Lottabass

The lakes I fish are weedy, dirty water, soft bottom lakes. I used to be a flipper, pitcher, and puncher and caught a lot of fish that way. That was when I could stand up and fish. Can't stand anymore, so I bought a 10' rod, a reel with a flippin switch, and braid. This will be my "dippin" rig. Hopefully I can present a bait like I used to but do it sitting down. I still intend to wear out squarebills and frogs too!

BR folks are awesome. Thank you for helping me out!

It seems the more I read the more confused I get. I'd like to put a 12v lithium in my pond prowler to save weight. At my age, lifting 20# is good, 70# is not. BPS offers one, 75 AH, for $500. It says in the description that it is "sealed to prevent leakage common in other lithium batteries." Is leakage common? Batteries Plus offers a similar battery for same price but has Bluetooth. Is Bluetooth needed? I read reviews and some are great and some describe these batteries as junk. What to believe? I also see batteries that seem dirt cheap. Are they any good? Can't tell by the photos, but are the terminals the same so I can use ring terminals to hook the TM wires to it? Thank you for any help you can give!

I like @Tennessee Boy response....lures are tools. A Swamp Lord is not used if the bass are in 12 fow, a Wiggle Wart is not used if the bass are under a weed mat. One lake I fish now has lots of duckweed. Where a squarebill used to be my most productive lure now a frog produces the most. Can I go find some crankbait fish? Yes, I could, but I've fished there all day and the only lure that I got wet was a frog, because it's so much fun!!!!

@RLinNH

@RLinNH I have a MG Xi3 for Kayaks, 36 inch shaft, Spot Lock, etc. Had it on a Bass Hunter but too short for the boat I have now so haven't used it in a long time. Respond if you want it and we'll figure out the details.

I think color is most important in your confidence in your lure and in your ability to see your frog. I have lots of frogs because I like to collect pretty things! I have blasted bass on white, black, brown, green, blue, and pink...all on the same day, on the same lake, all summer long. I think it is hard to conclude that color matters to the bass so throw what you like and throw what works!

@Lottabass: That is the fattest bass I have EVER seen. That bass does the impossible: It makes @Bluebasser86's bass look svelte. @Swamp Girl She was having "bluegill ala carte"!!!!!!!

I'm thankful for all bass, but who takes pictures of the little ones?

@papajoe222 I think my problem is that I've been fishing the round bills the same way I fish the square bills. I can speed grind the square bills through cover and you can't do that with a round bill. Thank you for your help!

Thank you, Pat! The Bait Monkey will be happy! Frittside will be on my next order.

Yes, I could not fish the rounded bill ones without getting hung constantly!

I have some Rapala Rocco's with round lips and they don't deflect like a bait (pictured) with a squarebill, that is my experiance anyway. Or am I fishing them wrong?

Anything that wiggles, but...

@Swamp Girl Thank you! It was your great advice way back when I asked for help the first time I took her that contributed to this success!

Update: we have been out 4 times now. She continues to learn. Last week we fished in 45 degree water and air temp was the same with sun and calm conditions. My goal was to teach her to fish a jig. She caught 6!

This will work where it's too brushy for a treble hook tailspinner.

2024 was a frog year for me. Also got to take a young lady fishing. When you teach, you learn!

I'd like to hear from owners of this device. Experiances, critiques, opinions, etc. I purchased this unit in March but didn't get around to installing it until 3 weeks ago so I don't have much time on the water with it yet. Anyone out there have one of these? They are sold by Tiny Boat Nation.

I think that the more your strength, endurance, and agility go down, the more your attitude has to make up for that loss. When I retired in 2016 I fished every day, now it's a struggle to go 3 times a week. I'm kinda ashamed to admit that I have to talk myself in to going some days although I love to fish and I'm always glad I did afterward. I'm 74 and my goal is to be still chunkin and windin (and catchin) at 80. When I get to 79 I'll move the goal to 85.... if I can hire somebody to tie my knots!

I believe that there is always a way to catch bass in any condition but I always struggle when the wind is out of the east. Thank you for your thoughts!

All good advice here. Let me add another solution. Where I fish is mostly bluegill forage, no shad. Bluegill spawn all summer, and I think the full moon period is the best. I've found bass in and around those bluegill beds all summer long. Sometimes the bass are in deeper water but usually close by. The lakes I fish are also soft bottom and dirty water. I think those bluegill beds are found where the bottom is a little harder and that's a plus. I use sidescan to find those beds. Determining the lure to use and the speed and depth that triggers the bass to bite is the next step.

I've had this happen but not often enough. I try to be "in the zone" as Rick Clunn describes it. Listening to your gut and acting on those feelings is a good skill to cultivate, but I think it requires practice. Those "pigeon flutterings" are easy to ignore or if you are distracted, easy to miss.