Keithscatch

Hmmm. Perhaps GYCB clipped the legs off of this bait to create the Fat Ika? http://www.***.com/descpageSFSYAMA-YA4DTHG.html Sure looks similar to me. For the money I would just buy a bag of these Hula grubs and cut the legs off and shazaaam I have a Magic Bait for less money.

Timmy, I caught that fish back in 2001 so not sure what is up with the lake now. However, if I lived there I would definitely fish that lake allot. Lots of timber to pitch to which is what we did. If I remember right We hit the main lake from the boat ramp area and went right and went a little ways till we came to a decent sized creek on our right. South end of the lake if the lake sits east and west. There was allot of timber in the mouth of this creek and at first glance it looks like there isn't a way back in there but there is. We went back there and flipped worms to the trees. Caught allot of 2lbers in there also. I caught the 6lb+ off of a tree line that ran across a small cove. I can't remember where but it would have to be somewhere in that vicinity. Also saw allot of trees laying down. Caught a few around those. Hit up Cedar Bluff lake too. Same weekend we went there and also caught over 25 bass. Basically targeted laydown trees and logs. It was a fun weekend of fishing.

To sum it up I think the answer is to Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Of course someone wise once said that No one buys from people they don't trust at least not twice. So gaining people's trust is key and doing what you descibed gains trust.

I think you answered your own question when you guessed Sunfish or Bream. My experience is the bites we get that we set the hook with nothing more often then not are Bluegills or Crappie or other types of Sunfish. Bass almost always suck in a small bait like what you were using. We just always assume it was a Bass when we miss a fish. Dropshot rigging will produce panfish bites for sure. Bream pull real hard for their size way more then a Bass ever could. I caught a huge Bream once maybe 1.5lbs or so and I swear I had a 4-5lb Bass on. Go with your gut feeling on this as I think you already know the answer.

Awesome day Randall. Is this the right Lake Varner you speak of? Preview: An 850-acre drinking water reservoir owned by Newton County, Lake Varner opened to the public in 1992 and has produced excellent fishing ever since. First known as Cornish Creek Reservoir, this 850-acre impoundment was built in 1991 to provide an additional source of water for county residents. The lake opened to public fishing in 1992 and although some unique regulations are in place, anglers continue to flock to the lake to get in on the hot action. Much of Lake Varner remains virtually uncharted water. Since all boats are limited to electric motors only, the upper ends of the lake distant from the single access point get very little fishing pressure. Also, prospecting for offshore structure is a time-consuming task without a gasoline motor. Lake Varner is not an extremely deep lake. In the main creek channels, the water is close to 20 feet deep. The deepest point on the lake is near the dam and has 38 feet of water. Lake Varner's waters are usually clear, and aquatic vegetation is

Looks like bassinfreak has us beat with 11 so far. Me and sodaksker are tied with 9. Who else?

C'mon guys no ponds Or I could throw in a bunch more too. The lake doesn't have to be known by others just a lake. Let's say over 30 acres. Anything over that I will say counts.

it would help if this board shows where everyone lives. Many boards do but for some reason the powers that be decided against that on this one. I have clicked on numerous profiles and see that most do not post the state they are from. Oh well, rant over Moderator Note: Eveyone can put their location in their profile and it can be automatically displayed at the bottom of every post. It's optional.

Interesting story Flyrod. I guess a little humor thrown in is always a good thing. ;D Now back to the topic.

Some pretty impressive catches guys. I consider 20lbs or better to be good and some of you all have surpassed that by a lot.

Pretty awesome Fish. 10lb+ fish for me=0 But I am working on it. KU_Bassmaster, perhaps if I would correctly Identify the name of the lake you would know it. I did a little surfing and realized that I named the lake wrong. :-[ (It has been a few years and I only been there 1 time) the name of the lake is Norton. There is a state park Keith Sebelious there where I stayed. It had Prairie Dogs everywhere. In fact it had a huge statue of a Prarie Dog at the entrance I remember. I corrected it on my list.

That's cool. I was going to ask you if you have ever fished Norman Lake in Kansas? I only fished it once and loved it. Caught like 25 bass including a nice fat 6+lb bass off of a tree row. Had another break my line. Do you live in Kansas?

Ok how many states have you caught a bass in? LM, SM, Spot or any other species of Bass no rock bass or any perch. This should be interesting. Here is my list. 1) Texas 2) Florida 3) Colorado 4) Kansas 5) Arkansas 6) Oklahoma 7) Georgia 8) New Mexico 9) Alabama I have had the pleasure of living in Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and Florida and have been priviledged to fish in a myriad of different type lakes. How about you? Any other frequent traveler fishermen around?

Ok, this is an interesting thought, that shows if you have fished allot of lakes or bodies of water or just fish the same water all the time. How many lakes (bodies of water includes rivers, streams, bays but NO PONDS) have you caught a 6lb bass or bigger in? Name the body of water and state it is in. Here is my list. 1) Lake Fork (Texas) 2) Callender Lake (Texas) 3) Cooper Lake (Texas) 4) Purtis Creek (Texas) 5) Ray Roberts (Texas) 6) Lake Norton (Kansas) 7) Dr's Lake/St.John's River (Florida)

Jolicious, I can only assume they are set times for each time zone. IE moon overhead for me in the eastern time zone may be 10:30pm. Obviousely if you are on the west coast it is only 7:30pm. Moon overhead for you would be 10:30pm pacific time also. Make sense. It doesn't mean real time for everyone at the same time me at 10pm you at 7pm.

