Jar11591

I take search baits as a bait that can cover water fast in the hopes of finding active fish, as opposed to target casting. For example, a spinnerbait burned over an expansive weed flat or rock pile trying to find where exactly they are would be a search bait as opposed to methodically flipping a jig at shoreline targets. Although you’re still “searching” when flipping a jig, you aren’t covering as much water, and you’re casting to targets you assume will hold fish instead of trying to locate them with a bite. Just what I take it to mean.

Upstate NY winters suck and can be brutal, but you guys are making me glad I don’t live in the upper Midwest. Seems like winter is a little longer for y’all. Here in Saratoga County NY it’s going up to 70° today and dumping an inch of rain. Higher elevations up in the Adirondacks are still getting whacked with winter but where I am it’s just about over.

When I have fish swipe at a moving bait, I almost always immediately follow it up with a wacky rig or jig right to the same spot. I am of the opinion that the hive-mind of bass can be very overstated, so I wouldn’t be certain bass want a moving bait after having 1 missed strike and a couple subsequent follows. What I would infer is that other bass may be found in similar cover, depth and temperature. I would try to recreated the situation that led to the strike, but I wouldn’t force feed them reaction baits if it only elicited one strike.

When my dad showed my how to Texas rig a Culprit ribbontail, I never would have imagined I’d end up going all the way to Mexico to chase these fish. Never thought I’d end up with bookcases full of tackle, dozens of rods and reels, more packs of soft plastics then I could use in a lifetime, a boat and fish finder. Never thought I’d set the hook in my sleep, be able to identify almost any kind of freshwater seaweed, plan trips every year around bass, or make baits in my garage, or have multiple sets of fishing clothes, or hang paintings (not even photos, but there’s lots of those too) of bass on my walls. You get the idea. I never would have guessed that simply being shown how to Texas rig a worm and catching a 10” bass at a park pond would evolve into a life long pursuit and obsession of micropterus.

April always gives up some hawgs for me. Looking forward to hitting the water in the next couple weeks when things are thawed. I’m salivating with anticipation.

Had to celebrate the 7-2 victory! Working a job out of town with a buddy of mine for a week and as soon as I get back the water will be open and I’ll be sticking some hawgs!

Sunrise Session IPA by Northway Brewing.

You've heard of a Michigan dog, Chicago dog, the Coney Island dog...now we have the Tennessee dog. Just dunk it in the river and add a little seaweed relish & megastrike.

It’s only cheating if rules are being broken. That being said, I don’t enjoy live bait fishing for bass as much as I do using artificials. Live bait doesn give me that same rush and feeling of accomplishment. I do use live worms when fishing for panfish and I may float a live worm down a brook when fishing for trout, but that’s about the extent of my live bait fishing. Its only cheating if a rule is being broken.

Site sponsor @Delaware Valley Tackle should be able to take care of it for you. Does great work.

Well dang, Glenn. Sorry to hear about your horrible 2022. Happy to hear you’re healthy again. And thanks for the PSA PSA. Something I really needed to hear. I can be stupidly stubborn and hate going to the doctor. Wishing you much better 2023. You deserve a PB.

Not surprised, they are in some of the larger bodies of water around here like Lake Champlain. I’m near the eastern stretch near where it dumps into the Hudson. Although I’d like to know when northern pike we’re considered rare (according to Cornell) in the Mohawk. It’s been loaded with pike for my entire existence.

He mentioned he’s fishing the Mohawk River. There are no trout in the Mohawk.

Way to start the season. I’m in upstate NY as well and my lakes are still 75% or more frozen. Nice looking crankbait as well. Perfect pumpkinseen/bluegill imitation!

@BrianMDTX That phenomenon is called the uncanny valley. I find it so fascinating.

This is something I do a lot in cold water as well. Just shake the slack of the line, the jig will stay in place but the skirt will pulsate. Excellent cold water jig technique!

Sounds similar to the Uncanny Valley. Very interesting.

Most of the time I do as well. Usually when I'm trout fishing I'm in close quarters on a small stream, with overhanging trees and brush. Having a long rod would be cumbersome. I have a couple trout rods that are 5' and 5'6". Good for slinging a 1/8oz rooster tail or slip-bobber rig in tight spaces.

I fished the 3D Craw on Lake Baccarac. I was using it as a jig trailer on an evening when they were biting really well, but nothing was interested in the jig with the 3D Craw trailer. When I switched to a Rage Craw trailer they had no problem eating the jig, as well as a paddle-tail swimbait trailer. Admittedly I wasn't overly confident in the 3D Craw so that may have had something to do with my lack of success, but on a day where they were hitting most things you threw at them, they seemed uninterested in the 3D Craw.

3.25” for me. I can throw it on a ned head or throw in on the back of a spinnerbait.

Still mostly iced in here, but if I pick up where I left off last year, the spinnerbait has been the hot bait for me for size and numbers.

Nice Hawgs Dwight

If it weren’t for line, I could fish a few lifetimes without having to restock. But I go through line pretty quickly and can never seem to keep a huge stock unlike everything else fishing related. Right now I can probably go the rest of the year before I had to buy more line.

I like a chunk with more of a subtle action in cold water. NetBait Paca chunk is a good fit.

When “match the hatch” is executed perfectly! I’d be reaching for those baits as well.