TnRiver46

I always watch electronics while trolling , a little bit of both I suppose. Granted I use a basic finder but you learn a lot constantly staring at it

^i have been thoroughly out fished by people throwing these trailers on a spinnerbait.

When I saw that pic it reminded me of a buddy’s canoe. He’s got a board and some eye bolts that allows a troller to clamp off to the side of the boat. One day he sat me back there and said work the trolling motor. I kicked it onto 5 and Yee haw that thing slipped right off the wooden block and I about dropped it in the river. It only happened 16 more times throughout the day. BUT, there was a distinct advantage. The long slow pools we normally skip, we troll minnow plugs through and catch Bass

That’s how I lay down every night to sleep

Have you ever torqued that troller off the side of the boat ala Bill dance?

Weather is far more important around here in the winter. Clouds/drizzle/snow seem to help, sun not so much but im going to try fishing no matter what. From late spring to late fall, I literally don’t check the weather. Why? Because it’s usually sunny and warm. If it’s about to storm, I will know at the same moment as the weather man.

The smallmouth and largemouth live together here so I guess you could throw me into that category. I use feathers more than hair but both are great. Marabou jigs in 1/16th and 1/8 are unbelievably cheap. Largemouth like minnows just as much as the smallies

Right along concrete is a good place to set on them, nice work!

I just use a jerkbait that is already warped and I don’t care to loose. I’ve got about a 2% hookup ratio but they are still worth it, they can take a whole spool of line on a run and the jumps are crazy, looks like billfish tailwalking. also they bite most lures almost every cast

Nice one!

I was even starting to get loopy under the noonday sun haha

Those look exhausting! Haha. Luckily you’ve been training

I would imagine @MN Fisheris happy to see Felix and Fieder both in the top 10

It was a trick! Just trying to get the esox guys to look at my fish picture

I think that’s only legal if the live bait one is over 18” haha

Well, I had quite the day on the water. We will start with the best part, a 21” smallmouth so I launched not long after 7 and trolled for a while, only got one bite pulling a red squarebill. I kept seeing fish busting shad so I tried casting a spook for a while to no avail. Then I hear small rocks falling into the water, Iook behind me and there’s a groundhog clinging to a cliff. I took a picture and short video, figured he was trying to get a drink so I left him alone, then I hear the splash haha. He fell in and swam to a flatter spot, I had to get video of a swimming groundhog. then I switch sides of the river and guess what there’s a groundhog in the water. It climbs out and runs through the grass after I see it……………… I suppose it could have been the same one and it swam all the way across the river when I wasn’t looking. Either that, or it was so hot outside even groundhogs had to jump in the river. Anyhow, after safari planet was over, I hadn’t boated a fish until about 10:30 or so when I got a dink dragging a tube. Then I wasn’t paying attention at all around noon, hot as blazes (being lazy @pdxfisher……) and my line was swimming. Tighten up without a hook set and it was the big 21” fish in the top pics, great fight lots of jumps. It was pure luck I suppose but I don’t think I’ve ever hooked a fish that well, I had to destroy the jig head in order to get it out of the bass’s jaw. That’s probably the biggest smallmouth I’ve caught since January, I even considered going home after landing it. Well, I’m glad I didn’t because the safari planet episode continued when I captured a 41-42” dinosaur with a jerkbait (cheap 6 lb eagle claw mono and backreel) This thing might as well have been a tiny marlin the way it was tail walking and making runs

You would be correct! Shake in cornmeal and fry in veggie oil and they are top notch, easiest thing in the world to cook

You never know, I just fish. Today I’ve caught 2 smallies, one about 5” and the other 21” +

I’m guessing there are several no cell service areas on the lake

I was going to say that just means it cost a lot more when you hit one

I usually leave it unlocked so you can jump over stumps But I have forgotten many times and given it some throttle in reverse and the thing came up and sprayed water everywhere

Another good option if your trolling motor is still working is to keep it running with the pull rope in your hand. Lift the rope until the prop is just barely in the water and you can drive it nearly all the way onto the trailer with the TM. This is also how guys access very shallow waters. Always keep a paddle on hand as well. Every boat trailer should have a winch strap as long as the trailer so you only have to get close