Josh Smith

Hello, There are no advantages. You have layers of water -- top, thermocline, and bottom. The top layer is oxygenated. The lower layer is not. When turnover happens, the top layer sinks and the layers disappear. The lake's oxygen drops. While the critters of the lake adapt, it's very difficult to get much of anything to bite. And yes, it's still too early for Fall Turnover. Regards, Josh

You know, I wouldn't mind seeing the Flea Market divided into buying and selling forums, or maybe even buying/selling forums based on what one is looking for. For example, I'm actively looking for a new rod of a certain type and length. Scrolling through all the titles is becoming a bit tedious. Josh

Dad used to tell me that his ultralight was to add to the fun and challenge of bass fishing. I don't know about that. My ultralight is for finesse presentations to finicky fish. I can throw flies with that thing if I want to! Josh

Subforums should be able to be made under the main "Other Species" forum. That would take care of clutter and I wouldn't care either way. If subforums cannot be made, then I have to vote no. Josh

I believe I would have named that one-eyed bass, "Lucky". Josh

Lots of my most effective ones have been purchased from small-time, local jig makers. Josh

I just did this yesterday. First thing I did was to get the sun on my back instead of the bass. Second thing I did was whip out the Leatherman, rather than waste time at the tacklebox getting tools. I squashed the barb and slide the hook right out. I don't know any fast way to check a bass's vision, but there was no blood or other fluid so I assume it was fine. Josh

You're probably right. It's extremely frustrating being used to having a boat, but then being so busy that the necessary repairs are taking so long. Been thinking about buying a canoe just to get out there, but really have no place for one at this point. Another interesting thing: The water warmed early this year and there was an early spawn. The temps have been pretty mild since. I still have to take the water temp, but I'll be danged if I didn't catch a 12" post-spawn female just a few weeks ago. She was a very healthy 12" bass I caught on a frog, and she was laying lazy at the outlet of this small impoundment waiting for food to wash by. I cast a frog way out there (about 30 yards) and twitched it. This little girl ate it. The water warmed early, then stayed relatively cool and constant due to heavy rains for a couple weeks. (These rains were heavy enough that the reservoirs, both Salamonie and Mississinewa, were at record levels with the emergency spillway on the former in use for the first time and the rivers higher than I've ever seen them, and for most of the summer.) There's been an explosion of vertebrate life in this lake with all the nutrients coming in from the rain, and the rain itself oxygenating everything, but the lake itself never really did flood. The dam has a fixed outlet that is not actively monitored, but the water simply can't get over a certain level. Josh Edit: For reference, see attached. The only readily accessible points are the shoreline where I have the bass locations marked (these are outdated) and along the dam. The rest must be gotten to by boat, electric or manual only.

I thought the same thing, but there's actually more forage in the form of fry and fingerling bluegill, and crawdads. I've seen more crawdads lately. I almost wonder if the 14+" bass are feeding on something totally different..? The other side of the lake is pretty inaccessible from shore. The boat repairs have progressed, but not done yet. I really need to get over there and fish some cover I can see from this shore and know about from taking the boat previously. My biggest fear is that they've been caught and eaten. Bucket fishermen frequent this lake and fishing pressure on the east shore (the most accessible) is very high. Been playing with techniques to counter this and I'm almost never skunked. Then again, most fishermen here use live bait, so the advantage is with artificial already. Josh

Tom, I don't think they're stunted. The bigger bass that were there suddenly seem to have been replaced by 12" (or so) bass. It looks like the smaller and larger both have relocated suddenly and for no good reason I can see. Josh

I just strap a .45 1911 on my belt and go. Before that, I strapped a 9mm Beretta clone on my belt and went about my business. Both work well and it's what you're comfortable with. After I discovered that I shot high with the Beretta 92 clone while under stress, I built the 1911 to fit my hand. It works very well and lines up perfectly. Took a lot of work. Josh

