Coherence

Just started using Keitech Swing Impact FATs about 4 months ago, but the action on these things is insane. Definitely one of my new favorite swim jig trailers. I also use Net Bait Paca Chunks and Zoom Ultra Vibes depending on how big I want my trailer to be, and how much action. If I want a really fat profiled trailer I will use a Grande Bass Mega Claw - I also use dirty jigs and this combo is deadly, usually a dirty jig in Alabama Bream, Bayou Bluegill, or Black and Blue color with Okeechobee colored Mega Claw. I use the dirty jigs Green Sunfish, Dirty 420, Bluegill, and Summer Craw with a Alabama Craw or Green Pumpkin Mega Claws trailer. Works fantastic and the scented trailer is an added bonus.

Looks great! I'm sure you will notice the difference immediately. I need to do this to my boat - Having to step up on that giant Minn Kota pedal has my back hurting/spasming by the end of an 8 hour tournament. Plus you have to balance strangely while trolling without the recess.

Never had the pleasure of catching a trout - but I bet that thing was an incredible battle. Pretty cool to see new records being set these days.

Dover, Delaware If you were driving down to the beaches here from PA - you would pass within 5 minutes of it

As a boat owner - I always appreciate when my co-angler offers to cover some of the costs - I always decline money. As was stated in an earlier post by someone - I do take payment in the form of lunch if they are so inclined haha. I think it is absurd to expect anyone to pay you - my normal/steady co-angler/tournament partner never pays me for tournaments, usually we split the entry fees (we've fished together a long, long time, and he refuses to have it any other way, despite repeated offers by me to pay the full fee). He brings the sandwiches/waters, I pick him up in the mornings and drive us and our equipment to wherever we are going. The arrangement has worked out perfectly fine for years. He "gets back at me" at the end of the year with a BPS gift cards usually (again not expected or asked for) - since I don't accept his cash all year long. He is stubborn like that haha Another part of the original post that I found interesting is when he mentioned basically being left out to dry for fishing spots. I wasn't even aware that this was actually something people did...I spend a lot of my time during tournaments making sure that we both have plenty of areas to cast/pitch too in hopes of catching fish...wouldn't have it any other way - I certainly wouldn't want someone else to leave me hanging out in the middle of the lake with nothing to cast at. I think every situation is different, but honestly I wouldn't be comfortable taking money from a co-angler. It is an interesting balance though, sometimes I have had co-anglers who have been insulted when I tried to decline payment

Honestly for how small my closest DSG is - I stayed away because I figured they wouldn't have the selection or the sales...I consider myself doubly lucky - one I found the sales..two I found it on a non-pay week so I didn't have as much scratch to throw around

Wandered into my local DSG yesterday evening - been prepping for a tournament this weekend and I found one of my spinning rods top guide is spinning free on the pole. Went in to buy a replacement rod since I won't have time to get it fixed before Sunday. Grabbed a Veritas spinning rod, wandered into the lures section and started noticing that everything is buy 1 get 1 50% off... Ended up walking out with 8 Packs of Keitech Swing Impact FATs, 2 more live target baitballs squarebills, 2 live target frogs, and the Veritas for $95.00 after my $10 off... I almost feel like I robbed them...and I have a terrible urge to go back and buy more

I've never actually had anything stolen from me, but I have found (what looks like) evidence that someone tried to cut the lock off of my trailer and take it. I have a gunlock securing my trailer and it looked like someone had tried to use bolt cutters or something to cut it off, tons of metal was dented and freshly scratched off of the wire. Replaced it immediately, but it is crazy to think someone tried to steal my trailer straight out of one of our state parks...I can't imagine what I would have done if they had succeeded - no idea what I would have had to do with my boat. People getting their batteries stolen out of boats is a HUGE problem around here apparently, I store my boat in a closed garage, but I know a few guys in my bass club have had batteries taken out of their boats which were parked in their driveways or in their yards... I'll never understand people who steal stuff (especially non-essential things like batteries...I could understand food if they were starving...maybe)

