Banor

^^ That picture is worth a thousand words about life and fishing or the outdoors period, for that matter. What more could a child ask for out of life? B

I've lost 3 different combos on 3 different lakes this year. 2 of the 3 I lost to a jet skis that ran full speed within 20 feet of me. There should be jet ski law for bass anglers similar to like doe permits.... you get 1 a year... B

Just going to follow RW around. No holding hands though. His response to Matt is my response. B

I'm with RW. I'll fish what I know works even if the bite is slow. Going 3 hours without a bite is worth it if in the 4th hour I get a better than average bite. I'm a firm believer in "you can catch fish on any given day if you've got confidence in what you are throwing." Unless of course you choose to fish where there are no fish! I have a plan laid out prior to any day on the lake even if it's fun fishing and I stick to it. I'll only fish something I dont have confidence in if I've put my mind to it ahead of time to learn it. B

Thanks G! I didnt mean to hijack the thread but this sounds more like what he's after. B

Thinking outside the box here but... have you thought of tournament fishing as a co-angler/non-boater? A very good way to learn new things from other anglers. And if you get fortunate and progress, maybe even cut a check! The cliche of time on the water comes to mind... there's no substitute for it. Another option is find someone to mentor you. An aquaintance, friend of a friend... or just a passing angler on the lake. There are very few anglers I've run into who werent willing to stop and share some experience and tips when asked, myself included. 9 out of 10 times if I head out solo and happen to see a youngster or another guy fishing off the dock I'll kindly ask them if they want to join me for the day. Fishing is so much more enjoyable when you have someone to chat with. Just a couple out of the box suggestions. B

Not making a personal attack, just poking fun.... but that just sounds funny! I'm no good with swim baits but I can tell you I've seen friends smack the tar out of fish jigging it up and down gradually down drops or jigging it/swimming it over drops. B

Another non-specific answer to your question would be find some gravel/rocks near a depth change of some kind and work a hula grub or tube in the mentioned colors along the bottom. A crank bait if you can get it to that depth might also work even if you cant get down to the depth I'd still crank it. Smallies are notorious for being aggressive and if they are suspended off the rocks you may pick up a couple. Definately try a Rat-L-Trap as well. Dont forget to work the topwater early in the day. I've picked up some good smallies over weed lines on top. B

What lake in Indiana? I cant pull the map up. I'm in Southern Michigan. I've had the opposite experience as Garnet. Right now I've been getting them on the windblown side of the drop. West to east wind would be east side of a hump/point. They are ambushing baitfish blown over the drop. They are also hanging alot at the bottom of the drop, i.e. if the point drops from 10 FOW to 20 FOW they seem to be sitting at 18 to 20. These are the smallies on the lakes I'm fishing in southern michigan which isnt too far from northern indiana. Nothing is absolute so my lakes could be different from yours. Or they could be the same B

The "Classic Patterns" DVD series are pretty good and entertaining. Like any other fishing show you have to glean what information you can from it. B

^^ What LBH said. You can spook them, catch them, beat them on the head and otherwise tick them off and they will not leave that nest if they are "locked on". B

Smallmouth definately. B

Agree with the drop shot. That is something I am going to try next year. I think it could be very productive. B

I havent fished much further south than Kentucky but from what I've read and from experience the spawn is the spawn is the spawn if you are talking about bed fishing. When they are locked onto beds you have to do one of two things.... Imitate a predator wanting their eggs and work the lure into the bed or beat them on the head with a bait until they are mad enough to pick it up and move it. Either way it involves accurate flipping/pitching with some type of soft plastic or atleast something you can be very accurate and methodical in working the bed. I've done and seen it done both ways. Way #1 is much less painstaking as way #2. I'm sure Avid and some of the other Florida anglers can fill your ear full. B

Challenged myself this weekend to only use drop shot all 3 days as I've never really showed it much attention. Wow, what a tool!! Have to agree with Capt Cali. Seemed like the dinks felt like a T-Rig bite and the solid keepers just loaded up the rod. A 3lbr actually just took off with it. I didnt even have to set the hook, I went from semi slack line to pulling out drag in a blink before I could even react. On a side note I learned that even bluegill like to suspend at 20 ft on structure. There should be a law against that. B

Bass must camoflage themselves differently in El Salto than in every lake I've fished. Bass that have been cruising in the shallow clear flats for any length of time are very light. That same lake/clarity you pull them from thick cover they are almost black. B edit: Ok rereading this and it came across sarcastic, which I didnt mean for it to. What I mean is my experience has been very different than what you've described.

