pawpaw

Sorry for your loss.

Twenty dollars was worth it back then, huh?

Well, I would say that your bait selection isn't the reason you haven't caught anything. Maybe the lakes have recently turned over and the fish are still messed up. Not sure what the reason is but I'm pretty confident it's not the baits. I might add a spinner bait, chatter bait and a rattle trap or some thing but I would be fishing the same stuff you were. Keep trying, you'll eventually catch something.

If I find a deal on something I use regularly or even one I'd like to try it could hang on a hook for years. I still have some unopened .99 cent buzz baits from Grandpa Pigeons. They went out of business some time in the 90's.

I would have thought you would have caught some thing throwing those baits. Are you fishing the same lake each time?

The Lew's Speed Spool LFS Is right at $100. I haven't used that particular model but I really like my other Lew's models. They have other models near that price range as well.

The only reel I regularly fill to less than capacity is the one I use for skipping jigs. Even then it's not under filled by much.

For me Deep crankbaits like a DD22 or 6XD or bigger I like a 5:1 ratio. For pitching or casting jigs, worms etc. I like a 7:1 or faster, preferably faster. For just about every thing else I pretty much stick to 6:1. If I was looking for 1 ratio to pretty much do it all I would start with 6:1 and slow down or speed up a little as needed.

The key for me is to first see the fish or brush pile on the finder. Then throw past them and count it down to the proper depth to pull it just over their heads or brush top.

Jerkbait, Jig and A-rig

Kistler KLX

Of the baits you mention I've only used the Vision 110. It is a very good bait for both numbers and size. That thing just gets bit.

If you are not 6' tall you will most likely be smacking the water with your rod tip when fishing a jerkbait, spook, pop r etc. on a 7' rod. I like a 6'6" but that's just me.

The ones I use are Loomis and probably out of most peoples comfort range for a jerkbait rod. I wouldn't recommend buying one unless you throw them alot, which I do. Really any decent 6'-0" to 6'8' medium action rod will work fine. My son has a Shimano Compre ($99) and I like it fine.

That's awesome man. Glad to hear you're into it. Jerkbaits, like a lot of other techniques, may require you to have a good day with them or maybe a really big fish to gain confidence in them. I'm pretty confident when I say if you fish one some this late Winter and early Spring you will have that day. I won't be surprised if your biggest fish of the year is caught on one. Mine has been many times.

We're right at the freeze line here. The lakes in the northern part of the state freeze but the ones in the Southern half usually don't.

Do you stop fishing during the Winter? Here in the Ozarks the jerkbait is pretty dominant for most of the Winter.

Do you throw topwater enough to justify buying one specifically for it? Maybe double as a jerkbait rod as well? I use mono for both, you?

Assuming your crankbait rod is suitable for topwater, really seems like you have the basics covered then. Maybe your next rod could be one similar to one you already have. Are there ever times you would like to have a spinnerbait and a buzzbait or chatterbait tied on? A Texas rig and a jig or maybe a Carolina rig?

1. Man, I hope not!!! 2. Man, I hope so!!! 3. YES!!!

Do you ever throw deep cranks like a 6XD, 8XD, 10xd?

That's great. I can't kill a bass either. Even when I know it would benefit the lake and remaining fish. Good luck.

Do you have a community lake association that manages the lake? If so is there any chance you could get them to put up a small amount of prize money or anything to hold a tournament. You could limit it to community members if that is how it has to be.You could allow only fish under 12" or what ever length you choose and allow contestants to weigh all the fish they caught that day. Then, have a big fish fry. If you could draw 10 boats and each caught 10 fish under 12" you could get rid of 100 small fish in a single day. Plus, you get everyone else to do what you can't bring yourself to do. You could unexpectedly come down with the flu that day. Oh, you may need fried potatoes and hush puppies too. Just a thought

Yes, but you're still left with the problem of how to get rid of the fish without a fish fry. It's hard, I know. But I think we both know what you have to do. For the greater good.

If you "can't" or won't reduce the population can you increase the food source? Possibly stock shad or something else? You might want to check on the legality of transporting/transplanting game fish in your state before considering that option. Assuming that IS an option.