geo g

When I lived in Ohio, Lake Erie was great, especially in the Sandusky area.

Use a 4" senko W/R with the least amount of weight necessary to get the job done. Fish it slow with quick little jerks and long pauses. You will catch whatever is in that pond, if you have patience. Good luck!

I get them up and out of vegetation as soon as possible. Once in deep water I may slow down and let it swim around a little. Don't play with them with weeds around.

Poor man's power pole!!!!!!!

I have several spinner combos but seldom use them in our shallow, weed filled lakes, with big bass. Bait caster is the way go with 15 to 65 lb line. I do take them on vacation to Ohio, and New Hampshire.

That is one beautiful bass. If its a mutation then its pretty rare. I hope it was released in good shape. Was she caught close to a nuclear power plant? She has a great looking glow!

It might be good, give them something they haven't seen before!

I would look for areas with current close bye, depth changes, and outside weed lines. I don't think you need a depth finder, as much as just looking for the obvious signs. Look for downed trees, rock piles, small streams intersecting the the main water body. Look at the contour of the land above water, it will often continue in similar fashion below the water. Look for weed lines close to deeper water. Big bass often hang on the outside edge close to the drop-off. You can figure out a pattern without shelling out the big bucks.

When you get to an area you want to focus on, do you put out an anchor to give yourself some stability from the wind. Try taking a 10 pound dumbbell weight and 6 feet of line. Gives you a chance to stop struggling with the wind. Easy to pull up, and move to another area.

I think you put in at the same time we did. I think you were at the second ramp, and we put in at the third ramp. I don't know how you can set the hook with a frog from a kayak. I'm standing up with a 7/6 rod and setting real hard with my frog set up. I don't think I could do it from a kayak. Good luck tomorrow, I hope the wind cooperates. Let us know how you do.

Good luck tomorrow. I caught half of my fish today on U-Vibes, w/m red, white, and Junebug.

Lox Preserve, South End 6:30-Noon mostly cloudy water stained, 74* wind varied 5 to 20 NNW Little current Went to the Lox Road Ramps, with a friend Rick, at first light. There was lots of construction since my last visit. We had to take a detour to get to the ramp area and the parking area is full of pot holes. The wind was out of the N/W, so we ran west and fished the flats back toward the ramp. We both started with frogs, rick with a H/B frog, and me with Horny Toad. I had two blow ups on the Horny Toad, one with a miss, and a nice one that went airborne and came off. After that it went silent. We both switched to plastics and the bite was slow, but steady. Most were caught close to the spoil bank along the south flat. Around 9:00 the wind got so bad,and switched direction, we ran to find some shelter. We ran up the north canal until the wind died down a little. The bite in the north canal was not as good as the south flat. We ran back south and the wind dropped and shifted to the west. This made fishing much easier for us. We called it quits at noon with a 30 fish total. A lot of bites were aggressive, they wanted to play today. Rick and I had a great time with steady action and lots of conversation.

Thinkingredneck, those are some excellent words to live bye. Whether on the water or on land, if everyone followed your example, this would be a far better place to live. Thanks for the thoughtful post!

It was the location of the airport where she took off on her around the world trip. A historic spot, for sure!!!!

A lot of fish are caught at the drop-offs with senkos, u-vibes, worms, and spinner-baits. All lakes have a good population of bass, but heavy pressure on weekends

As thick as the weeds are down in south Florida I never use less then 15 pound test floro, or heavy braid, and 15 pound mono for top water. Tie directly to the lure, and always get their head up high and out of the thick weed stems. If you play the fish in this stuff, you lose the fish. Whether their big or small its all the same, head up, stay up, and surf over the thick stuff. Shock and Aw tactics.

Thanks Tom, always willing to share the knowledge!

I seldom set the hook on anything other then a fish. I usually use a highly sensitive line, and expensive sharp hooks. I feel everything on the bottom as I fish a bait, and I am a devout line watcher. Weeds, structure, and wood don't pull back. If I feel any resistance, I will add a little pressure, until I feel a counter force. Then I slam the hook set home. I do this without thinking about it, its all automatic now, and within seconds of feeling the initial resistance. When I first got into fishing it was not like this. There was way too much thinking, and not enough reactive response. In the beginning, I would slam and miss, on make believe fish, or wait too long feeling for the bite, and lose a fish. Time on the water, and thousands of bites put everything on autopilot. Weeds, structure, and wood never feel like a fish, and don't promote an unconscious, explosive, reaction.

I don't give up easily on a body of water. The average catch rate in Florida is under 1 fish per hour state wide. Although this rate is surpassed during many fishing conditions, it does give room for thought! During these times fish will still eat a bait, but just not in the mood to chase a bait. I will slow down, big time and let the bait soak!!!!!!!!

A few thoughts about this topic. 1). Spend as much time on the water as possible, under all types of conditions. 2). Fish with as many other fisherman as you can. You will learn something each trip from others you fish with. Some good , some bad. All part of the experience. I got a boat in the early 80's and invited as many others to join me as possible. I have learned as much from them, as I ever taught anyone. 3). You want to learn a new technique, go out with that bait and nothing else. You will learn it quick, if you can't escape to a comfort bait. 4). Join a club and fish with with more experienced guys. Be a good watcher, and listener, and not a talker, while you fish. 5). You never know it all, no matter how long you have been fishing, there is always something new to learn on every trip.

What a great story, there are still great people around among us,in all walks of life, races, economical levels, and political beliefs. Thanks for this post, it brought a big smile to my face just knowing this gentleman is out among us. Basser Jim, you have touched many with your kindness.

I had a co-worker who's marriage was coming to a nasty end. He came home from work and all his rods and reels were in the drive way run over by his wife numerous times in her F150. She got 6 shimano reels and rods, his high end net, a tackle box, and his depth finder unit. I guess she didn't like him spending weekend mornings on the lake. He was happy to see her go!

That is a great technique to learn to use any lure, reel, or rod. I have done it several times over the years, the last time with a new bait caster. I went out with one rod and reel until I was comfortable with the new set up. It is a crash course!

Florida is my home state, so I would recommend here. There are lots of quality lakes, lots of guides and may is a great month for loads of big bass, and salt water snook and tarpon in our bays and coastal waters. Giants all up and down the east and west coast, especially the keys. Have a great time.

I always try to put my buddies on fish by suggesting spots to hit, techniques to use, or baits to switch too. Sometimes all the help is for nothing. They just don't get it!!!!!!!!