hawgenvy

I have an 8 foot Powell 3D heavy punching rod (rated 3/4 to 2 oz) that I'll use for punching through hyacinth mats with a 1 1/2 oz weight, but I'll also use it with lighter weight or a 1/4 to 1/2 oz jig/trailer in the specific application of fishing in heavy lily pads where the lure will fall through easily because the spaces between the pads are accessible yet it takes a ton of muscle to control the fish and pull it out, especially when the rascal dives for the roots. There is also the advantage of wielding a heavy punching rod if you're lucky enough to get bitten by a 7+ pounder anywhere near heavy cover, or for using an A-rig. And I have no trouble pitching a small jig with the big rod. But generally it's a lot nicer and probably more productive, and certainly less exhausting, to work a jig with a 7 or so foot MH or H even in cover as long as you're not punching mats. Hope this makes sense.

It's very easy to get badly spoiled when you have access to golf ponds full of hungry bass that no one else fishes. And they're banked all around by gently sloping expertly manicured grass without trees or bushes to block your casts. If you're lucky, you can borrow a cart that you can load up like a bass boat, with a bunch of rods, tackle, and refreshments. It'll have a canvas top against sun and rain, and a little fan if you get too warm. Just watch out for flying balls and angry golfers. (Hey, why not a caddy, too, a retired or part time bass pro or guide? He'll drive the cart, put you in the best spots, suggest baits and rods, tie your lures, unhook your many fish, and weigh and photograph your trophies. Then off to the clubhouse for a massage, steam bath, shower, and cocktails. That's what I'll have on the golf course I'm planning to buy after I win this week's $1.3 billion lottery. I might let a few other anglers in for a day of guided bank fishing -- for, say, $230 apiece. We don't want it too popular; fishing pressure, you know.)

I've generally done better from shore, fishing small local waters, usually in the evening after work. I think the key is having access to ponds you can't drop a boat into, and locating nearby places few people fish. I caught twenty bass in an hour three days ago from shore on a little blue Horny Toad, and all day in a boat on Lake Okeechobee yesterday with only a handful of bites. Then this evening I fished for ten minutes on a residential pond right behind my friends' house, caught a feisty 3 1/2 pound bass on a swimbait, then strolled back inside the house and feasted with my wife and friends on New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp, French bread, and beer. How can you beat that?

Yes, I mean conditioning, which is learning in it's simplest form, also called "associative learning."

Though they surely can't "reason," bass are, without question, able to learn. Even microscopic animals, way more primitive than fish, can learn to avoid certain noxious stimuli. The ability to learn is itself instinctual.

Thanks, SFL BassHunter. It was a beautiful silent morning, windless, the just-risen sun finally dissipating the fog. Pulled out my iPhone for the photo before the first cast.

Fished out of J&S today, in the northeast part of O. It was a beautiful day and we were expecting great things, but the bite was very slow. A couple of boats including ours, only boated two bass, and I tell you we worked hard for those two, all day long. But tomorrow may be great. Who knows. Photo from 7:05 AM.

Thanks for bringing that up. Hadn't thought of it from that perspective.

I've been hassled a lot. Many people seem to dislike anglers. Fisherman spend most of their time quietly casting, peacefully minding their own business, are generally respectful of the environment and leave no trace. It seems inexplicable.

I think there are connections to the water canal grid. But the weather just changed. Anyway, this was the first good soft frog day for me since early spring. I've been doing okay on Keitech swim baits the past two months, but they completely ignored the swimbait today, and really hammered my frog. Those bassies just do the darndest things!

Just last week I spooled up 50lb Seaguar Smackdown Green Braid, currently on sale at TW for 45% off. It's thin, smooth, quiet, knots are strong, made in Japan. I really do like it a lot so far. It is considerably thinner and smoother than 832 or PP, both of which I have used a lot. Seems to cast really well. Caught 20+ frog fish on it this evening, so fish don't mind it -- till they're hooked! Then they don't like it at all. If you're thinking about it, buy it while the sale is on. Otherwise it's pretty costly.

According to this linked "fish science" article, some bass can remember an inedible lure for at least three months. I imagine that when a bass experiences a dramatic hookset and is then dragged through the water to the point of exhaustion by a hook buried in that lure, such memory might become indelibly reinforced -- at least in the sharper minded members of the species. In another article, on the other hand, it was reported that a (probably) less well mentally endowed (and ID tagged) individual was caught 27 times in a particular lake in a single season. That's what you call a dumbbass. http://www.***/apps/forums/topics/show/3246698-bass-biology-memory-spans-of-largemouth-

Nice article. Should be in the BR archives, if it's not there already.

