SWVABass

Bass pro makes some decent tubes they are cheap and seem to hold up real well. Green pumpkins, watermelons, and bait fish colors have all worked well for me. I also throw them on the bass pro tube jig head. Good luck!

Not sure where the op is fishing. I have lots of steep banks that 4' from the shore your fishing 12 fow, I run the as parallel as possible. They have done good for me for largemouth smallmouth and whites.

I've done well with strike King 3xd, 1.0&1.5 square bills, 1.5 flat, and luck-e-strike freak.

Luck-e-strike freak 1. That lil guy gets down on 8lb test, best colors for me have been tasty shad, and brown craw. Bills can be weak, just don't fire them into the rocks they usually last.

Just to add to what Tom said, I wold be looking for any sort of hard bottom. That and with the dirty water I might try a chatterbait, lipless crank while it's still real cold. Once it warmed up I'd throw a lot of top water, a popper or whopper plopper around any cover. Good luck be nice to see how you do.

My club fishes boaters and non boaters against each other, no separating them. As a co angler and being one of 3 in the club I can pick my boater. I have found a great boater who treats me very well. Like Catt has said about fishing as a team it's what we do, we know we are competing against each other but we are more focused on figuring out that smaller than a pea sized green fish than beating each other. Due to a knee replacement surgery my boater allows me to run the front 75% of the time now, and believe it not he still out fishes me from the back, I have yet to learn how to slow down but I'm learning. if co anglers are that determined to win they need to do one of two things, find a club where you only compete against the other co anglers or buy a boat. I signed up to fish and learn, I've been lucky and placed first and second from the back of the boat before, I fished my way with what I had and it worked out. But don't complain cause you don't get first shot at everything.

Unlike a trig the weight won't kill your presentation. So if it works go for it. As far as your drop length you might need to make it longer to get it up higher in the water colum. Your fishing at more of an angle so your bait on a 10" drop won't really be 10" off the bottom, just play with the length till you find what the fish want.

I've been using the mustad and Vmc drop shot hooks. I haven't had a problem with twist since. Give them a try and see if that cures you twist problem. Without a swivel I think you will have a hard time not getting twist. The other option as stated it braid to fc, which if your fishing that deep shouldn't be a problem to do, about a12-14' leader and you should be good.

Diawa fuego Has your friend tested a diawa fuego by chance? I think I've changed my mind after handeling them today and my local shop beets tw by almost 20 on the price.

Thanks for posting that link. I think I'm going to try a president xt.

President xt what's anyone's opinion?

Think Rapala makes a gold fish colored bait. I would be getting some of those cranks to try. If there isn't another predatory fish in there such as lmb pick apart that wood, even if it's only 6" deep, they will be on it at some point this year. Find the best ambush spots after the spawn the fish should be there and should be some of the bigger ones, only other thing I can think of is they would suspend and roam following the gizzard shad and gold fish..

I'm on the boat with everyone fishing yo zuri. I used to fish straight fc for cranks and switched last year and couldn't be happier. I don't use any backing on my reel either with it it. Held up plenty well in my rocky lake here. 600 yd spool is like 12 bucks at tw.

So I ordered a real last month that was supposed to be shipped already, called best the know back ordered until March 10, and I have a tourney on March 15th. So im looking for a reel in the $80 range, highest up to 100. I'm going to be putting it on a med light fast action, rod is 7'2" going to use it for spybaits Ned rig Neko rig and wacky worms. So shoot me some options, I've used less in the past, don't know if it was the model I got but wasn't happy with the drag. But I'm willing to read about all options guys! Thanks Colten

Might be a mix of post spawn and spawners. My brother lives 20 mins from the lake and said they haven't seen a lot of fish on beds there yet. But some are being caught sight fishing. I guess in places there is really good grass too Agree bucket D is rough, I don't know who I want to stick in that spot yet.

Pop-r should be required

Couple other baits to try while it's still cold would be a hair jig, jerkbait, and tube. I know here where I am when the water is lower than 52 you gotta let it soak, and short slow movements get more bites. Outside of trout what else is in that pond to serve as a prey base?

Throw up a screen shot of it on google earth some one on here will pick it apart. I would fish that steep bank on the ne side ( assuming top is north). Like Ajay said drop shot, menace grub, or a kvd 1.0/1.5 cranked parallel when the water starts to stay above 53.

Ok cool I will stick with what I know. I have to use a leader here, 10+ fov so straight braid doesn't work with the smallies. Thanks guys

Just wondering does anyone have any experience with this knot and micro guides or do I need to find a new knot for my leaders? I'll be using 832 and yo zuri hybrid 8lb for my leader. Thanks

So I got Tharp Bobby L, Blaylock, and Evers in the 50 cut so I can't complain, can't believe Chris bombed so bad this time around.

Happened to me last tourney, I think it take a little bit for it to all switch over. Mine is doing the same this morning. Go to your transaction log if your anglers are there they should show up in a little bit. I freaked last time ?

Love that smile, my boy is my best fishing buddie, and by the looks of it you got a lifer there. Beautiful kid and some nice fish!!!!!!!

Bucket A: Randall Tharp Bucket B: Bobby Lane Bucket C: Edwin Evers Bucket D: Stetson Blaylock Bucket E: Chris Lane tharp and the lane brothers are hammers in Florida I can't bet against them. EE is way to good at flipping loves to be shallow and to me was a steal and dark horse with his ownership, Blaylock tons of experience here with the flw and popped a couple top 5s so. There's my team, I did drop Jared litner, and drew Benton so hope that doesn't bite me