^^

So, my regular co-angler has food poisoning and it doesn't look like he will make it to our tournament on Sunday - asked around to some other fishing guys that I know - all of them are busy or <insert X reason here>. I offered to pay the entire entrance fee since it was a last minute thing but no one is available or interested - so my questions to you guys are: Have you ever fished a buddy tournament solo? Did you approach it any differently than fishing with a co-angler? (one thing I won't have to worry about is making sure my co-angler is in a good place to cast/fish) Options are limited at this point and I'm not sure if fishing solo will put me at such a huge disadvantage that it won't even be worth going. I mean theoretically 1/2 the anglers on the boat = 1/2 the fish on the boat...but that's not really how it works most of the time - at least in my boat, usually one person is slaying them and the other is just hoping to find something large enough to cull with.

Just recently had a long-time member of my fishing club retire due to skin cancer issues. It isn't really something you think about when you are younger - running around having fun in the sun, but it is no joke. I hope everyone who reads this thread takes a moment to consider putting some sunscreen on before they head out for a long day in the sun again. Good post Sam

Hey guys, Just wanted to see how you would break down this last pond that my local club is fishing for the year. Most of the guys stop fishing in early August and start gearing up for the hunting season - I'm hoping to make a run at taking this last tournament. I've fished this pond for fun several times, but most of that time is spent helping other non-fisherman/women learn how to cast or fish a specific type of lure (I take a lot of people from work etc out on the boat because they wanted to try non-bobber fishing or whatever. I attached the DNREC PDF file that has the pond map on it, as well as our Dept of Natural Resources break down of their electrofishing studies on the pond. Would be very interested to see how you guys would break down this small pond, and where you would fish it during the tournament. Personally I think the spillway (near the boat ramp - 9 foot section) and the far bank paralleling Lake Drive all the way back to Lavinia Street (where a culvert pipe sticks into the water) is where I am going to focus. The long skinny branch of the pond is very shallow, and the entirety of the pond is choked with underwater vegetation (Hydrilla) and lily pads. Anyways - long winded post, any thoughts appreciated on how you would approach it Wagamons Pond.pdf

Weather here in Delaware has jumped around temperature wise pretty frequently - Fished a tourney two weeks ago and everyone was catching small fish. It has cooled off since then, I have a Tournament this Sunday, shall see how it goes - hopefully the bite is a bit better.

I've got swim jig rods hooked up with 7.1:1 reels - works for me just fine

Congrats man! Must have been pretty exciting to finally nab a win, not to mention you made up some serious ground from 9lbs back - props sir, props. I am in a similar situation currently - my second year fishing tournaments (finally started placing a couple times this year)...hoping I can win one next year!

Seconded regarding the Kistler (a U.S. company that I don't think gets enough love honestly), haven't tried the 13 *** but it seems a ton of people like them.

Absolutely correct. These things are forming a mini-cult like following, and from the pictures and videos I have watched on youtube, it is deservedly so. P.S. Hello there Shawnmc - my fellow Delawarean, glad to see I am not the only one.

Where do you get your bladed jig heads from? Superb looking color pattern by the way.

Jig or senko....let them fight it out between themselves - I'm happy fishing either

The guy who makes these lives about 30 minutes south of me - kind of one of those local legend guys in the fishing community. Apparently a very stand-up type guy who will make sure you get exactly what you want as well. The baits are beyond ugly, but everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who I know that has used any of the baits from clatterbrat absolutely love them. I've considered investing in a few of these during the off-season when I go through my yearly fishing withdraw and start purchasing baits to get a mini-fix. I'll let you know if I do end up purchasing any - probably do a review of how they perform etc.

I want to say I read or watched/heard somewhere else that this is a semi-common problem with these hooks and braid - but I can't for the life of me remember where I came across that piece of potential information. I shall continue my internet search for answers...I almost want to say it was on a youtube fishing series

Nice bass you got there - always love catching them on the frogs. Congrats

If I put anything on a buzzbait it is a trailer hook

All depends on what the fish want...that being said - I tend to beat my buzzbaits to death and burn them at a fair clip to cause as much disturbance as possible and do just fine - they are a disturbance bait after all haha