blongfishing

What do you do to MAKE yourself slow down? I’m having a hard time slowing down as the water temp cools down. I know, it probably sounds dumb but I just find myself going way too fast with my bait. I have had no problem in years past. I think this is in part to the way I fish all summer. Running and gunning (hitting 20+ spots a day, making 5 casts with a topwater, and then moving to the next one and repeat) on blueback herring lakes is how I fish all summer. Is there a way y’all slow down? Counting down? What is it? Maybe I’m just overthinking and over complicating things.

I lived on the lake for a little bit. Personally I think it was great. I could go out the back door and fish whenever I wanted to. That was in my teen years so I didn’t own the house and lived with someone else but I personally loved it. Now I no longer live on the lake but I am surrounded by a bunch of lakes within an hour drive. I am working to one day build on the same lake especially because I work on that lake now (dock repair). One thing that I would recommend and hope to do myself based off of many bass fisherman that I know that live on the lake, is to have another boat always in the water. I don’t know your situation but I am a tournament angler much like the other folks I know. Having one boat to fish tournaments and go other places and having another boat to keep at the dock (my choice would be an older aluminum boat) is the most ideal and easiest if you can afford it and it makes sense for you. Overall, I’d say go for it. It’s what I hope to do someday. ps: I see you have Clemson in your username. If you are from the Clemson University area then you’re probably thinking Hartwell or Keowee. That’s where I am from and where I work. If you are from the area hit me up when you need a dock and boat lift when you move into that lake house ;)

Just realized mid-writing this is very old but brought back up. Lol. I'm gonna share my knowledge in case anyone is curious for future reference! I'm a member of a college fishing team (Lander University). I received a scholarship to fish at this school. I'm a former high school angler that was recruited by colleges that gave scholarships. I didn't have the best stats as far as finishes and what not but I'll give you some advice for things that colleges look for (from the POV of now seeing how recruiting works on a team and being recruited myself). Advice: Social Media presence (really big so colleges can see you are active and can keep up with finishes and whatnot.), networking (if you know any college fishing coaches *they do exist now* talk with them and see what they look for), and just fish (just go fishing and like sponsors, they will come to you if they exist in your area) Another avenue that I'm not too familiar with but see a lot of success through is a website called TopTierFishing (also on instagram). It is a recruiting website for high school anglers that colleges will use to recruit students. Like I said, didn't use it personally but it looks like a flourishing way of colleges recruiting for bass fishing. College fishing is a great thing for students and has truly been great to me personally. I'm a big advocate for college fishing and want to help anyone curious get into it. Feel free to message me on Instagram @blongfishing and I'd love to answer any questions and I only get on here periodically when the busyness of school and actual fishing time isn't overwhelming so that's the best way to reach me.

Gonna copy and paste this from another post where a gentleman from Anderson was searching for a club. Chesnee isn't quite as close as Anderson to Hartwell. Lol. But, there's some good clubs that fish around Greenwood, Savannah River Lakes, and whatnot around here. "I am from the same area (Greenville & Anderson). I fish college (Lander University, Greenwood, SC) so schedules are sometimes conflicting so I haven't actually fished in any clubs around here. Lots of good ones from what I can tell. One I would recommend is Tri-City Bassmasters. I believe their annual beginning of the season meeting is January 4th in Easley. I'd definitely recommend joining them. Also, there is several facebook groups, one being "Upstate SC Bass tournament notifier". I also saw that a new Sunday Series was put together on Hartwell. It's called Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Sunday Series. It is BASS affiliated and looks like it's gonna be pretty good. I am gonna try to fish a few of them myself." Good luck!

I am from the same area (Greenville & Anderson). I fish college (Lander University, Greenwood, SC) so schedules are sometimes conflicting so I haven't actually fished in any clubs around here. Lots of good ones from what I can tell. One I would recommend is Tri-City Bassmasters. I believe their annual beginning of the season meeting is January 4th in Easley. I'd definitely recommend joining them. Also, there is several facebook groups, one being "Upstate SC Bass tournament notifier". I also saw that a new Sunday Series was put together on Hartwell. It's called Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Sunday Series. It is BASS affiliated and looks like it's gonna be pretty good. I am gonna try to fish a few of them myself.

I'm about to leave for college and need to service (annual "check up" service) my outboard so I'm good to go for all my tournaments through the fall and into spring. I live in South Carolina so I will be using my boat throughout the winter. I will most likely be doing the servicing myself because I used to do my older outboard (1996 Johnson Fast Strike) with no issues and even rebuilt the whole thing myself pretty much. If I do have any problems my family owns a marine mechanic and sales shop so they are just a phone call away. The current engine I own is a 2004 Yamaha VMAX 150 (2 stroke engine). What I am looking for is a list of all the things that should be checked or maintenanced in a typical outboard annual service? I bought the boat in March and this is really the first time I am doing any work to it. I have no idea when the last time everything was checked but the previous owner said everything had been kept up to date and checked yearly. So if you have any other advice as to stuff to look at feel free to let me know. I have a list somewhere of all the things I had hoped to check/replace but off the top of my head I had spark plugs, impeller, lower unit oil, filters, compression check, check the prop for line, and a few other things that I can't remember at the moment but are on the list. If you have any other things I should take a look at not pertaining to the outboard then let me know. Id love to make myself a check list so going forward I will have the things I need to check! Thanks in advance and again, I have a 2004 Yamaha VMAX 150

I am excited about the cut'r worm. I use the regular cut'r worm Neko rigged and the spotted bass love the action given off by the tail as to falls. I can feel it now, lift up on the rod, let it fall, lift up again, bass on the other end running!

