ItsHardwick

There’s one in my city that an older gentleman runs out of his house. He has 5 20x20 sheds out back that are full of nothing but bass lures. They’re separated, one for jigs spinnerbaits buzzbaits and vibrating jigs, one for crankbaits and topwater, two are stocked wall to wall with plastics, and then the last one is swimbaits and terminal tackle. It’s great, the first time I found it I thought I’d died and gone to heaven haha. He has lots of stuff you can’t find elsewhere and lots of colors you can’t usually find. Also, if he orders something for you he keeps it in stock until you either tell him to stop or the company discontinues the product. That way it’s always there if you need it. Theres also a couple up around the lake, which is about a 45 minute ride from town. There’s a gas station about 5 minutes from my campground that has an aisle of hard baits and a small selection of plastics and line and such that can come in handy in a pinch. Then there’s also a dedicated fishing shop about 15 minutes away which is half decent but only stays open because of their gun sales.

Send them to one of the kids on here trying to get started but are too broke to do so? Sell them? Or keep them and use them for when you take out a buddy/wife/coworker that you don’t want to give your expensive baits to. Or you could just fish them too when the situation is right and build confidence in them.

Plastics around docks and other known cover. I had basically the same deal the other day and never really did figure it out. But I hit some docks and some other shallow cover and that kind of saved my day.

I got some of the trebles in a mystery box. Threw them in my box of trebles and rings but in the back of my mind I was thinking “these will never get used”.

Parallel to shore. Around the outside edges of cover. Over top of lay downs and such. Anywhere you think there’s fish and the trebles aren’t getting hung up basically.

I love the gantarel JR. Burn, stop, burn, stop. When you do it like that it veers out wildly left and right when you stop it. That’s normally when it gets crushed.

I really don’t think it matters. On tackle warehouse the only rattles they sell are 130s and a few colors in the 190 which is huge. So I’m pretty sure most of mine are silent, although I have been throwing the 130 the most lately and having better success than the smaller versions. I’m tempted to pick up a 190 but 7.5 inches is pretty big. Then again that’s also what I thought before I started throwing the 130 more often.

The other day I threw a prop bait and my only explanation is it must have landed right on the this little smallies back. It hit the water and shot to the right, I started reeling it in and it felt like I had a huge one on the line only to find out I had Gould hooked a little guy right through his back.

Here’s the video. He doesn’t know why it happens either I guess but he does go through a bunch and show what to look for and how to tell it’s happening before they get as bad as yours are. I am really curious why this happens exactly now. Is it preventable at all? I sure hope it’s not from storage in the heat because I’m in trouble if so lol. That really stinks tho man. I’d definitely hit up their customer service, the worst that could happen is they say no, and you might get some new free baits.

Watermelon red flake and green pumpkin/orange have both been very productive lately. For finesse jigs, which is the majority of jig fishing I do, Ive really been digging these Riot baits Tantrum trailers lately. For full size jigs I like the Netbait Paca chunks because they come in a million colors so you can always find one to match whatever color you’re throwing well. I also just got a few packs of the Z-man Batwingz trailers and really like them so far, other than how frustrating it is to get the elaztec to go over a trailer keeper haha.

Looking good! Both of those are similar to what’s been working very well here lately.

I watched an older Scott Martin video a while back where he talked about this happening. I’m sorry I don’t remember what he said the cause was, but there was one. I know this isn’t really helpful, just letting you know there is a video out there explaining this. Matter of fact I’m going to go look and see if I can find it for you now.

Everybody hates the carp. I used to see them jump and mistake them for bass and get excited. Now I see one jump and it’s time to move. Here, when there’s one carp, there’s 100. It’s out of control. I had one dang near jump into my boat the other day.

I’ve tried many times to use a spinning reel the “correct” way. I’ll get out there and after about 10 casts switch it back to the right side. I just can’t get used to reeling with my left hand and I’m pretty good working the rod with my left hand because that’s what I do with casting gear anyways. It just feels wrong on the left. But I do enjoy some finesse fishing at times. The ned rig has saved many a trip and I do not leave home without at least one spinning set up.

I’ve been using some rage swimmers I picked up at Walmart on a whim. You know the ol, I’m here to get something else but I can’t leave without at least checking out the fishing aisle purchase. Like there’s actually going to be something new in there lol. They were pretty good but I went through them and I just made a pretty big Keitech order including some of the bigger big ones which I’ve never used before. Pretty excited to try them out.

Ha! That’s what I thought. Amazing. I’ve had a fish hit the blade before but it’s definitely not something I’d call a problem. The part about the second hook getting them if they throw it though, I wonder if that actually worked.

I caught one on a wacky rigged Senko yesterday and then again today. They like the jig better right now though. But if you e got a topwater bite going don’t worry about the worm lol. I’d kill for some topwater action but they’ve been having none of it lately.

Blade arm is actually a hook? Like the blades just attached to a second hook that serves as the arm? Or did I completely miss it lol?

That first jig fish is so nice. Mine was like a 5 pounder and after that I didn’t put the jig down for like a month haha. Congrats bud!

I bought a pair of Costas this year after wearing cheap/Walmart polarized glasses for forever. Wow what a difference. I have the Motu frame with 580G green lenses. Love everything about them, and they’re awesome on the water.

I need more jerkbaits. I have probably 8ish but only one deeper diver. Not enough color selection either. Honestly I have no confidence in them but that’s because Ives never really dedicated myself to throwing one and just sticking with it. What water temp would you all say the jerkbait bite really starts up at? I know you could fish them in warmer water but what’s the general rule of thumb here? By the way our water temp here is still at 80-81 ha.

All day, every chance I get.

Pretty much all my reels are 7.x-1 except for the 2 on my cranking rods which are slower. Sooooo.... everything except for crankbaits pretty much? For me at least.

I haven’t used the I-slide, but you can’t go wrong with the gantarel or the s-waver. I fish the gantarel JR quite a bit and have caught a ton of fish on it. It’s really fun to fish actually and I’ve caught fish both from a boat and bank fishing.

That makes plenty of sense. Never occurred to me but that’s pretty smart.