I think I remember another thread where someone said (paraphrase) "bass dont play by the rules." Late evening just has not produced for me. Early morning Topwater action has, but my best production has come during the heat of the day. I think one reason for this is that during the heat of the day traditionally anglers fish tighter to cover and structure during these times(I know I do) and the general concensus is that especially the more mature fish spend most of their time in those places all day long anyway. Agree with everyone on fish when you can!! Dont play by the rules either! Mix it up and find new patterns. B

FALCON, IF I lived about 1.5 hours closer to St. Clair my butt would be on it every day and would definately be my favorite. As it stands I have this 560 acre lake that has one of the most defined points with vegetation and the most perfect structure and cover on it I've ever seen. It's about 10 min from my house. I fish this lake when I'm frustrated with a tourney performance or am just generally getting my butt kicked by another lake. I can always count on relaxing and pulling quality fish anytime. Ironically last night was one of those nights I needed some lovin and for the first time ever this little point skunked me !! Talk about pain. B

What they said ^^ Particularly in clear water if a bass has been in the shallows very long feeding he'll be light colored. When you pull one out of some thick weeds they'll be very dark. Let's put this into a workable scenerio... You pull up to some flats and smack in front of your face you see a really dark SM or LM cruising the flats. It should click in your mind that if any fish in this lake is catchable, it's this one. He's just come out of whatever heavy cover he was in for one reason only. TO FEED! And he just started, which means he's definately hungry. This has happened to me countless times. 9/10 times I've had them hit my bait in 1 to 2 feet of water from yards away before it even hit the dirt. B

Regular readers might already know that I hate/get my butt kicked by spinning so I do everything with baitcaster. My setup is a 7-6 Airrus Co-Matrix med/light with med action. Quantum tour PT reel. 8 lb Pline floro - no leader. Pallomar knot works just fine for me and if done right the hook practically stands up at attention. I havent narrowed down to a favorite bait yet. A majority of my drop shotting is straight down in deeper water... by deeper I mean about 20 FOW right off of points/drops. The braid/floro leader sounds interesting! Thanks for suggesting it! Have you tried PowerPro? If you do dropshot shallow how has that worked out for you? Do you use different plastics for shallow vs. deeper? B

Having a lot to learn does not equate to being "poor". If any of us quit admitting we need to learn we would be dooming ourselves to failure. The dog days of summer are actually my favorite time to fish. You cant go wrong with some type of texas rigged plastic bait and some patience! Find yourself some good weed beds, wood or rocks close to some type of change in depth and toss a texas rig with or without weight over, in and around them!!! Dont wait till fall!! B

My dad. We lived around lakes and had a summer cottage on a small lake we spent alot of time at. I remember when I was little I was the annoying son that wanted to go home after an hour because it "was cold" or "I'm hot" or "it's dark"! It didnt take long for it to be: "come on son we have to go, dinner is ready", "no really, after this cast son we really gotta go! Mom's waiting!" B

Mother Nature.

Ok so I was fortunate enough to get half of my 15k re-enlistment bonus up front in June. 7500.00 minus Uncle Sam's greedy nubs = 5800.00. So instead of speculating, I have a first hand report! 1800.00 down payment on a used bass boat! 2000.00 at BPS with a 20% veteran's discount got me: 6 Various Quantum reels 1 Pair polarized sunglasses with 3 interchangable lenses 2 Pairs shorts 1 Pair shoes 1 Gerber tool 1 Fishing net (I'll rarely use, it's a lazy tool!) Countless soft plastics Several Lucky Crafts (d**n those add up the $$ quick) Tournament Balance Beam Gortex Rain Gear Another trip to BPS 1000.00 worth of Electronics 500.00 worth of Airrus rods 500.00 from Tackle Warehouse in plastics and terminal tackle/line I had seriously bass fished for 11 years (3 years of it tournament fishing) until I enlisted in 2000 when I sold my boat, stored my gear at a buddy's house (about 3000.00 worth) which his dog destroyed. Incidentally he wouldnt let me anywhere near his dog after that. I dont understand why. So I figured the re-investment was money well spent and am back on the road to that American dream of pro tournament angling! B

Fast and methodical. Mostly soft plastics. I use soft plastics as search baits and fish them faster than most.