Fish the Mitt

I have some Pro Kote on the way. It is significantly less tacky then it was when I had posted this. I still don't see it curing 100% (even with a lot more time) so I will likely try another coat of Pro Kote and ensure I properly mix the two this time. I knew it was bad mixing because I had some left over in the little plastic cup they give you. Upon looking at, and feeling around this cup, it was hardened in some spots, not in others. So I totally agree that it was my fault, no one else's.

Thanks, Tom. Currently, my keel guard is under water while my boat is at rest. So I will look into replacing that. I mainly asked because 2 specific lakes I fish have raised banks (roughly a foot or two) so even if my guard protected me from the lake bottom, I run into the possibility of running the non keel protected portion onto land. I've gotten in the habit of banking my boat slightly sideways, which helps, but then makes getting on and off more difficult (not to mention pushing off).

When I purchased my Skeeter, it came with a keel guard. However, in my opinion, it isn't long enough or forward enough. So my question is two part: 1. How far up on the forward part of the hull do your keel guards go? AND 2. If I were wanting to extend mine another 2ft, would you add to the existing, or replace with an all new guard?

Was this ever made? PM me your YouTube handle because that's a channel I could get behind! (sarcasm of course).

Red Label (non Leader Material)

Of course they did, I bought mine lastnight.....

Late to the party, and it sounds like Mille Lacs might be the winner, but if you do make it to Northern MI, I suggest trying out Hubbard as well. It's really become a trophy smallmouth factory due in part by the great habitat efforts by the local community. MLF was just up there for the 2018 Summit Cup and they were catching 4-5bers all day (unsure what the biggest came in at). While St. Claire, Erie, and the NW part of Michigan gets all the glory, Hubbard (NE MI - Alpena) is really starting to shine in it's own right when it comes to smallmouth (109 yr old SM record was broken there in 2015 (9.33#) [record broke again shortly after (9.98 on Indian River)]).

A lot of this I do before ever leaving the house in order to maximize my already limited time on the water. Before I leave: - Time of year - Weather (encompasses everything from sun vs clouds, wind speed, wind direction, barometer, incoming/outgoing fronts, etc..) - Understand which species I'm targeting (or if both, plan for both) - Successful spots in previous endeavors - Typical bass patterns for the season - Study topo (Navionics) to choose high probability spots Before I cast: - Water clarity (and how the wind/direction impacted this) - Current (since I fish a lot of impoundments) - Water temp - Water level - Whether or not the spots I picked from home would hold up based on what I see on the water - Then adjust as needed Very rarely do I just go out and fish without doing any of the above. I tend to plan my outings in advance, and rarely do I just wing it. Unless all else fails on the water, then it's a free-for-all. I wouldn't say it overcomplicates things as I actually enjoy this part of fishing. The challenge in trying to figure it out, if you will.

- Carolina Rig (although I fish a mojo quite often). - A-Rig - Big body swimbaits - Double Zulu (I'm actually going to try this, this year). - Ned Rig - Shaky Head (also trying this, this year)

There's still a lot of ice up by me but I've found some open water. Been thinking I might go out just to ease that itch as well!

That's what I had originally planned to do but after reading a few posts online, it wasn't recommended. I haven't fully decided what I'm going to do as I had to order more Pro Kote anyways so either option is sidelined until I receive it.

MIX THE PROKOTE PROPERLY! I say that because apparently I didn't mix it well enough and mine won't cure. I have to remove it and start over with the thread finish.

I use a variety of Keitech paddle tails mostly - usually the easy shiners or the Swing Impacts. For a bladed jig, since I rarely fish it on the bottom, I will almost always have a paddle tail or fluke style trailer. On occassion I'll throw a craw trailer, but it's rare.

Very well put, and I couldn't agree more.

I'm currently sitting next to Houghton Lake. 45 & ice as far as I can see... So close, yet so far away. Ugh. I need a beer.

Over the years, I have moved exclusively to Plano stow-away style boxes/sleeves. These stay on my bass boat during fishing season. I also have 2 dedicated to my kayak that have a variety of things I may need. I do have a large 6 tray Plano box that I used to use, but as stated, I've moved away from that. Now it's used for storing those things I have an abundance of that I don't necessarily need on the boat. As for method of organizing. I organize by lure type. Tray(s) of cranks, tray(s) of jerkbaits, tray(s) of jigs, etc.. etc..

I have not. A generally stick to his frontier stories only, and have only read a few short stories. So that excludes both you mentioned, unfortunately. To Tame a Land, Kilkenny, and Hondo are the three I've probably read the most (multiple times each).

For me, at 60 degree water temps, there are two areas I focus on. 1. Spawning grounds 2. Transition routes to and from these spawning grounds. Do you have an idea of where these bass spawn? Have you or can you see them on beds? Flats, back of coves and creeks, etc... is where I'd start looking. Some anglers during the spawn only target bedding bass. Others will only target the bass in moving in, or moving out. Others will do both. I fall in the last category. Does this specific lake have a name? Topo map? Is it TX or MS? Lastly, welcome to BR!!

Welcome from Clare, Co. (MI)!!

Congrats! 5.54#-5.66# would have just snuck in to be my PB as well. Great way to start the 2018 season!

Awesome! Thanks for the help

Time: Well your reds/oranges are meant to resemble crawdads to an extent. So when does crawdads become a large part of a bass' diet? Fish them then.. How: All my red/orange lures (any craw imitation really), are fished on the bottom. Again, replicating a crawdad, I'm not going to be fishing this throughout the water column. Jigs on the bottom, crankbaits hitting bottom all the way back to the boat, etc... but that doesn't mean red won't work for other things either. I suggest reading the thread started by @WRB yesterday.

As a forum, a lot of the content here begins with an OP (you) who poses the topic or question. So, if you want to learn what you stated above, post a lake map. As for an actual guide, it would be hard because everyone lives across the country and what one pattern works in FL isn't what will work in TN or MI. And also, every lake has the potential to behave differently day to day. There are no hard and fast rules to bass fishing - just guidelines. So creating a comprehensive guide to reading and understanding topo/contour maps of every lake and season across the country is not real possible or conducive to learning. As for posts like what you're talking about? I've seen dozens and have been involved in dozens where someone posts a navionics map, and the BR Community helps break it down (with our own opinions and experience based on generalities and location). So again, sure. Post a navionics map of your favorite lake!

On my kayak I don't use a cooler, so I'm not much help there. I usually just have a Gatorade between my legs and a can of Grizz in my shirt pocket for a snack ? On my boat, I use a soft cooler my GF got from work. It's no Yeti but it works plenty good for a day on the water. On my old bass boat, the live well wasn't big enough for 5 perch, let alone 5 bass, so that was my designated cooler.

This turnkey kit was $180+tax (minus 10% for giving my email to Mud Hole). Total was $170. This included the rod kit (blank, grips, reel seat, guides, etc..) and everything needed to build it (CRB hand wrapper, dryer, stands, threads, epoxies, tape, razors, brushes, guide book, etc..). The only thing I've needed that wasn't in the kit was rubbing alcohol - everytjing else is there. I wanted to start basic and this includes everything I need plus some. As a reference, the rod kit alone is $113 I believe. I know it's over $100.