the reel ess

Bluegill used to nibble at my toes when I was swimming. If they were bigger they'd rip me limb from limb like they do crickets and as they're trying to do when they bite a soft plastic.

So would I. I don't use jigs much. I usually use a t-rigged craw instead. It's a confidence thing.

It can be that way in the reservoir I most often fish. Several times this summer I caught a 5+lb fish when they weren't biting. I caught 5 bass over 5# this year and had a couple more get away. A couple times on topwater. I'd pay for that privilege if I had to. I'm 45, so at this point in my life I'm not about the numbers. I'm trying to catch the biggest bass I can and there are good ones there.

I find them a lot different. Private usually = smaller. So the seasonal patterns are a lot more condensed. If you fish a place that has no shad, fish won't be chasing shad up in the creek in the fall. They might be chasing something that doesn't behave like shad. The bass will be more likely to get shallow, but may not react the same. I fish a place that's maybe 30 acres that has gold shiners and fathead minnows and whatever was in the creek when they dammed it. Shad colors don't work as well as gold in there. There are bluegill too, but that pattern still doesn't produce like gold. When I fillet fish from there, they're usually gold-ish minnows in their gut. They love a gold Rapala minnow and Rat L Trap. Seems to me in my limited experience with a private lake, the bass seem less likely to school up and cooperate to chase bait. Bigger bass also seem to be more loners. I don't seem to find a bunch of big bass in one spot. When they do school, it's almost always smaller fish. There are crappie in there too and their patterns are also odd compared to big lakes. When they turn on, they're usually 4-6' deep and want a jig moving more like 3 MPH vs +/-1 in lakes. When they're inactive, they just sit on bottom. Also, since most private lakes are shallow, bass can be caught shallow all year. Shallow is a relative term. If they go 6-8' deep, that's a lot different from 15-20'. You don't need a DD22 crank to get to them.

5 must-have combos for bass. Of course, start from the basics and add on. I have 5: BC: MH 6.5' to 7' Single hook baits like spinnerbaits 5:1 M 6.5' to 7' Treble baits Cranks and topwaters 7:1 ratio MH fast 7'-T-rigs, frogs 5:1 Spinning MH 7' Lighter single hook like weightless Trick worm M Moderate 7' Lighter treble lures like Rapala Floating Minnow. I also use one of these for wacky rigs.

The one in your hands at the time MH 6.5' to 7' M 6.5' to 7' These two will do the most for you

You gotta use what you brung in the kayak. And it's best if you don't have to change lures.

I have one I don't even know the brand. I think it's an old Strike King, black and blue. I've had days when the skirt gets torn off. So I have some replacements handy. I have a bunch of buzzbaits, but this is pretty much the only one I use.

Ideally, I'd use the 6'6" M rod with 15# Berkley Big Game for this. I've heard that using a fiberglass rod can help and a different length might work better, but I don't have 10 combos at my disposal on the kayak or even in the boat for that matter. Didn't we all used to use a 5'6" MH to do this technique and still manage to catch some fish? I have noticed looking away while you retrieve can help not yank the lure away. I like to look around for some movement or my next target. Unless I'm bumping a stump or pier piling.

I'll be sure to only use on private waters. It's longer than it appears (not what she said). It measures almost 5". That's a pretty big bait. I'm afraid it might be too big. But there are some big fish in my favorite spot.

I'm very fond of the Bandit Flat Maxx. Buy a few of whatever because you'll get hung up eventually if you're doing it right. I use mine from a kayak so I'll go get 'em.

I don't know about the line length. I don't think Palm Beach Pete had done enough research to know either. That's kinda where the hook ended up after I tied my variation on the improved clinch knot to the box end. Here's the video. His is shorter as are most jigging spoons. After re-watching his videos, mine is probably too large. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjsj6J_E7Es

It's a metric, BTW. I knew someone would ask. 10mm. Hopefully, it won't catch invasive fish from other countries.

What do you think? I'll try it next time out and give a report. It ain't the tiniest wrench in the tool box. But I'm not going to buy one for this experiment. I think it calls for a day with full sun to get the most out of the finish. It's not chrome either. That's 20# Big Game and a Gama 3/0 Octopus hook. So the hooksets ought to be pretty easy.

I don't know about all brands, but bass will bite and hold Berkley Powerbait for days. I've caught a few really nice fish when they "weren't biting" that I probably shouldn't have. One I thought was a tree branch. It pulled, I pulled, it pulled, then I set the hook, still thinking it was probably a branch. The fish didn't want to give up that meal. Funny how bites from the big gals just feel different. Big gals need love too!

Whatever I see that I like. But I'll usually buy Berkley PB or Zoom Craws, Zoom worms & flukes. Just like with beer, I like a variety and have no brand loyalties. My business can be earned.

Instinctive reflex. He probably doesn't know why. I have a friend who claims a bass jumped into the boat with him. Why would a bass do such a thing? His tiny pea brain's neurons told him to.

I stick with the mono because my crankin' and my topwater baitcast rods are one in the same. But, honestly, where I fish, big cranks are rarely used-too weedy. I have another 7' M-mod-fast spinning combo that I use for small treble lures like jerkbaits that's spooled with 20# Power Pro braid. Its action is forgiving enough for subduing a bass trying to throw trebles at the boat. I landed a 5lb 3oz on a Rat L Trap with it, no problem.

Here too man. In SC if you take a striper out of season where seasons are in effect or even try to catch one, they fine you. Take a boatload the wrong size, you'd likely get arrested and at least have your privileges revoked and maybe lose a boat. The size limit and season in rivers/lakes where stripers naturally spawn are set up so that you're a lot less likely to catch an adult in-season. There are lakes here that are put-and-take fisheries where you can keep 10/person of any size. It's encouraged! Hit the limit and start catch & release. My livewell usually kills them.

Yes. My dad and I. Just a T rigged worm and a small but hungry bass.

As a kid, I caught a bluegill and dropped the bare hook back in the water while I was taking it off the hook. I caught another on the bare hook. I'm going to try the Gummy Worm one of these days. There's the video on YouTube of the guy, Palm Beach Pete I think, catching them on a small wrench with a hook, rigged like a jigging spoon.

Show up and puke on her shoes. Let her see you. If it's food service she won't keep you long.

The braid will certainly help in setting the hook.

Hell, bass eat bass and walleye. Bass would eat a baby musky.

Jimmy Houston has a video catching three on the Bama rig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvOZNM3DwbA