5 Dollar Fishing Game

My 7' 10" KVD graphite rod broke 6 inches off the end in the door at home. Put a new end eye on it. Also had to put a piece of black tape around the end because it splintered. It still reels smooth but it is super stiff at the end of the rod now. Is it toast or will it be okay?

Keep an open mind. Bass won't ALWAYS do what they "should" do. Sometimes they hit the strangest lures because they are big time opportunistic feeders.

An America's funniest home videos prize would buy a sweet new boat LOL

Lol thanks Dwight. I played dumb. If she would have checked my heart rate, the jig would've been up.

Fishing Rhino, I have a Senko rigged just like the one in your pic. Gonna try it out! :-)

Thanks for the detail A Jay! That does help. ;-)

Perfect day here in NC. Sunny and 75 with no wind. A great start to bass fishing, so I thought............Went to the garage to uncover the boat and hit the water. Forgetful me, I neglected to remember that I had the boat out in the driveway the night before after washing it. I went to take the cover off and a squirrel literally flew out about a foot from my head (similar to the scene from Christmas Vacation when the squirrel flew out of the Christmas tree), out of the garage, and into the woods. The scream I uttered out was nothing short of a horror movie worthy. My wife looks out the door and says "What is going on, I heard a girl scream?" I looked at her with the calmest face and said. "I didn't hear anything?". She looked at me and rolled her eyes and went back in the house. LOL

My parents' neighborhood has a community pond about the size of a football field. The last few months I was getting bass like crazy fishing it from the banks on minnow swim baits. I have not been there in about 2 weeks and just went back the other day. All along the entire bank around the pond, the vegetation grew under the water to right at surface level. If I cast anywhere with the minnow, I pull out a salad. What is the best to use? My friend said to use any rattle trap and "tear through" the grass. He said the dual treble hooks will pick up some of the grass but it won't be much. Top water is always an option, however it doesn't really produce. I was thinking a Senko worm with a small weight on top of the hook (just so it is weightless, but actually has a small weight to help it get down through the grass). Also maybe a jig? I REALLY love swim baits and was wondering if there was any way to make a minnow weedless or as close to weedless as possible. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Joe

Thanks guys. :-)

Oh okay cool! That video was amazing to me. The guy fishing in the boat looked like a pro setting that hook too!!!!!

The bed I caught the female at last week had one male and one female. I out her back within a few seconds. Got a few sweeeeer pics first. ;-) As for the activity, those were the only two I saw with a 1.5 pounder about 50 feet from it. Would deep diving crank baits work best the next week or so? Or should I try jigs and worms? In either case, I am wondering if I should cast open water (the deep center). If not I can cast from the bank towards the center, or the center towards the bank. Thanks! Joe

You guys are a HUGE help! Just got a KVD book today and it covers that in one of the sections. :-)

That's good stuff! Is the "spawn" itself the entire period of the bass (ah-hem) "getting better acquainted", laying eggs, and them hatching? Or is the spawn only one area?

Also, the activity at all the ponds has slowed down since I noticed the beds last couple weeks. Is this normal?

Here in NC temps have been steady 70's and 80's and the water about 65. I caught a fat mama last week (pic posted on this site) off the bed in a pond. Some other ponds have no beds to be found. Some other ponds there are empty beds and lastly some other ponds have no beds or action at all. What's the deal? Does this sound like pre spawn, spawn, or post? Today I found two empty beds in the pond (about 1 acre). I trolled all the banks for two hours and got a few dinks???? Ideas or comments appreciated. :-)

I found this on YouTube while "fishing video surfing". Six minutes long with some relaxing music. I always wanted to see what the bass looked like when their mouths opened up real big to eat.

A pond that big I'd say 150

I love it!

Weighed or not, that was gorgeous!

Thanks! I tried the bed again about 20 minutes later and the male would not go near it. However the female swatted it with her tail a couple times. I vaguely recall her also sticking her tongue out at me. ;-)

How much did the fish in that pic weigh?

Thanks Jeff!

I love sight fishing! I just posted a pic on my first bass off the bed. It is great just watching them to see their behaviors and how they move. :-)

Was watching the banks for beds and I found one. Saw a male and a female (big and bigger) and the bed was about the size of a hula hoop. I tossed a watermelon colored creature bait and mama took it after about 3 nibbles! tipped the scale at 5 pounds even. 8 ounces shy of my PB. Love it! - Joe

Good idea with the lubricant. ;-)