MacBassin

Been tough conditions in the area lately, and apparently the ACoE has decided to "effectively" close Perry Lake for the rest of the year. There are rumors they're considering the same for Smithville. Anyone heard anything similar? Fished Smithville yesterday. Flipping the willows with brush hogs, jigs, spinnerbaits and some top water. Missed one bite and never had another all day.

Big ticket or tools: Lowes or HD because of the quality & 10% discount. There's zero comparison between Lowes / HD & Menards when it comes to lumber, though. Similar pricing but you pull right down the barn and load it directly and only once whereas Lowes & HD you have to pick it and load it on a cart, then deal with the cashier finding a tag and all of that BS, then you have to roll it through the parking lot hitting all the pot holes and then load it a second time.

I've caught 3 fish on Smithville this summer. General consensus seems to be decent sizes in small numbers and Burton's tourney results usually reflect similar (on Thursdays). I've been told that fishing for bass deeper than 6' at Smithville is a waste of time. I've found many spots at Smithville that seem on paper to be havens that have produced nada... can't figure 'er out. Some of those thurs & sunday guys have it figured out, though, so there's a way to catch them. That's what keeps me going out there (...that, and, well I basically live on the dead sea itself)

Although Perry is one of my favorite camping lakes, I'll be fishing it for the first time next weekend. Any general area tips? I'll be launching from Slough

I've been in the same area, albeit across the river, for about the same amount of time. I'll have to check out WyCO sometime. Welcome to the forum!

I like it! Don't hear about them much. I think the closest I've gotten to using one is a rooster tail!

I thought this would be a pretty good conversation topic, and I'm also trying to find something I can try to find as my "go-to" as I'm really not feeling it with anything at the moment. I know I can tie on a ned rig during a crappy day and it'll usually turn it around so I have something to make the trip worthwhile. My grandfather almost exclusively threw rattle traps and double-bladed buzz baits. I'm leaning towards spending a couple months exclusively on flukes as they're pretty versatile, or TX/NC rigging all 5 of my rods to gain confidence in something. Right now I'm all over the place and constantly battling the "d**n I need to tie ____ on for this spot instead of this" What was your first confidence bait, and what's your current?

What colors are you using? I have yet to get a bite on my black WP

Welcome to the forum and good luck this weekend. Relax, have fun, and the rest will come with time.

I haven't used my thermacell on the boat yet, but it was a life saver last year in the bush. There's a youtube video that shows you how to modify the butane containers to allow you to refill them yourself. Refilling is much less expensive after that as you just need the pads.

I also prefer a chest mount. Bought a case with access to the ports for a mic as well... Except that makes the gopro open to water damage so be a bit more cautious!

Just remember to wash your hands really good. The guy that wrote "the high probability fisherman" has some pretty good statistical evidence that sunscreen and deet on a lure ruin the bite for at least 90 mins.

Keep seeing this on Burton's report and online, but out of 2 dozen minnows I had 2 keepers this weekend... talked to multiple others on the water getting skunked as well... Probably just me, though. I can't catch bass out of that hole to save my life.

I was 100% baitcaster, but just recently got a spinning rig. I'm finding it to be the one that's tough to cast now!

Throw a sunfish! How clear was the water vs. what lb test were you using?