Honestly, this is what I am looking forward to the most. I try to keep it simple and not buy every new bait and "thing" that comes out but I've wanted/needed (kinda...) a new trolling motor since I bought this boat in March and really even when I had my previous boat. I was on the verge of buying an Ultrex a few weeks ago but then it hit me that all these new trolling motors would be released at iCast. My biggest hope is for a trolling motor with ultrex capabilities with the same quality but better price (I know, it's a lot to ask for) and with no bugs. I am a Lowrance guy so I am hoping their new trolling motor will fit my needs. With that being said regarding the bugs, I might wait a bit because anything new is gonna have a few kinks. I am still excited to see all the new stuff released and will probably end up spending a couple hundred on icast released items.

Same for me here in South Carolina. As luck would have it, the days that are supposed to be nice I have to work. Hopefully get out for a few hours sometime this week... Hopefully!

Same thing happened to me on Sunday. Ended up catching a good many fish and a lot of them were gut hooked. Unfortunately, two of them kicked the bucket (I was keeping them in the live well as I was fishing a friendly tournament. On Monday I fished again and only had 1 gut hooked. I figured out the issue on my hour long drive home from the lake. On Sunday the lake was packed with pleasure boaters and the wind was blowing so I was having a lot of trouble feeling the bait and majority of the time I gave my Shakey head a little lift to see if it was on the bottom and a fish was on there. Monday had no wind and I was the only boat out there it seemed. I narrowed it down to not being able to feel the bite as being the culprit of gut hooking them. I guess a way of fixing that would be to check if I had hit bottom a little sooner but it's a challenge to do so.

Either stay shallow or move out deep after spawning. One thing that I have found is that the secondary point you find them on prespawn are the same points you will find them post spawn. This weekend I had a tournament and fished the same places I fished a month or so ago when they were prespawn.

I know FLW and Costa put on a summer camp. It looks awesome. Not sure if sign ups are still going or not. https://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2018-03-15-costa-flw-launch-high-school-fishing-summer-camp

I always joke with my buddies (not really joking, honestly) and say I don't hate winter fishing because it's cold. I hate winter fishing because I have to take off all 57 layers to use the bathroom. Jokes aside, I am the world's worst when it comes to having to take a bathroom break while out fishing. I try to stay hydrated so I'm always getting that urge. In simple terms I just whip er' out and go but my biggest issue is that I am always either fishing docks around houses or fishing a hole out deep that is surrounded by other anglers or main lake where someone is constantly riding by. I try to hide behind the motor or something but sometimes I just say "who cares" and let it loose because I got to go.

Thanks for all the help guys! I guess I had just never heard much about shoals up north. Spotted bass are similar to smallmouth in my little experience so the mentioned situations are relevant to me. Lo n slo, I see you are from NC and your approach is what I picture myself doing every time but the wind always blows me too shallow and I feel like I've gotten too close to the shoal at that point. Definitely want to fish shoals more often because I've seen some big fish come off of them.

The blueback herring/shad spawn is on at my local lake and you can catch bass on just about any point or *shoal* you pull up on. This is my favorite time of year and I love chasing the bait and fish because its a new puzzle every hour honestly. Here's my question for ya'll... How do you fish or approach shoals? Some of you up north or other parts of the country may not have them. (I've just never heard of other people talking about them outside of SC/GA/NC) What I'm referring to is basically a mini island or hump that is slightly below or above the water (many people lose their props to them. LOL). I fish them from time to time but I feel like my approach is off. Such as my positioning, what I'm casting to, etc. What's the best way to fish a shoal?

Just bought a new (used) boat that already had electronics on it. I had graphs off of my old boat sitting in my closet so I figured 'the more, the merrier' and decided to add one of them to the console (the existing unit also didn't have side scan and my unit off the old boat does). I am trying to figure out how to configure my transducers. The unit already on the boat has a transducer epoxied to the hull. I'd like to avoid drilling holes in the boat. My questions are: 1. Can I epoxy them both to the hull? 2. If so, will I get interference? 3. If I drill holes and add the transducer to the back off the boat will I still get interference with them being 2-3' apart? If it helps, the units are Lowrance Elite 7HDI (HDI Skimmer Transducer) and Lowrance Hook2 (long, weird looking triple shot transducer). Also important to add that the cables are different so I'm unable to network them together. Thanks in advance as always!

