tatertester

Cabelas sales staff are very knowledgeable , and you can't beat their customer service......Online I like to find these small family "niche"custom bait sites.

Spinnerbait in the rain, match the bait fish.

Several studies I've read say that artificial cover is more effective than natural.....Does seem strange tho?

A few seasons ago I was fishing an area of the lake that was a large expanse of mixed surface weeds. The water surface was flat and I was casting a frog. I made a long cast that got away from me and ended up being a very high lob cast. I was watching to see where the frog would end up landing. Much to my surprise, as the frog passed overhead along the water surface , many fish ,along the entire path of the lure ,created a disturbance in the water until the frog landed......I couldnt believe what I had just seen...Fish obviously reacting to the overhead lure, along the entire path of the bait....The whole thing was impressive.I couldnt believe how many fish were in that slice of water.

20 inches trips my trigger for both large and smallmouth, usually gets at or near that 5 lb benchmark.

I find this subject interesting as it seems that many of us have learned in different ways. Many years ago[50's] I started bass fishing when a friend and I decided to go out and only had one lure, a floating rapala #11. We would throw the rapalas around any kind of cover , wait , then twitch them. We caught many bass that way, but, soon determined that after 9 am or so the bite dwindled noticably.Then I heard about plastic worms, and had an awakening after a learning curve trying to fish them properly.......Many lures and techniques since it's no wonder I have 12 or so rods all rigged with different baits at all times.

I am moving this month to Russell Springs , Kentucky, and, want to find a fishing partner....I do have a boat, 2 actually, but have never been without someone to fish with before. Not only do I need a fishing partner, I need to learn how to fish the lakes down that way, starting with Cumberland....I may well hire a quide for a few trips to get the hang of it.

Your missing out on some great fishing if you dont fish in the rain.....

I have purchased a home just outside of Russell Springs, Kentucky . Right by Cumberland Lakes north side...A lot of creek arms all over the place in addition to the main lake. Don't have a clue where to start fishing. Do the creeks or arms hold bass year around or is it a seasonal thing? Not accustomed to fishing these types of water....A starting point would be helpful , and a quide might be a good way to get started...Sure a lot different from the natural lakes I'm used to here in Minnesota...Looking for advice....Thanks.

LOL Good One! Makes perfect sense.

Once the water cools down it's buzzbait time in shallow water.

My first exposure to bass fishing was twitching rapalas.This was in the 60's. We would seek out any weed opening , shoreline mixed weeds or wherever we could cast a floating rapala. Let it set until all the rings around it were gone, then twitch slighty , wait, then twitch again, if a bass hit, wait til you felt the fish, set the hook. No hit, move on to another cast.....Caught many bass that way. You needed to be able to cast accurately to open water spots or weeds were your catch, but, it was great fun, something I don't do nearly as often as I should these days.

4lb 5oz

Agree on fitovers and cocoons....forget the clip-ons, not nearly the size lense.

Try what I call a" horizontal drop shot"......Rig a heavy duty drop shot , cast it out , work it along. Your lure will be as far off the bottom as you rig it. Consider that your lure will be off the bottom , but, not too much, as the angle of your line determines that......2 feet length of drop line can keep the lure only 8 or 10 inches off the bottom, but, keeps it clear of all yuk and most weeds, while still taunting the bass....Works great in many weedy bottom situations.

Try using a seine , you should know in a few minutes if any fish are present.

Agreed tomustang!

Al Lindner fishing smallies on the big river.

Way to go !........

Chickamaugwa for largemouth, Pickwick for smallmouth.

Babe Winkleman has a lot of experience with Northern strain largemouth, but don't know that he can speak with any authority about Southern strain largemouth.

Think I will just keep my gold, and go fishing with fake gold baits.

Hardheaded, selfish, and egotistical?

I fish docks whenever I come across them, BUT, if there is one or several docks in a row with people on or near the docks I simply continue on around them...It is only courteous to do so.

Check Outlet Bait & Tackle on Google....Right here in Minnesota, mail order only , I think.