everythingthatswims

I almost exclusively snell gammy octopus hooks. Anywhere from a #10 on 6lb fluoro for trout to an 8/0 on 80lb fluoro for amberjack, never had this problem you have mentioned.

I think it's more baitfish. This lake has a pretty barren bottom.

Sounds like a capstone project to me

I am well aware that bass have very keen senses and have experienced the same differences between baits on certain days, I was just saying that I don't think those senses would be near as heightened in lower 40 and upper 30 degree water temperatures that blades are often fished in. Purely assumption though.

Is there really much of a difference between a plain jane Silver Buddy and a fancy Damiki Vault or Lucky Craft blade? I'm sure the vibrations of the baits are slightly different, and the looks obviously are too, but in the water temperatures we use blade baits in, I can't imagine that a bass's senses are heightened enough to pick out those differences to a point where one would be more effective than the other? I'm sure some of you guys have fished them all, and I want to hear about it! Thanks BR.

I bought a used Calcutta Conquest 50 from Japan, and that thing sure has seen action, the reel performs very well, but it has a large number of battle scars.. I would kill to give that reel the ability to talk, and tell me what in the heck it was doing over there in Japan

I've been throwing chatterbaits on a 7' medium for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's just me, but with a long sweeping hookset it is not hard to get the open hook on a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or swimbait on a jighead to set. Seriously look at the no8 hellbent rods. They are dirt cheap and I like them more than the nicer rods I have. Very lightweight, sensitive, and responsive. The 7' Medium sees chatterbaits and jerkbaits when it's in my hands.

GYCB 5" twin tail grub

My best tip for largemouth in fast flowing rivers is find the slowest moving water, slow water with wood is almost a guarantee. They are lazy. Largemouth in fast flowing rivers have got to be one of the most predictable largemouth out there. Once you get the hang of it, you'll see a pocket, and go "yep, a largemouth lives right there".

The best bargain bin deals are at fishing expos. I got 2 packs of jackall clone gills (retail 12.99) for 4 bucks a pack, it might have been less than that!

Getchoo sum keitech swing impact swimbaits for dem spots

Though I have never cleaned a white bass, with fish that have a lot of red meat like this picture, I find the best way to do it is leave a little breathing room between the skin and the knife when you cut the filet off of the skin, and most of that red meat will be attached to the skin when you're done, normally not more than an 1/8" thick, then the only dark part is right along the lateral line.

If you have dirty water in the winter in a pond, and you get 3 sunny days in a row, go find water 5' and less, and fish one of the little rebel floaters you can find in the bargain bin at walmart. Don't ask me how I figure that out, but I do that every single winter with great success. Caught one that taped out at 24" doing that one time.

Gorgeous fish!

Give it a while before you start to work on your baits. Judging from your location, you have a few months ahead of you that you may need to have fishing stuff to work on in order to keep you sane!

I do think that was the coldest day I've ever fished, think it was 18 degrees when we started in the morning. About every third cast you just had to dunk the whole rod and reel in the water to thaw it out. That was also the day I was introduced to war eagle spinnerbaits, the same ones that fill my tackle boxes today, and got me the 2nd place finish at Kentucky Lake. Funny how things work out!

Bassresource pretty much was the only reason I was able to get involved with competitive bass fishing, and I am VERY grateful for that. @Sam Invited me to fish a tournament at Lake Anna, and gave up his seat in a boat when someone had engine troubles so that I could fish! That was my first time ever fishing on a bass boat, and the first tournament I ever fished in. I had a blast! @livetofish28 contacted me through this forum about being his high school tournament partner, introducing me to tournament bass fishing, and that has led to many great things!

One time when I was 10 or 11, my grandfather took my younger brother and I trout fishing about an hour from where we live. We spent the day on public streams, and I think my brother and I landed 8 fish, the limit is 6 a piece so we stopped by a pay pond on our way home, and selectively caught 4 beautiful, giant male brook trout, and told dad that they came from the creek!

Oh definitely, I like proving people wrong. "Too cold/rainy/windy" "They aren't supposed to do that this time of year"

I fish keitech swing impacts and swing impact fats almost exclusively Occasionally I will use zoom swimmin' flukes and swimmin' fluke jrs when I want more movement and vibration, which is either when I use them for stripers, or as a trailer.

Just some type of knee high muck boot

Bop them on the head, cut the gills, and put on ice.

Southwestern Virginia. The water I was fishing isn't even listed as trout water

I meant why do you doubt that another 20+ will come from Japan, I know nothing about it, I'm just curious. That is interesting about how big of a grey area fish that size fall into when it comes to making things official.

Why do you doubt it?