Choporoz

Thx. They said it happens sometimes in storage or shipment and I should take it up with my dealer first. I'm hoping to get in there this weekend.

I learned long ago that bass are quite adept at picking up my lure and planting it in a branch...it isn't an accident As to the OP, I feel that some days, the bass just have what I refer to as a 'soft bite' -- feels like they're gently picking up lures to check them out without committing such that I can get a reliable set

@J Francho, keep an eye on that rudder. It's pretty straight, but won't take much more curvature to start causing problems. Mine tends to veer off when it's cold, as in the morning, before the heat tightens things back up later in the day

Been on it twice a few years ago and only got a small handful of dinks. But at least once was mid-August without sonar...was a long, hot struggle to boat a few short bass. Not sure the time of year the other visit. Rented boats both times. Nice enough lake, but might take a few trips to find the monsters that the guy running the shop there kept talking about

Had a 7# blue cat crush my chatterbait right there a couple weeks ago....slimy bugger But yes -- not in the center, but there's grass on the south (more gradual) slope bordering it, and that drop routinely holds bass

May not matter to your assessment, but I have something in my settings screwed up. The lines aren't 5'. They are closer to 3'....max depth in that area is about 40'....not 65+

Here's one of the local community hole points. Boats practically line up to take their turn on weekends.

Not certain, but I'd be pulling spinnerbaits and crankbaits underneath....may not be true, but I always convince myself that baitfish breaking the surface are fleeing from predators. Especially in the back of bays/creeks -- I've watched big bass herd and feed -- crazy sight. Unfortunately, too often it seems that so much good food available makes my offerings go unnoticed

competing for numbers or size?

I was bass fishing Belmont Bay on Sunday and saw snakeheads come up out of the water to attack red wing blackbirds on emergent pad leaves....twice. Neither was successful, but it was an impressive sight. Another totally unrelated first....caught two large gars not far from there on an RES....and a LOT of blues....just wish the bass had been half as aggressive as the rest of the fish out there

When you mark summer largemouth on long points in 18+ FOW, how do you approach? I've been working on these fish for years and just starting to get a bit of confidence. Lots of long, mostly smooth-bottom points that get hammered by c-rigs all summer. I have tried and hated c-rigs, so I generally work trigs, shaky heads, jigs and soft swimbaits. Almost every time I see others hitting these, they are working lures from shallow to deep. I have struggled with maintaining confident bottom contact fishing downward and more often than not will fish across. That may be why I haven't done as well...I don't know. Seems to me, though, that maybe I should be positioning closer to shore and working uphill. Better bottom contact and I've no reason to think that feeding fish at that depth aren't herding into shore so much as waiting for food to come in...just a WAG....I really have no clue how they're oriented down there. Any thoughts on how you approach these deeper, long points?

You're probably right, @dave. I absolutely love my MHXF HE3 jig rod. We ought to get together some time.

Great thing about Cut-R is that on successive casts, it can be a Senko, a swim bait, a curly tail worm, flipping worm....etc.

Thanks. I'll look at the Zodias. Man.....I wasn't even thinking about the skipping.....that was, by far, my best skipping rod..

Yesterday, I had a huge blue cat grab my structure bug, and dive under my yak; I didn't react quick enough and snapped my favorite rod: Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'10 MF 1/8-5/8. I nearly cried. Now, I get to shop. I called it light pitching, but not at all BFS That ETSM had the perfect action for 1/16 to 1/8 Rage rigged plastics; the handle was shorter than average which made it a perfect kayak rod; the reel seat was problematic, but nothing I couldn't work around. Typically, I used 20# braid for this rod. Unfortunately, Fenwick quit this line years ago. I have two other rods rated identically, but they fish very different: Rage, that has a slower tip and fishes traps and squarebills like a champ, and a Fantasista with a stiff tip that works for jerkbaits and walkers, but is not nearly as accurate for pitching as the ETSM was. If you have a baitcaster that you use and love for light plastics; target casting, please let me know why you'd recommend it. I haven't established a budget yet, but I'm unlikely to go very far north of $200.....way south would be better....I think that ETSM cost me about $80 five or six years ago.

I use Big Ugly Plug Knockers that I get from ebay. Easy to carry in the yak, easy to use, very reliable, and affordable for the occassional one you end up losing.

I grew up in WI and fished regularly in WI, MN, Ont....so I get it....but I would never subject myself to it again. Year round fishing is not something I'll go without ever again

I'm sorry....

Dude was wrong. But if I get a nice boat cover (or seats...or ropes) snagged by careless fishermen often enough, I'm going to probably exhibit a different personality than I normally project. Sure, we've established that the water under and around his boat is fair game. But, you accept the risk of harming another's property, you should be prepared for some consequence.

Sure. Try not to lose it, please.

USCG Auxiliary gave our club some sheets of paddle tip reflector kits. About 6" diameter silver stickers for paddle blades. Great idea. Even silver duct tape might do the same

What's the real question? And which of us is your husband?

I made a long cast last Saturday (with braid.) At the exact same time, a heron took off from my right moving to my left and I watched in horror as the tungsten trig wrapped around his legs and my spool started screaming. I let it free spool for a sec and then decided to thumb it -- fortunately (for me) I was using a leader and the leader snapped immediately and the heron continued on. I only hope that the rest of the leader/lure unwound instantaneously and fell off before he ever tried to land.

I've been somewhat fascinated by how trolling motors (as well as sonar and other man-made sounds) affect bass. I never really got too far down the road, though. Because the prop spinning at 600 rpm is only a portion of the sound/pressure the trolling motor puts out. From cavitation to mount/boat vibration to bearing/housing noises, etc. Hopefully, any studies would be able to narrow the variables. How close does a jet ski have to pass in order to block those noises/pressures? What about secondary echoes off sea walls and the bottom? Does a 7 year old bass have same sensory range as a three year old? I guess I usually just default to considering the subject like a few of those above: it's more important to me to have a sense what the general reaction to sound is...than to try to define the fish's sensory 'capabilities'. One of my more memorable learning examples: As I was troll-transiting through a bay one morning (~4 FOW), I saw a nice LMB, maybe 3 pounds, cruising along several feet away -- she didn't have a care in the world and was paralleling my course and speed for maybe 20 yards. As I neared the spot I was headed, I eased back on the throttle just slightly. That fish bolted away like I hit her with a cattle prod. Steady sound, vibration, movement...didn't bother it in the least -- almost imperceptible change and that fish was out of sight in a half second.

Glad you posted this. I've had a Sniper tied on the last few times out and been frustrated that it hasn't gotten bit like other stuff....but if I'm being honest with myself, I admit to just a 'drop and a couple quick hops'.....3 or 4 times before putting it down.....will work at slowing it down and give it a good go tomorrow