BuzzHudson19c

Bingo. It's like government bureaucrats aren't at all knowledgeable of the thing they write laws about, weird. NY slot limits on stripers make me scratch my head. To the OP. I feel bad if I kill a fish on accident, in which case I keep it and eat it. I wish people wouldn't keep big bass because I want to catch them someday. But they caught it, it's their prerogative. I'd rather let people have freedom and trust them to be educated on the topic.

That's an option too. Put the kid to bed and head out just after sundown. What do you use for a headlamp? Red light?

I've heard of big swings in spawns but honestly most of the fish up here spawn the same time every year. I always think "it was a warm winter, early spawn this year," or " it was a cold winter, going to spawn late." But like they are set to a calendar, it's usually right around the same week every year. I'm not saying this is everywhere, just what I have encountered over the years.

I want solitude when I fish. I don't want to see another human being at all. Now I understand this is a tall order on some bodies of water and I purposely avoid them already. Generally I avoid water with boat launches, aside from rivers (I'm in a kayak). Now that I have a daughter and another child on the way I usually only get one day a week to fish, Sunday. It has become increasingly hard to avoid people as I can't fish mid week. Basically I'm thinking of going strictly to night fishing. Instead of starting at 4am, start around midnight and fish until the sun comes up. That way when others start to hit the water I am wrapping up. Anyone make a similar switch?

Frog for sure. I don't really like the whopper plopper.

Bingo. Lily Ninja for sho!

Welcome to the forum. Did you take it apart or just take the cover off and try to clean it out? I have noticed with my baitcasters, especially the middle road ones, have to be taken down to pieces once a year and thoroughly cleaned or they start having random noises and issues. A note; when you take it apart put everything in the order you took it off in a line on a piece of white paper or cloth. Makes reassembly much easier.

Unless I see bait fish boiling up or darting away I never chase surface breaks. It's usually carp.

Let's not over analyze things. Find the food, find the fish. A few fronts and unsettled weather won't change things too much. I think it bothers fisherman more than the fish.

Around here: Turtles, carp stirring up vegetation, beavers (jerks), otters.

Yep. I'll toss them into holes in pad mat after I have exhausted my froggin. It works, but run braid.

For me, nothing beats river smallies. Hard fighters. It never stops amazing me their ability to get loose. You can have both trebles firmly in their mouths and after a good jump they spit the darn thing right out. Frustrating sometimes, but a challenge for sure.

So I always follow this routine. I get the fish on the left side of the kayak, rod in my right hand. When they get within 6 ft or so I grab the line with my left hand and set the rod down. I then take my right hand and grab the lure/hook (if its a soft bait). Then grab the fish with my left hand, lip or belly, whichever is the better option to avoid being hooked. Honestly bass are easy. It's catfish and pike that are a pain. Sometimes I just flip them into the kayak and hold on for dear life.

It's the same with every hobby, it's only as expensive as you want it to be. You can buy a $300 mossberg or $1700 Benelli. A $8,000 Yamaha or a $25,000 Harley. Harbor freight ratchet set or a Snap On one. It's not the debate about if expensive is better, it just that fact that we have so many options, which is always a good thing. Does more stuff make something more fun? That's a completely subjective question.

Worm: Trick worm Stick bait: Shim e stick or Dinger Creature/jig trailer/buzzbait trailer: Reaction Innovation Beaver

Doesn't really matter that much. White or black, maybe a yellow. This is belly color. Fish can't see all those pretty designs on top.

Today I added to my list of surprise catfish catches while smallmouth fishing. Perch colored Rat L Trap in about 8 feet of water. When I set the hook I thought I had foul hooked a carp or something. Just a hair under 8lb channel cat hooked right in the mouth. I had to paddle to shore (luckily I wasn't far) to land the thing. My list is Dinger, dry fly, spoon, and now this. I don't know why, but I am still shocked every time this happens. I just don't give them enough credit.

Not really. Carp jumping and splashing, whether it be in the shallows when they are spawning or just the gill clearing jump, it doesn't indicate anything about bass.

Froggin. The anticipation coupled with the blowups are the best. Froggin can be tedious but it pays off, usually with quality fish.

Yes. I have fished for bass since I was a child and sometime in my early 20's it started to click. Once I stopped focusing on lure selection and instead focused on where the fish are it got a lot easier. Ever since I added techniques to my arsenal and gotten better every season.

Lipless crank down the edge of the drop off is where I'd start (if I am picturing this correctly). Otherwise plastics upstream and let them run into the pool.

Well yes, this can be said for any species. The guys who target and consistently catch big bass will tell you it ain't so easy. Everyone runs into a good fish (of any species) by accident from time to time, but are they always doing what it takes to make it a habit?

With heavy cover remember you're the boss. You got the rod, reel and line for the job. You get a bite, reel down your slack til it's taught and drive that hook home. Don't think about "fighting" the fish. Once you get a fish hooked in heavy stuff and get him turned around the fight is over, drag that sucker across the top of the pads or mat. Don't let it swim.

Never!!! I just add in more swim breaks is all.

I vote morning. It's not "better" just easier with my schedule. I really like night fishing, but I don't get to do that as much these days. I like to be on the water by 4:30 am. Usually done by noon.