There are so many variables, it's hard to know. I bank fish a lot of small local ponds, and on a few of them I might be the first angler they ever see. Sometimes a brand new spot can be crazy hot. But after a couple of trips to a small active spot it may not be the same again for months or perhaps years, even with baits I haven't before thrown into that particular area. And I release all the fish. I am fairly sure I single handedly pressure some ponds, and I try to stay away from small productive areas as long as I can stand it, and try to rotate all small waters that I fish. Also, I think the mark of a truly talented angler is the ability to pull good fish out of a pressured lake.

Zoom Horny Toad (June Bug) was yummy for the LMB this evening on ponds in Boca Raton. Caught about 20 between 4:30 and 6 pm.

Interesting! Thanks! But how do you cut them when ready? Do you use a metal or plastic pattern as a guide? Different sizes, different patterns?

The line rating is a rough guide and has more to do with the strength and intended use of the rod than some sort of breaking point of the blank. In fact, unless it states "braid," the line rating refers to the rating of mono-filament line that one would typically use on that rod. For example, bass anglers probably take for granted that a heavy/fast action rod that one might use for tossing frogs, although it lists a specified line rating of, say 12 - 25 lb, is more likely than not going to be fished with 50 - 65 lb braided line on a bait caster reel. A rod is expected to hold up with normal use regardless of line used and the warranties are not conditioned on line strength (not that I'd mention 80 lb braid when sending it back). In this sense it is a ridiculous system, and confusing as heck for novices, yet somehow it is still a handy guide. Some rods now will mention braided line strength, or both braid and mono, which is better. The lure weight rating is also a rough guide, but perhaps handy if you're looking for a punching setup that'll handle a 2 oz flipping weight or an A rig. Some say the line rating has more to do with line diameter (braid is much thinner than mono given any specified line rating), but I don't really buy that either. Maybe it ought to have something to do with a reel's drag strength. If you use 80 pound braid on a big reel whose drag can clamp down to 50 pounds, and your rod says 30 lbs, you had better be gentle with that 100 pound catfish or your rod will be broken or you and the catfish may both be in the river. The whole rod line rating system was much more revered in the ancient world of mono only. Now we realize it's a rough guide at best and a pile of bull droppings at worst. Anyway, this post is off the top of my head, and my head was earlier filled with a beer, so i can't be sure I've told you right, and I am open to rebuttals. It does look like a pretty good sermon to me though. Burp.

Oh, my God. I think I just caught a cold from looking at this photo.

Mudfish, Snook, or Snakehead or BERKLEY! (okay, I'm not very romantic). (I'm definitely naming my next dog Mudfish -- unless you do) (Actually, Berkley is a pretty cute name. Furuno is awkward to say; and you'd have to spell it out for everyone) I think you should go with Berkley. Great old name in fishing products, too. It'll go like this: "Hi everybody! Meet my new puppy, Berkley! "Wow, On Lake Time, Berkley's soooo cuuute! Love the name, too. Reminds me of the time my dad landed a 575 lb tuna on Berkley Big Game mono. He says it's the best line ever!" "Really?" Yeah, that's right. And you must be the best person ever! And Berkley's the best dog name ever! And the best puppy ever." "You truly think so?" "I truly do." "Oh, Berkley!" (Dog gets a big hug here, and Berkley vigorously licks off the happy tears from On Lake Time's laughing face.)

I suck

Hello Yawai, Many American bass fisherman are very grateful to the Japanese for producing wonderful products that we use every day. For example, I use Shimano reels, Keitech and Yamamoto baits, Seaguar lines, and Gamakatsu hooks. And even though you joined this site to learn many techniques we use for catching bass in the USA, I and many colleagues are interested in methods used in Japan! One thing I noticed is that many Japanese products do not come to the USA right away, or at all. Can you tell us what is new there? And, are Japanese products much less expensive in Japan? Also, in Japan I hear there are special pay-to-fish urban man-made ponds stocked with big bass and lined with cement fishing stations, each with a bench for sitting and a net. Is that a common practice? So I am hoping that some day you will start a forum thread on Bass Resource or introduce an article that informs American fisherman about Japanese bass culture and techniques. It could also be any good article in Japan that can be translated to English. Everyone always has much to learn about this fun sport.

Welcome to Bass Resource, Yawai! You will see a million tips on this site, and some of them actually work! Enjoy!

They'll eat anything, but a live minnow or dead piece of fish works best. They swim around with the bait for a minute or two before swallowing, so free spool it for awhile and be patient before setting the hook. This Florida gar was caught in a shallow canal behind my house, on a soft plastic bait. He was released unharmed. They are fun to catch, powerful, muscular fish, but they smell awful.

right

Nice fishing! Great day! Who was the guide?