dink

Those conditions are very similar to the conditions at my lake here in Illinois (St. Louis metro east). My lake was way high and very muddy from those storms a week and a half ago. It has since stabilized as far as the lake level but is still muddy yet clearing a bit. I went out today for a few hours and caught three. 12", 2 lbs., and 5 lbs. All were caught flipping a junebug Sweet Beaver, Texas rig 1/4 oz, 4/0 EWG. I was putting it in the thickest stuff I could find. All fish were in 2 - 5 feet of water. Good luck!

Go Frank! You shut 'em up good (the nay-sayers and doubting Thomases). Now we all know just how hearty those Cali bass are. Go get her Frank!

I call it all 'good stuff'. "Man, I just dragged my C -Rig through some 'good stuff'!" "My Spot just hit some 'good stuff' on that flat". "Look at that 'good stuff'" (pointing at a pad field). Although, I differentiate between cover and structure much like the majority of the resposes here... cover is an object and structure is a contour.

Welcome back.

A class act, no doubt!

Hope it ain't a "schoolie" ;D

Lo -ball offer at $500.00 then see what happens.

Thanks guys, this has been a big help for me. I do have GAP ins. so the payoff I am not too concerned about. I've also been told that the limited POA is not as serious as it sounds. Yet, the financial release is still a sticking point with my adjuster and me. I talked to the bank and "total loss department" really was not much help either. I have also consulted an attorney and will be wrestling through this ASAP. I'll put a post up when all is said and done and hopefully I won't have to criticize any insurance company . Thanks again guys. dink

Hey Cart, Just curious where you fished those conditions last weekend. They sounded almost exactly like the conditions I fished just outside of Nashville, IL.

Athletic or not, bass fishing is fun! So honestly, does it really matter???

I'm sure some of you guys remember me saying I totalled my boat about a month ago. Well, my insurance company is "maneuvering" in a way I am not familiar with. Instead of them cutting a check directly to my lender (bank), they are attempting to go through a salvage company and make them part of the payoff process. The salvage company has since sent me a limited power of attorney form and a release of financial information form to fill out, notarize and send back to them. I have never dealt with a 'total loss' claim but this seems kinda fishy to me. When I confronted my insurance adjuster about it he said that "is procedure and there is no way around it." I don't totally believe him. When I said I was going to get legal advice on the matter, he stammered and said that was a bit extreme. That's when the red flag went up. So, what I need to know from anyone here who has totalled a boat that was still under a loan, is what exactly was your process and what insurance company you dealt with. I need all my ducks in a row on this one so any help from you guys is greatly appreciated. Thanks again, guys. dink

Take your shoes off and stay a while. You'll fit right in around here. WELCOME TO BR FORUMS!

Stretch your wrists and forearms as good as possible before fishing. It should help.... it did for me.

In my neck of the woods I have actually found it to be somewhat lake-specific. Try to take notice of the predominant direction of the "warming wind" for that specific lake or river. I've found this to be the easiest way to figure out where the warmer water will be.

The photoperiod is what I base my determination for the start of the spawn on. Not only have I seen them on beds in 57 dgreee water, I also fish power plant cooling lakes that have big fluctuations in water temp. Yet, those fish spawn about the same time every year, from 55 to 75 degrees. Now, I think there are high and low limits for this, but the INCREASING daylight in the spring means the spawn is on its way, which is why bass don't spawn in the fall.

Well it seems there are plenty of ideas for types of apparel. I would love to see a tee shirt with the BR or LBH logo on front and that photo of the bait monkey with the gun on the back. I know for sure you would sell at least one. ;D

Lipless crankbait, ripped and paused in 8 feet of water on secondary points near the drop-off. I love that lake voodoo ;D

What kind of selection do you have as far as blades and colors? Also, what size and brand of hook do you put in them?

Biology is science. This whole thread has me wanting to do a little experiment. What I think I will do is pick two or three lakes and fish them accordingly: 1. My first trip to each, I will study seasonal conditions, moon phase, pressure changes, water temps in different parts of the water column, weather trends, feeding times, etc. From this I will decide on how I am going to fish that day from baits to locations to styles. 2. My second trip to each lake, I will do none of that and just grab some rods and don't think about it. When I get there, I will decide what to do but no sooner. 3. My third trip to each lake, I will do a little of both (which is what I THINK I do now). Since I always keep a log anyway, the results will be recorded. If I can stick to this I will share the results with everyone.

It happens. Yesterday, I lost 4 keepers, two of which were in the 4 - 5 pound range. The weird part is that I was doing the same thing exactly as last Tuesday when I caught one 6 even and one 4.5 lbs. It just happens.

Anyone out there build their own buzzbaits from the ground up or otherwise?

I don't think my wife has a "fishing addiction", but she is capable I do believe. When I met her five years ago she had gone fishing once in her life. After only our fist year, she "claimed three of my baitcaster combos and one spinning combo that I once called my own. She loves throwing the plastics and has actually taught me a thing or two with her "wierd" retrieves and such. So guys, don't assume anything about the fairer sex anglers....just pay attention.

I had a 40 lb. MK Powerdrive on my 14' Semi-V. I loved the fact that you could turn it on in a certain direction and it would stay the course. Infinite speed settings were another definite plus. The aspect that I didn't like was the speed at which it changed direction. It was too slow especially in close quarters pitching and flipping. If there was a decent wind blowing, I couldn't swing it around as fast as a cable drive to avoid crashing into laydowns, shoreline, rocks, etc. Yet, I am very happy with the cable drive Minn Kotas. They are workhorses!

Won't see you in Wi. but if you ever go south of the quad cities (St. louis area) I'm there!

Go fish now! I'm in central/southern Illinois and fished my local honeyhole yesterday. 44-48 degree stained to muddy water. Three keepers out of 5 foot of water or less. 2 pounds, 4.5 pounds and 6 pounds even!! Flippin' a junebug sweet beaver. SLOW.