Fishin Dad

I totally agree that it is going to be an interesting year to see how things play out. I don’t have FFS and don’t ever plan to get it. Not really enjoying watching it either. I really enjoy drop shotting and won money with it last year. I fish it more like a Texas rig I guess. I cast it out and work it back. My wife and daughter hammer fish with it as well. But I get it! It is definitely not frog or jig fishing, which are my favorite!!

Thanks for the reminder!! I have been stuck on only looking at the forum unless someone posts a link to an article, story, etc. This is the best site by far in my opinion. I will reiterate again, the moderators keep this cordial, on topic, and informational. In this world today, I LOVE that! Once again, great job Bass Resource!

Good info. I am glad he addressed bluegill spawning thoughts. We don’t have a lot of Shad around my parts. I am also planning on throwing bigger swimbaits this season. I am a complete rookie at this and with our weedy lakes, I am not sure how it is going to work. I know some hammers who do this around here and I am going to lean on them for some info. I really like how Masayuki explained the seasonal movements. Good stuff.

Every year I say I am going to keep a log of my season. Then, every year I get so excited to get out fishing and getting my stuff ready and back in the boat, I never do it. After reading this post, I don’t know if I even need to think about it anymore. Sounds like it hasn’t been a real big help. Thanks.

So far I have settled on braid to fluoro leader on my spinning set ups. I then choose straight fluoro for most everything else: Jigs, moving baits (chatters, cranks, swimbaits), Texas rigs. I do use straight braid for frogs, punching I weeds, a lot of topwater baits, and if I have to make really long casts and set the hook. I am not sure if this is correct or not. I am not sure I can even justify a lot of it. It seems to be my confidence and more importantly my standard I have practices with and used for a while. I believe I have developed a “FEEL” with these setups so “I” know what a bite feels like and how I need to handle the fish to get them landed.

I very much agree with this! The other thing I would add that I haven’t seen yet is a small chatterbait. Newbies can feel the vibration and when it stops, fish or weeds. A lot of feedback to help them.

Wow! Sad to see. I have suspected this happening before as well. I was always hoping I was wrong. I can’t believe people want to win this way. Shows the direction we are going. Pray hard.

Sweet idea. Probably better quality than other shaving bags and anything that reminds me of fishing is solid. Good choice

Yep, boat is still in storage. The smaller lake is not really a bass lake and had a summer kill a few years ago. A couple other lakes are getting close, but this cold weather should slow it waaaaaay down. I can wait a little, but looking at that water is making it much harder!!!

Unfortunately, as you know, we can’t fish bass in Minnesota until May, so I just have to look at it and dream. Some panfish might meet some oil soon though. There will be some very short drives to Iowa soon for some possible bucket mouths however. I only live 8 miles from the border. We need to keep this colder weather away now!!!

The small lake in my area is completely open. Ice free!!

🤙 That’s a solid rod. They do fling a 1/32 well. Siege is a solid choice too!! I really think people fish too heavy for panfish most of the time. I also find that color choices of both the Jighead and plastic make a huge difference on some lakes. Let’s hope we get to fling some of these rigs sooner than later.

I actually have 4 or 5 ultralight panfish rods. I really like them for casting light lures and fighting fish with paper mouths. I actually use a 1/32 oz. Jighead and cast it. You have to have a very light parabolic rod to do this. I really don’t do a lot of bobber fishing for panfish. It is just so much more fun to cast and jig for them. I ordered 2 St. Croix panfish rods on a sale last year. They are very nice for this application. You can sure use any L or ML rod if you are not casting that light of lures.

Especially in the northern part of the state. The bass up there are not smart. Zona + Feider = TROUBLE. Those two would be a blast to hang out with.

Marabou hammers smallmouth bass!! I love a 3/32 black with some flashabou in it. Add a little piece of senko or finesse worm. Yummy

I am just wanting to grab a seemingly simple older model Shimano Twinpower from Japan. I now feel very underpowered!! Congrats on those reels boys! Those will be awesome to fish with!!

I have seen a couple crazy dudes pulling out Ice Castles with pickups on 12 inches of ice. Can’t figure it out. But the lakes have been very under fished this season. I think it is awesome!!

I think this winter has probably been good for the fish. There has not been much pressure on the lakes this winter. Don’t get me wrong, I do fish on the ice, but it might be a good break for the fish who have been pounded on since COVID! I have also seen first hand how FFS gets limits on ice like crazy. Thoughts?

Those are some sick choices!! I want your reel budget!!

I actually like my Tatula SV more than my Zillion SV for skipping. Don’t know why? I really think skipping with a 1/4 or 3/8 oz arky skipping jig and a flat plastic bait with no appendages (like a smaller beaver type bait) for skipping. Small roll cast with your wrist not arm. I.e.- Don’t pull your arm back (like cocking or loading your arm). I like to keep my arm forward and just rolling my wrist, keeping the bait low to the water.

That’s what I thought. This could be a wild Spring!

I have a hunch it is going to be a very early ice out. I hope to be slinging for crappies and scanning lakes sooner than ever.

I have owned a couple of the Lew’s SP and feel they are ok. I also have a bunch of Daiwa Tatula and Zillion SV reels, and it is no contest. Those SV reels by Daiwa are amazing. Skipping, light baits, casting in the wind. They are awesome! I really like Lews reels and use quite a few of them still, I just wasn’t impressed with the SP when compared to the Daiwa SV reels.

I am a teacher and interact with a lot of high school fisherman as well as seeing a lot of young people in small tourneys. It is incredible. I started fishing with my grandpa and dad. My learning was Saturday morning fishing shows and magazines once per month. It was also living on a lake and fishing all the time. BUT, all of that pales in comparison to what these kids can learn in a couple hours online. I also do think the young generations just have a natural ability to understand and use technology to a different level. It can, and has, been argued TOO much lately, but technology has changed the game exponentially!!! I am personally not a fan of it at all, but it is here.

Green fish: Chatterbait Jig Dropshot Frog Senko Brown fish: Jerkbait Swimbait Senko Tube Hair