Sam

And you may be able to go through the line a few times, too. Is that all??? You made the Bait Monkey proud. So let us know how much savings you enjoyed. And did you have a good time????

Not all of them will be fishing. The ones that don't make the cut will be at the Expo. Add the manufacturers reps and research guys and gals and you have a lot to see and do. If you drink Bourbon, Evan Williams gives out samples.

X2

The Classic Expo is worth one day off the water for this year. You will have a good time and you can ask the pros you meet anything you want about fishing, boating, electronics, batteries, etc.

At 60-65 degrees the bass are getting ready to spawn or are on their beds. They should be eating unless they are on their beds and then you have a big challenge ahead of you. Look for staging areas for the females before they move up to the beds the males are making for them. Look for the underwater paths the bass will use to get to their spawning grounds. Baits? Just about anything you want to throw that will entice a bite. Deflecting crankbaits; Carolina rigs; finesse worms; jigs and pigs; anything that they will hit to fatten up. Let us know if you see any beds and how you do.

One word: FANTASTIC! Don't be concerned with the prices, etc. Just go from vendor to vendor and see what they have to offer. Look for the pros walking around or at a table autographing caps. Bring your own Sharpie. Dick's has a large area and things are on sale. You will see the newest products; meet the movers and shakers; speak with corporate executives about their products and you can give them your pros and cons. (I told Tracker people that having a black gunnel could burn people in hot weather). I met the Rage Tail inventor and he gave me a few of his newest baits. Great guy. You can find Glenn and meet him. He is a very nice person. Get a large, green Dick's bag for your goodies and samples. I have been to two Classic Expos so far and looking forward to a day in the future when I can go again. WORD OF ADVICE: Go by yourself. Wives, girlfriends, relatives, office buddies, neighbors, and others who do not fish will not have a fun time.

I’ve started trying to do some flipping and pitching (Still getting confused as to which is which). Pitching: Rod straight out waist high. Let out enough line to grasp the lure in your hand. Lower the rod tip, swing your arm back to pull lure behind you. Then, snap rod tip upward, release the lure and release the spool, allowing the line to play outward. There is also the "loop pitch" where you allow about two feet of line out and you drop the rod tip, then immediately snap tip up to swing your line upward. Allow line to travel in a fast loop around rod tip. As the lure straightens in front of the rod tip, release the line from your reel. Flipping: More complex but easy to do after some practice. Let out an amount of line needed to reach the target. Yes, you are close to the target. With the hand not holding the rod, grasp the line and pull back about half the length of the distance to your target. Swing the flipping lure back under the rod by lowering then quickly raising the rod tip. When your bait starts forward raise the rod tip and move the rod hand forward to increase the lure speed. At the end of the swing give a gentle flip to the rod. As your bait approaches the target allow the line to slip through your fingers but do not let go of the line. Stop the lure just over the water surface so it drops where you are aiming. Good technique for fishing fast. Check out Flipping and Pitching on You Tube so you can understand what I penned above. What kind of distances should I expect to get from this setup both with an overhead cast or a side-arm as well as flipping and pitching? I don’t want to be chasing unreasonable distances Flipping Distance: As far as you can flip your bait from where you are standing. Pitching: You are very close to your target so up to 15 feet. Overhead Cast: Depends on your rod and line test. To find the best line test to use take the high and low of the line test parameters shown on your rod, add together and divide by two. That is the optimum line test for the rod. Make sure you do not exceed or go lower than the bait weight stamped on your rod. Make sure your reel can handle your line test. You can now throw as far as your set up allows, with the understanding that you can actually "out throw" your hooking power and miss bass farther away from you. Baitcasting reel trick 1: Set up rod, reel and bait as you will be fishing it. Go outside and cast it as far as you can. Then pull off three arm lengths of line. Put some Scotch Tape or Electrical Tape over remaining line on spool. Reel in. If you do mess up your cast the tape will stop any backlash from going deeper into your line. Baitcasting reel trick 2: Set up rod, reel and bait as you will be fishing it. Point rod tip to 11 AM and release the spool. Slow down bait dropping to floor (not carpet) so that the spool stops when the bait hits the floor. You will do this a few times. Adjust drag and spool tension to do this with every bait your throw with a baitcaster. By doing this, you will prevent backlashes and the spool will stop when your bait hits the water's surface. And remember, the farther you cast the more power you need to set the hook so don't be too concerned about distance as it is based on your rod, line and spool/drag tension for every individual set up you throw.

No problem. The kayakers have their rights and we respect them. And we watch for them to make sure we don't hit them.

