Mbirdsley

Up north and fishing big crystal in benzie county. Big smallie came on a maxx scent tube on a tube jig. Other 2 came on a sun gill kietech paddle tail on a 6th sense divine swim bait hook . I don’t believe they are on there beds. Fish look to be roaming around. Water temp 60 degrees when I first arrived. Down 54 when I pulled the boat

I like running actual senkos wacky rigged. I will run knock off senkos IE yum dinger, strike king, the general, Ochoa, what ever zoom makes rigged Texas rigged i would agree that I do very well t-rigging stick worms from pre-spawn untill post spawn. After that ribbon tail worms get the nod and stick baits are wacky rigged only

Okuma evx 7ft cranking rod for $100 bucks your not going to find a better cranking rod. honestly I’d throw in the shimano slx also. Probably the best $100 reel on the market

Traditionally I would agree with the smaller is better in the spring mentality. However, this year it hasn’t mattered. Not just the bass but, all different species are choking bigger baits that I wouldn’t normally run untill June or July. been a wierd year with the cold spring. Everything is 2-3 weeks behind

Left lee street about 1:30 and headed up the Shiawassee into the flats. Had a pretty good day. Caught around 5 large mouths, 1 pike, big dog fish, white bass, of course a sheap head, and I lost somthing really big. I don’t know if it was a big dog fish or a flat head. It was taking line but, never got a look at it. I left around 7 O clock. Most fish came on a kvd sexy shad square bill or a black and bronze war eagle spinner bait I kept the pike and fillet him out as he choked my square bill and I’m not dumb enough to put my hand in its mouth. Pike was 24.5inches. How you know it’s a good one. I’m pretty sure first time I’ve used it and it caught fish

I went through this on the big rivers around me. When the dam failures happened it dirtied the water considerably which, also caused the shad population to explode with all the nutrients. First 3-4 years I fished the titabawassee all I needed was a black and blue flake chigger craw. After the dam failures it took me a while but, I finally found that a black and blue flake ribbon tail worm is what they wanted. Catch rates went back up.

No I agree. I have a crap ton of them too and not just SK’s I’d rather throw a regular crank instead

Sunny and muddy flashy, chartreuse and white cranks cloudy and muddy black, red, chartreuse cranks spinner bait: sunny a silver blade . Cloudy copper or brass chatter bait: sunny white or chartreuse cloudy black and blue sunny or cloudy black and blue jig

Wasn’t the greatest day. Had what I think are fuel line issues at the ramp. Finally said screw it and took off with the trolling motor. half way across the lake I finally got the boat fired up. Couldn’t get fully on plane and fuel bulb wouldn’t stay primed at first. Finally it catches prime and about knocks me off my feet and away we go!!!! I’m pretty sure I’ve got a fuel line issue. New bulb is orderd and I’ll buy fuel line on Saturday. here the fish 2 of 3 bass came on a ever green chatter bait with a Berkley ayu paddle tail. Another bass came on a spro little John flat side. 2 pike came on a Berkley real image perch paddle tail swim bait. 1 bass went 3.1 lbs other ones were smaller. Lost one at the boat I havnt done that in forever. only fished for 3 hours

Don’t forget get zoom magnum swamp crawler in pumpkin

I would be depending on what you have.

This would be the one time I’d say throw a red colored crank, shad rap, or what ever you have. To me red is a total crappy day situational color( wouldn’t know that by how many red lures they make and sell ). 2nd would be a black spinner bait or chatter bait. Something the fish will have no problem homing in on. 3rd black crank bait

Today was the walleye opener for the lower peninsula. So I went bass fishing hoping to catch a bonus walleye. Well didn’t catch any walleye but, did catch some bass. 2 3 lbers and 2 smaller bass on a black war eagle spinner bait with rattles and a single gold blad. Been a while since I’ve been on a good spinner bait bite launched from lee st in Saginaw. I actually caught these in the preserve on the Shiawassee river. brother was fishing for walleye on the titabawassee with his buddies so I buzzed up there. What a cluster. So many boats on the water what should have been a 30 minut run turned into a hour and fifteen minute boat ride. They caught walleye I struck out and lost some cranks in the process. brothers buddy did take a pic of me fishing out of my boat.

I pre rig to the best of my ability. However, I’ve been Known After the first cast to say “ that ain’t it” and tie something else on. Just my gut feeling. Generally 15-20 minutes. If I can’t at least get a bite after that time period in an area I know that holds fish I’m changing.

Spring time:chatter bait summer: crank bait fall: jerk bait

I havnt actually used them in a long time. However, one worm to rule them all. A Berkley gulp crawler in the natural or pumkim color. First plastic I ever used consistently. T-rigging it I caught a bunch of river fish as well as big bass

This summer I’m trying to make it point to trap craw fish while fishing. Basic premise of the idea. I’ll throw a modified minnow trap out under a float at the beginning of the day and than either Check it periodically or at the end of the day when I get ready to load up. I actually don’t know what color our cray fish are in Michigan. I’ve seen green ones inland and some with a light blueish hue around the great lakes . However, just like the same species of fish. color can change from lake to lake.

This is actually a good idea.

Like all my cranks as soon as I get them I swapped the orginal hooks out for Mustad KVD 1X strong 1x short triple grips. both my tiny 4’s and the slim 6’s. The orginal hook thickness is fine and your right they are using a bigger hook. I believe the slim 6 is using a size 2 ewg. If I recall the tiny 4 is using a size 4 hook.

The deep cranking rod is done!!!! Probably the best full build. Almost zero fuzzies. Added some bling to the for grip that I think looks nice. Tried an over wrap on the hook keeper and 1st double footed guide. Overall I am happy. thank you Chris Catignani for the reel seat and the magazine. my Swedish made 5500cs abu rocket looks good on it. Just need some 15lbs flouro and be ready to rock

So I believe that this will wrap up my big tackle purchases for the year. I’ve now have everything that I wanted From here on out its just replacing what the fish tear up or I loose. 2 packs of diesal minnows in hot snakes and black blue laminate. 3 OG slim 6’s in root beer craw, chartreuse root beer craw, and black and silver. With the success of the my last jack hammer stealth. I bought another one in black and blue. wife will be happier

I pour in my garage. I run propane heaters in the winter. It’s a nice big garage but, not insulated ( when we bought the house nothing was insulated). So it’s not air tight . I don’t run any type of ventilation other than a ceiling fan. If I have to melt down Wheel weights or other lead to make ingets I would do that out side. I have about 600 lbs of lead that was given to me about 5-6 years ago. So I havnt had to start scrounging yet. Originally that would have lasted a life time but, than I went legit. Eventually I will have to start scrounging for lead again.

Ice fishing specifically for bass Is starting to become a thing. I’ve caught them accidentally on tip ups fishing for walleye or pike. Usually they are good size too

For me it would Depends on the price. If the older model is at a considerable discount than go that route. If they are still asking msrp or close to it than I would buy the newer model. However, I would go for the long casting model if you want it for worms . Shallow spoils were designed for pitching and flipping.

I don’t personally like braid on moving baits. However , if your using a slow enough action rod it shouldn’t rip the trebles out of a fishes mouth. The rod will be your shock absorber. People use braid all the time for walleye trolling.