Josh Smith

Hello, Here's my thing: You should be able to feel a crankbait work with a reel duct taped to a sapling. How are you holding the rod? Try pointing it at the water. Josh

Hahaha! I went back and got him today. I'm posting another thread asking about the critters I found in its mouth (what's it feeding on?) That's located here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/156041-whats-this-bass-feeding-on/ Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, Forgive the poor cell phone pic. I'd not planned on taking pics, or I'd have brought my camera. I caught this bass today, smallish critter, and it has a mouthful of small black worm-looking things: I'm guessing leeches? But I've never seen leeches this small. This year, I'm trying to figure out the diet of the bass in this lake, and this is something for my notes. I'd just like to know what they are. Never have seen this before, or, if I did, didn't note it at the time. If these are indeed a major food source, then it could explain why plastic worms work so danged well here. That said, I did catch this one on a blue and black swim jig. So, what are these? Leeches, or what? Josh

You might try braid with a FC leader. I would think you'd feel something no matter how far out. Heck, I feel plastic crawdad pincers flapping on my Cherrywood HD 6' MH and it's a $20 rod! Likewise, I use a 5'6" Lew's Speed Stick glass rod from the '70s for my crankbait rod. I run a 5500(pre-C) reel on it spooled with 20# XT mono. I feel all cranks I throw with it. Josh

Hello, I'd planned to go fishing Saturday as it was supposed to be nice. The cold front got here a day early, and instead it rained and dropped in temp. So, I went today, the day after the cold front. Dangit. I took three rods: The BPS 5'6" MH/F, which makes an ideal jerkbait rod for the way I fish them, my Cherrywood HD 6', which I prefer as my jig/soft bait rod, and my ultralight spinning setup. The BPS and Cherrywood both have modified and supertuned 5500c3 reels on them, and the ultralight wears the smallest Pflueger President made. The first cast was made with the Cherrywood throwing a 3/8oz bluegill colored jig with a Rattlechunk trailer. It got hit by something, but it felt more like a bluegill than anything. A gentleman I didn't know showed up with an Ugly Stick wearing a baitcasting reel I didn't identify. Turns out it was his truck rod (I later found out) and he keeps it on hand for when he feels like stopping and fishing. I dig that. He fished a fallen tree next to me. I had been planning on targeting that later but he got to it first. Turns out he caught nothing. When he got ready to leave, he figured to try one more spot. He got bumped by the same thing I had, but said he thought it was a bluegill as well. Meantime, I'd moved over with the jig to the tree and began slow rolling off the branches... and BOOM, first bass of the season was on! The gent and I had just said our goodbyes again, so I hollered that I had a fish on as he walked off. He came back immediately to see me pull it in. I'd like to say I landed a big one, but I can't. I don't know what happened, but I do know that as I was fighting it, it reared its head out of the water and threw the hook. Could be I had my drag set too loosely. Could be I didn't set the hook hard enough. I know I kept the line tight, and I know I'd just sharpened all those hooks. First bass of the season... lost. And the old gent chuckled! I grabbed another rod and threw a worm. No dice. Ended up trying deadsticking a worm, working a swimjig, and playing with a topwater at the same time. Nothing. From what i can tell, nobody else was catching anything, either. I hope the season improves! Josh

I didn't make it too small, but the tennis racket tape might solve another problem I've been thinking on. I hadn't considered it because I don't play tennis and never knew of such a thing! Thanks! Josh

Hello, That worked rather well! The one spot I still need to address is where the arrow is pointing. The valley between that hump and the trigger needs to be wider. I don't know how much material I have right there to play with. The plastic could be thick, or not. It feels good now, just that one spot... Josh