Because they are watching you. Yes, watching you. With those big beady eyes that don't shut. They just sit there and stare at you. You know they are there. Watching your every move. They are waiting to pounce on you and make you look like a fool. And there is nothing you can do about it other than catch them. And then release them so they can go back and look at you. Yes. Look at you. Hide behind a rock or some grass or some wood and watch your every move. They know who you are. They know what you are doing. They know all. They know about you and what you do on the boat. Shame on you. They would tell everyone if they could talk. But they can't talk. So they just sit there, watching you and your every move. This is why bass fishing is addictive. It is man against animal. It is man against a predator. It is man against Mother Nature. It is a giant against a midget. And it can drive you crazy. Yes, crazy. That is why we love to bass fish. To stop them from looking at us. To stop them from talking with each other about us. Yes. To stop them from looking and talking about us. It is your sworn duty to get them. Even if it means investing hundreds and hundreds of dollars in equipment and boats. It your challenge. And you know they know it. And you have to do something about it. You do it before you lose your mind. For after you lose your mind you know they are watching you. You think ole Raider is normal. You believe in the Bait Monkey. But not me. I am not crazy. Not me. Those little SOB's can't fool me. I watch them back. I drive them crazy. It is man against beast. Ha ha ha. I am not crazy. That is why I do it. This is why it is so addicting. But not for me. No. I am not addicted. Not me. Ha ha ha. They can't put me away. I see them in my room. I see them on the walls. I see them on the ceilings. No, not me. Not addicted. Just let me get out of here and I will kill them all. Ha ha ha. Yes, get out of here. Go get them. Me and the Bait Monkey. Everything is OK. They are still looking at me and laughing. But I will prevail. Ha ha ha. This is why it is addictive. Those little green monsters can't make a fool of me. No way. Got to get out. Got to go to Seattle. Got to meet Ned. Got to meet Gary. Got to meet Ike. Yes, this is why it is addicting. I know. You can't fool me. Ha ha ha.

Fishing more on weekdays when you all are at work or school!

Will want to see Rick Neuheisel's team when I can.

Wasabi, in the latest issue of Bassmasters Magazine there is an interesting article on page 36, "5 Winter Myths Busted" which I found very interesting and believe you would enjoy. If you can find a copy at your local bookstore please pick up at copy. It is the January/February 2019 issue with Keith Combs on the cover. Enjoy!

And they taste really great, too!

Super. Good luck to the team and your granddaughter.

Is it a "jet boat" with a jet engine? We use them in Virginia go to into the upper Historic James River to fish for smallies. The power plant is actually on top of the water and the water's force coming out of the motor powers the boat.

Bill, as far as I know, Mr. Twister is still available at some Walmart stores and on-line. Walmart changes their baits at different times depending on what the department buyer sees as good investments for fast turnovers and good profits within the display areas square footage. If the sales data shows Mr. Twister baits sell fast and the profit margin is within acceptable parameters, you will find the Mr. Twister baits at your local Walmart. If Mr. Twister is not performing to the expected standards, other baits will replace Mr. Twister based on how the other baits are performing in your Walmart or based on the sales results of Mr. Twister in other Walmart's. Walmart changes their products in every department based on sales. So what you see today may not be there next month. This is retailing as you know and Walmart is very good at their retailing.

Alec, like all other baits and tackle, everyone has their favorites. The bass have no idea of the manufacturer or cost of your baits, so look for sales and good bargains on various jigs so you can decide which ones you have confidence. Read about and view YouTube videos about jig heads; types of skirts; and color patterns. All three of these options will create the jig and pig you like the most. Just remember, you need to study the crawfish and bluegill/bream colors in the waters you fish and then try to "match the hatch" to mimic the crawfish and baitfish your bass are eating. Always check the bass' belly after you catch them. It their belly's are "crunchy" they are eating crawfish. If the belly is soft they are eating minnows and baitfish. Have fun and become an expert on jigs and pigs in the next few years.

Good report. Give the swamp a shot but be careful going in and coming out.

So to expand on your statement, you don't want to be like a fish in the water looking up and seeing you or your boat/kayak and thinking "what the heck is that?" which will increase their defense mechanisms. If you "blend into your surroundings" when the bass looks up it will not see you and therefore not be alerted to your presence and the bass will act normally, enjoying sunning itself, swimming around, and looking for a meal. The bass will not "hear or feel" you via noise or vibrations and therefore you will not alter their behavior. Good thinking. That is why I preach being quiet in the boat; walking 50-feet from the bank when changing locations; casting back from the bank when possible; wearing darker clothes; and doing what the pros do, turn off your trolling motor as you approach your next place to fish by floating into the area without power. This is better than the alternative.

No, unless you mean go to jail, directly to jail, do not pass go. But good comeback. Later!

Sorry Sean, but I seem to daydream about other things and not fishing.

