BoatSquirrel

”When I came to, I was curled up on the bottom of the lake in 10 feet of water. Neither of our PFDs inflated.” Thats FLW pro John Cox describing his Smith Lake boat accident from 2015. The point of my last post is to always remember to prioritize function over comfort.

I know of 6 cases of inflatables that did not activate when their owners went overboard. Standard PFDs never fail to inflate when they hit the water.

You are talking about a 2-ish oz bait there. I am using a 7’ 11” Okuma Guide Select rod in Heavy action and would definitely buy it again- could also go the XH rod. The reel is a Daiwa Tatula 200 with 65 lb PowerPro to leader. The reel was so nice, I bought another. The combo is excellently balanced and I am able to fish it all day.

Regarding your technique of, “when i get hit i dont know anyting is one until i give it a twitch and there she is,” there is not a thing wrong with that, sir. Most often it seems like my strikes come on the initial fall. Drop shotting works as well from the bank as any other lure or presentation. Most of those pond fish have seen a worm fall straight past them to the bottom but with a dropshot, it stops right in front of them and they have got to eat it!

Thanks Tom- I have read The Hunt for Giant Bass per your recommendation. Hope I can make it happen! Thanks Joe- appreciate the insight! I am with you on the Netbait recommendation- their stuff seems to float better than most. Thanks! Thanks Blue- appreciate the help!

Goal for 2019- slow down and fish a splitshot rig. In Middle TN, its 1 foot visibility one day, 5 feet the next. Rocky at one lake, grass at the next with all 3 types of bass. What are your recommendations for splitshot rig baits? Glenn has done any number of videos on this topic but I wanted answers from the experts. Thanks guys!

Those rods are “broken in” by Ike himself. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3MonEgqyDC4

Allen, I invite you to join me in an acquisition freeze. Blasphemy, yes, but hear me out. Starting today, root through one container at a time with the thought that you are going to donate some of your tackle to a rural high school fishing club. A worthwhile process that will put equipment into deserving, less fortunate young hands and take some of your unfished yet valuable tackle off yours. I donated half a dozen trays of hard baits, a ton of plastics, and a bunch of reels last year. If we can help even one kid steer to the local pond and clear of trouble, it will be worth parting with some old stock—then maybe you will have to replace an item or two! What about it team? Anyone else care to join Allen and me?

Todays best spinnerbait fishermen are Mark Menendez and Edwin Evers.

For a seated kayak, I have a squad of 6’6” rods that never see my bass boat. Usually I underhand pitch or skip. Sidearm only for casting as I am sure any kayak angler knows the disasterous results of overhand- rods clashing together!

Just watched Boss Hank describe his favorite braid to fluoro connector, a micro swivel that can be reeled through guides. Is anyone familiar with these? Thanks boys!

The style of a fishing hat is of zero importance. The ONLY THING that matters is the LUCK that said hat provides.

The water temp here in Middle TN is around 45, give or take, and the blade bait bite is on. Catching some decent size and numbers on Silver Buddys, Cabela’s Mean Eye, and Bass Pro’s Lazer Blades. Like Zona taught me from Utube, hopping it slowly off the bottom through schools located on the sonar. Anyone have an outright favorite brand or have any other tricks for me? Thanks yall!

Agree, TN River! Half the joy of winter fishing is having the lake to yourself, or at least without all of the water skier morons. Cold water tends to bunch fish up so when you find them, it can be great!

Agreed, Mr. Tom. It has been my experience that spots tend to dive and run, smallies jump and spit lures. I will take either.

Agree! Lews commercials say their cute orange or white rods are made for today’s uninhibited fishermen. Nope.

Totally agree Skipper. The MLF boys can expect their fish to be weighed on a different scale, and who can blame BASS. Just kidding, but maybe not. If any of the 2019 Elites beat Ott Defoe, which they will not, my money is on Steve Kennedy. I wonder what the odds would be of a non-MLF guy winning?

This makes 3 for the Daiwa Fuego. I got one a month ago, have fished it half a dozen times and am very impressed with the ease of casting and control. As usual with Daiwa, great product and excellent bang for your buck.

Until the water warms up, drag a big black/blue jig and beaver trailer. If You can see 2 feet down or more in the water, go with a green pumpkin jig instead. SLOW. An all-time winter fishing killer.

I agree with you Oregon Native. Nothing bigger than a finesse worm needed for smallmouth and spots. The specific lake in mind for my question is largies only of the 10lb variety. And thanks Scarborough817.

The dropshot is a great numbers bait, responsible for probably 25% of my bites this year with a 4lb Alabama spotted bass as my biggest. But is it possible to target larger bass with a dropshot? Do yall just cull all day or upsize the bait- and what about in 45 degree water? Thanks.

I have an Okuma guide select rod for glides and swimbaits and would definitely buy from them again. Very high quality product I would put right alongside St. Croix, Kistler, or Dobyns.

A few years back, Greg Hackney wrote an article on BASS that has proven deadly for me. Once the water temps fall below 45, the fish will pour off the banks into the first deep holes in creeks and pile up. Break out the spoons, silver buddies, drop shots, and go to wacking on em. And yes, pack the hand warmers!

With water temps around 60, the topwater bite should be great early and can last all day sometimes. I make them tell me they wont eat it! Second, in your kakak, a dropshot around wood or grass is a great bait because you can slide quietly right in on the fish and they never know you are there. Just drop it right on them. It just takes 1 bite and you are back in the game!

The bass in that pond swim around with those big shad all day everyday and are not intimidated by the size of them. Instead, they eat them every chance they get! If you own any heavier rod and reel combos, show them something that looks like those gizzard shad with a big swimbait or glidebait. Plenty of cheaper options nowadays like Savage Gear’s 3Ds or River2Sea’s SWaver. Throwing big baits seems odd and takes patience-until you catch a toad! Good luck out there EG!