Mobasser

I think it's the way fish hit toads in general? Lots of bass swipe at them. Me too A-Jay. This season, I'm going to try to wait that extra 1 or 2 seconds before I set the hook. I think in the excitement of a frog blowup, I've jerked the bait away from the fish too quickly? Sometimes though, it's hard to force yourself to do that.

I don't really think we can blame the line for missing fish on hooksets. I use mono for most stuff, and Miss very few fish on t rigs or jigs. My worst bait for missing fish on hookset are lipless baits. I flipped with 25lb mono yrs ago, just like everyone else. I also remember everyone frogging with mono line too. Did we always miss more fish? No. Fish are missed on hooksets by slow reaction time. Just an opinion. No right or wrong.

One thing is for certain about night fishing: It's an excellent way to improve your feel for plastics, and jigs or other slow moving bottom hopping baits. The fish won't always hit topwaters or spinnerbaits. Just like in daytime fishing, I've had to fish slower sometimes. For the most part your fishing by feel alone. Your senses get tuned in good at night. Fishing at night can improve your daylight fishing also.

Yes, bass bite at night. I've night fished a fair amount myself, and done good on some nights. You can use many of the same lures you use for daytime fishing. Lots of good night fisherman on this site, I'm sure they'll be glad to help you with some tips. Type in night fishing in the search bar also. Good info there too

Some of the better bass anglers I've known in my lifetime slowed down when they worked heavy cover areas. They may have started with a faster bait, but worked thick cover thourougly, before moving on, especially thick cover areas close by deeper water. These spots always warrant some extra time spent. Also, the follow up pitch or cast, is always good too. It seems like slowing down in general is hard for lots of bass anglers anymore.

A T rig has been my best producer for a long time. It's one lure you can cast almost anywhere. I may start out trying to catch fish on a faster moving bait, but usually end up with a T rig. I often lead off with it too, especially in hot weather

With jigs and soft plastic baits, I've always kept my rod tip up, around 10 or 11o clock position after a cast. Make the cast, let the bait sink on a slack line, and retrieve the lure with short lifts between 10 and 12oclock. I can see the point where the line enters the water better, and always felt like I could sense strikes better with this method. With spinnerbaits, lipless lures, and moving baits, I keep my rod tip low, and slightly to the right on the retrieve. I have known a good jig fisherman , who fished with his rod down low, about one foot from the surface.This worked well for him. What's your method? Where do you like your rod position after a cast with various lures?

Sometimes a 4" worm swam through mid depths can work well for suspended fish. Count down to depth, and swim it back in.

Some guys get under a lot of pressure in tournaments. They may not even know they're moving too quick. I like to take a little more time. If I don't get bit pitching at one spot, so what? Move onto the next one There used to be a guy who fished early B. A. S. S. events named John Powell. He was sponsored by Creme tackle. He fished a plastic worm most of the time, about as fast as it could be fished. Cast to a good looking spot, hop the worm once or twice, then make another cast to a new spot closeby. He was always and only looking for the fastest biting bass. If he didn't get a strike in one or two hops, he quickly moved on. He did well fishing this way. But, if you don't have to fish this fast, it may be better to work the spots over more carsfully. That's what's worked for me.

I'm not a drinker. One can of beer is my limit. Sometimes I can't even finish one can. My dad used to say" for most guys, one cans is enoupgh, and two is too many". I think for many people, my dad was right.

I like to do work my baits similar to your method. I work them slower around wood cover, and have caught fish that follow the baits away from cover also

This is why I always like the threads we have on locating fish, seasonal patterns, structure, and similar topics. Even after almost 40yrs of bass fishing, I never get tired of learning about these things. I've got all the baits to cover the water column, from top to bottom, but location is where it's at in this game. The more I can learn about finding fish, the more and larger fish I'll catch. Learning these things has helped improve my fishing more than anything

I have a lot of years fishing experience, but joining this site two yrs ago has helped me improve. It's easy to get in a rut, and being a member here keeps me wanting to try some new things and keep learning. I've especially learned from any and all threads on structure fishing, seasonal patterns, and similar topics.

Most of us take a lot of baits with us for bass fishing, usually, many more than we use on an average fishing trip. We always want to be prepared for any scenario. Have you ever known a bass fisherman who fished one type of bait exclusively? I knew one years ago. I belonged to a bass club, and became friends with an older guy, Frank, who used nothing but plastic worms. Various sizes from 4" to 10", rigged different ways. T- rig, weightless, split shot, or on his own version of a shakey head, before shakey heads became a big thing. His catch rates were impressive, and I saw him place in the top three in club tournaments many times. He had fished for many years, and tried most all other bass baits on the market, some with success, some not. He had the utmost confidence in his bait of choice. It would be hard for me to limit myself to only one type of bass bait. I like having at least a few different choices. But, maybe we over think much of this? Maybe we should be driven by confidence first.That was Frank's simple concept, and it worked surprisingly well for him. Fish the one that works most often, and keep it simple. Many trophy bass hunters, who specialize in targeting big bass, have relied on one bait to target the biggest bass, focusing on seasonal patterns, location, and presentation to catch the biggest fish. Have you ever known a one lure bass fisherman? I tend to think there's not many around anymore.

Under rated reels? Any older Japanese made Shimanos.

Sounds like a good plan for the big worms. Sometimes a lighter weight or weightless can be good too

I think most of the really good improvements to spinnerbaits were made well over 10yrs ago. Wire thickness, blade types, skirts, better swivels and skirts have been around for a while now. Always a good bass lure. Very versatile

Good game for sure. Congrats to the Chiefs on a great comeback and win

My dream was to be a carpenter. I always liked this work and had an uncle that got me started at age 25. Now I'm 62, and carpentry hasn't been a real easy profession. I've been able to raise my kids, and keep my head above water, and stay married to the same gal for 36 yrs now. I'm looking forward to retirement, possibly next year if things work out right. It's a good skill to know, but a tough way to make a living.

I use 12 to 15lb mono for buzzbaits.

I enjoy hooking and fighting bass, but I enjoy the challenge of locating them and hunting for them a lot also. If the fish are nicer size that's even better

I've used Trilene Big Game for as long as I can remember. Any fish I've lost in almost 40yrs of fishing has been my own fault, never the fault of the line.

I would try switching to a slightly bigger jig, with a bigger hook, and make sure your hooks are super sharp.

Over the past several seasons, I've watched a 6 acre lake I fish become consumed with milfoil weeds. It started as a couple of smaller patches and has increased in size to cover large areas. Like many of us, I've learned to adapt to it the best I can. I've given up on crankbaits here. Almost any below surface treble hook baits won't work well either. You may get a retrieve started, but after a few yards into it, your snagged on milfoil, and dredging it up again. What we've had to do is to fish in it with T rigged worms, or above it with buzzbaits and spooks. Sometimes a fluke or other soft plastic jerkbaits fished within one or two feet of the surface can draw a strike. I've made friends with a Conservation officer who works this area. He told me last summer that they plan to get it under control this coming year. I sure hope so. Are the lakes you fish choked out with weeds? If so, are they an invasive weed like milfoil? Have you had to change your fishing methods to catch fish consistently?

Good video Catt!