bassguytom

Try a weightless lizard with a 3/0 hook. Reel it just fast enough to keep it on top. I did very well on private ponds with this in Florida last time I was there with the family.

Wow! I gotta move to Tennessee! Very nice outing. Those frogs must have been yelling at you to go fishing.

I would start with a jerkbait. Remember to pause longer when the water is colder. Also I think you have a polar bear swimming up to you house from the lake in that first picture.

Sorry to hear that. The only way to get it would be to swim for it. Try to find someone that has an aqua view or some other underwater camera so you know exactly where it is before you take the plunge.

Is it a skirted punch weight? If there is no hook on it that would be my guess.

I often have a tube tied on another rod and alternate while while fishing a shakey head. I snap the tube and drag the shakey head.

Wow! I can't remember what I had for lunch! That's impressive. "Dibbs Sally" Sally Dibbs. Wapner time for Wapner! Sorry dated references for the old guys. I think you should be good to go. When you start fishing you will gain confidence in some baits and lose confidence in others. Some will be fished often and some will not. Until you remember that you have this bait or that bait tie it on and gain confidence in that one. It's an endless cycle that will continue throughout the years. That's the fun of bass fishing there are so many ways to catch fish. Remember above all else have fun doing it.

On lakes that I fish where there are is not water skiing or tubing allowed the best way to avoid the fishing crowd is to fish in the middle of the lake. Sometime I'm the only one out there. Yep I'm the crazy guy out there not catching anything. ? Learning to use my electronics and fish deep has really paid off for me. On lakes where water skiing and tubing is allowed and I think it will be crowed. I fish lakes that don't allow water skiing or tubing or fish those lakes not during peak times. You get a feel for when those times are. Please don't tell anyone about the fishing deep thing. I wouldn't want to spoil the bank beater's parade.

Going through tackle and have a couple of bags of finesse worms that have kinks in them. Is it worth trying to straighten them out and if so what do you think is the best way to do this? If it's to much of a project I can always melt them down and make stick worms. Let me know your thoughts.

Try 30 lb or 20 lb. braid. I don't like using heavy braid either. It feels like I am fishing with rope. Especially if you are not fishing in the slop.

ohhhhhh.... that's what that chicken crossed the road for! To become another bass rig. I wonder what would happen if you attached a small egg sinker to that chicken rig.

I'm with you. I had the snow blower in the shed and was ready to get in the game. Pulled the snow blower out last night and am still on the sidelines. I see no window to fish for the next 10 days.

I tried them when they first came out and had some success with them. Light line reeled slowly and on the retrieve pull your rod not like a jerkbait just fast enough to make it go to the side then reel slow again. I found fishing them on 4lb. Flourocarbon worked best for me. They are very light. I will have to break them out again.

I'm right there wth you. I have an addictive personality and have more tackle and lures then I could ever use. I kind of like coming home from work and finding a tackle warehouse box on the counter. It kind of rounds out my day nicely. I keep telling my wife it's better then smoking crack but she is starting to give me the evil eye. She even said it's either me or the tackle. I sure am going to miss her. Lol.

I got a Diawa Ballistic EX 2000 off of eBay for $145.00 because of this thread. I used it today for the first time. first impression? Wow! I'll be putting it through its paces this year so I will get a better idea of endurance but if first impressions mean anything. This reel is a winner.

I have the Terrova with spot lock. I love it. One thing to consider also is Minn Kota matches with Humminbird electronics. My Terrova has a built in Humminbird transducer. So bear that in mind as you are looking.

Last one for awhile???? It's official guys! Time to go fishing!!!!! Thanks for opening up the season Hootie! Nice work on all the carvings.

I use a leader with braid all the time. I fish clear water lakes and would love to use straight braid for the simplicity but never seem to do well. I use the Alberto knot and can also tie quickly on the boat if needed. I'm confident I will catch fish this way so I stick with it.

Top left in about 2 weeks here. Can't wait!

Can't ever go wrong with a football jig. I also have a hard time putting down a tube off shore.

To catch as many fish as I can I'd bring a neg rig with a TRD.

The susquehanna river in my neck of the woods is legendary for smallmouth.

Dang! I gotta get to a thrift store!

If there are 4 footer's with 25 mph wind on a lake I will not be fishing in a bass boat. Come on Forrest! Momma didn't raise no fool! My motor is a Minn Kota Terrova.

I put a minn Kota with spot lock on my aluminum 18 foot tracker. It has become the most important piece of equipment in the boat and has accounted for more fish in the boat than my side scan, down scan or GPS. It was either power pole or spot lock. I opted for the spot lock because of the deeper lakes I fish. Point the bow into the wind where you want to fish and push the spot lock button and you are set. Before I had this I would blow off of spots very quickly and had to keep moving back on with the trolling motor. Now it keeps me on the spot all by itself. I have embraced the technology.