poebassin

First bass boat! Gotta find a truck so I can get it on the water tho

Throw an A-rig haha! Oneida is a fun lake so it's neat you will be spending a whole week there. You'll probably have success with whatever you usually like to use for targeting summer largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Haha new rods are always nice. Might be cool to see the difference with a baitcasting setup compared to what you usually use but even if you don't get another rod, what you have should be totally sufficient for your trip at least. One rod has to be the 6'9" St. Croix Avid X ML for sure!

Whatever setup you like to use for jerkbaits might be a good idea

Found the link to the memo that was released last week regarding the changes. I have a BFL on the Potomac next month but it looks like they're specifically looking at tournaments between 06/16/16 to the end of October. http://dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Tidal_Bass_Action_Memo_031516.pdf

You can fish Onondaga Lake from shore out of the county park. Fish Creek around Sylvan Beach and the north shore of Oneida there are some decent shore spots. The Oneida River out of Brewerton as well, especially in the spring. Found this link I had bookmarked that has a bunch of lakes and ponds near Syracuse - many of which I have yet to check out: http://www.fishingnortheast.net/home/new-york/new-york-lakes-and-ponds/lakes-and-ponds-of-new-york-region-7/

Niagara Frontier Bassmasters is having a spring meeting in March. Prospective new members or anyone interested in finding out more about this bass club, please attend! Saturday, March 26th 2016 - 10AM - Gander Mountain (in the Lodge) 880 Young Street, Tonawanda NY 14150

After your day on the water riding with the Elites, most of the other marshals and myself just watched the weigh in. It's pretty exciting to be there in person watching it all go down. There was a bourbon tent at Waddington - so that's another post tournament option I suppose. There are usually vendors, food, activities etc. The BASS staff were super nice so there may be additional opportunities for other jobs if you were to approach them about it. Bathroom breaks are basically how they usually go on the water - whatever that means for you! One marshal said that one of the Elite guys didn't even put his rod down when nature came-a-calling haha. But yes, you randomly get matched with a different Elite competitor each day. I was able to marshal for 4 days and I was with 4 different Elites. On Championship Sunday, the camera boats are on the tournament leaders so I think there were maybe 7 or 8 marshals on the water the final day. I guess there's a possibility that you might be paired with the same Elite guy twice as a marshal but probably not likely.

In 2015, I was a marshal for the first time and it was a really awesome experience. I am doing it again this summer as well. Being a marshal for the Classic is a great opportunity - I'm jealous haha. The most difficult part of the whole thing is not fishing. Being out on the water all day and you can't even pick up a rod. Marshals are responsible for operating BASSTrakk and contributing to the blog by taking pictures as well as providing updates. This will all be explained in the meeting you will attend prior to the start of the tournament and it is all super easy. You cannot help the Elites in any way and your role is to basically be the eyes and ears on the water to protect the integrity of the sport. Bring your life jacket, snacks/drinks for the day and I thought it was important to just stay out of the way when your dude is landing fish. It is really a lot of fun so have a great time and enjoy the experience.

Right on! I made 3

Woo! BASS is holding an event out of Buffalo The catch-weigh-release scoring is the wave of the future. In May, NY BASS Nation will be having a fundraiser tournament on Lake Erie using MLF style scales as well.

Tubes for smallies! The pickerel like them too.

Carp like water temperatures above 60F for spawning usually. I use to specifcially target them in the fall with corn and nightcrawlers in ponds. It helps when you chum the waters to get a bunch actively feeding. I have even heard that carp might have a fall spawn too. This past weekend, I was fishing for bass on Silver Lake in western New York where the water tempertaure was around 46F. Hooked a few northern pike on the gold, red eye shad I was using and then got into this big common carp. 32 pounds plus! This carp took the lipless crankbait in its mouth - it wasn't snagged. There were a bunch rooting around feeding in the area that I saw moving to deeper water where I was casting it. If I was targeting carp intentionally - I wouldn't be using a crankbait!

5" Senko in smoke w/silver flake, wacky rigged!

Soft jerkbaits are great too. Strike King's Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad in KVD Magic for example.