MIbassyaker

Similar detail, they cover the same ground as the Foundations and Location volumes of Critical Concepts, but the CC are updated here and there with new information. The Presentation volume of Critical Concepts is almost entirely new though, updated for modern lures. I saw the most recent printing of the handbooks new on shelves in stores just a few years ago, but might be out of print now. However, they are easily available for cheap used, which is how I got mine.

I believe they are out of print, but you should be able to get used copies at online marketplaces. There are three volumes for bass -- fundamentals, location, and presentation. All are very good. In-fisherman also published the Largemouth and Smallmouth Handbooks of Strategies. These are still in print, but older. However, they contain a lot of the same basic information as the Critical Concepts series (although less current on a number of things, especially lures). Here's a good book thread with lots of recommendations:

Any trout in your section of the Chippewa? When it's cold, and I just wanna get some some bites... It's amazing how many places have "well-known" reputations --positive and negative-- that don't match the actual fishing experience I have when I just go try it myself.

Great fish! The number of bass 4lb and up I catch each year (if any) can be counted on one hand, so in my book a 5 is big deal. It's all about what waters you're fishing.

I usually do better in the spring than in early summer (which coincides with post-spawn here), but my best days of the year often end up being in August or late September.

April for me begins in the cold-water period and moves into prespawn. Water is usually 40s, maybe just getting into 50s by the end of the month. In the rivers, I can usually get a few on a tube, grub or paddle-tail swimbait In lakes, a jerkbait first, then once we warm a bit, it's time to try a vibrating jig or spinnerbait.

#2 - #5 spinners are good for bass anywhere (1/6oz is about a #2), but especially in rivers where they tumble with the current. Only problem is, they catch everything else too, so I don't use them often for targeting bass where I'm around lots of other kinds of fish. And suffice to say, the open trebles on a Rooster Tail or Mepps are problematic for wooded and weedy cover.

Yamamoto sale? Don't mind if I do...

Return of the @deep!!

Now we're talkin'!

It is much easier to be tenacious when your expectations are realistic. A lot of anglers become frustrated because they expect greater success than the conditions or their level of skill and experience warrant. It's nowhere near as easy as it looks on youtube....and if it is, it probably won't be next time.

One of my favorite fishing channels. On release, the bass is propelling itself forward before it is oriented correctly in the water with the head down -- just means it was in a hurry to get away. Can't blame it!

I don't know if this Spring is extraordinary; it may be, but there are big fish reported every year. But it seems to me that if anything has changed it is that currently we have a number of active people at the right latitudes, who seem to be really fishing a lot. It seems like @Pat Brown, @AlabamaSpothunter and @Woody B are out there nearly every other day! As per @A-Jay's comment, I'll point out that the "Latest Catch Pics" thread is 10 years old and a little over 700 pages of posts....but half of those have come since July 2022. I went back and found my own first appearance there on page 7, back in 2015. Back then, the thread was getting an average of a post or two per day over the summer, but much less in spring and fall, and winter, when it would go dormant for awhile. On page 5 there is a 4-month gap with nobody posting anything between November and April! It is a different time, with a different population of regulars.

You can have mine!

This is my take too. There are a number of lakes in my area with public parks and open space areas that can be bank-fished, but with rare exceptions, I'll greatly prefer one of the rivers if I'm limited to shore.

Could have stopped there with no loss of meaning!

Heh, first time I fished minnow-shaped plugs, I would just straight reel them in all the time and catch fish...floating, suspending, sinking, whatever. I didn't know some of them were meant to be jerked, or that they were even called "jerkbaits" until much later.

I never expect to be consistent for Largemouth in water temps below 50, especially if we've recently had volatile weather. I'm not sure more explanation is needed. Wait for a few stable, warming days and go in the afternoon.

Nice. Not bad at all for low 40s.

My condolences.

Interesting -- where did you catch it? In Michigan, we had two more orange smallies reported in 2022. Here is one: https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/orange-smallmouth-bass-caught-michigan/ And a largemouth last year: https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/golden-bass-michigan-lake/

Kayak if I have time to pack, load, launch, reload, unpack. if I don't have time, then on foot, from bank if shore access is good, or wading if water is not too deep or hazardous.

I would get some 3" or 4" curly tail grubs and some 1/8oz ball jigheads. Easy to use, first lure I ever learned, good in rivers and smallmouths love them.