Jacob Phelps

Some pics from a vacation in northwest Wisconsin

all about that bass.

Dream about warmer days

I've got the "jigs and baits" mojo bass rod (7'1" MH Fast) and I like it. Looking to fish it more this season

I've been thinking of some off and on throughout this winter. 1. learn to use electronics better 2. fish new waters 3. fish more topwater 4. learn to read topo maps to find spots 5. learn about seasonal movements to find fish quicker 6. have as much fun as possible

Jerkbaits should still work in moving water, but, like everyone is saying, focus on slower moving water. That water is usually warmer

Just bought a shad colored chatterbait, a couple finesse jigs, a few packs of pit bosses, some chatterbait trailers, and some yamamoto twin tailed grubs. Hoping to fish chatterbaits and jigs a little more this coming season, and checking out pit bosses since a lot of people on here have said great things about them.

I've been trying to fish this more and more because its made to catch numbers of fish, even on tough days. It was about the only thing that I could get fish to eat this past November. Caught a nice 2.5 pound smallie plus some largies around 2 pounds. Fish of all sizes eat this, including the big ones.

Usually don't see too many people throw trash on the ground while I'm out fishing, but whenever I see something on the ground or i the water, for instance empty worm cartons, I will pick them up and thrown them away.

My second biggest of the year (caught my biggest about a half hour before this one). Caught on a drop shot Zoom finesse worm fished on a 6'8" M EF St. Croix Mojo Bass spinning rod with a Daiwa Procyon 2500 reel. This fish had great coloration and fought harder than any bass I've had on before. Hopefully I can catch some bigger ones once this ice melts.

I have had success with 5 inch senko style works wacky rigged, T-rigged craws, tubes, and crankbaits. I began to use jigs at the end of last season with a little success. Purchased a couple finesse jigs to try. I also have a popper that I want to start using on the river.

Every spring I go back to the same lake, the same stretch of shoreline, during the same time period, under the same weather conditions, and always catch fish doing the same presentation. I came across it just out of a sheer guess and it turned out to produce. Every year for a few weeks in the spring it produces.

Never kept a log before. Tried a couple years ago, but couldn't keep up with it. Its one of my goals for this season to create a log and keep up with it for a whole season. For those that do keep a log, how often to you look back on it and for what information do you usually look for?

I have had some of my best trips fishing as the sun sets. When I go out in the kayak, I usually wait until a hour or two before sunset to get on the water.

I'd say my biggest strength is finesse fishing. Specifically T-rigs and the good ole wacky worm. I think I've caught my three or four biggest bass on the wacky worm.

There are so many factors that contribute to winning a fishing tournament, or a Superbowl, or a world series that comparing just that one factor, that to me seems obviously independent of success in anything really, without presenting any of the other factors is very misleading.

I will be adding a new rod to my arsenal this winter. A medium power, fast action casting rod to be exact. I'd like to use it as an all-around rod using it for jerkbaits, topwater, small spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, texas rigs, and maybe some weightless senkos and flukes. My question is what is your opinion of line choice? I go braid to fluoro on my spinning rods and have braid on my jig rod, but was thinking about doing straight fluoro, probably 12 pound. What do you guys think?

The whopper plopper was originally designed as a musky bait. The smaller versions were made because large bass kept blowing up on the large musky whopper plopper. Don't sleep on the 130 for bass. There are some situations where the 90 is better, however, the 130 can result in bigger bass in other situations.

I understand that. I never said I was looking for the key. All I said was that I was looking to expand my knowledge so that I am able to switch it up in accordance to the situation. Thanks for the suggestions! I recently bought a 7' MH fast action casting rod and currently have an old Abu Revo S that I am using now. Will probably upgrade when it gets into the spring, most likely to a Lews Tournament MB. I spend a lot of my nights watching fishing videos and picking up what I can. Looking to ad another rod too possibly. Not sure if I should go with a medium action casting for topwater, lighter moving baits, and lighter texas rigs, or go to heavier for flipping and pitching. Considering that I don't usually flip or pitch heavy cover because the water I normally fish does not have that kind of stuff, I will probably go with the medium. Thank you for the suggestions!!! I wouldn't call myself a "beginner" in reference to fishing since I have been fishing all my life. However, there are many techniques to bass fishing that I don't do much or don't have much confidence in. I have recently started trying the ned rig, but haven't fished it enough to gain any confidence with it. Only caught a couple bass on it. Again, thank you for all your tips.

I mainly fish a river with a lot of rocks for smallmouth bass, but try to get out to other bodies of water whenever possible.

I have been getting more into bass fishing recently and want to expand that amount of fishing presentations I know how to fish. I am adding casting gear (as opposed to spinning gear) to my arsenal with the intent to learn how to fish casting gear more. I have mainly fished spinning gear for bass, with the wacky worm being one of my all time favorite things to throw. I am now seeing advantages to using casting gear. I have only ever fished moving baits (crankbaits mostly, occasionally a spinnerbait or chatterbait), but want to expand my knowledge. What are some techniques that I should know being a bass fisherman? These can be basic techniques since my knowledge is probably a bit narrow. I just started fishing bass jigs for the first time late this summer; with the fall weather I would like to learn jerkbait fishing; I would like to get into topwater fishing as well; plus I dont have much knowledge fishing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and crankbaits. What are some great tips you can offer concerning any of these presentations? What are some great lures within these presentations that you have had success on? For instance, there are so many different brands and types of bass jigs, what are some that catch fish and are durable? Please feel free to add any presentations, tips, and/or lures that I didn't mention and you feel are important to know about. Thank you all for your assistance in making me a better fisherman!!!

That was the other diawa reel I tried today! Was very impressed with the feel. In my opinion it makes the president feel a bit cheap.

It was a "Diawa RG" spinning reel. I think it's a brand new model of Diawa's spinning reels.

Thanks Darren. I just got back from Gander Mountain where I tried some reels. I first tried the regular Pflueger President and wasn't really impressed at all, but it was what I expected. I then asked if they had any Diawas and he handed me a few without giving me the price point. I was impressed with the feel of the diawa so I thought that this one was probably one of the more expensive models, but found out it was a $60 reel. I definitely preferred the feel of the diawa (I think its the RG model) over the president. Would have tried more, but the kid wasn't very helpful and seemed not to care at all. I know stradics have a great reputation, but I'm still uneasy about spending that much on a spinning reel. I will definitely find a better place to try one out and maybe my mind will change once I try one.