Spankey

I’m struggling now also. It will turn around. As long as I’ve been doing this I do not understand the spawn. I believe it has to do with more than that. I believe migration has a lot to do with it but where are they migrating from. Never thought they would have to travel that far. But than again I am not a biologist. And the more I overthink it the worse I make it for myself. I fish water very similar to what you are explaining, points and sand bars like that.

Tubes and grubs on the river for me. Never really got that hung up in the NED craze. RiverRats have been fishing soft plastic parts for years but with regular style jig heads for a long time. I might be missing out by not fishing a TRD yet but there are so many good grubs out there already. I know the elastic is suppose to stand straight up. I see it in the fish tank ad. But I’m not so convinced that’s what happens to it on the bottom of the river. Maybe a better chance in a lake or pond. Do have to say that some of the TRD colors are nice Smallie colors.

I dogged off yesterday to fish. But my day was terrible. Thought I’d catch the calm before the storm, generally produces with good results. On the water by 5:30 am. Our storms moved in at around 5:00 also. Was off the water long before that. Maybe should have planed my trip for the afternoon. The way my fishing went yesterday a late afternoon trip would only have gotten me struck by lightning. Better day ahead.

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I bought a variety care package as a Christmas present to myself at the holidays. Feel good about them. Will give them the honest try shortly. Just kicking my bass season off right now. I went through the factory to get what I wanted. TW was low stock at the time but better now. Factory does not mind selling to you it this helps anyone. Thanks.

It was a bust. Truly dejected. Totally at a loss. I have to pick up the pieces and move on. Been trying to not overthink it. More like oh well. Even though this has happened many times before, it bothers me more these days. Maybe taking it too seriously. Had rains move in last night, Friday and Saturday sizable rains coming (need it). Will plan on Monday, check river conditions and use lake as a back up. Highlight, and not much of a highlight, was catching 3 nice size white perch on a brand new broken back Shad Rap 7 that I got for my birthday.

I believe the ML is 6’10” as you have and the Med. is 6’8” which older grand son fishes. Both good sticks that handle wide variety of baits. The Bass X rods are good rods. Better than they get credit for. He’ll like that rod.

Congrats. Good deal. Way to make it happen. As I said above I’m no Jerkbait Guru. Actually got way from using them for awhile. I pretty much fish I like a hack. But this season I’m fishing it like any other crankbait. If not just for the profile of the bait itself. I’m sure some guys on here could really give you an education on them. I need to find or order up that Rapy color in white ghost, natural ghost or minnow ghost it something like that. Not a nude color more of a translucent and white. HJ 10 or HJ 12. Saw it somewhere and thought I could make that work.

Ok gotcha. I assumed you were talking about those big Cali style baits everyone everywhere is/has been throwing. I know exactly what you mean. ^^^^^^^ sorry messed up my post.

I heard of it. Can’t say I’ve tried it. BP Blaster might work as well.

I take it you mean ounces Beyond what I can throw. My heaviest rods most likely max out at 1.5 oz. At first I have to stay within my limits (size) and try them.

I’ve tried to be on the water at 3:00 am or earlier on occasions but never really worked out all that well. The same with trying to hang out well after sunset and that never produced anything special. But I am on the water 1 hour before first light.

I have in my plans for this season to throw a wake bait and a swim bait. Was gonna hold out for the dog days to fish them. I have never thrown a bait that big. In my case ones 3/4 oz. and 1 oz. will be on the big side. Have not bought them yet. Should not be a hard find.

I fish my same baits. Does not seem to effect the crankbait bite if they are interested or soft plastics.

Not working tomorrow. I’m gonna do the calm before the storm. I believe I can catch quite a few hours before some heavy hitters start to move in and Friday looks to be a wash out. Flip flopped my day off. Gonna be throwing more at them, gonna be covering more water. All I need to do is hook up and head out. Tubes, grubs, chug-bugs, lite t-rigs, Shad raps, rat-l-traps and DT’s. Hopefully a decent bite is happening. Wouldn’t mind a few green fish mixed in there. But as some times in the past I get myself all amped up and have everything layed out perfectly and things go bust or fall short of my expectations. Won’t matter.

Wild Cherry Mint Choco-chip Gram Slam

I somewhat agree with your thoughts. I bought my oldest Grandson the Bass X version of that rod and he is doing well with it. Might be a combination of timing as well. For an XF rod it’s seems to be a bit softer than other XF that I own. The younger grandson is saying he’d like the 6’10” ML XF of the Bass X. I’ll most likely get it for him. They work well on the variety of soft plastics in the rod range. He fished wacky, light t-rigs, craws, grubs split shot. The ML version will work fishing the same. The rod you are talking about and the ones these kids are using/will be using are not good crankbait rods. Just a heads up. I know you know that. Too fast and will not perform well.

St. Croix Premiere Series Spinning , 7 ft., ML, Fast action. The rod is not overly fast. The rod doesn’t break the bank. Rod will long be around for your kids to use.

Do bass like Little Feat also?

All that house brand, knock offs I see as a turn off. But I can see where it’s a turn on to guys their variety of house stuff. There’s a kut-tail I use a lot of. Don’t think BPS can match it. Again I believe it’s a mind thing. Will BPS work? For sure. Getting the knock off to work with my mind is the tough part.

If your boss was any kind of a darn guy he’d give you a pack or two. Or at least 10 in a zip loc for you to try.

And Pradco.

No Academy’s in my area.

Great post. BPS has been a joke for a long time. They are about house brand these day. This started moons ago. Was not always like that. They were at one time full line dealers of some manufacturers. But everyone has different takes, I’m more about a particular item in a particular pattern. Certain rod or reel. Not walking out of a place with something other than what I wanted or what my intentions were. The store is the big winner than. But again I realize not all stores and what people have available to them are equal.

You and me both. Was watching some of that movie the other night. Wish my pick’um up had one of those capacitors on it. Feed it a rotten banana skin, an old tuna fish can, an empty insulin pen and a Pepsi bottle everyday. I could handle that