a cinch even with large, dull hooks buried in soft-plastic (NEVER Texpose with braid) Thin Diameter Line <> Thin diameter line creates less water resistance, which provides more natural delivery and less line-drag. Superior Durability <> I only replace the line when it gets too far receded from the spool rim, long before any signs of wear. Abrasion-Resistance <> This is the only imperfection of braid, which is largely due to its inherently fine-diameter. Nonetheless, all premium braids are processed with a wear-resistant coating. In addition, the fine diameter of braid makes a good weed-wacker and salad shooter ;-) Roger

Roland Martin and his former wife Mary Ann founded the renowned "Roland Martin Marina" on Lake Okeechobee. When they were still operating the fish camp, Roland was asked what month was his favorite for bass in the Big-O. Roland replied "December" (His favorite lure was a black-nickel Johnson Spoon with grub trailer). Roger

Just for information, they still do make lead-core line. It is used alot up here in trolling application for walleye, salmon, etc. Cabelas actually sells the exact line you mentioned that is colored differently every 10yards. Eric I remember the first time I ever drift-fished with "lead-core" line (Stripers off Sandy Hook, NJ) For the first few minutes I thought my lure was being attacked by a band of bluefish. It was nothing more than the pebbles on the bottom :-[ ;D Roger

Amen. Bass strike lures that appeal to bass, whether or not they appeal to fishermen. Remember how long it took anglers to accept the slug-go, the gitzit and the senko? Roger

Wow, you guys really whooped the smallies! When living in Jersey we often fished around Manunka Chunk and also near the Gap. But I can't say that we ever boated 59 smallies in one day, that's really hammering them! It always nice to see a couple walleyes too, and maybe one day you'll tie into a Delaware River muskellunge Roger

Good stuff Crestliner, it's rare that I see a summer pike technique that isn't designed for catching marsh snakes. During the summertime, truly large pike are too deep to relate to weeds. Even in gin clear water, tobacco cabbage will only grown down to about 16 ft or so, but lunker pike in summer are commonly found in 20 to 40 ft of water. If a ledge is next to 50 or 100 feet of water, so much the better (pike frequently suspend). The only time that gator pike leave deep water is during the spawning season after ice-out and for a few weeks in fall (usually around the autumnal equinox) In fall we've done well with what I call a "Halloween spinner", a black & orange in-line spinner. Equally productive is a black-nickel Johnson spoon (1-1/8oz) with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail trailer. Troll only fast enough to get the spoon to rock gently back-and-forth. Not for nothing, the figure-"8" alongside the boat is an old musky technique (actually figure-0s are better), For triggering a following pike, I prefer a sudden burst of speed in a straight line. Roger

If I selected lures based on what appeals to ME, I'd only carry two or three lures in my box. But I'm such a terrible judge of fish-appeal, that I need to carry a wide variety of lures :-[ Roger

Okay Paul, now you've got us all waiting with bated breath Roger

I salute you for your contribution to the "cosmic clock", I first read about it in 1975. I find the term "cosmic" however a tad contradictory, as it's more of a "micro" clock based on local anomalies. The Earth's celestial clock based on the cosmos is well known and well established. It is only "local" anomalies that cause seasonal periods to deviate from the "macro" clock" (correct me if I'm wrong). Even In-Fisherman regarded the cosmic clock as a scapegoat; this is a direct quote from them regarding the cosmic clock (1975): "It's not important for the In-Fisherman to know why seasons are erratic...just to realize that they can be". This is reminiscent of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell". Roger

Until we sort out this name thingy, I'll have to call you King Snapper ;D If this line is going on spinning gear, I'd strongly recommend that you stick with braid and forget monofilament line. If it's going on a casting outfit, I'd choose Trilene Big Game for 'nylon' mono and Sufix Elite or Sufix Siege for 'copolymer' mono. Roger

In truth, bass love all fake rubber worms, and due to their coverage and action, they catch more bass than real live worms...Honest! There are no 'best' plastic worms of course, but among my favorites are the Gambler Big Stick (tubetail), Gambler Flapp'n Tail (paddletail) and Berkley Power Worm (ribbontail). Roger

Yep, and that's what keeps us coming back for more...we're gluttons for a challenge Roger

Yeah, I keep going there too. I'm sure that in some way, it all ties together Roger

Wow, if you didn't mention snow, I'd have thought you were describing Florida During a normal year in Florida, big bass are most prevalent from January through April. In 2009 however, fishing for big bass peaked from April to mid-June with virtually no let up. I remember when Catt & I both commented on the fact that many slob bass were blasting the lure close to the boat (in my case, within a boat-length of the rod-tip). Throwing a monkey wrench into our oddball spring was a paltry topwater bite. In central Florida, the topwater bite typically peaks in April and May, which coincides with the post-spawn period. I spent very little time on top this year, because the bass were not as cooperative. This year, April and May provided mediocre to lame topwater action, and different from most other years, the mediocre topwater bite persisted unchanged throughout the summer (no better, no worse). In search of a common denominator, I keep coming back to the disproportionate rainfall this year, which was basically countrywide. For good measure, we just had another 1.5 inches of rain last evening with more T-storms expected today. Rainwater is a wildcard. On the one hand, rainwater carries no dissolved oxygen of its own. On the other hand, rainfall is one of the best natural oxygenators in any lake. On the one hand, rainwater can quickly raise or lower water temperatures, depending on the temperature of the troposphere from whence it came. Rainwater changes water temperatures through direction injection, unlike air temperatures which must rely on slow-moving convection. Add wind to the mix, and you'll likely find hot pockets and cold pockets in the same lake. On the other hand, although rainfall changes water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, over time it also increases the volume of the lake, which has a "dilutive" effect on change Roger