So... guys... My favorite lake has smaller bass that have been growing along with "keeper size" and above. Earlier this year I latched on to most of these 'larger' bass -- those being 13.75" and above. To keep a largemouth from an Indiana lake, it must be 14" or larger. (Slot limits are in effect for rivers.) It seems they've disappeared. There were several I have watched grow up for the past couple years, and now the same spots are producing around 12" to 13" bass. Nothing bigger, but nothing smaller, either, which is equally strange. My question is -- why? It could be that the larger ones were kept and eaten by someone, especially since the rivers and reservoirs have been flooded and unfishable this year. That doesn't explain the absence of the smaller ones, though. Any thoughts on the subject? Josh

Earlier this year I "lost" a Live Target Bluegill crankbait. Actually what happened was it snagged a very dead, very rotten sunfish and I didn't want to deal with it. I often leave lures I've tried and not liked at that spot for other fishermen, so I went ahead and set it by the base of a tree. I even retrieved the box it came in and set it beside the lure. I hope someone was happy. I did snag a Live Target frog on a dead tree surrounded by mat. I'd bent the hooks out a bit to help hook up, and they snagged a branch. I still see it when I fish there; one day I guess I'll take the boat out and get it back. Josh

Here are the lures I've had the most luck with this year: This is, by far, number one. This River 2 Sea Bully Wa 65 replaces a similar Live Target that I lost. Lots of bass hit this; only the large ones eat it. This River 2 Sea Bully Wa 55 is slightly smaller than the one above. With the stinger hook, I can hook up when the smaller ones ( < 14" or so) hit. It's effective but I've not used it much after modifying it to see what all was trying to eat frogs in this lake. Texas-rigged Jelly Worm, with or without glass bead in front of the sinker. It just works; not much else to say. The Wacky Rig gets thrown after a missed hookup with the frog, and sometimes by itself, depending. I throw this on an ultralight so this 1/4oz Yum Dinger is about the largest weightless worm I throw. Very effective for staying in one spot for a while. I tend to make a lot of noise with these lures. I want the bass to go investigate the noise so it can at least have a chance to see it. This type of fishing is more like hunting, I think, or it might compare to hunting in dense woods vs hunting in a field or on a plain. You have to call in the bass to have a shot at 'em. Regards, Josh

Hello, Ponds and lakes like this are producers of very high quality fish. They're called eutrophic and are often found around farming communities. As fertilizer washes in from the fields, plants grow. The lake I fished as a boy was mesotrophic at the time. In other words, it had a respectable amount of vegetation, but nothing like it is now. After not fishing for a while, I have had to adapt these few years I've been back. Most of my old lures just can't work in the new fertile environment. Soft plastics, as was mentioned, are awesome. Bass are sight feeders but they need to get the lures in sight first. That means noise. When you Texas rig, slip a glass bead on ahead of the bullet sinker. This makes the lure click, sounding like a crawdad. Weedless jigs are your friend. I'm finding the more rattles, the better. I buy rattles by the bunch off eBay. Soft craw trailers with claw action give the bass something to feel on their lines. Time to eat; I'll be back. These are my favorite environments to fish, and I'm sure I'll come up with a lot more before the thread is played out. Regards, Josh

Why is Abu Garcia always left out of these discussions? I don't get it... Josh

Howdy!

None of those look to be much over a pound, but they're fun to catch! Good job. Get a scale. Mine used to tell me my bass that size were 2lbs, then I got called on it here. Checking the scale, I found it was worn out. It had been Grandpa's and was an antique. Lately I've been going to topwater frogs. The smaller bass have a hard time eating those. As for the first big one, no idea. Been fishing since I was two or so. Josh

So what kind of magic jigs are these..!? Josh

What about others, say, River2Sea frogs? Bully WA 45, 55, and 65. What are those numbers? Still length? If so, any exceptions?

What are *** jigs? Why the astericks?

Ambassaduer 5500 with bushings. Upgrade drag, and install bearings on driveshaft and worm gear. Josh

I finally looked up Ashley Madison last night. Read to the wife about it. Shared the shock and the laughter. Josh

I have never seen a reel of any sort I can't hear. If it's not gears it's bearings. Moving things make nose. Heavier lube can mask it but comes with its own price. Josh

I just confirmed those part numbers. Thanks guys!