Mobasser

People trashing the lakes are a pet peeve I've had for years now. On the lake I fish now, it's not a problem. But before on a larger public lake it was horrible. As A- Jay says above, these people are the most selfish people out there. They have no respect for other anglers, or they're own environment. A bunch of self centered low life's. Some of them have children, and are too stupid to realize they're teaching they're children this behavior through example. IMO they should be banned from the lakes. If you litter and leave trash, you lose your privilege to go fishing there again. I live for pulling up to the lake in the morning and seeing a clean, nice looking fishing lake. I never want to see cans, bottles, garbage, fishing line or any of that stuff out there.

There will always be some low life's who trash the lakes, and it's a shame they do.this. Adopt a leave no trace attitude, and you know you've done your part. Leave no trace is basically leaving the area cleaner than you found it, and, is how we should all be when we go fishing.

It looks like the next hot thing.

I'm thinking 1/0 hook, and weight of 1/16 and 1/8.

I plan on fishing an open hook jig worm this coming season. I can usually fish this rig for 5 or 6 weeks early in the season. After that, I usually have to use a weedless worm rig. I've used the jig worm rig for several years, always with a ball head jig. I want to try a mushroom head to start out with this year. The worms I'm using will be Zoom Finesse worm, Mr. Twister 4" Ringworm, and 4" Roboworms. There are several of these heads on the market now. I'm looking at several heads. Some heads offer different hook sizes also. My question is: what is your favourite mushroom jig head, and what hook do you like with 4"-5" plastic worms.

I don't get into any of the you tuber videos, and don't watch any. If I want to buy a new rod or reel, I'll go and handle it and make my decision based on my gut feeling about the product. Basically, I don't need some you tube clown telling me what reel I need.

Catt, you've got some good points here. There's so many ways to catch a bass.

I usually pull my canoe on the weekends, when I have more time. But I bank fish a couple of evenings each week during the season.

Sorry to hear this. It's always very hard, and I know the feeling also.

I made a post at one point about the Gapen Ugly Bug. Great multi species jig, and yes. It looks "fuzzy".

I could easily become a smallmouth bass angler. I don't have any smallmouth fishing close to home, so I fish for the largemouth bass. They're abundant in my area, and fun to catch. Second for me would probably be crappie or bream to catch and fillet. Both taste great.

As I get older, I find the extreme cold is harder on my 67 year body. The best I can do is dress for it. I like Carhartt stuff. Insulated bibs, Long John's, thick heavy shirts, wool socks, and heavy jacket with a hood. I worked as a carpenter for most of my adult life, and worked in the cold every winter. I learned to dress in layers, and if it warmed up in the afternoon, I could always shed a layer of I needed. My son in law is a farmer, raising livestock here in Missouri. He's out there every day, and tells me he doesn't get cold, because he dresses for it, and has become accustomed to extreme cold. He's only 41. He also says that him and his crew always forward to a noon break. Warm up, have a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

I don't really have a resolution for 2025. I'm just thankful I'm still able to go fishing, and catch a few. I hope everyone who has a resolution can make it happen, amnd achieve your goals.

I catch almost all my fish on finesse plastic worms. Probably 80 percent. Followed by popper, spook, Buzzbait. Also am fond of Beetlespin and #3 Mepps Black Fury.

As predicted, we have 10" to 12" of snow on the ground here. Bitter cold in the morning then warming up to around 15 or so by afternoon. It's supposed to get up around 29 degrees tomorrow. It will feel like a heat wave here.

There's a kid that works at a local tackle shop that holds the tip against his throat and talks to you while you hold the rod handle. Of course you can feel a little vibration in your hand. He's probably sold a lot of high end sticks doing this.

I never really fell for gimmicks. I thought the Shimano Fighting Drag was a gimmick, until I actually tried it. It worked good. As a kid, I wanted a Popiels Pocket Fisherman. The commercials on TV made it seem really cool. But I never got one.

We got sleet/ ice yesterday, noe getting hammered with snow. KC Mo is almost shut down now. Predicting 12" by tonight. We're staying in and hunkering down.

A-Jay, it's a strange thing. I remember making a post at one point about gobies getting into some rivers in south Missouri. Guys were upset about this invasive species. But it looks like these gobies have helped grow some big smallmouth up your way.

Catt, there's a video about Missouri's record bass that's put out by our conservation dept. The mans son is interviewed. He says that when that bass was caught, Bull Shoals was packed with big fish. Strings of five bass weighing 6-7 pounds each were pretty common for a while. Of course this died out, but has come back different times over the years. I agree with you on this. Most newer lakes are hot for a few years. But, many come back also. There could be a new state record swimming in Bull Shoals lake right now? I think it's very possible. The genes have to be present to grow these big bass.

In my state of Missouri, the LM bass State record was caught in April of 1961. It was caught on Missouri's Bull Shoals lake, on a black spinnerbait. This record still stands, and is over 60 years old now. When I see a very old state record like this, it always makes me wonder if a bigger fish has been caught and was never officially weighed and verified? Does your state have an old state record bass? And, have you wondered if that record has been beaten, but never checked out?

I'm about 35 miles north of Kansas City. They're supposed to get more ice/sleet than we are. Still, it's a prediction for now. I've seen these big storms split and not amount to much when they get here. I'm surprised you guys haven't had more snow? We'll see how it all pans out for us tomorrow afternoon.

We'll be getting our first sizeable snowfall in my area starting tomorrow, and going all day Sunday. Predicting possible up to 12". I'm prepared with salt, shovel etc. And, I've got plenty of coffee. Bring it on.

Most of us have probably fished with a Heddon surface lure at some point. I still do. My best colors have been in the Zara Spook- Original Shore Minnow, Flitter Shad, Black Shore Minnow, and Clear. In the Tiny Torpedo- Black Shore Minnow, Clear, Bullfrog, Shad, and Yellow Shore Minnow. What colors have you had good success on in the Heddon lineup?

Your dog is a handsome boy. Merry Christmas Everyone!