roadwarrior

I'm giving up: 1. Liver & onions 2. Skydiving 3. World Cup Soccer 4. LPGA 5. Reality tv/ daytime soaps 6. Shopping at the mall 7. Climbing on the roof to clean my gutters 8. Running marathons 9. NBA/ WBA 10. Tequila

Jigs. I have dedicated quite a bit of time trying to ramp up on this lure/ technique. My problem has not been feeling the bite, but either setting the hook too fast or probably too slowly. The jig bite is so much different than the worm bite, which surprised me, too. All was not lost, I finally tricked a big girl and that has really inspired me. So, for 2006 my focus lure is the same as 2005, the jig.

Overall: Still Soft plastics, but my #1 producer for numbers of largemouth over 5 lbs was the Fat Ika. I had particularly good luck fishing for big bass with the Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tube. Two other GYCB lures that really produced this year were the Kreature and Kut-Tail. A surprise bait was the Roboworm, producing numbers when nothing else seemed to work. Most exciting: Crankbaits in general, Norman Fat Boy in particular. I never thought cranks were big bass lures until I caught my PB in September. Other crankbaits of note: Bagley BII, Bomber Square A, and DD22. Most rewarding: Micro Munch Tackle jig, GYCB craw trailer. Jig fishing was my #1 priority for 2005. I had very limited success fishing jigs off and on all year. I finally caught a monster in November. This will remain my focus lure/ technique in 2006. For smallmouth bass: Live shiners, split shot rig. My partner and I caught a total of forty-four smallies over 5 lbs in 2005. Last weekend was my last trip this year and we finished on a high note: thirty-five largemouth and Kentucky, three of the largemouth 5+; fifteen smallmouth, one 5 lbs; a gigantic blue catfish, 40+ lbs on medium light tackle, #6 Y0-Zuri Hybrid.

I'm a pretty big fan of Triton_Mike. If you guys didn't know, he writes for GYCB's Inside Line magazine. I highly recommend this magazine, it's not just an infomercial, it's packed with some great articles including interviews with top pros (Rick Clunn is featured in the latest issue). So, Mikes's tips may be all you need, but I'll describe the way I fish tubes anyhow. First of all, from midsummer until very recently, tubes have been my #1 producer. I have been fishing the Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo, black neon (black with red flakes). This is a big tube and I have caught some big largemouth on them. I fish spinning tackle as I do for almost all my soft plastics, specifically St. Croix ES70MF, Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6, Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG T-rigged, 1/4 oz bullet weight with a bead, unpegged. I cast parallel to the bank out about five to ten yards or preferrably, on or near structure. Initially I let the tube fall on slack line and let the tube sit for at least thirty seconds, but maybe a minute or more if I really like the spot. I often feel like bass are attracted to the splash and fall and will stalk the lure while it lies on the bottom. The head may bury into rocks on the bottom, but the tenacles float up. On the first movement I only move the tube a few inches on a short horizontal sweep, moving it over rocks slowly like a crawdad might move. Then I let it sit again for quite awhile and repeat. If this pattern is not successful or just for variety, I will hop the tube with a longer vertical move, raising the bait a foot or so and moving it forward then falling on slack line. This is the only soft plastic I actually hop. Bass sometimes strike on the fall. Sometimes when it's lying on the bottom they will pick it up, but usually I get bitten when I start to move the tube. Maybe the bass is eyeing the bait and strikes when it thinks the lure is trying to get away. Other guys fish tubes shallow and in grass with success, I generally use other weightless soft plastics shallow. For me the tube, Kut-Tail and Kreature are my deep water baits (also a lizard C-rigged, but that's another story). In open water, especially when smallmouth fishing, I fish a much smaller tube on a jighead. This bait is a 3 1/2" Gitzit in baby diaper yellow. Although I have had some success in stained water with this color, it is particularly effective in the crystal clear waters of Bull Shoals. I fish this tube completely differently. I cast near structure or cover and allow the lure to fall to the bottom on slack line. I never let it sit, but make long, full hops trying to attract actively feeding smallmouth. There have been days when this has been the most productive lure I have ever used. And that's the technique.

Paparock, You are going to have to buy a river boat. Trout fishing is excellent in the winter, but Bull Shoals is almost impossible. That's not just my opinion, my guide (Hot Dawg) doesn't in the winter. Rattlinrogue, Yep, we are lucky. Although this will be my last weekend this year on the river, I'll still get in some hours on my ponds. We'll bundle up and get back with it next month, weather permitting.

