Fish the Mitt

White/Chartreuse 3/8oz Original Chatterbait w/ a Keitech Swing Impact trailer. Weight was around 5 (teetered between high 4's and 5 lol) .

Beings I'm from the tundra that is Michigan, and my bass boat runs a little funny on ice, I've peeked a time or two on various fishing channels on the interweb - namely YouTube. Bass Resource LakeForkGuy LunkersTV Flair InformativeFisherman KeepinItReel 1Rod1Reel Zona (Bolded equates to most watched) ...and of course, any I see on the infamous YouTube rabbit hole - if I don't start out watching videos on various jig techniques, and end up watching drunk bar brawl compilations... ?

1. Value as in monetary, no. Value as in usefulness, purpose, etc... yes. 2. No. I'd rather fish a free body of water and figure it out or learn failing. The only way I'd contemplate it, is if I were fishing to provide a meal and the body of water in question had some guarantees. But, I don't often fish for food, or am in a position to need to pay to find it. So it's highly unlikely. 3. 0$ 4. No. I live in a state with tens of thousands of lakes, streams, and rivers. I don't need, or have a desire, to fish private for $. Sorry bud. You'd probably have better luck (IMO) having an AirBnB style business for hunting a variety of animals on private land for $

I'm not a huge drop shot guy so take this for what's it worth; and I'm sure a more experienced BR member will come along and correct me if need be. But.. in the case of something being worth trying, there are no hard and fast rules in bass fishing. However, for me, I think of drop shotting as more of a visibility requirement finesse technique. The shake of the rig isn't loud, doesn't displace lots of water, isn't overly visible as far as size or action, or attract much outside of its visible action. So if visibility is an issue, I would try something different - or, go bigger with your profile if you know bass are holding there. Again, just because something works better in clearer water, doesn't mean it won't work at all in other. Again, there are no hard and fast rules. But drop shotting in this type of water wouldn't be my first choice.

While bass moving shallower the muddier the water gets, and holding tighter to cover, are extremely common behaviors, you have to keep in mind that 'muddy' is a relative term. Also, what type of 'muddy' water was it? Perhaps it was just the top 2 fow that were muddy? 3fow? 4fow? etc.. Also, was that muddiness common for that body of water? Is it something the bass see often? In the end, my point is that not all muddy water is bad. On some bodies of water, it's whats most common, and others it is more rare. Understanding the lake/river, and bass behavior on the lake/river, is key here. Bass are primarily sight feeders, but do rely on their lateral line during muddy water days. Assuming the bass were moving shallower and holding tighter to cover, your lure choice should have been something that displaced water, perhaps even made noise, and stayed in that strike zone longer. They can't bite something they don't know is there. If you can't make em' see it, make em' feel it.

Definitely not. While I check my line often, and retie a good bit, it is nowhere near every bass landed.

I have a fishing kayak that is sitting only, and pitching a jig took practice. Other than that, spooks are difficult from time to time depending on conditions and wind. For everything else, practice your roll cast.

I was raised on a farm, in a town with one light (doesnt even work), and about 1000 people. Horses, pigs, sheep, goats, 4-H, hunting, fishing, trapping, etc.. was a way of life for most - but not all. I now live one town over. A bigger town, of 3000 people, but I live out of town thankfully. Both neighbors are Amish if that paints a better picture. I spent some time on the west coast while in the service, but that was never home to me. I'm in Knoxville, TN right now for a quick vaca and the driving has me white knuckled. You all are nuts down here for dealing with this craziness. Take me back to Amish Country! Lol

- Navionics App - OnX (for bank fishing and grouse hunting)

Welcome from Clare County!

^8.25 my jam!

Perdy! ?

Alright. Thanks for the information. I'll be heading down in a few hours and only have room for a rod and one sleeve. I've got a few finesse items, but I'm mostly bringing exactly what you mentioned. Figured cold water bass in TN fish similar to MI. Pretty much the same items I use after ice out. Thanks!

Everyone has their own unique way of launching their boats. If there wasn't already a nice tree right there, then I would inquire about sticking a post in. I know for me, I fish alone a lot so I need a way to hold my bug while I park my truck. As for getting stuck, there's only one way to find out!

The one area like that where I launch the most out of has a T post stuck in on shore for this exact reason. Push your boat off, pull it back and tie to T Post, pull your rig out and park it, and then hop in the boat.

Well we can't so for sure one way or the other, but I'll leave you with this tidbit of information: I've launched many a time in areas like this. Most of the time, no issue - but I've gotten my truck stuck too. I know this doesn't help you at all, but knowing the material, and the capabilities of your rig, should give you an idea. For me, it's less the weight of the boat/trailer, because as soon as I unload the boat, the trailer is darn near weightless behind the truck. It's always more of an issue of 'will my truck get stuck in this knowing how far I need to back it to properly launch my boat?'

Thanks! I've never fished TN waters and never fished this early in the year before, it'll be a challenge - but it should be fun!

^ 2 I'm sorry, but that was weird to me.

I leave for TN tomorrow! Not a fishing trip, but you'd be d**n silly not to think I wasn't bringing at least one rod!

Yes. I will be carrying my .40 concealed this year while fishing on my boat (or bank).

Hello and welcome!

I'm from Michigan, where ice is everywhere. This Sunday, Superbowl Sunday, I'll be in Tennessee fishing

I've found, albeit coming from Michigan, my bigger bites came on a Jig-n-craw or bladed/swim jig. But those are also my confidence baits so.... bias?! lol

Man oh man. Just one, eh?! Well, I would have to say a bladed jig (Keitech Easy Shiner trailer). Followed closely by a flip/skip jig with a Paca Chunk SR(Kentucky Craw baby!) I work most of mine by dragging along the bottom. I like feeling every rock or depression by jig hits. Move it back toward you with the rod, not the reel (you'll feel more). Cast, let sit, lift rod from 7-12, pause, reel slack, repeat. Vary your pause, vary your speed, etc.. That's how I fish it anyways.

Awesome to see this! I picture @A-Jay with one of those cyclic shirt cannons, packed with soft plastics, just shooting them into UPS boxes around his garage!