Just bought a new bass boat today and love it except I have no way of locking my lids. It is a skeeter sx190 with the clamp style lids that you kinda squeeze to open. I was thinking maybe a Loc-R-Bar but they are close to $300 and I'd like to get away cheaper than that. Anyway to convert them to the other style or how should I go about finding a method to lock my hatches.

Same. Depending how busy I am, I might try to join a club when I get to Greenwood for college. Not for sure but I'd like to.

I always just tied it to the reel or hook keeper but I saw this video from Ott DeFoe that I thought was genius and it os how I've stored mine ever since. https://www.facebook.com/ottdefoe/videos/564054390760745/

I think a hydro wave has a lot to do with confidence. I don't have one on my boat but my partner has one on his boat and I've seen it work. We fish blueback herring lakes where you are constantly chasing bait and waiting for fish to school. I have seen it ignite a school and you are able to catch one every cast for a few minutes. The biggest thing I have heard from other anglers is the hydrowave masks the sound of the trolling motor. I feel like it just makes the angler more confident that you have another way of attracting fish. I have heard stories of fish coming up to the speaker and looking at it. I plan to get one on my new boat this summer because I've seen what it can do and I feel like it's another tool you can have while on the water. If you find a good deal I'd personally buy it if the situations I have described fit you. I'm surprised you haven't had a bigger response.

My fishing partner loves throwing an Alabama rig, especially in the winter months. We took a trip to Norman in January to practice for his college event and he slammed them on an Alabama rig (unfortunately don't think it set up for that or if he was even allowed to throw to in the tournament). Anyhow, I want to start throwing the rig a bit myself just to master a new bait. I don't have a rod that I would say can handle the Alabama rig the best. What is everyone's opinion on a good rod, reel, and even line to throw it on? Looking more for length, action, gear ratio, and line size rather than a brand but feel free to drop those suggestions as well. Appreciate the help as always!

This rule is nothing new and pretty much all major tournament trails do this. I know even on the high school level with BASS you can't accept information. In fact, today I was looking over my rules packet for a BASS event I'm fishing coming up next week. One of the first rules says that if anyone even mentions the slightest thing about the lakes conditions, baits, or anything of that nature you have to stick your fingers in your ears and say "I am not able to accept information for this tournament". On the water while fishing you can share information with other competitors but off the water it is a "no-no" Quoted from the rules: "During Official Practice, you cannot solicit (ask) for fishing advice from anyone who isn't entered into the tournament. Example, if you are fishing down a bank and a person comes out on the dock and starts to tell you where to go or how to fish, you answer is easy. "Madam/sir, I appreciate you trying to help me but per rule I cannot get any advice from anyone who isn't fishing in the tournament."

Same thing happened to my grandfather. He was never an avid tournament fisherman but enjoyed wetting a line every now and then. I was really his only avenue to go fishing because no one else in my family (mom's side anyways, dad's side is a different story) would go out fishing with him. I'm only 18 years old but I can honestly say that one of my biggest regrets that will probably hang over me for a long long time is not taking him fishing. Sure, I have memories of us fishing together but in the moment you don't think it will be the last time. Really wish I would have taken him out and been patient and bobber fish one last time. My biggest advice: Please..please...please take him out and make every attempt to fish one last time.

For me, it's the same lure I keep writing on my "fishing goals" list every year. Jigs!! I know, it's arguably the most versatile lures made but I just don't have confidence I guess. I catch five fish (give or take) every year on a jig but I wanna be able to throw it and have no doubts. I think the best thing for me to do is bring nothing but my jig rod and jig box on the boat one day and gain confidence. Aside from lures, one thing I wanna focus on learning is grass lakes. Upstate SC doesn't have grass lakes nearby. This fall I will be moving on to college fishing and I think that it will be essential for me to learn grass lakes. Guess I gotta make a few trips to grass lakes this summer!

My uncle that is a striped bass guide was actually the first person who told me to keep a log. He started guiding 20+ years ago but he always kept a log himself. After I started, it was better than any fishing report or anything else. Especially in high school fishing when the schedule typically repeated itself year to year, it was a huge help. I keep it pretty basic. Pretty much just write down: date, lake, moon phase, locations, baits, approximate weight, and a section to leave notes that could include anything, mostly stuff I wish I would have thrown. LOL. This year I decided to take an astronomy class in school. Started out pretty boring but when we reached the tides and moon phases unit, I was all ears. Studying moon phases and tides and seeing the direct correlation between bass patterns and moon phases is actually amazing. Moon phases is always something you (or at least for me) hear in passing or something you don't really look into. When I started to think about it, I realized the great impact the Moon has! Anyways, a fishing log is certainly the greatest tool I've had in the past few years! I'm also a little old school when it comes to my logs. Still use pen and paper! Many great apps out there but I'm still a pen and paper fan.