BigAngus752

FINALLY got out for some fishing. We've had a rough start to 2026 so it was a blessing to get back in the boat. I caught 18 LM but none over 2.5lbs and none worthy of pics. The pic I've attached is just to show the water color. I was fishing some private water that is usually very clear with 8+ feet of visibility. Yesterday we had 3.5 inches of rain and high winds. The water went up 2 feet in less than 24 hours. Stained is an understatment. I assumed, incorrectly, that loud and proud was the way to fish so I started throwing all dark colored moving baits. Vibrating jig, topwater, spinnerbait with Colorado blades. I caught nothing. I finally decided I had nothing to lose by slowing down so I went with something "flappy" in Junebug. I immediately caught some dinks on a pegged Rage Craw. I found almost all of my fish at pinch points with current going through them and it turned out that any plastic in Junebug was the deal. Very fun to keep switching out plastics and getting bites just because of the color. It was just the relaxing day that I needed. Truly a blessing.

Those are insane. Nice work.

I had to call my therapist and pay after hours rates. I'm not emotionally prepared for this kind of thing.

I started fishing only Gamakatsu. After many years of fishing Gama, Owner, and VMC my hook drawer is overflowing with the VMC bulk packs and some Owners I got on sale. I find zero difference in hookup ratio although my lizard brain seems to feel like the Gamakatsus may stay sharp a bit longer. I disagree with you but I'm glad you have found hooks you have true confidence in. I promise not to post a thread about our disagreement. 😉 Hey brother, my wife and I have nearly divorced over a paint color and whether it had more light gray in it or more light green in it. Sometimes you just have to put the gloves on and go a few rounds.

Congratulations and welcome! That's a solid first photo!

Great answer

I'd be protective of that too. It's yours. There is a public lake that I fish that is primarily used by catfish and crappie fishermen. Two years ago I caught four bass over 5lbs and five more over 4lbs during the season. I told my wife. She was the only person I told and I only told here because she doesn't fish. In the words of Ben Franklin, "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead".

What a day! It sounds gloriously exhausting.

I'm going to say that this guy is a professional horse jockey and he's 4'10 and that bass is 3.5lbs. Hope this helps.

That's a tough one as I can usually take away at least a tidbit of new info nearly every day on this page. Even if it's just viewing something from a different perspective. Here are the two standouts that come to mind first: @fishnkamp was such a huge repository of information on all things rod and reel. I was not knowledgable about bass rods when I joined here and struggled to find rods that suited specific purposes. Bob and I talked on the phone repeatedly as he was always available to school me on gear and it impacts my fishing daily now. Having the right rod (not the most expensive or most recognized brand name) catches more fish. Period. I can thank Bob for greatly accelerating my learning curve. Hands down @Catt has impacted my fishing the most. Learning to slow down, learning HOW to "feel", the importance of rate of fall, how a jig differs from other single hook presentations, and, unbelievably, he was able to teach me some much needed patience. He was a gift and I sincerely appreciate all he gave me.

Welcome to the forums! You have chosen wisely. Be aware, however, that the forums are addictive and the Bait Monkey is lurking everywhere, ready to convince you to spend all your fishing funds and more.

I've been out twice and surprised both times. First time water temps were 54-ish, second time over 60. Both days windy. Should have been moving baits but those were only catching dinks. The only solid bass I caught were on a finesse craw and a T-rigged Trick Worm and the good bass were all extremely shallow but very close to drop offs and all were sporting fat bellies from feeding up. All the decent bass were in areas leading to the spawning coves from deep winter water. About halfway there.

Those are some beautiful fish. I feel you with the "color doesn't matter until it does". A few years back everyone I know was struggling to catch fish on a particular lake. One of my friends who lives on the lake called me to tell me that he had found "the deal". It was a red, curly tail worm fished on a T-rig. I started fishing that and started catching. We killed them all summer when the Saturday tournament guys were only bringing in one or two fish per boat. The next summer? The fish wouldn't touch them. I've got a drawer full of them. I've kept them just in case they come back in style. LOL

That's cool!

That's a beautiful boat! Congratulations!

That's well thought out. I'm 6'4, an avid weightlifter, and I have a bad habit of swinging like Bruce Banner when he's angry. I could be creating my issues with a worm on an EWG.

@Pat Brown gets the 'solution' button IMHO. This is my exact experience also. EWG are only for large creature baits. It is, admittedly, a question that is subject to personal preference. Almost a "what's your favorite color" question.

Yeah buddy! Hammer those fat fish!

If you don't feel like you're sinking, then you aren't in a bass boat!

Outstanding! That is a spectacular bass! You earned this because of your zero 'give up' policy. Nice work.

Trust the science!

When my son was little and wanted to go fishing the only thing I ever tied on for him was an inline spinner. His favorite was a white Rooster Tail. He caught everything that swims. That's a nice bass, congrats.

Let me clear some things up...or at least clarify a bit. I was a violent crimes detective for 17 years of my career. I was assigned to an FBI Safe Streets Task Force, I have testified in both state and federal court as an expert witness countless times, and I have investigated more homicides that I can (or care to) remember. Also, I had a state police polygraph examiner assigned to my unit with an office less than 30 feet from my desk (I was not state police). I'll keep it short because the legalities are way, way off in the weeds. Polygraph examinations are an excellent investigative tool. Please notice the emphasis. Polygraph examination results are absolutely court admissible. This requires a giant flow-chart of legalese to determine if, how, when, and even what. They are admissible. I have testified in numerous trials where the polygraph examination was presented to the jury. The actual results of the polygraph are not Prima Facie evidence of anything (an established fact that must be disproved). A polygraph is an "interpretation". Details regarding the examination itself and the interpretation can be presented for the judge or jury to determine the value, but it is 100% an INTERPRETATION. I stressed #3 because the polygraph is ONLY as useful as the EXAMINER. The state police examiner assigned to our unit was a rock star. This little, eye-glasses-wearing, non-threatening guy would regularly take a suspect back to the polygraph room and get a recorded confession before he ever turned on the machine. Contrasting him, was the F.B.I. polygrapher available at a nearby F.B.I. office. This guy was a train wreck. So bad that we would skip the polygraph if he was the only one available. INCONCLUSIVE IS INCONCLUSIVE. That's it. There is no other discussion to be had and, in fact, it could be illegal to try to discuss an inconclusive polygraph result. This organization cannot act on an inconclusive result. In fact, this fisherman could easily win a load of money with a good attorney just because they have led the press and public to believe that there is any value to an inconclusive test. I'm really kind of hoping he goes after them. They are doing the wrong thing. So here are my two cents (which you would think would be a few bucks by now with inflation but whatever): The polygraph is a good tool. I like the polygraph in a huge number of scenarios. The polygraph has no business in competitive fishing or any other sport unless it is used as an investigative tool in very specific circumstances and in a CLOSED investigation wherein the results are never released (or only released at the conclusion of any legal proceedings). Unfortunately, Bassmaster is wielding it like a Ouiji board and it's exactly as effective. I agree that the problem is dishonest, unscrupulous cheaters. Bassmaster is actually making it worse with this policy. But that's just my opinion and that's worth less than the discontinued penny. I hope some of this is useful.

These are one of those purchases that you think are an extravagance before you buy them, and once you have them you realize you should have sucked it up and bought them years ago. I use full size on my boat to trailer and have another pair I use to ratchet down my travel cover at the stern.