Well, if there is ever a time of year when you are willing to fish live bait, this is the time. January and February are the two best months to catch monster smallmouth in the Mid South. In this region the smallmouth spawn in late February and early March on the rivers, specifically on the Tennessee River. So, believe it or not, we are approaching pre-spawn. Of the fourty-two bronzebacks over 5 lbs that we have landed in 2005, thirty-five were caught January through March. This fall has been weak mostly because of water flow, rainfall this year is eleven inches below normal. This weekend will be my last trip this calander year. The recommended rig is spinnining tackle, #4 or #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, #4 or #5 split shot and #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. We fish live shiners, the bigger the better. We fish in current out five to fifteen yards from the bank, trying to drift the boat and the bait at a steady pace so that the minnow looks as natural as possible. Sounds simple, but it's not. We are always subject to current, wind and weather. Bundle up and get out there, the bass are hungry! Remember, the next World Record is just one cast away.

EXCELLENT! Thank you for all your time and effort.

Not in Tennessee. As a matter of fact, the official state fish is the smallmouth. I think Tennessee does a good job at regulating fishing in general and a couple of species in particular (sauger, crappie and white bass). However, since we have no chance whats-so-ever of growing a World Record largemouth, there is no special program that I am aware of. Unfortunately, all three species of bass (largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky) are counted in total for creel limits. I would like to see the limit on Kentucky bass increased, slot size implemented for largemouth and a policy of catch and release only for smallmouth. Kudos to you Texans for recognizing the importance of the resource you have. Your Sharelunker Program is a model that every state should adopt. I think Florida should be congratulated for sharing the Florida strain with the rest of the country, but as Chris has noted, that was probably not such a good idea for the state of Florida. And what about California? Those guys will probably be boasting the new World Record sometime shortly. They have already produced nine of the ten top fish ever documented. Has California contributed anything to bass fishing other than demonstrating that bass grow gigantic when fed farm raised trout? Maybe someday California will share some of their genetics with the rest of the country, or maybe they are already sharing. I hope so. BTW, Go Longhorns! I'm not generally a fan but I'm a Big 12 fan, so this year I'm rooting for you. Colorado will be easy, good luck with USC.

Hi guys! Regarding the topic, Guide services are almost always a half day or a full day and can sometimes be set up for multiple days at a slightly reduced rate. As Chris said, usually $175-$200 for one or two guys and another $50 for a third. On some lakes/ rivers the fee will be $275-$300 for a day and many guides will not guide half days or will charge you for a full day anyhow. Gas, lures and bait may or may not be included and you have to ask. So, prices vary. What is really important is to find a guide that fits your expectations. You need to tell him how you like to fish, your level of experience, equipment and techniques you are familar with and just some general information about your fishing. Discuss whether or not he fishes with you and discuss certain specifics: numbers vs. size, species (although you may only care about largemouth, Kentucky could be on a tear), what is provided and what you are expected to bring along. Sometimes lunch is provided as part of the package, often not. Talk with a guide as a businessman, not as your friend. Be specific and make sure you are well suited. If not, most guides will refer you to another guide or guide service. Guides are in business to help you catch fish, that doesn't mean you will, but you can expect him to put you on them. Let your professional guide, guide- he doesn't need a lot of suggestions from you. Another suggestion is to let your guide pick lures and colors. You are playing his game with his cards at his house. He probably knows a thing or two about his water. You can fish something else on a different day. Tips? Whether you catch a fish or not, if everything else is no worse than okay, a 10% tip is in order. More if it's much better than you expect. These days I usually fish with a guide I've been using for years and I tip about 25% total, divided by the guys I'm with. Now I get to fish all the best spots and my man often takes me out at night for free. Don't expect that unless you have been fishing with the same guy for awhile, it's not part of the deal.

Take a look at my thread "Moby Dick" in the Outing section. I was fishing a jig on a small public pond last weekend.

What Shellback said... Their smallmouth book is definitive, you don't need another. But I have a more specfic text for fishing in Tennessee which discusses every major lake and river in the state. If that interests you let me know and I'll post it later, I don't have the book here at my office.

We had this topic running a few weeks ago and LBH recommended Seal Skinz Gloves.

