Lottabass

Katie, you start the most interesting posts! After reading your post and these comments I'm going to strive to do a better job with my reports. Thank you, Katie!

I have 3 PFD's. Searching for the most comfortable one. I bought a self inflating one and it's the most comfortable. How confident should I be that it will actually inflate if I go in the drink? I'm 100% confident of the foam PFD's but don't have that feeling with the new one. Thank you for any input you have!

I can't waste anything so precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. Another warm, windy day in Iowa. They ain't gonna last much longer.

"I think it's my favorite photo for 2025. I can also see Al straining and that adds to my awe." Thank you, Katie! Words like that from you make me blush! I was straining, but at my age I strain to lift a soda bottle!!!😛 "I like photos that convey that hunkiness." That's why we all love your photos!

My thoughts: If you catch an adult bass in an area or spot there are probably more there. I think bass are easy to catch but can be hard to find. So if you catch one or two and then nothing that is when an adjustment of speed and/or depth, color, size, etc is needed. If changes don't result in more fish then move on, you have been fooled or they have been spooked, but always come back!

I agree. I think that these tourney anglers will do whatever it takes to win and if they can get in any ones head they will. A woman would be an easy target for them. She has been around long enough to know this and should be mentally prepared for it. I'm sure she has encountered knuckle draggers before.

Don't know her. Watched YT videos. She has the passion. I admire her backbone to get involved in a male dominated sport. There is no reason she won't do well, the bass don't know what gender is on the other end of the line, and she has the skill and drive to catch 'em. I imagine there is a lot of smack talk in tournaments. If she can keep her head in the game she will do well. I hope she kicks their bass!

Katie, I had seen it on YT but this was first time I used it. Before I yanked: This is gonna hurt, this is gonna rip a big hole in my thumb, this is gonna hurt, maybe I should just go to the ER, this is gonna hurt........ Came out clean and didn't even hurt!!!

Another beautiful day, warm and windy. 49 degree water. Caught a pile on a squarebill bounced off shallow wood. Quit clickin at 25, they were all the same size but I was having fun and enjoying the warm air. Last week I fished this lake and the beaver cuttings were under water. Low, low, low. BTW....I got a hook in my thumb. Tried the braided line removal trick. Works like a charm! I'm such a wimp it took me 5 minutes to convince myself to yank!

First of all; you are not an outlier. You are an excellent angler. I think one key to success is listening to the bass. Many days I have fished with my hearing aids turned off!

Beautiful day! Water temp is 50. All on jig n pig. Here is 7 pounds of Iowa pork! Here is a "bulgy" 6 pounder

The reason I like to fish in late fall is because fish are moving from all over the lake to specific winter spots. So, you are fishing AT more fish. Metabolic rate is slower but the advantage of casting to more numbers in fewer places is a good thing. In pre spawn fish are moving away from winter spots and spreading out. They are eating more as their metabolism is increasing with the warming water and increasing day light. But I love a November day with water temps in the 40's. Call me crazy.

"Take the shot, Al, take the shot!" Katie, I was shaking so bad I would not have been able to hit a barn if I was in it! "I'm more afraid of things that walk on 2 feet, not 4." Herder, Man is the most dangerous animal.

I think at ice out a warm wind pattern works well for big bass. A shallower flat off of a channel will be the place to fish a spinnerbait or shallow jerkbait, etc. This doesn't apply in late fall in my opinion. The difference is in spring photo period is getting longer as opposed to late fall and a warm wind in spring has a more pronounced effect than in the fall. I'm talking about a good, stiff, warm south wind. If you have no warm wind and 45-50 water in the spring, winter tactics will still work.

@gim Great story! I've got a deer hunting heeby-jeebie story too. My very first bow hunting trip into the woods many years ago. I was so anxious to go hunting I got up at 3am and headed into a wooded creek bottom. I had no tree stand so I leaned up against a big oak. It was pitch black. There was a pool of rainwater next to the tree. I could hear the normal night sounds, night birds, frogs peeping, the squeal of a dying rabbit in the jaws of a fox in the distance. Then, no sounds at all! Then I could hear branches breaking and leaves crunching in the dark. I started to shake. It sounded like there was a man walking toward me! Getting closer. I was really shaking now. The foot steps stopped just 30 feet away on the other side of this pool of water! I peeked around the tree and in the gray light there was a buck drinking from the pool. I ducked back behind the tree, scared to death! I could hear him slurping. I could hear the water drops falling off his lips back into the pool. I was shaking so bad and could hardly breathe, no way could I draw the bow. He turned and crunched back up the hill. I was a bowl full of jello! Heeby-Jeebie x 100!

Out at night and there is NO noise.....heebie jeebie time!

"It's heresy to admit, but I'm content with taking a break from bass fishing" There is nothing heretic about doing what makes you happy. Your winter sounds peaceful!

"about as comfy as steel wool pajamas" Katie, you always make me smile!

I bought them more for nostalgia than anything else, I think. Good memories of big bass on pork in cold water and also cutting them off a jig when I forgot to keep 'em wet! Here is a good jig n pig story from 1979; Was fishing on an early spring day, the ice had went out just a couple days before. There was a walking path along the bank and a couple were enjoying the warm weather. We exchanged small talk and then the guy said to me, "you can't catch fish now, the water is too cold." Then my line jumped and I slid a 5 pounder into the boat. Put the Arkie jig and Uncle Josh right back in there and set the hook on a 6 pounder. That was the end of our conversation but a memory I'll never forget.

Katie, you had a great day and a great year. 1451 is fantastic! It's hard for us crones and codgers to stay warm in this weather, but we did it!

There will be days when the fishing will be better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home. Water temp was 53. Caught 6 bass and 4 crappie on a Stunna, 3 bass on a jig n pig.

Back in the 1970's I used Uncle Josh on my Arkie jigs. Then plastics became the better way to put a trailer on a jig. Caught a lotta bass on both. When I get bored I let the bait monkey bite so I bought some Uncle Josh and ordered some Pawpa E's baits. With all the success I've had with plastic I don't think it makes any difference. Any thoughts?

The lakes I fish have dirty water and bluegill is the main forage. A bait with black skirt and gold blades gets bit more than any other color.

Winter fishing in Iowa. There's always a way to catch 'em. This aint me! This is a friend that's tougher than I am! She caught these bass over a green weed bed in 15 fow on an ice jig.

@Dwight Hottle You are causing a drooling epidemic with that toad of a smallmouth!!!!!!