Catt, I agree with your photoperiod theory, but photoperiod moves lockstep with our Gregorian calendar. August on these waters is different from those in the past (I know this lake 'very' well). Roger The bass calendar that Catt refers to and I totally agree with is within the bass's genetic base; the cosmic clock. PM me with email address and I will send you a copy. Every year differs to some degree due to changes in weather patterns, atmospheric changes, recruitment of prey and bass, etc. The cycles however repeat with each bass calendar period; winter, pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer and fall. The Georgian calendar; January to December may at time coincide with the bass's calendar from time to time. We like to say; the bass are bedding when the mustard or dogwood blossoms. The old observations are based seasonal changes not calendar months and were fairly accurate WRB I'm sure that everyone in this thread realizes that the fall pattern does not begin and end like clockwork, but varies from year-to-year. In fact, discrepancies in seasonal timing was the brainchild of the "cosmic clock. The cosmic clock is based on a hodgepodge of local variables such as barometric pressure, wind velocities, cloud cover, ad nauseam. The cosmic clock was qualified but never quantified, but it's used chiefly as a scapegoat, for explaining away the discrepancies in seasonal timing. What's more, the cosmic clock exerts only a local influence, and produces different effects in different regions. In fact, two adjacent lakes within the realm of the same cosmic clock, may experience different seasonal timing. Their differences may be due to differences in water clarity, water depth, dissolved oxygen content, et al. For this reason, I seen no compelling reason to introduce the cosmic clock, but I did state that "photoperiod" (day length) and the Gregorian calendar move lockstep (which they do). In the context of this thread, we're not discussing local patterns, but are pointing out a national phenomenon. If you read the replies above, you'll find a nationwide cross-section of members from Missouri, Colorado, Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin and Virginia who have all experienced an August anomaly. Roger

I'm with you. The Spro Bronzeye frog is currently enjoying the limelight, but in my opinion the River2Sea Croaker-65 is a superior tool. The keeled belly provides good dog-walking traction and the hollow body is less prone to taking on water (I detest wringing out hollow frogs after every 3rd cast). Roger

Likewise Roger

I find that intriguing! Here in Florida I'm far removed from Missouri, yet our bass are also behaving as though we're in the fall period. We were out just today, and you couldn't help but notice that the lake was alive with activity (both baitfish & bass). In spite of the activity though, nothing was really working for us, and I told my wife that we should be doing much better. She then tied on a spro aruku shad and quickly boated two bass. As soon as we gave up finesse fishing the action went from boring to red hot, and I also noticed that every bass gave us a hard fight (much jumping). This is not the rule in August, especially on this lake. I'm still mulling this one over, but I believe it's related in some way to the inordinate rainfall of late, and pool levels higher than we've seen in years. Roger Roger, what are your water temps now? Seems much of the south has been typically scorching from what I've assumed from some posts. The cool weather in the north. Is that so? Are you normal? Or Cooler? Lately? Good question. Yesterday, water temps ranged between 78 and 83-deg F, which is somewhat south of normal on this waterbody. We've been getting near daily rainfall, and the lake's temperature is apparently buffeted by tropospheric temps (rainfall). As soon as I post this Paul, I'm on my way out on the same lake...hopefully I'll learn something. Roger

Catt, I agree with your photoperiod theory, but photoperiod moves lockstep with our Gregorian calendar. August on these waters is different from those in the past (I know this lake 'very' well). Roger

RODS Loomis Okuma REELS Shimano Daiwa LINE Berkley Sufix HOOKS Gamakatsu Owner PLASTICS Gambler Zoom PLUGS Rapala Spro Roger

I find that intriguing! Here in Florida I'm far removed from Missouri, yet our bass are also behaving as though we're in the fall period. We were out just today, and you couldn't help but notice that the lake was alive with activity (both baitfish & bass). In spite of the activity though, nothing was really working for us, and I told my wife that we should be doing much better. She then tied on a spro aruku shad and quickly boated two bass. As soon as we gave up finesse fishing the action went from boring to red hot, and I also noticed that every bass gave us a hard fight (much jumping). This is not the rule in August, especially on this lake. I'm still mulling this one over, but I believe it's related in some way to the inordinate rainfall of late, and pool levels higher than we've seen in years. Roger

I'll second that notion The weakest link always breaks first, so if you trust the uni-knot anywhere along the train, you might as well use it throughout. (I've entrusted the uni-knot on many thousands of knots without any regrets.) Roger

You won 't see many us guys showing you they we fishing with a Bubble Gum Fluke type bait, we fish them but we don 't want you to see us fishing with a chick color bait. :-X I wouldn't be caught dead, fishing with anything pink! But I'm still alive ;D Roger

Precisely. Al Lindner summed up presentation in two words: "Stay Flexible". No matter how much we've already learned, we're still a long way from knowing it all. There are many times when I prefer that the hook and sinker part company, but never when mat-punching. I'm one who flatly refuses to peg any bait with a toothpick, so when mining weeds I'll generally opt for a T-rig Jig. Below is a Jig and Craw that's indistinguishable from a bullet sinker and separate hook. The Owner Sled Head Jig incorporates a screw-coil retainer, therefore you'd have to rip a plug of plastic out of the craw's head before the weight and bait can part company:The Zoom Big Critter Craw is ideal for mat-punching because it's streamlined with a very narrow cross-section. Although it has appendages, they're very soft and short. JIG-AND-CRAW Roger