Mobasser

I always like to read things from Doug Hannon years ago. He wrote that he used a 6" worm most often to catch many of the huge Florida fish he caught. For him, it was more important to find the correct area, and be there at the right time. It you can do this, I tend to think the same fish that hits a 6" worm will hit a 4" or 10" worm. Because she's hungry, and she's an opportunist. Again, that's just my opinion. I've spent most of the summer fishing for a hungry, huge opportunist. They don't come along all the time. In past years, I've done better on larger baits in the fall. The forage has had all season to grow, and is reached full size. Two nights ago, I read an article that says that smaller finesse baits work best in fall. I don't know. Information overload has set in.Ill take some of both sizes and find out for myself which works the best.

The big fish have been caught on all sizes of baits. Bigger probably helps, but if she's ready to eat, she'll eat a standard size bait also. That's just my opinion, probably wrong....

I think this is true, on movement. We've got tons of baits that swim slightly off and look injured. But sometimes too much erratic action isn't good, and the bass can spot a fake. In my original post, I brought up worms and craws with different colored claws and tails. They don't blend in in a natural way, but it depends too on how well the bass sees these colors. In some cases it might not matter

You guys know Ive driven many nails over the years. Early on, smacked my thumb too many times. I think my thumb was taped up all that first summer. Brutal, hard work! Yesterday had to pick my wife up at the airport. She went for a couple of days to visit her sister. I parked, and had to walk down to the terminal gate where she was coming in. By the time I made it there I was limping, and my hip was hurting. It's from all my years in construction. If you were a carpenter for very long, you'll have some physical problems from this trade. Once you gain experience, you'll make good money- but you'll earn every penny also.

Looking at our long term forecast it looks like September will be a lot like August here. Hot and muggy. Around October 1rst it drops to around 70 to 75 daytime highs. That's more like it

There may have been some change in the bottom contour around that one stake bed, that the fish were liking.

September can be a good fishing month in my area, but some years still very warm.It will start to cool off consistently towards the end of the month.

Welcome aboard sir. You've come to the right place.

I knew a guy years ago who only fished in the springtime. He caught scores of buck bass and a couple of bigger bed fish also. Everyone thought he was a hot stick. I figured out pretty quickly that he really wasnt that good. Get him out there on a hot summer day fishing deep, and he burned out quickly. Lots of guys could do what he was doing.

Young guys become better much faster than years ago, due to all the info that's out there. It wasn't always that way. Many of us learned on non magnetic reels, glass rods and hooks that weren't chemically sharpened. All the new tackle and baits are light years better than years ago, but that won't make you a good fisherman. Take in what you can, and before long you'll start to develop your own thing. It's an individual sport. The mistakes you make are yours alone. But, you can learn from any mistakes along the way. Time spent fishing is where it's at in all this. The main thing, if I can borrow a good phrase from our site moderator A-Jay, is Fish Hard!!! Best of luck out there.

It sounds like your friend doesn't really like fishing that much? I'd rather go, and scratch out a couple of fish, then not go at all.

One of my favourite lakes is very clear, and tough to fish. I've struck out many times here. But, I keep going back because I like the challenge of catching these spooky, clear water bass. If the bass were always biting good, there wouldn't be a challenge and new things to learn.

A-Jay, if I asked the magic 8 ball of the bass are biting, I'm sure it would say no. So, I'll go anyway.

Everything in nature is camouflaged to some degree, including fish, and prey. It can be a complex thing. I've stood on a bank and watched small bass swim slowly around weeds. Suddenly, another will move, and be exposed. They can blend in perfectly. Crawfish in my lake are a mottled brown color. They can sit still and it's really hard to see them, untill they move or are spooked. When shad swim together in large groups in the sun, the sun is actually helping as camoflauge, reflecting off these fish, making them a harder target for predators like bass. At some point years ago, someone realized that bass will strike the easy target first. The easy target disrupts the camoflauge and stands out, being exposed. A craw bait with chartreuse claws. A worm with an orange tail. A crankbait with a bright, odd color on the side. These all disrupt the camoflauge of the things bass feed on. I've wondered if bass actually miss target when they feed, because the prey can blend in so well at times. What are your thoughts here?

And, it was probably old dried out mono. Agree. We do tend to make things harder than need be. I'm happy for the old guy

I fish a lake near my home, from my canoe, and two to three bank trips per week. It's an old quarry lake, seven acres, and very clear water. The lake has produced some good size bass over the years. There's a man Ive seen fishing here. He brings a lawn hair, sits in the blazing sun, and cast a white spinnerbait. I've never seen him stand, fan cast, or vary his retrieve. Last night, I went up there to fish from the bank for the last hr before dark, and saw him sitting in his chair, casting his spinnerbait. We had this conversation: How's it going, catching any? He quickly replied, oh yes, it's been great. I caught a 71/2 pound bass two nights ago". He quickly got his phone and showed me some photos of this fish. The photos were selfie photos, and I could tell from the background that he caught this fish in that spot, sitting in his lawn hair. Now, I've been trying on and off to target a big fish in this lake all summer, and I haven't caught the 8lb or better fish I'm after. He came close, with the most unorthodox bass fishing style I've ever seen. My only explanation is that he was in the right place at the right time, and Lady Luck was there with him. In my past post, many commented on timing as an important factor, when targeting bigger fish. It's a fact. And, a little luck doesn't hurt things either. I don't think I'll be bringing an old lawnchair, sitting in the hot sun, and casting a spinnerbait though.Its just not my style. And to sum up here, this was the biggest bass he's ever caught, and the man was elated. From an old lawnchair, in the burning sun, sloppily casting a spinnerbait. You just never know...

Id like to visit Tennessee, and fish Dale Hollow Lake for SM bass.

Old James Stewart westerns. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Or, Broken Arrow.

Go at sunup. Beat the heat.

I have an older wooden knob Triton that's probably ten or twelve years old, still working good. I agree the new Phlueger Presidents are not that good. They should have just stayed with the original design.

It could be some sort of knockoff of a Flatfish.

I have a Qauntum tour grade casting reel that's excellent.

Helin Flatfish. Similar to a Lazy Ike, made in Iowa.

I don't own one, but have looked at them at a shop near home. Seem to be a great rod.

I was lucky to meet Mr. Campbell years ago at BPS in Springfield Mo. He told me his favourite rod for Spooks was 51/2 ft, with a good tip flex. He liked 14lb mono, and round ABU reels. He was a very nice man, and gave his info freely. He also mentioned weighing Spooks and experimented with this. He liked Spooks in Black Shore Minnow, Frog, and the Heddon Silver Shad, with the glitter on the sides. A great fisherman. I learned a lot about Spook fishing in the short time I talked with him.