Josh Smith

It was a smallish bass and a large hook. No room to work. Josh

I lost one for years ago. I gut hooked it on a Mann's Jelly Worm Texas rig. I tried to remove the hook and killed the fish. Now, I leave the hook I'd it's not in the lip. Josh

A young Tom Mann kept his family in protein during the Great Depression by fishing for sunfish. The world record largemouth bass won a small cash prize (IIRC) and then was used for food -- again, during the Depression. Fishing for survival has been done for thousands of years, way before anyone knew what a calorie was. Were I to fish for survival, I'd use a number of techniques, including rod and reel. Fishing for food does not have to use up the calories you claim, nor does it have to cost what you claim. Josh

I have an accurate phone app that cost all of five bucks. My handheld unit with mapping cost $100 on clearance. I would rather have two products than one. One fails, I still have the other. Josh

Welcome from Wabash!

I have never seen a lake like this, but would love to! Josh

When I say "One and two and set" I count like CPR chest compressions. You might try trailer hooks if the toads don't work. Josh

And they are. For example, I toss a frog. I twitch, twitch, pause, repeat. Next cast, I twitch three times, pause, repeat, etc. While I'm running through the cadences I'm scanning the water for other likely spots, for birds, ripples, strange shadows, splashes, etc. My hands, meanwhile, are feeling the lure. If I'm fishing bottom contact, I'm forming a mental map of the bottom. Then, I hear a splash from the area of the lure, or feel a strike, or a twitch, and my arms set the hook and bring the bass in. Afterward, I couldn't tell you what cadence I'd worked up to and have to start over. I mean, I know approximately what count I was on, but not exactly. Used to be I could tell you, back when I was learning lures, for example. I can still tell you how I caught my first Hula Popper bass 25 years ago. Now that I can do that same technique automatically, I can scan the area and let my hands work and inform me of the strike. I'm going mostly by feel now because I can. Line and rod technology, and my skill level (only slightly above that of your average 15 year old's fishing skills) have all converged to allow this. Regards, Josh

But it's not like that at all. Maybe I'm relating this poorly. Josh

That doesn't explain why I don't retain what I was doing to catch the bass. Guess I'm not alone, though, so it's better anyway. Regards, Josh

Dad had an old Pro4L he tried and didn't like. It was a left-side handle and he'd been reeling with his right hand so long he couldn't get used to it. He gave it to me. Of course I'm a lefty and can't use it. I have a friend who is getting back into fishing, so I gave him a Silver Max on a medium rod for bass, but he needed a catfish reel as that's his preferred quarry. I'd had the Pro4L setting in in the shop for a couple years and decided to supertune it and give it to him since it has a large line capacity and a clicker. Getting inside it, I was impressed. It was built like a tank; certainly stronger than other Quantum products I'd worked on. It was heavy, too, and the internals reflected the weight. I'd guess that particular reel will talk take a lot of abuse. Josh

Tom, no, I see and hear everything. It's the exact opposite of the trance you describe. It's one of extreme focus and, upon the strike, all focus suddenly shifts to the bass, my rod, my reel and it's drag. Josh

I think that for me, it's extreme focus. I focus on the lure, rod and line like I do rifle sights when I'm shooting at something that counts. It's almost a self-hypnosis; very relaxing and dreamlike. The bass strikes and I snap out of that state suddenly. It's not lack of focus. I know what lack of focus is, and on the rare occasion I can't focus, I pack out up and go in because I'm not going to enjoy myself. Josh

I will do whatever is best for the fishery if legal, and d**n what anyone else says. My favorite lake was ruined by the catch and release everything mentality. It has the habitat to be a prime lake, but few of the bass are large enough to keep. The panfish are stunted too. There really needs to be a slot limit. Josh

Hello, I've realized for some time now that after catching a bass, I don't remember much of the fight to land the critter. More recently, especially after a rather exciting blowup/fight, I've realized that I can't remember what exactly I did that led to the strike. Lots of times I'm trying different cadences to lure the bass, then forget afterward what cadence it was. Anyone else do this? Josh

Yup, eat those big bluegill for starters.

In the stuff I fish, it's a good idea to bring a pair and a spare of each productive lure. I fish like "snagless" is a challenge, not a feature. Josh

In this case, 3-4 rods, hard and/or soft tackle box, canteen, one hat, and the Thermacell. The stuff on my belt is pretty much daily carry. The Ka-Bar is for killing Asian carp and similar, and it is not daily carry. Three rods cover the water column without taking time to tie lures. A fourth rod is generally lighter; an ultralight spinning or a finesse casting setup. Josh

I get pretty remote sometimes. Partial list: 3-6 rods a soft-sided tackle box two-quart military canteen Yugoslavian surplus pack with food and coffee, extra canteen/cup/stove, an alcohol burner and fuel tabs, water purifier straw, backup power for the phone, a book, sunscreen, bug repellent, and small tarp with paracord a Thermacell On my belt, a 1911, two spare mags, Ka-Bar, diamond hone, Cammenga compass, Leatherman, and flashlight Strapped to the pack are a first-aid kit and Frogg Toggs rain gear. I generally have a boonie hat either on or strapped to the pack, and a bandanna either on my head or in my pocket. Just a couple headgear options there. I'm a big guy and can carry this with relative comfort. If I decide to set up for a while in one spot, it makes that spot a whole lot more comfortable. Josh

Hello, I realized that I'd been concentrating so much on river smallies that I'd totally neglected frog fishing this year. Driving from one river point to the other, I stopped by the lake to get me one: Not huge, and blurry pic. But there it is. Figured I needed at least one this year. Regards, Josh

Are you sure they're bass? Big enough to take the frog? Make yourself wait for the hook set. Blow up... 1 and 2 and SET! Josh

My biggest problems are small panfish and gar. I have snagged two small sunfish this year so far when they smacked my crankbaits. River gar sorta' just tap but are catchable with sharp hooks and fast reflexes. Those critters psych me out so often... It's very frustrating. Josh

I fish because I am. Logically, it's practicing for survival after the fall of civilization. At least, that's the best excuse I've come up with so far. Josh

That's weird. I use Firefox and Windows 10. Chrome handles Flash slightly differently (I've heard) but it should still play. Do you have any Flash blockers or ad blocking tools installed? Those can interfere. Josh

That's odd. What OS and browsers are you using? The vid is hosted as an .mp4, which is almost universal. I would put it on my YouTube except the channel is under my business name and I don't want to appear to be self-promoting. It's too big to upload to this website. Ideas? Josh