Josh Smith

Tom Mann just rolled over in his grave...

Thanks guys. I think what it is, is when the frog gets hopped, the body flexes, then when it rests, it relaxes and sucks water in. So the fix would be to seal the hook hole, which wouldn't allow the body to collapse well with a strike, or find a less flexible frog, which likewise would require a stronger strike to hook the bass. I'll just keep squeezing the bodies. Regards, Josh

I fish jigs a lot. It's what the bass prefer in the type of cover I fish. My jig rod is a Cherrywood HD MH/F. I've modified it slightly, but it has the exact action I want for jigs, and it has the backbone I need to haul them out. The reel I use is an Ambassadeur 5500c3, very modified. I chose to retain the 5.3:1 gears as on that reel, it's a 26ipt retrieve. (My 5500c3 on my frog rod is likewise modified, but I believe it will be getting a 6.3:1 gear set for a 30ipt retrieve.) About half my jig strikes have a very, very fast double hit. That's the bass hitting the lure to stun it, and the second "tick" is it eating it. That's when I set the hook. The double strike shouldn't be confused with the "tick, tick" of the bass eating it and then spitting it. These are two different, distinct things. To feel the double strike well, you really need braid. When reeling the bass in, you need to keep tension on the line, enough so that the bass will not be lost when it jumps. A lighter rod may help you, say, a medium and slightly longer than what you have, if you're used to fighting the fish with the rod and only occasionally taking in line. The way I learned to do it was to keep reeling -- you might call it winching 'em in -- and is hard on lighter reels. This is one reason I prefer my Ambassadeur tanks. With the Ambassadeurs, I keep reeling while fighting the fish with the rod. I've come to notice a difference in techniques between older and newer folks. It appears folks newer to fishing are more rod dependent when fighting fish, while those who grew up on 5'6" MH rods seem to reel more. Neither one is better; it's just our adaptations the equipment we learned on. In other words, I fight 'em in very fast, not letting them jump. I was raised not to fight for too long for fear of wearing out and killing the bass. Now, either I've jumbled this together so that it doesn't make sense, or it makes less sense to me. I have way too much allergy medicine in me right now to decide which it is. I'll come back later and edit the post if it needs it. Else, please ask me to clarify what I meant if it's jumbled. Gonna go lay down for a bit now. d**n weed pollen. Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, My favorite frog (the one I fish almost exclusively) fills up with water to the point of sinking every 3-5 casts. It's not an inexpensive frog, and I recall that another frog I had and lost, also not inexpensive but from a different maker, did the same thing. Is this normal for a hollowbody frog? I'm assuming yes. This also brings me to a question: If hollowbody frogs fill up with water every few casts, why don't the makers put styrofoam in the nose? None of these frogs have any openings other than where the hooks exit the body. The noses around the eyelets are all sealed very nicely. Thank you, Josh

I use 10lb to 20lb braid and FC leader on my ultralight. It works very well. Spiderwire EZ Braid works well enough on baitcasting reels, but I'm not sure how it would act on spinning. Seems a bit stiff for that purpose. Josh

This is a concept that's been applied elsewhere in the past. I'll be interested in seeing how they pull it off with a reel. Josh

Looks like it's a mid-grade Shimano..! I'd try it. 26ipt. Josh

Some of the best reels have had bushings. It just depends on your intended use. Josh

Tag for look on the computer.

Know what? Why don't we just build a fishing Wiki? I just checked, and "fishing wiki" is a popular search term. Bass Resource could link up to it/host it. It may be redundant given the articles here, however. But you do say you're looking for specific info on rod and reel changes, and that, I think, may be beyond the scope of the current Bass Resource articles as it would be fairly specialized info. This is where the wiki would be good. Josh

Hello, I'm estimating I'll have my boat repaired this fall and still hope to see some water time with it this year. I've been busier than I thought I'd be, or I'd have had it out this summer. When I boat fish, I generally have food and everything I need for as long as I care to stay out. When I bank fish, I find all that stuff difficult to carry. Problem is, when I take a day to fish, I don't know how long I'll be out, even bank fishing. So I've come up with some essentials to take. First thing is my "always" stuff: Belt pistol (1911) with two spare magazines (one loaded with soft cast; one spare and the one in the pistol loaded with hollowpoint). Compass and Leatherman. In my front pockets are a Spyderco Clipit knife I've carried ever since the late '90s when I purchased it for martial arts training, and on the other side is a clip-on high power flashlight, Bushnell if I remember correctly. It had been a Mini-Maglite, but their newer ones are kinda' junky, so I switched brands. Then there's the backpack. It's an old Yugoslavian (I think) surplus battle pack; not huge but very durable. In it I carry some dehydrated food, coffee, a Trangia alcohol burner and stove, a 1qt canteen, canteen cup, spoon, and canteen stove (backup to the Trangia stove). There's flint and steel in there, some Trioxane tabs which back up the alcohol stove and double as fire starters. A TP, sunscreen (SPF 50) and DEET wipes are in another pocket. If I think I'll be out overnight, I'll snap on a military light backpack nested in its bivy bag. I also add a Ka-Bar belt knife if I'll be out longer than four hours or anticipate the need. Once the backpack is on, I sling a 2-qt military canteen (or two, depending on how far I'm going/how long I'm staying out). I clip a Thermacell to the canteen strap. Three or four fishing rods go in my left hand, and a Plano two-shelf tackle box I use for bank fishing goes in my right. I wear a hat and sunglasses, of course. There are still a couple things I'd like to add for long hikes when I can make room. I have a Sawyer Mini water filter, and will be getting a charcoal filter to go with it. A gallon of water weights about 8lbs. I've come to really enjoy the hikes I take to bank fishing locations. I'll go so far as to say I enjoy these fishing hikes as much as I enjoy fishing on a boat. Even if I get skunked, I enjoy the time spent hiking. Does anyone else do this sort of thing? Josh

I can't really comment other than to say it just seems too early. You're there and are obviously seeing it. What kind of weather have you had this year? In Indiana, at least in one small lake (10 acres) I've been studying for a couple years now, it looks like we may have had a second spawn, which would be a first for me. Thank you, Josh

5500c3 (26ipt) or 5600c4 (30ipt). Josh

Kent, I don't go to the Flea Market often, and so when I do get there, I do generally wade through posts. Now, I didn't expect anything to really change; rather, I figure this and having separate "other species" boards are about as equally realistic. Regards, Josh

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