scaleface

Thats it . I'm going night fishing this week schedule and weather permitting .

I always found fishing in the summer just as good as the other seasons, some years better .Deeper structure and windy shores are two consistent producers . Also waves created by heavy boat traffic can move the bass on shallow banks . I cant fish the heat these days , at least for now . Maybe in a year I will be able to . I sure miss it though . Infra red light "heat" is absorbed quickly in the water and the shade should be cooler than direct sun-light .

Yeah , it gets the lure to dive .

Thats a big old channel cat .

I was fishing from bank and cast a jig and pork frog over a log .I jigged it a couple of times , it felt heavy and reared back with a mighty hook set . I knew it was a big bass and the only way to land it was to get it over the log . I did not let up , applied pressure to turn its head skyward hoping it would jump . The fish came out of the water and I think it was the biggest bass I ever had . I got him over the log and then the hook came out . I did everything right and deserved to catch that bass but as William Munny said from the movie Unforgiven " Deservin aint got nothing to do with it."

I make them by using a piece of wire in a spinnerbait mold . 1/8 , 1/4 , 3/8 and 1/2 .

I constantly touch up hooks with a couple of light strokes on the diamond file of a Leatherman multi tool . Its an excellent hook sharpener .

Yes . After studying the depth finder and finding shad at a certain depth , marking that depth on a point , tossing out a marker buoy , selecting the proper crankbait , fire a long cast and hook up , then I probably have them figured out .

There were always things I wanted to try but I was in another persons craft . When I got my own boat I spent many fish-less days experimenting and learning . I concentrated on fishing a little deeper than everyone else and eventually it started paying off . That is why I prefer to fish by myself today . I still like to experiment and do things outside of the box at my speed . Its hard to find people who can sit out there for hours , catch nothing and not be discouraged ready to call it a day .

My dad had dementia and was paranoid and unpredictable . He did have enough wits about him that one day he called and told me to come get his guns . He had a real scumbag neighbor and I imagine dad was contemplating shooting him .

I'll throw crankbaits around stumps and old standing timber/lay-downs . Brush piles , beaver houses and newly fallen trees I throw something else . I just snag to often and end up ruining the fishing spot . As far as vegetation goes , the stuff we have around here , no-way .

Getting close . I only bought one lure this year to replace one I lost . No new rods or reels .

I had an experience earlier this year "Pre spawn" when the largemouths moved during the course of hours . The first day was overcast with water temps in the mid 60's and I caught a limit of 15 inch bass in the first half of the creeks . Nothing in the shallow spawning coves or rear of the creeks . I returned the next day and it was sunny and warmer . The day started out the same but after a couple of hours with the sun beating down , the bite slowed considerably and I only had two keepers . I noticed the surface temp was now in the mid 70's , a ten degree rise . I started fishing the pockets and rear of the creeks and promptly finished my limit . That was a major fish relocation in a matter of hours . Every fish those two days were caught on the same spinnerbait .

I leave just enough slack so that it falls straight down . Then as the lure is falling I lower my rod tip at the same speed . This allows me to keep in contact with the bait and not have it pendulum back toward me .

Bass can change moods and locations abruptly , in matter of minutes . So even though I have those Aha! moments too , theres a good chance it wouldnt have worked either . ? Sometimes we are doing the correct things but the timing or location are slightly off . I remember getting skunked in a tourney then at the weigh-in , finding out that the first place team was did exactly the same thing I tried only in a different creek.

I only been twice but caught a limit both times . Been having medical issues and cant hack the heat . Maybe a night time trip in the next couple of weeks .

A Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL - B Casey Ashley Donalds, SC - C Randy Howell Guntersville, AL - D Alton Jones Sr. Lorena, TX - E Jason Williamson Wagener, SC

I meant they dont snag up much .

Thats how Greg Hackney caught a lot of his bass in his victory at the Sabine last weekend . Look up Hack attack buzzbait .

Spinnerbaits with fixed wire's dont .

I remember well, my first bass caught on a Texas rig . I was bouncing it on a rock bank and felt a subtle tap just like the magazines described . I lowered the 5'5" Lews Speed stick , reeled in the slack and set the hook like a boss . That was not the biggest bass I ever caught but it was the most important .

6 inch worm , 1/8th ounce weight .

Ive caught lots of bass with soft plastics and jigs in muddy water . I usually go with black/chartreuse , its just a combo that has worked well for me so I continue to throw it . Also like to use Rattling jigs .

Strike King Midnight Special is one of my favorites . Just replace the skirt with the color you want . It rattles and presents the fish with something different .

The way I see it the more fish you catch the better the odds of hooking up with a big girl .