Rick Howard

How about a spinnerbait?

Launched the boat without the plug in once.

1/8, 3/16, & 1/4 oz. Most common for me. Any heavier I tend to go for a jig.

winter

Most often yes but sometimes they will fool me.

If I have a mom and pop option, I would go there first. Big boxes are a last resort for anything, for me. Same goes eating out. Always local for me, I wont even consider a chain.

Mostly for effectiveness. But catching fish is fun! So mostly its for run. On occasion just for the fun of learning something new or trying a bait I have never tried I will change also.

Mardrone Burl turkey caller.

I bury the hook in the tube. I probably miss a few fish because of it. It keeps it weedless though. I have considered using a flipping hook but...

4/0 EWG. 4" tubes

I do. When the veggies are really thick I will use a tube Texas rigged with a pretty heavy bullet weight.

Hunt turkey, deer, and coyote. I also enjoy wood turning (I make turkey a coyote calls mostly.) I will post some pics when I am not at work lol.

I have never fished a tournament in my life. However, I do know something about competing in a individual sport. I'd start by giving myself an honest assessment of both seasons. Don't over analyse every tiny detail. Focus on the things you know your good at and the things you know you struggle with. Figure which impacted you more on each season. Make corrections and be ready for next season.

Could the similar size have something to do with the fish being territorial. I.e. A larger fish will run off a smaller fish but not be able to run off a fish its equal? That would explain fish of equal size being together. The concentration of fish in one area be the result of a prime habitat and or feeding area? On average it is rare for me to find concentrations of large mouth bass beyond 2 in immediate proximity. I do however find an "areas" where I'll catch a dozen fish. My guess is the bass aren't true schools by definition but do have some schooling characteristics at times. Kinda like coyote. They don't run in true "packs" but will take those tendencies at times. Granted i I don't have electronics so I only see what I catch. For the record im making no claims. Just reporting my experiences on a subject that I've been giving thought to for awhile. I'm not a biologist and I've only fished a few bodies of water in one state. So...

A dry bag for this

I got rid of something and my fishing got better..... wife. This is only a joke folks but ironically its true for me lol

I don't switch often. I have a pretty simple approach. I have 4 rods. They are almost always rigged as follows. A jig, a spinner, a Texas rig, and a rapala minnow. All of these baits can be fished several ways in various conditions. I cover an area ptryy thoroughly with these. As I get bit or don't get bit I start to establish a pattern and adjust accordingly. Sometimes nothing develops. Other times it happens right away and I'll catch them all day or several days with that pattern. I'd say more often a few things are working just okay. I am pretty simple when it comes to color also. Jigs are black or brown. Black in muddy water. Brown in clean water. Trailers are always a craw chunk. Black/blue with the black jig. PBJ with the brown jig. spinners are white with willow blades. black with Colorado blades. Minnow is black and white Texas rig is normally a craw or worm. Worm is black or brown. Craw is black/blue flake or green. Again depends on water clarity. I try different baits or colors out of curiosity sometimes. If I'm trying something new I set out that day to for that reason. I stick with that for the entire time.

Caught two solid fish off that tree tonight but big girl left me standing on the front porch ( flowers in hand). This will sting for awhile.

I am interested in this topic. Not so much how it pertains to fishing but just general interest. Anyone have any good resources on the crayfish/crawfish subject? Info on species, distribution.....

I've got a date tomorrow after work.

I thought I hooked a stump until she started swimming. I almost had my thumb on her lip when the hook let go. I think I cried a little.

Its a z-man. I like the trailer, line, and retrieve that I am using so I went bendy. It did the trick Thank you fellas

Setting the hook on a jig bite is it for me. Can't get enough of it.

My thinking was that if you tie floro to braid you only increase your chances of knot failure by adding more knots. Also it seems you would lose the sensitivity of braid by tying the floro to it? To me its a one of the other type of thing. But then again, I am not betting my mortgage on fishing lol. I don't spend nearly as much time figuring this stuff out as I would if it was my source of income. That said, I do think we tend to over think this stuff a little

I don't get it... Why use the braid at all?