Sean, to be honest, you have to study crawfish, their habits, and their color changes for Missouri waters. I can tell you that I have specific colors for Virginia waters, starting with black/blue/purple, orange/rust, plus other color combinations for different bodies of water. For instance, black and blue for the Potomac River and just about all other lakes and rivers in Virginia. Gold/browns for some specific lakes like Lake Anna. But the question begs: Will what I throw in Virginia work in Missouri? No idea. You have to note the colors of the crawfish in your neck of the woods and try to mimic them as best you can, with the understanding that the colors actually go darker and may turn to black when they hit bottom. So the colors you see out of the water are not the colors the bass will see in the water. But you have to try to match them just the same. If you want to discuss crawfish I suggest you go to an LSU-Missouri football game and ask the LSU fans about crawfish and how to cook them plus some great desserts and other good food suggestions. Take notes. Sample some of the cuisine (just don't ask what is in it) and "pass a good time." Good luck with your crawfish baits and remember to yell, "Geaux Tigers!" when you set that hook.

How to get young kids to do more fishing? Good question. Here are my suggestions: 1. Since kids have the attention span of a knat, unless they are constantly catching something they will get board and start to think of other things and lose interest. So you have to take them where they can catch something on every cast. 2. Sports, cars, girls/boys, money and friends will always be obstacles. If they play sports it is year round program for games, practice, conditioning and God forbid, travel teams. If they get interested in cars, hang it up. Girls can also come into play. He or she will want to be with their "friend" on weekends and during the summer and fishing is not on their minds. Money! Once they start working after school and on weekends, plus summer time, they will want to earn their money in lieu of fishing to support the sports, cars, girls/boys and fun with friends. And if their friends are not into fishing then they will not be interested in fishing. This has been going on for a long, long time. 3. Tackle. Tackle is expensive. And the kids need to learn how to take of it properly. Not fun. The kids want to grab their rods and reels and some baits and head to the pond. When finished, they throw them in the garage for their parents to clean up as they run into the house to call their friends or play on the computer. 4. Patience. Sometimes it is very difficult to take anyone bass fishing if you or they do not have the patience to enjoy the beauty of the sport. Seeing wildlife, the beautiful fall colors, landing a fish every few hours, and the experience of Mother Nature can be lost on a younger person. Getting up at 4 AM to drive an hour to the ramp to launch for 5 AM and they be on the water for 8 to 10 hours may not be what a youngster can withstand or a teenager can value. They would rather you take your bass boat, load it with you, your child, and the child's five or six best friends and do some skiing or tubing or rafting behind the boat. 5. Afraid. Yes, some kids will be afraid to touch or hold a fish. Even a bluegill or a bream. You have to show them how to hold the fish and to watch for fins and hooks. If the fish wiggles and the child gets burned by a fin or hook, it is all over. Mommy, here we go. You tried to kill our son/daughter. And then if they don't use sunscreen and look like a lobster the next day, Mom will not be a happy camper. End of that story. 6. Safety. When I grew up in New Orleans we would head for the French Quarter on weekends and holidays with my friends and we had a blast. Of course, I also started fishing with my uncle on weekends when I was 14 and he took me to the New Orleans Athletic Club and taught me how to work out. I would take the bus to the NOAC with no thought of "strangers" approaching me. Today, it is not safe to allow your child to play in the front yard, so how are you going to get Momma to agree to let him/her walk or ride their bikes to the local pond? And you work so you can't go with them during the week. But they can stay after school and play sports; or you and Momma sit in the stands as they practice and play baseball/softball; or you take them to theme parks and other venues for a fun time. But you or your wife/girlfriend/etc. must go with them. Today, it is too dangerous to allow the child to go out and play as we did when we grew up, even out in the country. What can you do? Take the child to a local pond and fish for bluegills and bream. Take the child to a local pond or river/lake and fish for catfish with hot dogs. Take the child to a saltwater beach and using dead bait catch some croakers, spot, and other small saltwater fish. Take the child on your boat for short excursions until they are ready for the big time. Always make sure the child wears their baseball cap, sunglasses, long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sun screen. Bring along candy and good snacks for the child to chomp on during the day without washing their hands. Watch YouTube, DVDs and the TV about fishing and fishing shows. Take the child to the Bassmaster Classic and have a great time. Take the child's best friend with you when you go fishing at a local pond so both can enjoy the sport and have some friendly competition. Have the child pick out a few pros they like, such as Ike, Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, that Awbunn guy Jordan Lee, KVD, Ish, etc. and follow them on Facebook and on TV/Internet at tournaments. And try to meet them at the Classic when you go and get their autographs. There are other things you can do to try to get them interested in fishing but in today's world there is just too much competition that absorbs the time and money away from future anglers. You may have to wait until they graduate high school, college, vo-tech school, or start working and before they get engaged or married to get them interested in the sport. Once they have a girlfriend/boyfriend whose thoughts about a fun time are going to a movie and out for dinner, it is all over. Gone. Finished. Hang it up. Forget it. They have other things on their mind and it ain't bass fishing. With all this written, it is still a good idea to try to get the child interested in fishing. Just don't be too hard on them if they want to do other things. Its life. And that's the way it is. Now please take a kid fishing.

Richard, please continue this post and let us know how you did. I would have thought the water clarity would be better since we have not had a lot of rain the past week.