TOXIC

I’d like to think AI wouldn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know by looking at a map and weather forecast. For me, part of the satisfaction of fishing is to be able to put the puzzle pieces together. That’s the challenge. When I went to Big Green lake in Wisconsin having never been there, sitting at the dock in my boat looking at my gps map and putting a game plan together, then executing it and having it pay off, was much more satisfying than if I had just punched in AI for an answer. I wonder if AI would have helped on St Clair this year when we were having a heck of a time finding the smallmouth due to the fact there was a warming trend before we got there, then a severe cold front while we were there which caused the fish to pull back to some pre spawn spots and we ultimately found then looking at a google earth map of the area we were fishing and found an oddity in the bottom that was very isolated. We went there the next day and tore them up. In order for AI to predict those factors it would have to take into account past weather, current weather, bottom composition and be able to locate a specific spot germain to the species of fish we were after. Historical data would need to be looked at for years past to determine how current conditions varied from the norm. Could AI do that? I can. 😆😉

I have a set group of baits that are standard DS baits. Gear depends on how I am going to fish the bait. Cast and retrieve, verticle, bed, or dragging. Since Yamamoto discontinued the California Roll, I use a Kut Tail and the Pro Senko that’s pictured. Favorite is the Shad Shape Worm which now comes in multiple sizes and a floating version. The weight is a Quick Drop. Best weights out there.

I have a pair of Cuda gloves. First ones I have ever used. They have a Velcro sweat patch on the top. I have used them hard for 3 years and washed them multiple times and although the rubber nub grips have worn off, they still are going strong.

Lots of info here, some I agree with and some I don’t. I’m just 1 person who has been fishing Yamamoto Senkos ever since they were introduced. It seems we cover the same issues over and over but I write that off to new members or just some who decide to join in. A search or just reading Glenn’s articles will give you lots of information. I sometimes have to remind myself that I am so tuned into Senko fishing (I even notice different fall rates and actions by color and flake content) that some of my suggestions come off as nonsensical but I can assure you they have all been proven over and over. I can assure you there are techniques and rigging options that do make a difference and some of them are way beyond just wacky or Texas rigged.

After just getting back from a family trip to Wisconsin where my adult nephews (who are not regular fishermen) used my gear and my baits, I got to see again how important technique is with a Senko. I was limited on my advice offerings because they know I’m a pro staffer for Yamamoto and I risk coming off as a “know it all”. I wasn’t fishing so I did more watching than advising but my old saying “there’s no wrong way to fish a Senko” kinda held true. Yes, they caught fish but they would have caught a lot more if their technique was better. Long story long, explain your preferred technique with both the Texas rig and the wacky rig including cast length, retrieve style, gear used, and water fished. I’ll bet you get some helpful comments. 😉

My sunglasses are either on my face or in the case. I’ve never lost a pair. Don’t push them on my cap, don’t turn them around backwards, don’t hang them on my shirt neck by the frame, put them in a shirt pocket and certainly never lay them down anywhere in the boat.

Believe it or not, I haven’t dipped a toe in the water. 😂 Lot of cruising on the pontoon boat and both of my adult nephews trying their hardest into goading me to fish but nope. I don’t want to flip into fishing mode even though I brought them all the gear and baits. 😉

I think you’ll find that the one thing they have in common is that they spend more time on the water than others.

Glass or poly?

The Wisconsin beer express is leaving the station Saturday. Hey, it’s gotta last me a year! 😆

Cherish the memories.

I’m probably the outlier here but my DShad setup is a spinning rod with 6lb straight mono, weightless on a 4.0 EWG Gamakatsu hook. I only break off when they have teeth. And I cross their eyes on the hookset. 7ft medium rod. BPS EXCEL line, so it’s not expensive. DShad in the morning worked just off the bank on Headwaters is the ticket. Likewise casting into the tall reed islands.

Sitting in Wisconsin at the lake now. Storm rolled through, no power, tree down across only way in and out of the lake. Gotta drink the beer before it gets warm. 😂

What size water are you going to fish? 2 feet in hull size can make a big difference. What are you going to tow it with? Where are you going to store it? All considerations.

Been going every year for 25+ years. It’s a magical place. Weather is everything. Spawn is pretty much over right now. They are getting them in their summer haunts. I could put up 500 big smallie pics from there but this isn’t about me.😂. Good luck to them.

I’ve got sooooo many. I’ll start with this one….. Car passengers who put their feet up on the dashboard. It’s not only nasty, it’s dangerous. In a crash where the air bag deploys you are 100% guaranteed 2 broken ankles if not legs. Even if they don’t deploy you’ve got a 80% chance of the same injuries.

Merry Christmas. I never was a good one for following directions. 🎈🎈🎉😂🎂

I wish. Every body of water I fish contains long runs that can exceed 30 miles. Then there’s the weather and big bodies of water. I can’t imagine getting caught 15 miles off shore on lake St Clair and have a storm roll in. Or being 10+ miles up or down river in the Rappahonock or Potomac rivers in a storm. Often we have to make those long runs to find fish.

Decided to go off the beaten path with some of the green fairy. Absinthe.

I’ll refine my comments. If you are going to nothing but beat the banks, then yes, a front graph is optional but I have yet to see a bass boat without one. I find my front unit highly useful finding the drops and weedlines where they start and stop out from the bank and structure that could be 50 feet from the bank but still fishable and easily spotted on side scan. Personally, I couldn’t function without a front graph regardless of whether I am pounding a bank or fishing off shore more. It’s my underwater eyes.

Sore subject for me. Yamamoto discontinued their bubblegum DShad and it was one of my favorites. Saved a trip to St Clair one year because that’s all the smallmouth would eat. Luckily I have a pretty big stockpile of them.

Pick your poison as far as manufacturers but in my opinion, keeping costs to a minimum, 1-12 inch unit at the console is enough coupled with another unit on the bow. They can be split screened to show side scan, down scan, 2d and mapping and still be readable. If you find fewer suit your needs, even better as far as fitting all on 1 screen. I’m pretty old school and know my graphs pretty well so I can do a 9 at the console and an 8 on the bow. Console is running 2d and mapping most of the time and front is down scan/side scan.

You can do custom colors and get a bulk discount from Yamamoto. At least you used to be able to. If interested, message me and I’ll check.

All modern chargers have a maintenance mode that keeps your batteries topped off. That is important because as far as freezing they must be at full charge: Lead Acid- freeze at -80f AGM- freeze at -30 Lithium- they don’t freeze but shouldn’t be exposed to low temperatures while charging. Some of the modern lithium have built in warmers.

So sad. 😥