Thanks guys. Some clarification for what I'm doing: I grew up fishing. Don't remember my first fishing trip; I was only 2 or 3. Dad taught me about cover, structure, etc from the time I was old enough to understand. I do fairly well with this knowledge. The goal here is to break the knowledge down further. I figure studying the habits of the critters in the lake will help me catch even more bass. For example, there are times when I know bass are feeding, but they won't hit anything I throw. Are they feeding on bluegill, or on an insect hatch, or on crawdads, or on leeches exclusively during this point? In other words, I'm targeting the bass. What are the bass targeting? Knowing the behaviors of the prey species should help, I'd think. I'll start with bluegill -- in fact, will probably take the ultralight out and target bluegill for a day with my boy just for my own information if not to keep and eat. I'll then study crawdad behavior if I can find literature on the subject, and leech behavior as well. It's sort of like trying to find a couple of my friends from my early 20s: It's Friday night. They like to drink. I'm not going to look at the museum, but rather target the seediest beer joints this town has to offer. Regards, Josh P.S. You'd likely find me at the museum these days, complaining about how the guns for the WWI display are all wrong. J.S.

Thanks DVT! The rod is going off to the shop with me today. I think I might have time as I'm waiting on parts to get here. Should be a fun day. Regards, Josh

Thank you, Captain. It's a good starting point! Regards, Josh

Yep. Pattern bluegill to pattern bass. Josh

Hi Folks, This is in the bass section for a reason. You see, this is my second year of trying to figure out this small lake I enjoy. I made some significant strides last year, and I'm going for more this year. Forage in this lake is mostly crawdads and bluegill. No shad that I know of. I'm sure there are leeches in there, but I've not seen them. There are some frogs, too. I don't know the first thing about bluegill behavior. I figure if I pattern the bluegill movements, I'll have bass movements pretty down pat. Wasn't really wanting to buy a book on the bluegill. Will if I must, but online sources about spawning behavior and whys and hows of movement would be appreciated! Find the bluegill, find the bass in this lake, I'm sure. Regards, Josh

Hi Francho, I've never worked with EVA before. Is it sandable? Thanks, Josh

Hi Folks, I'm wondering if this is just me. I love pistol gripped rods as I grew up with them. However, I have a Tourney Special (http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Tourney-Special-Trigger-Rod/product/12041105005514/) with the "A" grip option. That thing just feels too thick, and I have large hands. It also feels slick. Been thinking of wrapping the middle with something to sort of squish the EVA foam in. On the other hand, the handle on the Cherrywood rod I have is a bit too skinny for comfortable casting, though I don't feel like I'm going to lose it (score one for the cork!) I'm coming to like short split handles more and more. Cork pistol grip handles seem to feel pretty good, but I don't own any. There's no real point to this post other than I've not seen handles discussed much and thought I might bring it up. Regards, Josh

Hi Folks, I have experience with the Berkely Lightning Rods, but not the Shock version. Having grown up on pistol grip rods, I tend to like shorter grips and shorter rods overall. I seen on Bass Pro that they have a 6' Med/Hvy version of the Lightning Shock. I ran to Walmart to try the shorter grip out. I liked it, even with it being a split grip. It's short enough for me to maneuver the way I always have. However, Walmart doesn't have the 6' version, just 6'6" and up. For the role I want it to play, the 6' version is needed. Before I buy, what can you tell me about this Shock version? In your experience, what are the pros and cons over, say, a more expensive rod? I see the Shock has a hybrid tip, and this is one thing that attracts me. I need the slightly slower action. I enjoy the Cherrywood rods for this reason, and I'm thinking the Shock should be right in between the Cherrywood HD and something really stiff, like my Tourney Bass Pro rods. Regards, Josh

I grew up on them. Now I use dual-locking snaps only, usually Bass Pro brand. If I'm fishing a lure that is prone to twisting the line, I will attach a swivel to the dual-locking snap. The wide curve of those dual-locking snaps is much better for lure action than the snap swivels I've seen. Josh

Murky ---> Clear Dark ---> Bright Josh

From what I understand from my own research into these, they catch small bass better as younger bass see UV better than older bass. Good for 10" bass, maybe, from my reading. Josh

