Smokinal

Best wishes to you man!

lol uuuhhhhh, yeah, yeah; that's what I meant....

Chatterbait

Getting 16-24" tonight....

A blade bait on bottom would be my first choice for sure. Try both chrome and gold. And of course a Ned rig = green pumpkin TRD on a 1/10 Shroomz head

Welcome HPRN!!

Do you think this maybe gives the bears nightmares?

Good info @MN Fisher

Am I mistaken in doing this also sends a notification to said member? That way you can get their attention to a question or comment.

Literal nightmares...had one last night. I set the hook on a big bass and when I started to reel, I see my reel was right handed! I went into full panic mode wondering how this happened! I clumsily tried taking up line with this oddity of a reel and cranking with my right hand....still makes me sweat

Nice to see!

A-Rig for sure I've caught a few on it but never had the results of what's seen on TV or read in mags. And even though this has been my experience with it, doesn't mean I don't think it's a great tool; I just need to learn how to make it work in my waters. I will beat this bait!

I know the feeling guys! The best I found was a spot where a culvert runs under the road into another part of a pond I fish. The moving water keeps it open for a while unless it's frigid. Cold water but you can cast anyway....

Ya but.... I'll admit to you all right now that I've nibbled on this bait myself a few times

I realize that but I'm sure bass grab craws by the claws all the time, we swing and nothing is there, then my trailer comes back missing a claw...lol

Great vid Harold; should really clear up those threads of "why do I feel a tap but swing and miss?"

If you know they will be on a bait with high probability, it's a good idea to have a couple of similar baits in different colors; at least until you narrow down a certain bite/pattern. Sometimes I'll keep both on all day and just alternate between the two if both keep producing.

The only time I'll keep 2 rods rigged with similar baits is in the spring when I throw jerks; I'll have 2 different colors tied on different rods. And in the fall, the same two baits; and I'll also have 2 different lipless baits on different rods. Nice to be able to go back and forth and narrow down a pattern/color

I wonder what this guy would say... https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/05/31/record-setting-bass-caught-with-mcdonalds-chicken-nugget/22119847/

A t-rigged worm would be my 1st choice. But almost more important than the bait selection, is practicing getting a bait through the brush. You really have to finesse a worm, or any bait, through trees, brush etc... First, visualize the brush/cover you are throwing to. Visualize your worm/line draped over a limb and pull slowly up to the limb. You will feel the weight hit the cover, then just shake the rod tip and pop it over. Picture all this going on underwater. Not only will the bait come through the cover better, this slow/finesse type of retrieve usually yields more bites as it's a more natural look. Now go visualize and attack!!

Dang man! You are killin it! Great to see!

Great day ETS! And a nice report. Keep em coming as I'm fishing vicariously right now....

I don't remember my last bass, specifically. But what I do remember is the day. It was our first time on a lake I had heard had good smallies; and it didn't disappoint! We didn't catch very many, only around 12-15 each (my buddy and I) but none were under 3 lbs. That was in Oct and I dinged my prop badly that day so I had to go out and buy another prop; which I did, and I was so eager to get back out to that lake to try the prop and bust some lips but it turned cold up here really early with early snow/ice so I was never able to get back out. First time I can remember that we didn't fish into December. That place is on my radar for early smallies for sure Good to see you guys catching some fish!