Black Hawk Basser

I will set a reminder to take that picture and post it.

I can't agree, I caught my PB on a Sammy. At least a couple of my top 10 biggest were on buzz toads. A few others, on a spinnerbait. The rest, either a jig or bottom-hopping plastic technique. When it comes to bait selection, clearly my best fish have come on a variety.

I just read an article by Dr. Hal Schramm in the In-Fisherman 2020 Bass Guide. There is a cool little chart in the article that shows how we see certain colors compared to how bass probably see them. I am not sure if there is a digital version of the article. If I remember, I will take a picture of the chart and post it when I get home from work.

Haven't used the Mag Ol Monster, but I've caught a lot of fish on the regular version. I do best with slow, dragging sweeps of the worm, rather than a hopping motion. Motor oil is my go-to color.

Just FYI, bass see yellow chartreuse as white, so something with a white belly may work just as well.

Do you know the specific name of these Pac Bay guides?

Bomber Square A - Affordable and never lets me down.

Awesome! That place is only about an hour to the east of me. I didn't realize it was even close to being considered a Top 100 lake.

I fish squarebills a lot in the river and use a snap for quick changes...that causes hook foul-ups more often. Once in awhile when I'm bringing in the bait while its twirling on top, a smallmouth will hammer it. They rarely hook up, though, however.

I've got a budding little angler who's deadly with a hair jig!

There's definitely at least 50% more people out every day at my local lake, and maybe 100% more on the weekends. However, most of them are throwing nightcrawlers or leeches under beach ball-sized bobbers, so I don't worry too much about the pressure on the fish. It does frustrate when I try to hit a certain area and people are almost shoulder to shoulder along a stretch of the bank. I have fished at more remote places this year than I ever have, and that is mainly due to the increased fishing activity at my tourist-trap lake.

My local lake has a lot of docks, many of which can be accessed on foot because they are sitting on public land. Frequently, when I can only fish for a short stint, I like to walk around on and fish a series of docks, especially the ones that hold multiple boat lifts. I have a ton of success with jigs. Also, with Texas rigged plastics, but to a lesser degree. I've done research on this site regarding dock bait preferences, but most threads were at least a few years old. I'm wondering if tactics and bait selections have evolved since these discussions. What are your favorite dock plastics and what is your preferred rigging method with them? I know that breaking off and losing fish is an obvious hazard to fishing around docks and boat lifts. I almost always use straight braid, but it seems that I break off quite often while fishing docks/boat lifts. Would I be better served by using a fluorocarbon leader? I have spools of 12 lb and 17 lb fluorocarbon that I use for leaders, but not often. Water clarity is not an issue, it is generally not clear water by the time the dock pattern sets up. Do you think that 17 lb would be adequate for a jig rod, and the 12 lb for a spinning rod that's employing a soft plastic presentation? I'm most concerned about leaving a big skirted jig in the jaw of a nice fish. That bums me out much more for the fish than for my loss of tackle. So, I'm looking for your bait/lure preferences around docks, and whether my thinking is correct on using fluorocarbon to reduce break-offs around these aluminum boat lifts. I'm eager to hear opinions. Thanks, all.

When they're biting, it doesn't matter what you're using. When they're not biting, it doesn't matter what you're using. ?

Will I be rewarded with more big bass this year by fishing a small well-known pond, or by exploring and experimenting at a (mostly) unfamiliar 50 acre lake?

I have an older single-bladed Terminator, all black with a gold blade, that has been a great producer for me. My MVP is the lowly Bass Pro Shops double Colorado 3/8 oz in black/red. They break every 15-20 fish. But at around $5 each, I don't mind. I've caught more sizeable bass on this model than any other "moving" lure, by far.

I dont know anything about the Huron, but I catch loads of smallmouth bass on small crankbaits. They're what I use most of the time. Small plastics rigged in a variety of ways would be my next choice. I like small stickworms and tubes.

My Walmart fishing section was almost devoid of bass plastics as well. I also bought some Dingers yesterday for $2.47. ?

I prefer a nice defined line of emergent vegetation to target while cruising along. My second choice would be a long line of big docks, especially the ones that hold 4+ boat hoists. It is about that time in my neck of the woods to start flippin the docks.

Been watching Rick and Morty?

Definitely still heavily employed where I fish.

I've caught a pile of smallmouth out of my local river this way.

I was in a metal band doing guitar and vocals for about 10 years. We mostly played locally but we did get around somewhat regularly to Madison, Amarillo, Denver, Peoria, Sioux Falls, and Des Moines to name some bigger towns. Our biggest influences were progressive/doom/stoner metal bands like The Sword, Mastodon, and Baroness. They are still sorta going, but I left a few years ago due to several personal reasons and that two of the members never stopped drinking enough to take it seriously. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I've been inspired lately to pick it back up again.

I don't worry about whether CBD works or not. I just smoke pot.

Those look perfect for my river smallmouth, but I'd have to have them at half the price to throw them in that snaggy mess ?

I don't think that 65 lb braid is necessary for Senko fishing. I've always done just fine with 20-30 lb.