J_Pearson

BONE = $$

When it hits 50, if fish are shallow, they'll eat it. I love throwing a big buzzbait early spring, and locally a lot of bigger sacks and big fish are jacked on them early in the year. If they're shallow the bite can be all day, and you can get burnt by a guy that locks one in his hand for 8hrs. I personally fell in a love with a particular old 3/8oz white Lunker Lure this last fall, but I also really like Nichols, Revenge, Strike King, and had some success with a Cavitron. White or Black is about it for me. JP

Haha that's awesome. Yeah we're going with the Bee. I'm going to toss it on braid-copoly leader so casting distance shouldn't be a problem with the lighter lure. JP

Thanks for the info guys I really appreciate it. My Brian's 3 will show up Wednesday in the mail. I will probably pick up a kelly j locally to experiment between the two. I've never tossed prop baits much, but after hearing of the situational success over the past couple years I feel like it could fill an excellent niche for me, and I'm looking forward to getting after it. JP

It can pour like a maniac and not lightning once. I burn a big spinnerbait, wake a swimbait, or walk a spook, depending on the time of year. I absolutely love fishing in the rain.

I've got two styles jigs that between them account for better than 80% of my jig fish. One has a rattle, one does not. I can't say one with a rattle works better than another, I guess it's one of those deals that you have to change up from one to another while on the water and figure some things out. I will say, personally, when I'm flipping pads, and it's cloudy, I will always be tossing the rattle first. JP

x2. Pretty much drilled it there.

I've had alot success with chrome/black and chrome/blue in clear water, sunny OR cloudy. I'll sometimes change up to a chartreuse shad color, but I regularly find myself throwing chrome. Just my 2 cents, JP

Good enough for me. You talkin' about Wheeler? Thank you, I was strongly leaning towards Brian's Bee so that just did it. Now to find it somewhere in stock! JP

It got munched on pretty good Sunday

HELP! I originally figured I was not going to have to think about tossing a prop bait until May-ish...fact is, this weather's nuts, and I need to get on this. It's tough to ignore the success anglers have had tossing prop baits to bass around bluegill/ bream. So, the question stands, Brian's Bee prop bait or the LC Kelly J? Opinions and experience would be appreciated! Thanks, JP **EDIT!** If you know of anyone that hand crafts one you think is nasty good, that works too! ha

This is my first bluegill pattern tie. I've always liked something with a bit of dark green/ g.p., and few strands of light purple with a bit of orange. A dull yellow substituted for the orange would probably look pretty sweat.

reppin' Indiana!

Amen! Tiny little Rooster Tail Spinner used to catch me a ton of little bass and bluegill, and I'm sure it still would! My other go-to option would be a wacky-rigged 4in. straight worm I pour. JP

Guys that fish a Thursday nighter weekly on Wawasee up this way wore them out on speed worms last year. I've had some success throwing them last year in Watermelon Red. I'll honestly probably only throw the suckers in watermelon red, but that's just me JP

I saw there was only one post on this, and thought I'd chime in...but BobP has more than covered anything I'd possibly think of. He's got loads more seniority on the topic as well.

Very unfortunate for the marina and surrounding cities. I was about halfway there for the Everstart T from Indiana yesterday when I was informed it was cancelled. Prayers for those involved.

Well sitting here between homework and apartment shopping I called to check on the status of my registration for the FLW Everstart Central opener at Table Rock. I didn't register early last fall like I probably should have, but not knowing my class schedule, work schedule, living arrangements or funding for this spring semester I had to reluctantly hold off. I finally have things sorted out, for the most part at least, and put my deposit on the T.R. event as a co-angler this past Friday. As of now there are still openings for boaters, and if 4 register between now and then I'll get to compete. It's been fun researching everything I can about the lake and productive patterns. It'd be a great learning experience for me, and nice to have a tournament under my belt for the year a month before any start up this way. We'll see how it goes! JP

I agree. A 1/2oz. chartreuse skirt + painted willows has been my best producer for smallies. I've also had success throwing chart/white skirt, but typically stick to all chartreuse. They slaughter it. JP

In my experience, the gunfish is a finesse option to a hardbait topwater presentation. In the super clear natural lakes up this way and S Michigan, there are times when fish rise on a spook but just slap at it. You can rapidly (or slowly) walk a gunfish in a similar manner, but it displaces much less water and offers a smaller "flick." A lot of times this has triggered them to strike and eat it more readily when the spook's just not happening. That said, if they're eating a big spook, I'm not sitting it down JP

Darters!! I live just a short trip South of Poor Boy's shop, and was actually up there Friday afternoon for their open house. I fish a Tuesday night trail that the owners fish in...great people and great product. I personally didn't fish a darter until a couple years ago, but there's no denying its effectiveness in the cold clear waters up here. Actually, for my open water fishing this past December and early January (can't believe that happened in Northern Indiana!), I had a rod with a blade bait and a rod with a darter. I favor rigging my darter on a Bite-Me Sparkie head in 3/16- 1/4 oz (on the recommendations of Greg Mangus). I definitely prefer the 1/4oz head for fishing the deeper outside edges of 20-25+ on clear natural lakes with deep vegetation. I enjoy the shape of that particular head as opposed to a ball head for gliding through grass in a more stable manner. Nothing fancy, which is more than likely the appeal to the darter. Simply drag it along, and allow it to hang in any remaining (or in the spring's case, early) vegetation and shake and pop it free. Smallies eat it, largemouth eat it, pike eat the heck out of the thing haha. I mess around with colors, but mostly stick with some form of watermelon, but that just depends on your local water/ preference. This last year I didn't reserve my use of darters to the cold water period. I found it very successful down on the White River in Indianapolis for smallmouth around current breaks. I know locally, the darter sacks many solid bags throughout the year. I was second last spring sharing a channel fishing for spawners to a guy throwing a darter. A lot of guys will drop-shot them during the summer months. And, a guy I ran into alot out late December at a local fishery sacked an absolutely monstrous 23lb bag, predominantly on a darter New Year's Eve...23lb is a very big deal up this way, but that fishery has proven its potential before All in all, I would definitely mix the darter in between throwing a tube this spring, you should find some success. JP

Formal Welcome! Ever fish Klinger Lake? That's one of the few Michigan lakes I make it up to (for tournies atleast)

With that water temperature, I'd go to that pond with two lures. A suspending jerkbait and a Bladebait (ie. silver buddy). Honestly I'd probably stick with the blade 80+% of the time because I love the feel of them. Let it sink to the bottom, and slowly lift it (like a big t-rigged worm vs. ripping it) so that you feel it "thump-thump-thump" or vibrate just a few times. Let it fall, repeat. Strikes will range from a light tick like jig fishing, and other times that flat-out crush the thing. JP

Hey Bass Resource! I've been lurking for quite awhile, as I forgot my password and never really attempted to sign back in. However, I'm glad to get logged in and become an active member once again! Thanks for managing such an awesome forum! Jonathan Pearson (JP)

Marabou Crappie Jig. Cast it out, yo-yo swim back it...Game on! A small original floating rapala twiched along will get bit as well. JP