Sounds like you have them patterned out. Why change? If you know that at night they are catchable in a certain place then stay on them till that pattern ends. Ever heard the saying strike while the iron is hot?

Heck ya. That is one of the best things about being on a forum like this. I have made friends from forums before that I still talk with even though they live in a different state from me. If a forum doesn't give you that opportunity find another one.

Doesn't have to be in a tournament just what is your best 5 bass caught in a single outing? Mine is 26lbs even with only 4 fish. Never did catch number 5. Would have been awesome though. caught an 8.5, 7.5, 7.0 and a 3 all on the same point. Gotta love Lake Fork. I had another memorable day pre fishing a tournament. I caught a 6.5, 5.5, 4.5,4.0 and 2 for a total of 22.5lbs. Wouldn't you know it the next weekend only caught 1 fish in that area on tournament day > Oh well, what is the total of your top 5 bass caught in one day on the same lake?

That roadbed looks awesome. I hope you remember that spot. Put a brushpile near it and you will be set.

Other then what others have said try using a Rinky Dink (Tail kicker) lure. It is a lead weight shaped like a small fish usually about 2 inches long and weighs 1/2 ounce normally. They also have smaller 3/8 ounce ones. It has a single Colorado blade on the back of it. What I like about the Rinky Dink is the line runs through the top of the bait and out the bottom where you tie your treble hook to it. That way when the fish jumps with it the bait slides up the line and can't be used as leverage against itself. Other similar baits are all attached to the hook and in my opinion don't perform as well.

Some outstanding replies so far. In addition to what some have said already I would add this: When fishing thick grass I like baits with no appendages, no curly tails. Just plain jane straight baits such as a trick worm or centipede. Why? Because those baits will slide down through the grass better then a brush hog, lizard, curly tail, u-tale, craw anyday. Plus you won't have to use quite as heavy a weight either. But make sure the weight is attached to the hook or bait. Can be superglued if no Florida type weight is in your area. Just superglue the weight to the plastic bait not the line. Poke a tooth pick into the head of the weight to help also. Break it off so it is flush with the weight. No one mentioned a buzzbait. Not sure why but buzzbaits work awesome over thick grass. It really calls them out of that grass to the top. Personally I like change that I LOVE fishing thick hydrilla beds right smack dab in the middle of the hot sunny summer day. It is as predictable as any other pattern you can come up with. Bass will bury themselves down in the thickest grass in deep water you can find. Sometimes in not so deep water. Rememeber this too. If the Hydrilla is matted is it matted because it is longer then the water column and bends over? If so, you have a canopy that will hold fish under it. By dropping your bait at the edge of this you might not get bit as the Bass may not venture over there to get it. However punch down through that top canopy as close to the stalks and be ready. If it is matted without forming a canopy ie it is thick everywhere then look for the pot holes as one so adequetly mentioned earlier. In that case find sparser grass and I believe you will do better. Also, make sure you are using braided line. or high 17lb mono or bigger with a stiff 7' rod. Catching the fish is half the battle fighting them out of that stuff is the other. Good luck.

While I lived in Texas I learned that on private waters any gamefish can be caught in any way you want to use, Jug line, trotline, cast net, gill net, rod and reel etc. Gamefish can also be used as bait at will and TP&W will do nothing about it as they have NO AUTHORITY over private waters. I used to live on a private lake in East Texas and saw allot of poaching and illegal use of fish or so I thought. When I contacted TP&W about it they said nothing they can do about it. NO license is required to fish private waters either so no regulations exist on those waters by the state. Now if the property itself has regulations then they are responsible for enforcement not TP&W. Just thought I would add that to this long thread.

Good points. I can say however that I have caught Bass with fishing line coming out of their mouths which means they have a hook firmly planted in their guts. I also caught a fish once that the line was coming out of it's back end. So I removed it and turned the little guy lose. Perhaps he had a hook that dissolved in it's stomach and the line was just passing through his system?

Not so. Here is what the manual says for Florida: USE OF FISH FOR BAIT Black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait. Live goldfish or carp may not be used as bait. Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them. Whole pickerel or bream or parts thereof may not be used as bait for trotlines or bush hooks or any method other than by rod and reel or pole and line. Just saying "gamefish" as you said could lead someone into believing that a small Bass could be used as bait. It is afterall a gamefish. However here in Florida Pickeral are legal to use as bait as are sunfish. What I find interesting is that goldfish are not allowed to be used as bait. I know in Texas goldfish are legal to use as bait.

Nicely said Chris. I agree 100%. Keep some of the small ones if you simply have to keep any or want to. Bass really are not that great eating either. Anyway, please do not keep the big ones. I guess I get botherd when I see pictures of people holding big bass inside of their house or garage.