roadwarrior

Fish are more active during low light conditions and come up into shallow water to feed. Since most fishermen fish relatively shallow water, this is a time when bass are much easier and more likely to be caught. By contrast, SOME big bass feed deep or simply suspend in deep cover or on structure most of the time. This is where "they live". Fishing deeper water during the middle of the day is the key.

#6 Hybrid is 11.9 lb test. P-line #6 is rated 8.4 lbs, but I think it's stronger than that.

Aint Texan, I want the people not catching bass to use smaller diameter line (#6) and I prefer Hybrid or P-Line because is has a higher breaking point than a true 6 lb test line. For a lot of guys, particularly when you are new to the game, throwing weightless soft plastics and using light line on a baitcaster can be challenging.

Generally a well defined cove will have a tributary channel, often with graduated banks on at least one side. A cove provides some protection and a food base for bait fish which attracts predators. A bay, by contrast is usually associated with the main body of water, an indentation of the shoreline, and tends to have a less fertile environment.

I have never noticed any difference in terms of low light production, dawn and dusk seem about the same to me. I suppose, being an earlybird, I'm more focused in the morning. By dusk I'm usually hungry and in the mood for some whiskey. As others have stated and I have pointed out in other threads, midday is the most productive time for big bass.

There seems to be a lot of members that are not catching bass, some are just starting out and a few have never caught one. If that's where you are, then this short piece is for you. If you want to start catching some bass, follow these instructions EXACTLY, no modifications or adjustments. Equipment: Medium or Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action spinning rod and reel. #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Ultra Soft, P-Line or XL. Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks. 1 bag GYCB 5" Senkos, watermelon with black flakes (194) 1 bag GYCB Fat Ika (194) Place: A pond at least 5 acres in size, preferably with some bottom features or contour. Or, if you have access to big water, a well defined cove, not a bay. Whether you fish from a boat or the shore, you will fish exactly the same way. Method: Start with the Senko. Cast parallel to the bank, 10-15 yards off the shoreline. Let the bait sink to the bottom, count to 30 (as in 30 seconds) then move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to fall on slack line. Count to 10, then repeat. Continue all the way back, move ten steps forward and repeat. Fish the ENTIRE shoreline regardless of whether you see cover or structure. Fish two Senkos and if you are still not catching bass, switch to the Fat Ika and fish it until you lose it. Don't switch back and forth. Fish the Fat Ika EXACTLY like you fished the Senko. To make this testing fair, you need to spend at least one hour out fishing, two would be better. You can't hurry and you must stay focused. If you don't catch a bass after two trips or four hours of fishing, you need to find new water.

Welcome aboard!

I already "sponsor" the products that work for me! If any of those companies paid me or gave me stuff for free, that would be great. So far I've only been able to get myself a free hat and KU_Bassmaster clued me into that! Nothing's "free" and I'm not at all interested in making any effort to actually work when I'm not "at work". If fishing were my job, that would be a whole different story.

Running out of beer or smokes, but by then it's just time to go to the house anyhow. Really, nothing bothers me when I'm fishing. I fish with a lot of guys and everyone has their quirks, it's no big deal to me.

Clorox and a toliet brush is the ticket. Rinse thoroughly and you will have no problems.

cgs2004, Nope. It is hard for them to find qualified technical people. Flippin is near Bull Shoals but if you're not from "the country" you would consider this part of Arkansas the middle of nowhere. If you are interested get in touch with these companies and see if you can't get on in a summer internship of some kind.

GYCB Kut-Tail and the ones I fish are 6 1/2" long. If "everyone" is fishing small baits then that is all the more reason for you to go big! Give it a try, there is nothing to lose. Good luck!

Keithscratch, Wow! I couldn't disagree with you more. At least 90% of my largemouth bass fishing is on ponds and that's where all but one of my biggest largemouth bass have been caught. All but two of my 10's have been caught on 6" Senkos in these ponds. Nearly all of my biggest bass have been caught between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, I don't fish at night. I fish big baits for big fish. I never fish small baits, never.

MinnesotaAngler, I liked your thread. I wrote one a year or more ago in a series called "The Clinic", but I can't figure out how to bring it up (it won't come up for me using the search function). Anyhow, I fish ponds a lot and I like your piece.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158032683/6#6

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158032683/6#6

Whenever this question comes up, regarding all soft plastics, my answer is always "dark". To narrow it down to just one dark color, it has to be watermellon with large black flakes (Yamamoto 194).

If you have a degree in engineering or architecture and wouldn't mind living in a VERY small town (Flippin, AR), Ranger Boats or Bass Cat might be the ticket. One of the benefits is the use of almost any model bass boat anytime you are off. Now, that's a deal!

The BassResource calculator comes up with 4.67. NY DNR estimates weights based on samples referenced by length only. The NY estimate for a 20" smallmouth is 3 lbs 14 oz, 22" represents a 5 lb 3 oz smallie. So, I suspect your bass was either side of 4 lbs. Avid came up with this observation and I agree with him: Most "5 lb" bass that are not weighed actually weigh around 3 lbs. "Around 7 or 8 lbs" would probably weigh 5 lbs on scales.

Welcome aboard! If they are small fish they might just have the tail, but it's more likely that you just aren't getting a good hookset. When you feel the bite, reel down quickly and dip your rod at the same time. When you feel the fish, snap your wrist for a quick set. If you are using a sharp hook, this will penetrate the mouth. Another thought is your hook size. I prefer at least 3/0 or 4/0 EWG. A recent thread is recommending a straight hook, as opposed to offset, for better ratios. For soft plastics you should be fishing at least a Medium Power/ Fast Action rod.

I relate "deep" to lures/ baits. For me, weightless soft plastics are fished no deeper than about 12'. When I fish deeper I fish weighted baits or hard lures.

The year around feeding/growing season has been the focus of discussion when we talk about all the California monster largemouth. I wonder why that has not had the same impact on your smallmouth population. I would think that all of the conditions needed for growing a World Record or at least World Class smallmouth are there.

We do NOT allow "for profit" tournaments or clubs to solicit members here.

Welcome aboard! When you don't have a clue, main points for smallmouth and secondary points for largemouth. Docks, the mouths of tributary creeks and I like stump fields. Maybe shear cliffs and rocky dams for sure. Weeds that are near deeper water. What I don't fish is shallow water on an extended flat.

Unless you know as a fact that other guys are catching bigger bass, I think you should find another place to fish. You can't actch 'em if they ain't there. Your pond doesn't sound to me like it holds much promise.