Jar11591

Incredible. Love the cartoonishly bugged out eyes the giants get, like that 2nd 13 had. Like golf balls. Makes me wonder what this dude could do on Lake Baccarac or other Mexican lakes with FFS.

I usually go with 8-10 rods rigged in the boat. 7 or 8 casting rods and 1 or 2 spinning rigs. Very early or very late in the season that number may be less.

I just find it thrilling to know that a smallmouth that large was confirmed. Like Dottie, the 25 pound largemouth. The most exciting thing to me is that a 25 pound largemouth was confirmed to exist. The fact that she was snagged and didn’t qualify for an angling record was irrelevant to the fact that we had confirmation that a 25 pound largemouth existed. How this smallmouth was caught, and the technology used, is to me irrelevant to the fact that we saw a confirmed 10pound smallmouth, the first one in years and years, as far as I can remember. Like @VolFan said, just because you have the technology, doesn’t mean to know how to use it. I’m sure there are plenty of guys that strike out using FFS. FFS is just another tool used to help put fish in the boat. Even if it moves the needle more than other tools, it’s still a small part in a big picture with a million different variables.

I think this opinion is unpopular but I do not like “fried” food made in an air fryer, like fried fish or chicken fingers. They just taste very off to me. I’d prefer to just bake-fry foods in the oven if I’m not actually deep frying. I don’t know what it is about the air fryers that make the food taste so funky. We have one on our kitchen counter but I really only use it to heat frozen foods. Air fryers are one of those things that I can’t understand the hype about. But I know people swear by them!

A white Christmas means I’m out working. I feel like a Scrooge wishing it doesn’t snow on Christmas.

The use of forums, and this one especially, is an extension of something in my opinion. Usually it’s an extension of a hobby. This forum is an excellent way to be near fishing when you can’t actually be on the water. Whether your here to learn, give your own advice, or just partake in general discussions regarding bass fishing, it’s an extension of the hobby that is bass fishing that we all share. I use this forum so much because the next best thing to fishing is talking fishing with other fishermen. So I come here to learn, give advice when I can, and just engage in general bass fishing conversation when I can’t be on the water, because fishing is omnipresent in my head but I can’t be on the water every waking second. This is the only forum I use because bass fishing is the only passion deep enough for me to want to be near, around, or discussing it CONSTANTLY. And even though there are other bass and fishing forums, I can’t imagine I’d stand anything to gain from them that I don’t already get from BR, like the information, camaraderie, and many other things.

Rigging an underspin on the paddletail will up your odds of pike in my opinion, and could help with the smallmouth too. I usually want some sort of flash when fishing for pike.

Lot of maintenance. The reels that need minor servicing I will do myself. The reels that need a full service will be sent to DVT. I have to repair the seat on my boat. Trolling motor needs some minor TLC as well. I’ll probably get a couple new rods and reels over the winter as well. I usually like to start out a new season with a new technique specific combo or two. Adding to the collection really helps me get through the winter. I’ve started messing around with making some baits from balsa wood, and will start making some soft plastics as well. I’ve wanted to do it the last several winters but finally got started And like every winter I’ll be reading a ton, studying contour maps, scouting new water bodies, and checking the forecast everyday as if the northeast NY winter will somehow miraculously end early this year.

Rock bass fight like crazy for the first 0.5 seconds of the fight, then give up immediately. Just long enough to trick you into thinking you have a good fish. But overall I think they’re the weakest fighting of the centrarchids.

2 years ago I quit my career of 10 years to make my side hustle doing lawn care my full time job. A buddy of mine co-owns the business. 2 years in, we have dozens and dozens of year round customers. So far the risk has paid off. I don’t have a boss, the money can be good, I get to work outside, and generally enjoy what I do now.

Smallmouth are much harder fighting in my opinion. Of course every individual fish can be different, but overall there’s no comparison on my eyes. Big largemouth can pull very hard, but smallmouth half as big can equal their output. I would say about 20% of my hooked largemouth go airborne, where smallmouth are approaching 100%, so there’s that as well.

#1 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap

I don’t fish wacky rigs all the way back to the boat. For me they’re strictly used for trying to get a bite on the fall. If it doesn’t get hit a second or 2 after it hits bottom, I reel up and throw it at another target spot. There are plenty of soft baits I’ll fish all the way back to boat, but a wacky rig aint one. Some may think it’s wrong. ??‍♂️

Callin for 5+ inches today. I have about 35 houses on the schedule so I’ll be working all night.

Perfect timing on the post. Got a snowy day here and bass have never seemed so far away. Gonna watch these to help the cabin fever.

@Darth-Baiter that story certainly did not disappoint ?

I don’t have any secret baits, but when talking to people at the launch, I tend to keep it somewhat vague. “Soft plastics” or “moving baits” is what I generally reply when asked what I was catching them on. I don’t think it helps anyone if you have 15 dudes all throwing a T-rigged structure bug with a 5/16oz bullet at the same exact stump because Jar11591 told em. I generally don’t ask what people are using either, because if they’re biting I’m gonna catch ‘em regardless. Locations are what I’m a little more tight lipped about. There are several isolated humps, logs, drop offs and boulders that I’ve found to be productive through years or fishing, only visible on sonar. These spots I’d like for people to continue to ignore. But it’s public water, so even “secrets” aren’t exactly secret.

@AlabamaSpothunter sounds insane. Looking forward to the video. Very nice fish too.

I was about to say, that’s not normal tempered window glass, that’s lammy. Didn’t know about that on newer vehicles. Lammy will cut you up bad too if you’re not careful.

A few deer just strolling by my window. I’ve seen more deer since moving to this neighborhood 5 months ago than I have the rest of my life combined.

@Aaron_H Hawg!

I wish I was as good with a camera as some people. My food shots could make chicken parm look like oatmeal.

I have more free time in the winter, so my dishes get a little fancier. Tonight was broccoli Asiago risotto:

Im just imagining a 39 year old Judge, relegated to DH only facing RHP, hitting .200 with 20 home runs, getting completely trashed by Yankee fans like he wasn’t a dominant force at one time. A-Rod was an absolute monster in a Yankee uniform. But because he got the biggest contract at the time, Yankee fans and media held him to an unrealistic standard. Judge has to do better than .300, 45+HR and 120+RBI which is still a huge season and will have you in the triple crown race. But that becomes not good enough for NY as soon as you sign your name on the dotted line.