Glaucus

130 size Whopper Plopper would put on a topwater show too. That may have never seen one by the sounds of it.

Here in Illinois LMB were hitting the surface the other day in 50* air temps. I don't know what the water temps were but ice out just recently happened and the bass have just started to "activate." It was a spectacle. I didn't bring any top water with me because who would have thought? PS they were unmistakably LMB. The water is fairly clear and they were right in front of me.

Just go to Walmart or a chain store like BPS or DSG and get a Strike King 1/2oz jig in a natural brown/green color and another in black and blue. Pretty cheap and will make the selection easy for you. Get a pack of Strike King Rage Craw Lobsters in the corresponding colors to your jigs and put them on as trailers. I'd get a pack of worms around 10 inches long. Maybe a pack of Zoom Ol Monster worms with the lightest bullet weight you can get away with.

Bigger spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and swim jigs. Bigger jig n craw. Bigger worms. Maybe swimbaits.

At worst you would get that paper ice around the banks. That's it.

It sucks, but I can guarantee you that we appreciate and love fishing during the open water season more than most people who have open water year round.

I've been watching YouTube videos of guys from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama fishing frogs right now and getting blown up. For what it's worth.

I'm not a fan of a true moderate action, especially for a squarebill crankbait. A moderate fast action is my preferred action for squarebills. For 1.5s, which is also my primary squarebill, a medium powered rod is perfect. There are variables however. Around heavy cover and in grass some people like a medium heavy, fast action. Many medium powered rods from various companies can throw a 2.5 (which weighs 5/8oz) but you will find that it "feels" better on a medium heavy powered rod. As a side note, I wouldn't stress it too much or over complicate anything because you will find that a squarebill doesn't need to get too specialized.

I would just pay the fee and not drill holes in your rod. Doing something like that is dangerous for your rod and probably voids the warranty.

Is that to say you couldn't move at all? We were seriously looking into moving to Tennessee but my company doesn't have a location there and all of our family is here (except for her brother in Iowa and my dad in Indiana, but they're both just 2-3 hours away). It wasn't feasible.

I've been thinking about just cat fishing for a couple weeks until the garbage weather clears out. I was watching a guy fish for catfish while I fished for bass the other day. He hooked into a decent on and it broke his line. He was using what looked to be a little ultra light rod and a little spincast reel. Probably didn't have more than 6lb line on it. He shouted that he needs to get stronger line. I'm thinking no kidding man, and stronger gear in general.

Ever forget to flip the bail before casting? Other people stare at you for a long time after such a thing. ?

Because most of us were born up here and started lives up here and can't easily transfer said lives down south.

If they aren't biting your chatterbait, it isn't because of the blade. Also think about spinnerbaits and how ridiculous that is. They have shiny flashy blades. Think about your hooks. They're shiny.

1/0. I fish 4 and 5 inch Senkos, usually 5 inch.

The best hook I've ever used to Wacky Rig is a Gammy Octopus Circle hook. It's surprisingly snag resistant. I can count on one hand how many fish I've lost using that hook, out of hundreds.

Because my wife is the best. Because the real Mother Nature abandoned Illinois and left us with the drunk aunt. ...

It was 65* a few days ago. It's 35* today. God hates Illinois and I don't blame him.

I don't know if this helps, but some reels require more or less pressure than others. Is it really bad or just noticable?

I didn't know you fish, Jon Snow.

If your braid has been kept in a good environment it won't go bad imo

This is the America I dream about for the children. Some guys like some brews while they fish, other guys don't want to pee every 10 minutes

If there's no sign I put the kayak in. Worst thing that ever happens is someone tells me it isn't allowed, and I respectfully apologize and get to land ASAP. I don't worry about any legal problems if there's nothing posted.

Man I hope he smokes 'em