I caught my PB from at a local public pond in September on a Norman Fat Boy, bluegill pattern. I was running the lure parallel to the bank along a ledge. This big girl was staging in deeper water and making forays into the the shallows chasing minnows and blue gill. The bass was caught about ten minutes before sunrise and measued 27 1/4" . I estimated the weight at about 12 lbs.

I just wanted to second flechero, trust your hookset. Most fish that are lost are a result of pulling the hook(s) out of their mouths. I don't know how many times I have landed a fish that is just hooked by the tiniest piece of flesh, but every one of them would have been lost to another hookset.

What avid said. Fish nothing but a Senko and Fat Ika for a couple of trips. If you don't catch a few bass, find some different water. This isn't a very creative answer, but these two lures catch bass. As Chris alluded to, different conditions may call for different lures and presentations, but before you get to that, just try these two baits and catch some fish.

As a follow-up to kayl's post: Try a Gitzit (tube) on light fluorocarbon or fluoro leader. Cast as far as you can past where you see the fish or where you think they are. Slowly retrieve the lure back to the target, a few inches at a time. Don't hop it or jerk it, just move it on the bottom and pause occasionally. When you reach your target area, stop and let the lure sit: DO NOTHING. I would leave it there for ten minutes or more. If you scared the fish away, that would be ten minutes after they return. After ten minutes or so, move it an inch or two and repeat until you are out of the area or bored out of your mind. If you really want to catch one of those monsters, it's going to take some patience. BTW, I still like KU_Bassmaster's suggestion: Make 'em mad. Even when bass won't bite, they will still defend their territory. If you haven't tried burning a Rat-L-Trap through them, that's another idea you might try.

Welcome aboard! You might catch a bigun, take a camera.

abelfisher, Whenever we drive to the lake we all take note of the cows. When they are standing we get real excited and everyone on the trip takes notice. When they are lying down, we don't mention it. I have never really found that it actually made any difference anyhow. Regarding barometric pressure, steady or falling pressure seems to be the ticket, but oddly enough I have had my very best days on the river when the pressure was rising. I'm not saying this is a good thing, but on a river the only really important factor is current and water release. Steady or rising water is good, falling water is always bad. High water is good, low water is almost always bad.

My buddy is Speedy Madewell which is a pretty interesting name for a masonary contractor, don't you think? This fellow started two bass clubs in the Memphis area and fished competatively for more than twenty years. He's a great guy and a tremendous fisherman and has just recently started guiding on the Tennessee River for striper and smallmouth. I had to explain to him that he can't guide on Saturday, he's already booked!

The first thing I look for is my guide so he can tell me how he plans to fish and I can bring just the right stuff for the day. Next would be the coffee pot and then the bathroom. New water is tough and for me it's usually big water. Everything on a big lake looks like it has potential, yet ninety percent is unproductive. I have always thought that finding the fish is the real challenge for fishermen. If you can find the fish, you can probably find a way to catch them. A professional guide already knows most of the unproductive water and will try to find places that are working within the ten percent that is generally good. Even though he has it narrowed down, that's no guaranty you are going to catch fish, but it sure helps.

Recreational only for me. The only thing I do that might be slightly related to competition is fishing rivers and lakes where we have a legitiment chance at catching a World Record in a variety of species. I'm only half kidding when I mention that we fish for the next World Record smallmouth, walley, brown or rainbow trout. This region boasts specific species records for crappie, catfish and bream as well. Not largemouth however, that's out of the question around here.

Exactly 25 lbs 0 oz., Old Hickory Lake, TN Pickerel/ Walley Prior World Record: Greers Ferry Lake, AR We don't catch as many in the Mid South as you do up north, but we grow 'em big, real big. You could make some money down here pickerel guiding, most of these Rebels don't have a clue about catching these fish. Very few fish for the species which might be one of the reasons they grow so large.

avid, It's just the presentation of a suspending jig. You determine how deep you want to fish and the bobber keeps the jig there.

Triton_Mike also has a great article in the current "Inside Line" (Sept/Oct '05): Spot Shottin' With Flat Tails.

How 'bout a shortcut? Hire a guide for a day or two. You will learn more from a good guide on "his" lake than you will from a hundred posts on this thread. The problem doesn't sound like lure selection to me. As justtrying noted, you have to find the fish before you can catch them.