Steveo-1969

Winter is the toughest season for me to catch bass. I fish a river that gets down in the 30s during the winter. I haven’t found any smallmouth wintering holes I can reach from the bank so for me the smallmouth just disappear. I start catching them from the bank again in April as the water warms up.

My biggest smallmouth was 21.5”. I don’t weigh my fish so no idea how heavy she was. I caught it on a skirted finesse jig from my local river.

Ha-ha! I made it to 27 years old before I got kicked out. WV doesn’t have its own team so people here are more tolerant. FTP

Welcome to Bass Resource. I was born and raised in Wisconsin before moving to WV. Go Bears!!!

I have given up using baits with treble hooks because I don’t want to deal with them any more. The proverbial straw was while wade fishing a handful of years ago. I had a feisty smallmouth swim between my (bare) legs with a small crankbait on the outside of its mouth. I didn’t get hooked but that was enough of a scare for me to say single hooks only.

Welcome to Bass Resource from a fellow West Virginia river wading smallmouth addict!!

First smallie of the year came 2 months earlier than usual. I’ll take it!!

Baby Rage Craw Baby Rage Menace Ned Rage Bug

My smallmouth fishing is done in a very rocky river in 6 feet or less and the skirted jig is my favorite way to catch them! I fish a 3/16 ounce Strike King Bitsy Bug jig. BPS usually has them on sale during the Spring Classic (I’ve seen them as low as $1.39 - $1.69) and I stock up for the season. There are more expensive jigs with “better” hooks but don’t let anyone poo-poo these jigs until you try one. The 2/0 bronze hook is usually sticky sharp (and easily sharpened with a file) and won’t bend out with the appropriate rod power and line.

I was never really a cologne guy, but for the past year I’ve been using oil in my beard. The scent wears off very quickly with most oils but for one of the beard companies I use the scent can last all day.

I use the Trilene Knot for my line-to-lure knot for ALL line types. Mono, copoly, FC, braid. I can tie it easily, I can tie it quickly, I can tie it perfectly.

Caught my PB walleye in 2022. 28.5 inches

Swimjig - Tom Monsoor

Berkley Half Head for Ned Rigs here. Good price. Great hook. Great keeper.

I can confirm that there is a 2023 BPS Spring Master Fishing Catalog!! I work for a printing company and my plant printed the 600 page catalog over the past 3 weeks. I don’t know the perfect binding or mailing schedule but these catalogs should be hitting mailboxes soon.

Welcome to BR! I was born and raised in Wisconsin then kicked out 25 years ago for being a Bears fan. FTP

WV Resident annual fishing license is $24 ($19 fishing license + $5 Conservation Stamp). Trout fisherman also need to purchase a $10 Trout Fishing Stamp.

All great suggestions so far! Don’t overlook a 4” Berkley Powerbait Power Worm. I’ll Texas rig on a 2/0 worm hook or fish it on a jig head.

This^^^^^

Wading is my favorite way to fish in summer and fall. Shorts and Crocs when the water is warm. Chest waders when it gets colder.

Upper Potomac River (Dam #4)

^^^^^ THIS

Welcome to Bass Resource. ?⬇️

None of the above. Wade fishing for me!