Mobasser

I had one smaller 14' bass, follow a shallow diving rebel crankbait 2 or 3 times. I'm pretty sure it was the same fish. I never did hook him.

When I first started bass fishing, I had a large bass follow a Cordell Spot to within one foot of the bank, then turn away at the last second. I've had other bass do this through the years also. They will follow a lure close to the bank or boat, then turn away without striking the bait. I havnt noticed this as much with slow moving jigs or t rigs. Usually it's happened with lipless baits, shallow crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. I've read about musky fisherman doing a figure eight within a few feet of the boat, to entice a musky to strike. I'm sure others have had followers like this also. It's a puzzling thing. Clearly, the bass is interested in your lure, but wont strike it. Would you say these fish are not really feeding, but follow out of curiosity, then turn away when they realize that somethings not right? Have you found a way to get them to hit? What are some experiences you've had with these followers?

I think the reason for fluke mentioned as a summer fall bait is that most folks fish them faster. If you can let the fluke settle to the depth you want, and fish it slowly, I think it would work also. It would be very easy for people to overwork a weightless fluke, as opposed to a hard jerkbait. I would sure give it a try

I'm in North central Mo. I'm thinking that if you can clearly see this fish, he can see you too, as well as your casting motions or any shadows. Bass are already spooky in clear shallow water. Given that everyone is tossing all kinds of baits at them, they're not gonna hit. I fish a clear quarry lake and I've seen this too. As for spinnerbaits and springtime bass? They go together like Apple pie and ice cream. Check out scalefaces post in the tackle section. He's been making a killin. You could also try night fishing, with a spinnerbait, t rig, or jig/ trailer combo. Fish em all slowly

Most all of us have heard the old saying" money doesn't grow on trees". My grandson Aiden has been working as a grocery sacker for a few months now. Originally, he worked two evenings per week, and all day on Saturday. Since school is out for the year due to the virus, he's picked up more hours now, and is working 35hrs per week. He wanted to buy a new spinning rod/reel. At first he told me he wanted to buy only the best. His job pays minimum wage. We buy most of our stuff at Academy Sports. Looking at various models, he quickly realized that the "best" was out of his price range. Higher end Shimanos, Diawas, or Lews would have taken one week of his pay, just for the reel alone. He settled on a Lews G Spin size 3000, and an All Star med/hvy rod. I'm impressed by the quality of this outfit, with line, for less than 100.00. Aidens casting outfit is an H20 Mettle reel, with a Berkeley 6'6 Lightning rod, again, under 100.00. His casting rod is spooled with 12lb Big Game, his spin rod with 8lb original Stren mono. These rigs may not feature some things that the most expensive reels and rods have, but I have no doubt they will catch him plenty of bass. In my own opinion, it's completely possible to buy a good bass outfit for 100.00 these days. When I started fishing years ago, it wasn't this way. Many times, cheaper meant junk, and the cost to quality ratio was not there. Aiden can fish these rigs, untill he decides to pick up something better. With routine maintenance, I see them lasting for several years. I call these the 100.00 combos. Aidens proud of his new outfit, and, I know the reason why. Because he worked, and earned the money for it himself. Anyone else fishing with a rod/reel line setup that cost less than 100.00? In some ways, at least as far as fishing tackle goes, we're lucky these days. Even less expensive outfits are way better than they were years ago. What are some of your 100.00 rods/reels that work good for you?

On one of the small lakes I fish, we have a new blowdown this spring. This is an old willow tree, which has toppled over and fallen into the water. Not a weeping willow, but what we always called a pond willow. Most all the branches are near the top, the trunk coming out from the bank, I'm guessing 30 ft. Many old bass fishing books would teach to work the outer cover( branches) first, then work inward closer to the bank,and along the trunk itself, so as to not spook any fish on the outside edges of the cover first. In your opinion, is this still the best way? What's your approach for fishing the large trees, which have fallen in the water? This one looks especially good, because the branches are laying over water that is about 10ft deep. What's your preferred method for fishing this scenario?

I've always wanted a Dalton Special. I've never bough one. I can't fish treble hook topwaters through much of the summer either, due to chara and milfoil. The Dalton Special always looked like a good bait. I'd probably go with a frog pattern

Man, I've always wanted a Dalton Special. It's a lure I've never bought. I would have trouble fishing it also in some of the smaller lakes I fish too. Chara and milfoil won't allow me to fish treble hook topwaters through much of the summer. I'd like to get a frog colored one. It's always looked like a killer bait.

I fish a 6acre quarry quite a bit. It has a rock wall on one side, and a shallower end on the other side. One thing to consider is how quarries were dug years ago. Some have steep banks which drop.off quickly. Sometimes there are shelves, which extend out from a bank, and drop off into deeper water. These are always good spots, as are humps left there when they dug them out. Rockpiles may be left in place also. These can be good too. I've done best with t rig plastics, buzzbaits , and jigs.

Completely agree on the Culprit worms. They've been around for a long time, but still work great. The blk/blue always worked well for me, as does solid purple. The ribbon tail comes through cover better than a hooktail worm also. I'll always rely on them. Another one I like is the old Zoom U Tail, in junebug.

My own thing is working on deeper water structure fishing. I've been studying and working to improve this part of my bass fishing for a few years now. I want to be able to find that spot within a spot, that could hold bigger bass. I'll target them with a t rig plastic worm, my main confidence bass bait.

I've got 2 or 3 bags of Zoom lizards from years ago. I liked the 6" in June but color. I plan on throwing them again this year

I have a couple of old twin spins I got in an old tackle box I picked up. They look like the ones pictured. From what I've read about them, some guys used them without a skirt, with a pork eel instead. Somewhere I have a picture of Harold Ensley landing a bass on one at Bull Shoals lake back in the 60s.

We've had threads on big worms.As I recall, most folks consider a 10" or 12" worm big. Looking through the worms on TW, I noticed that Uptons in California still makes worms in the 16" and 20" sizes. Have you ever thrown a worm of this size? If so what are your experiences with these huge plastic worms?

I've also heard the term " trash" fishing too. I'm thinking it's the same as junk fishing. Lots of good bass hiding around the trash and junk.

It would be very hard, at best, to pick one line for both. When I got my first spinning reel years ago, I spooled it with 15lb mono. Bad move. That stuff shot off the spool like a slinky. 8lbs or less for spin reels from then on. No.matter what type of line it is

I have the best luck with 8lb mono on spinning reels and 12 or 15lb Big Game on casting reels.

One line choice for both is tough. As a compromise, I'd say 12 lb mono. Would work good on casting reels, not so much on spin reels

I've heard the term junk fishing before. I always figured weedless baits for this. Weedgaurd jigs and t rigs would probably be first choice.

I sure agree on the purple worms. That's been my best color for years also

Red, ABU5000. Mine was a hand me down from my older brother. It took me a while to.lesrn to cast it. I still have it. It's retired now

That may be the problem. I've only fished them in a quarry lake. Waters pretty clear

Spinnerbait, buzzbait, t rig worm, lipless bait, jig/craw combo

As long as they have a good ball bearing swivel, and a good hook, I can fish most any spinnerbait.

Same here. Lots of guys love the chatterbaits, but they havnt worked out for me. I might be wrong, butI think TW still sells Jelly Worms, at least the 8" size I was wondering if anyone still likes the Culprit worms? Good action on a slow retrieve. I love them in hot weather and at night