I would try creature baits; Texas rigged Yum Dingers, swim jigs, and the like. I'm just trying frogs again this year after trying the old school ones with little success years ago, so I won't comment on them. Regards, Josh

Berkely XT is the lowest stretch I've found. Josh

Ah, well, (poop) Josh

What's the gearing and what's the spool diameter with line? Josh

Hello, I'm debating with myself here. I have a few pre-1980 Ambassadeur models, mostly modified 5000 series. They all have 4.7:1 gears for a 23ipt retrieve. I have been thinking, however, that the original 3.8:1 gears (about 18ipt, I'm guessing) might be excellent for very deep crankbaits, especially those I ride split shot in front of to make them really kick up muck at the bottom. I'm going back an forth with myself on this. Thoughts? Josh

I met my wife when I was 10. She was 6. Her brother was my best friend growing up, and we used to go fishing all the time. We hooked bass and catfish until he hooked himself on drugs. Now he no longer has any interest in doing anything, and I have no interest in doing anything with him. April and I grew up together and eventually married two years ago. We didn't figure out we were right for each other until we hit our late 20s/early 30s, and so spent a lot of time together as friends. Years and years, in fact. She knows me and I know her. I got lucky in that respect, and I think we are probably more honest with each other and talk more openly than most couples. (In fact, getting her to shut up is a challenge! Hehehe) April grew up poor. She does worry about money, especially since we're lucky in that I make enough to keep her at home with the kids, doing what she enjoys, cooking and raising the children. We aren't rich, but we could be a bit worse off. She's excellent at crocheting and is starting a business of handmade items. To give you an idea of how good she is, she will be starting an afghan for me with the Abu Garcia crest crocheted right in. (She knows some folks who can do this with photographs, too, but tells me she is not that good!) She's good. I'm proud of her. Back to the subject: What I've come to understand from April is not that she wants a lot, but rather that she wants to be thought of and remembered. I found a couple good lures for cheap on eBay one night. I bid on them, and bid on a lot of yarn for her, too. She was very, very happy. Likewise, last night I went and bought a smaller tackle box for bank fishing and a couple accessories I'd needed. I got home and right away she asked, "So what you get me?" I pulled out a $20 bill. Told her I spent about that much on myself. See, she likes to complain sometimes. That shut her right down. She knew I'd won. It was funny. We laughed. There's just a lot of give and take to have in a successful relationship. April isn't so much concerned about what she gets so much as what is fair. Now, girlfriends are a different story. When I had girlfriends, they had no right to question anything I did. I was not obligated to explain myself. More than one girlfriend, however, turned from being anti-gun to being gun nuts because I introduced them to the sport. Basic safety instructions and a .22 rifle goes a long way to introducing folks to a safe, fun sport. Same went for fishing. A Zebco 33 and a baited hook did a lot in the way of making new anglers. April enjoys these things, but has her own hobbies. I tell her I'm going fishing, and she tells me to have a good time; supper will be at 5:30 so be here if you want to eat. To me, this is the way it should work. Regards, Josh

Went fishing today after work. The water's still a bit cold for much activity, but I did see a small panfish dart up to take a look at me. There were a couple fish that turned over on top, but I had no way of figuring out what they were for sure. The lake is still sluggish. After this week's rains, pre-spawn should start. Mostly, I was playing with the 5500c3 I finished tuning out today. It works well. I was using a very deep diving crankbait trying to hit the bottom. I don't recall ever fishing this lake this deep before, and I kept getting snagged -- on friggin' monofilament. It seems like there's mono all over the bottom of the lake. Heck, i dragged up some split shot on one cast, and added one to the line in front of the deep diver. That only netted me more broken off monofilament! No real point to this except my disappointment in so much mono on the bottom. Looks like folks cut off at the rod instead of breaking off at the knot or hook, and that type of behavior just strikes me as slobbish. Josh