813basstard

I got bit by a dinosaur the first time I went out..hurt pretty bad

There’s always largemouths shallow. Somewhere. Is there a 40 pound bag shallow at this time? Eh, questionable, leaning towards no. Listen, I got beat so bad out the back of the boat last weekend I swam home. On what? A 4 inch worm split shot rig...what did I have to do the next day? Slow way down. Broke the lake up in pieces. Play dumb. Don’t look at all those fancy baits you have. Find a high percentage area and cast until you get a bite. Even if the compass on Navionics says the lake is 27 miles long. Find 1 mile of it and fish the hell out of it. Take that data and apply to the next mile. Good luck!

Late October is gas pedal good down here. First “cold” rain of the fall, usually moves them up and eating. If I was you, I’d go to the Big O. Water temps in the 75-79 range, cool breeze, big livewell of shiners, and a couple of cocktails...man please??

^yeah, like usual, what AJ said. I like to set the hook at least one more time once I get them away from cover as well. On long casts, it can be nearly impossible to keep them from jumping, but once they get somewhat closer I try to keep the rod tip close to the water so they’re getting pulled toward the boat. The two I lost on Saturday would like me to know, I do not have this technique mastered as of yet...

There’s fish outside of Florida??? I had no clue..

At Tom Brady’s age, he puts in that much prep every week. But that’s a great analogy. Belichick is the angler and the players are what’s tied on the end. He gets it. So they get it. So they win. I think it’s overwhelming prep + experience + natural feel that gets results. I’ve fished with guys who can’t cast 30 yards and got out fished. Also fished with guys in a 70k bass boat and 12 rods and I’m in the back wearin’ them out on $30 combos...so I guess I answered my own question

Not saying they just show up without any prep, just seems they are detailed within what they do rather than ‘everything’. Fritts isn’t probably as detailed with a jig as G-man who’s not as detailed as Aaron is with a drop shot and so on. I get the impression pro guys know what they do well and max it out. The weekend guy tends to attempt to be good at everything which is nearly impossible with a day or two of fishing.

All the threads about 7’ vs 7’3, Fluoro vs mono vs braid, leader vs no leader, gear ratio’s, electronics, scent, sound etc.. When you read the bottom line for tournaments you usually get: ”well I didn’t practice much, I just put the trolling motor down and just fished..” Top baits usually include: wacky worms, spinnerbaits, jigs and frogs. Then you’ll hear pro’s say: ‘it’s the details that make the difference between weekend anglers and pro’s’ So...what is it exactly then??

Marriage and offspring made me fish more. We playing monopoly ever night? Before that happened there was a lot of bars between home and work.. To answer your question, if you really want to do it, it’s a lot of work. The fishing never made anyone quit, it’s the work in between, that makes folks retire the rod. Wake up at 4, drag the boat 2 hrs, catch one fish, find a $50 hotel, charge the batteries, call home, re-rig, study maps with the local news on weather forecast, set your alarm for day 2, finish 32nd and the whole drive home..thinking about getting back out there. If your not ready for that, you’ll hang’em up.

Clearer or calmer the water, long, accurate casts help for sure. Or when they’re schooling and you don’t want to spook them.

Don’t forget the weather. Overcast and wind usually makes them move around more and not be as stuck to a certain thing or things. Spinnerbait/chatterbait/swim jig are without question the starting pitchers when clouds and wind are present.

Our usual cut off is when the 10 year old starts dancing to his own beat he’s making on the side of the boat. 1/2 oz jig pitched at his leg normally gets him back on track.

Don’t you love when you find a ‘spot’ and finally tell someone about it and they say “there?! We’ve been catching them there since the 80’s’ Columbus probably felt similar. You have Navionics on your phone? I always give that a glance when traveling from spot to spot as a non boater

By horse huh? If I ever see anyone on a horse with a fishing pole, I’m buying that person beer. A lot of beer.

Stripers get after it pretty good, you will want some slip from the drag if using braid. They tend to be line shy so if you go braid a leader may be involved.

Get good at what style you fish. I Guarantee you catch most of your fish by fishing your style. They’ll always be outliers, but if you weigh your five on five different styles of bait, that’s called hitting the lotto. Make it small and simple. Not being so sloppy on flips and working every spot in that Lilly pad field before moving on for example

Yeah...Better to have doubles of ones that catch than a bunch that don’t. When a bait gets hit a couple times, I swear it gets better. In fact I don’t like using brand new ones out the pack (other than plastics)

Don’t spray sun block on the bait. I would surmise it has more to do with where and how your fishing then your smell. Get that out your mind

“God willin’ and if the levee don’t break” Be safe

10lb Berkeley XL never had an issue

2.5-3 inches honestly. I have side bunks as well, maybe they’re set further back, they’re not even close to it. Only issue I have at times is docking the boat on the port side. But that’s a 1 and 50 issue in calm water. It’s the best $100 I’ve spent not counting that one night in Charleston SC that didn’t include aluminum or trolling motors..

Sometimes you gotta make withdrawals from the bank..

86 bass in two trips...huh, I don’t have much to add actually.

The harsh truth is electronics aren’t magic. If you think you slap a couple screens on your boat and will catch 20lbs every trip, I’ll be honest with you, you won’t. You will take a step back actually because you will fish less. If your good with that learning curve, throw them in the cart!

^. Yeah, this.