Todd2

You might try Energy lake campground/area for bank fishing. From the dam there you can fish Barkley or Energy lake.

I'm usually dropping it down standing timber below where I'm marking the Crappie..and slow slow retrieve...I've spent many cold winter days with hot coffee doing this and it works.

Good God..this is still going on? I've been in remodel hell and haven't been on here as much.

I use them casting or vertical jigging for Crappie. There is an old technique out on Crappie sites called "Vertical Casting"..drop it straight down below the Crappie and a very very slow reel up. No jigging.. I forget the fella's name who wrote the article. It's a great way to catch suspended Crappie. I use the slider head for it and really works well.

I use 1/4 about 90% of the time for all depths..partly because it works, partly because I'm too lazy to switch.

I think it's more of a species thing. We don't have a large smallie population in the lake, but up in the headwaters we catch them and Saugeye, even in the Winter. But I also like bundling up and just vertical fishing for Crappie on main lake creek mouths in the cold. From mid December until March, Largemouth are very slow for me. A Shad Rap helped me some last Winter though. Anything beats the couch, unless it's extremely cold.

You should have many good days left. The best Fall Bass bite here doesn't seem to start until October, and I think November is even better most years. After that, I either fish for Crappie or go to the river for Smallies and Saugeye.

I've found myself leaning toward a pegged Trig over the jig the last year or so. I still have a jig tied on, but the Trig gets the lions share of my time in the brush. I think I get more bites.

Sometimes I just sit down with a nice PB&J sandwich and chill. Then get up and move.

Come on...a little hot sauce dabbed on??

It's one reason I don't tournament fish. Lack of skill, desire not to lose money, and scheduling conflicts are other reasons. I will say this, when I have a run in with someone at the lake, which is rare, 99% of the time it's some Yahoo Van Dam wannabe thinking they own the lake because they are in the tournament. So, I try to avoid big tournament days. But 9 acres, nobody can claim that much.

All good points....and wear your kill switches. I don't think that one was mentioned. I put it right up there close to a life jacket.

Forum members after thread #3.

I went through Cancer and Chemo in 2014/2015. Chemo is very expensive and the newer inhibitors are astronomically higher. Luckily my insurance carried a large portion of it..some folks aren't as lucky. It's a good thing they are doing for him.

Texas rig is more versatile..can be fished in heavy cover or open water. One can argue a Carolina rig is better suited for deeper open water but I've been swimming a Texas rig out a little deeper along the bottom with pretty good results.

As simple as this sounds, this is not bad advice.

Another vote for Arky, if you nailed me down on one size. I'd say 3/8. One color is a little tricky..Black/Blue if forced to pick for my waters.

Yesterday's catch..tonight's dinner

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

MHL defended the belt in a close one a few weeks back but faces another tough challenger tonight in Old Style (The official beer of the Chicago Cubs). This one could go the distance.

I've caught wind of the secret. It's a weekly series of classes taught by the more experienced members. Week One - Why the Texas Rig is Overrated by @Catt ?

I keep it simple...about 2 feet all the time. A c-rig won't float up on most (if any) lures. It just glides along the bottom when dragging. A drop shot is more effective for suspended fish IMO..

Tom, I don't have the words and probably couldn't say what hasn't already been said. I don't know you personally but I hope you stay active here on the forum, in life, and fishing when you can. Best of luck to you!

Exactly, this is why I don't wait long between moving and "weighing" the lure. The simple way I see it is a Bass has three options when striking a lure. 1. Take it and not move 2. Take it and come toward the angler 3. Take it and move away from the angler #3 is the only one you can feel all of the time. 1 and 2 require focus

I remember the bag, where and when are a little cloudy. I'm guessing Wal-Mart too.