JayKumar

It's a fact that for whatever reason when it first turns dark, the bite shuts off or at least down a bit. After it stays black for a while, it starts up again. Cool that you figured something out that works!

Low pressure = lots of bites. But when your line just hangs in the air and doesn't fall to the water (has happened to me a couple times), you know you've been out there too long!

Definitely call Fenwick, and maybe the eBay seller.

Definitely worth trying and getting confidence in different styles of baits, so if it floats your boat check it out. SK makes great stuff.....

Those spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and lizards will all work. You will have to fish faster with the spbaits and buzzbaits, slower with the plastics. Depends how much water you have to fish and what your fishing style is. Either way, you want to be fishing around those trees unless you can find a hole in there somewhere. Hope that helps!

Stoked for you! Use a stiff rod, for hooksets, and good line, at least 12 lb test. Should have no issues catching bass with TX-rigged 6" watermelon lizards! Would definitely get some watermelon Senkos and wacky-rig hooks, though, that's pretty much a gimme....

That usually means panfish. Try going way up in bait size for bass....

I like to move 'em, but sometimes fish want topwaters not moving. Tough bite!

10" or 12" black Power Worm, any Strike King crankbait, Shakey head with MegaStrike e2 head...and many more! Btw, have fished both the Banjo Lure and Flying Lure. Banjo is a Fluke-type bait with a different rig, not a big deal. Flying Lure works as advertised, nothing else like it, but have to fish it on a SLACK line or will not work!

Love jigs and worms for the same reason -- THUMP!

My rule of thumb: Crank it all the way down. With the right rod and line you shouldn't pop the line.

Sounds like a Fluke retrieve. Maybe they were telling you they wanted it faster? That's why we all love fishing!

Depends on how many fish that size in a lake, how and what they eat there, and whether you are fishing in the places they might be. But big smallies definitely can school together.

If you can get away from the veggies, try that. I'd guess that for whatever reason the pike had a good spawn and those skinny little guys are now everywhere. They'll always be around vegetation, so if you can find open water, you might find the bass...but will have to fish for them differently. Might also try right up against the bank if you have some wood or a sharper slope.

A different approach is instead of switching techniques, stick with what you're most confident in for the conditions, and change areas and depths until you can catch 'em that way. The pros do this all the time.

A good rod and braid will help a lot. Also always watch your line!

Cool story. Next time get a Shimano! And maybe wait a sec before setting the hook on those frogs....

You are on the right track. Stick with the veggies, should be shallow fish all day but the sun will move them under docks of the water is clear.

Interesting. Just remember the weakest point in the line is the knot so maybe A/B it on tests between your knot and a Palomar or whatever. Key thing I think will be action of the bait more than anything else.

Smallie. Thy can vary a lot in coloration, but...don't normally have spots! Congrats on a nice fish!

You never know. Still one of the best crankbaits I ever used was a Mann's from one of those "3 for $X" boxes at K-Mart years ago. Don't know what made it so right, surely not its looks, but it was.

Lots of quality differences among fluoros and braids. Most pros use braid with fluoro leaders. Re: line to line knots, look out for new hollow braids where you can have knotless connections (just use some glue) to fluoro leaders. The Cali company Blackwater has those products, used by a couple boats on that Wicked Tuna show I believe....

If it works for you, don't worry about it. The pros use heavy line because each fish is important to their livelihood -- it's not just fun fishing for them. They also fish in places where they can catch huge bass, which you may not. Finally, a lot of the choice for line size is because of the hookset. Thast's often when the most force is applied to the line.

Cool! I've converted people will smallies myself...works!

It'll work, no doubt! Hmmm. Now I want one....