BigAngus752

I haven't run into any big, pre-spawn females that threaten to bust my scale, but I have caught a large number of very healthy, decently-sized bass this year. It has varied with the weather but taking everything into account I feel that the year is off to a really good start. I never catch my biggest fish in the spring anyway so I don't feel like the fishing has been lacking but the weather has certainly sucked.

^^^this^^^ I agree with your first assessment, @LrgmouthShad, and I too would have been hammering the wind-blown banks with a spinner, vibrating jig, and crankbaits...but when movers clearly aren't working it's time to slooooooow down! Get out the t-rig, Ned rig, wacky, and drag a jig.

Don't worry about "spawners". There are fish in your water in every stage of the spawn right now. I would suggest that you just look at it like any other drop in water temps. If you were on fish before, they may be a little deeper now. The "circle" around them where they will move to grab a lure may be smaller. They may be holding tighter to cover (especially cover that holds heat). However, if your water has gone up the bass may move even shallower, especially following your next sunny day. Just like any other cold front you may have to slow down your presentation. It's still spring, they still know what season it is, the spawn will continue regardless, and you can still catch them. I went through this a couple weeks ago and it was tougher to catch fish but I still found some.

That kind of language is not allowed on these boards. And by "that kind of language", I mean the kind that makes the rest of us feel dumb.

I've never had any luck with regular Powerbait stuff, but I can tell you that when the fishing is slow the Maxscent General and Kingtail can absolutely prevent a skunking. I have a buddy that fishes the same lakes as me and he likes the Powerbait worms (but agrees that the Maxscent is a killer on slow days) so a lot of it is the effort you put in.

That's a rough day, but it could have been all that and a skunk...

He got the coach fired because he wanted to be the coach. Now he's saying that he will quit unless the owner fires the GM because he wants to be that too. What an epic idiot. Go Bears!

If you need something slow in rock a popular option is a football jig or a football-head shaky head with your favorite finesse plastic on it. Something with a football shape is "better" for working through rock and rip rap. It can still hang, but not near as much as sliding weights or other jig styles. That's what the BR forums is for! Post more questions!

The new Illinois smallmouth record was caught last year on a Ned rig. I'm about to get rid of everything except my ML rods...

Fantastic story and a great bass! Why do all the records come on 6lb line? LOL d**n shame no one will ever catch it again (and it's genes can't contribute to that lake anymore).

Ultrex Nothing has changed my "fishing life" like my Ultrex.

No further conversation necessary.

Wind direction will position bait fish. Wind-blown banks can be buffets for bass. I caught my two biggest bass last year in 15+mph wind with my boat positioned in deeper water casting to a grassy bank with the wind blowing directly at it. Wind does not have a direct effect on the temperature of inanimate objects (like water) but water temps in a body of water are layered, so the temp of the surface can be significantly different than the temp of water just a couple feet below the surface. This can happen due to rapid warming in bright sunlight after a week of cloudy days or due to a rainfall that is much colder or warmer than current water temps. A strong wind can cause water of a different temperature to "pile up" in certain areas which can cause the bass to move to or away from the temp change. Wind can move water that is muddy due to runoff from rains or it can stir up silt from shallow areas causing some areas of the lake to be muddy and some to be clearer. When the wind pushes muddy water it can create lines in the water where the clarity goes from very muddy to more clear. Bass will use these lines as ambush points and fishing these lines is always a must-do when they occur. Wind can create current which will position fish to ambush bait. Wind will obscure the surface of the water in clear water making it possible to get closer to the fish without spooking them. I'm sure there's stuff I'm not thinking of and others will chime in. Wind (or lack of wind) has a tremendous effect on fishing.

Said the guy from Florida...talk to the hand ?️

Decent? We don't even have that brand of fish down here. One man's "decent" is another man's "legendary"...

I surgically removed 2.75 inches off the end of a Fenwich Elite Tech MH/XF using the passenger door jamb of my truck. I put a new tip on it and promptly discovered that it went from an XF to an unbendable titanium javelin.

That's a great article. They did an excellent job of explaining what I have been trying to explain to friends/family for decades. Especially for Jeep tires when I've done lift kits for people and they want to put 60psi in their 35in mud tires which are rated for trucks but are on a 2-door Wrangler. When in doubt, use a "chalk test" and check the rollout.

I spent countless hours in my yard practicing flipping because I thought it was the coolest thing and I wanted to get good at it. And I did get good at it. And on the water I rarely do it. 90% of the time I pitch. I do, however, flip anytime my boat is stationary and I’m hitting the exact same spot over and over with the same lure. Then flipping is much easier than pitching.

My vote goes to Rooster Tail first and Mepps second just due to cost and availability. They are both great. As far as getting inlines to work consistently, make sure you are using light line on a ML or L rod. They may work with a fast tip but may work better with a moderate tip (I fish them on a ML drop shot spinning rod). You can also try pointing your rod tip directly at the spinner while reeling faster but, unfortunately, that will bring it at a diagonal through the water straight to you. The cheap ones may not go “low and slow” as you want them to do.

You are young. You will pick up any of them and be an expert within a season. I, on the other hand, am old and technologically challenged. I spent four years with Lowrance and never figured ANYTHING out on those d**n magic boxes. I installed a Garmin 93sv uhd on my console this winter and I am already using it ten times more than the Lowrance. Garmin is perfect for old people that don't like technology, but you'll be fine with anything. I may have to ask you to come program the clock on my VCR though.

Everyone is arguing and I’m thinking “Surely I’m not the only one who read this title and yelled in my head MEGABASS VS. GODZILLA”.

@DitchPanda solved it.

Thank you! I had a pretty bad brain cramp on that one...

Like @Way2slow said, regardless of what you choose, pay close attention to the GPM in comparison to what you want to do. The pressure is useless if it doesn't flow enough water. If you are just washing cars, boats and windows (first floor) then a good electric will work for you. Once you get into decks, siding, concrete, and anything with a second story then you want something that moves AT LEAST 2.5 GPM at 3200PSI. Remember, you can put a regulator on a huge pressure washer and turn it down to decrease the power (or just change the tips), but you can't do anything to increase the power of a little electric one.