38 Super Fan

Skunked! Only got skunked once all of last year, so maybe I just got it out the way early. I knew I was probably in store for a tough day when I first turned on the graph and saw the water temp was 40 degrees. This was actually the coldest water I've ever fished on Norris. I threw a blade bait some, hard jerkbait quite a bit, shakey head, and even the float n' fly a little, just couldn't get anything going. I did get a good smallie (probably 4 lbs) to bite on a 3/4 football jig in about 15 FOW. That fish came off at the boat though. I inched that jig around for hours after that, couldn't even get a nibble. I do like Winter fishing, but I'm more comfortable with water temps in the upper 40s. I guess I need some work on my cold water game. On a positive note, it was still good to get out, first time I had fished in over a month.

Just KY & TN.

Hard jerkbait, just like last year, and the year before that.

I've been watching BJ and Mecum for years. Never been to one, but Mecum started doing an auction in Louisville recently, I've thought about going to that next year. I love going to car shows, and I've talked about buying a Corvette for years now (nothing too fancy, C5 Z06), but I just bought a Skeeter boat last year, so that put a good sized dent in the old savings account. Maybe someday.

Great versatile worms. I usually just swim them around vegetation, and they can be very effective!

Pretty much all two handed casts for me, just feels more natural. I must be fairly sound mechanically, I've had virtually no arm or shoulder issues in years of fishing.

Welcome aboard!

I'd have to say War Eagle too. I like the finesse model in Mouse.

Does it really matter what causes it? In the spring I just need to know what parts of the lake are warmer. I'm sure there are several factors, and every lake and every part of each lake is different.

Nice choice on the color scheme! Those new Skeeters are so nice it just makes me sick.

I still say fish that can spit a lure that fast are pretty rare. It's not something I worry about too much while fishing, who knows, maybe I'm missing a dozen bites a day though.

Pretty loose on the spool tension for pitching, but not free spool for me. You really never get too much speed on your spool when you're pitching, so I don't feel braking settings matter much, especially centrifugal brakes.

I never liked the high sales tax in Tennesee, but I guess I wasn't looking at the whole picture.

Nice! TN smallies in December, can't beat that.

I drove through Austin several times when I was stationed in San Antonio, not once did I come through there when there wasn't a traffic jam.

Thanks! 1911s really are addictive.

8s are awful small, I'd stick with the 6s. I like a slowly sinking jerkbait at 50 degrees anyway.

There's a lot to fish in these parts for sure! Cumberland is huge and it all looks the same, it's kind of tough to figure out what to do. It doesn't fish like Norris, and it's nothing like Cherokee. It's a good lake though, I'm sure you'll have a fun time figuring it out.

Congrats on AOY! Have you ever been to Cumberland?

I like it here in Kentucky, but I've thought about moving down to E. Tenn many times. They've got us beat lake-wise.

I caught a decent number on squarebills this year. Not exactly new to me, but I never had too much luck with them before.

Go for it!!

Not too fancy, but about a year ago I was in an 02 Blazer, and a 84 Bass Tracker, so I'm really moving up.

I think people worry way too much about gear ratio/IPT, especially with moving baits. With spinnerbaits and crankbaits, I bounce back and forth between 6 and 7 ratio reels all the time.