Bartableman7

Do you think there is physical or mental change to how a bass acts toward lures during a weekend vs a weekday on any given pressured lake? Do their bodies some how recognize there is more "boat noise" and turn off on weekends? I'm thinking just...more quiet, more safety...attack a lure more often. Just plain instinct? I wonder if they actually get set up in a "life long pattern" and simply lock up every 5 days expecting the fisherman to pound those shorelines. (2 bass on a Saturday but 10 bass on a Wednesday is a normal pattern for me.) And don't say "Just go on Wednesdays." Not the point.

The old transducers were round and placed inside the boat sending out a cone shaped beam. Now they are rectangular and on the back of the boat. Do these transducers send out a 'rectangular" pattern to the lake bottom?

Let's say you have to run the tab all on your own...no sponsorships of any kind. You have to pay: entry fees, food, hotels, gas, boat, electronics, rods, reels, lures, clothes, mortgage, electricity and home fuel, home costs...ALL of it. Add it all up. Now...could you make money fishing as a living? Could you survive just on winnings only. I'm thinking maybe 20 people on the planet. Maybe less. And I'm talking about from scratch...no money help along the way.

Just in general terms...I'm thinking finding bass is 90% of the battle and lure selection/presentation is about 10% toward success. Close? Way off? (I've fished in a lot of tournaments as a non-boater and when paired with the winner...they fished in spots I would have never thought of. SMART. I once fished for 7 hours anchored in one spot. 3 and 4 pounders all day. Another time...only boater with a jet motor. We whipped across a stump field and crushed them. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.)

No barbs. Easy hook removal.

Yep. And yes this for open water ONLY. Working parallel to shorelines.

Except in a tournament...all my hooks and lures are barbless. Just a thing for me.

Interesting...what defines that? Number of shanks or number of actual hooks? Probably shanks. I'd just remove the middle treble if it is shanks.

I don't think I've ever missed a blow up. Just sayin'

Just the first yank. Then a slow reel to the boat. It casts out a mile.

Water was 90 degrees, calm, temp was 90 degrees and nothing grabbing anything. So I pulled out one of my "go tos" and hit deeper water. (16-20 feet). 17 fish later I was at least having a ton of fun. < 5 largemouths, 7 cats (three 8 pounders) and 5 drum.> 7 foot medium spinning rod, 15 lb braid to 8 lb fluoro. Carolina rig: 3/4 oz steel egg sinker, swivel, 3 foot fluoro leader to a silver bladed #1 Mepps with a black body. Long bomb casts, let it sink, reel and sweep to get the blade going. The Carolina Mepps rig. It's a winner.

Giant willow blades can be shaved into any shape and size you want on a fine stone grinder. I make and use big Indiana blades.

Interesting. So if your are reeling in a deep diving crank bait and snag a nice bass in the back...it's a keeper. I thought there would be more specific guidelines.

Pro tournament bass fishing...what is the exact rule for the hook being "IN" the mouth? I know you can't snag but what are the details. I was watching a live stream when a very well known pro was using a jerk bait and the smallie was clearly hooked on the outside of the lip. In the live well it went. What are the details? I thought only specific topwater lures allowed for "outside mouth hookups".

For those who Wacky Worm Rig on a normal basis...hook in the bait, hook under the o-ring or hook into a plastic tube? Anything noticeably good or bad about each?

I fish lakes with plenty of musky and northerns that grab bass lures all the time. They are fun to catch as well. What do you think is better as a leader for sharp teeth: 100lb braid or 100lb fluoro? (I don't want to keep a steel leader on everything. I do that for my top waters now.)

I've never tried the wacky worm. It's time to learn. What hooks (Weedless?) and what size for what size worm. Can I baitcast these or stick with spinning gear? Thanks all.

All were out off the shore. I came back and checked the area with my Garmin...16 feet.

Just an image for clarity. I knew NOT to parallel the shore because the others beat it to death. Fish under their boats!

I sat out in the middle of the lake watching three boats and 6 guys work down the same 100 yard rip rap shoreline. It had a steep weed filled shore where no one could ever stand and cast. They beat those rocks with spinnerbaits, cranks and jigs. I saw one small bass caught. My turn. I used my usual technique. I put the boat right up againts the rip rap and worked slowly along that shore...fan casting with a football jig and fishing right under "their boat position". 5 bass later with a nice 5 pounder too. Bigger bass are smart...they move out. So you need to be different too.

Every knot: mono, fluoro, braid to a lure...braid to fluoro or braid to mono---I super glue EVERY knot. Takes a few extra seconds and you WILL NOT see a knot slip or untie. Braid turns hard as a rock with a tiny dab. Great for those FGs and other linking knots. The line may break...but my knots never come loose. It's not a new idea. Just something I do for confidence. (A tiny amount. Don't make a mess. I use a toothpick to apply it.)

I hop and reel slowly. Pretty much moving the weight like a jig. Any better techniques? What should I be doing? Thanks to all.

Would a bass hold onto a jig longer with a weedless brush guard for any reason? Compared to one without one. I'm usually fishing open water football jigs near riprap from a boat. I'm trying to decide on a reason why I would want a weed guard. I have been just removing them from the jig head. Or...should I just leave them alone? I have always believed I stick more bass without a guard.

Cut a large worm open across the body but not all the way through. Push in a red hot wire and make hollowed out area. Repeat. Seal worm back up with a candle flame. This trick can make any soft plastic float.

I solved it. You swipe your finger in an arc across the screen...then the cross hairs appear. Finally!