PhishLI

This was my problem throwing CBs in the past on my preferred crisp MHF utility rig with straight braid. I figured out that each time I missed it had almost entirely to do with me pointing the rod directly at the bait on the retrieve. Even going to a moderate or composite rod with straight braid wouldn't have solved this problem because my doing this takes any rod of the equation. Once I started fishing a CB with a higher rod tip, which created an angle to the payed out line, my hookups increased. Furthermore, once I relaxed my grip slightly on the rod/reel they increased dramatically. At some point I realized that I was quite rigid from my grip right up to my shoulders when I fished this bait which compounded the lack of give. Who knows why? Once I fixed this I rarely miss at all now. Between the corrected angle of the rod and my relaxed grip I've achieved a mechanical delay without having to change a thing gear-wise. Nearly every big fish I caught last year bit a chatterbait on a stout MHF or a HF rod. Maybe none of this is related to your issue, but maybe it is.

Yer way more awesome than me. I would've demanded inspection of his bagged lunch for fava beans and chianti first.

Not lately. I'd like to maintain the illusion that I'm sane and rational.?

It was dark out, so at least none of the neighbors saw me doing the penguin walk from my truck to the house.

? Clear pictures off a wall and get the pegboard ready.?

I know better than to go fishing after my wife makes tacos for dinner, but I was jonesing after missing all these days, so I bucked up and hoped for the best. Quickly popped a decent scrapper on the Zman Pro Crawz, then the bite went dead. Post spawn struggles are par for the course at my ponds during these 2 weeks in June, and it's hit or miss trying to catch a bite window, but I was in it for the long haul. Darkness fell eventually and I was out of ideas, so I tied on a coppertruese finesse TRD and went to work. A mongo yellow perch scooped it up and I was hoping things might finally light up a bit, but like a shot to the gut the gurgling began. I figured my odds were 50/50, but I was unwilling to bet on a bubble and lose, and with cold sweat creeping over me I clinched down to my toes and flew home for dear life and my sacred honor. By some miracle I caught green lights all the way and just made it, barely.

Killin me???

??Awesome!!!

I need my spectacles adjusted!

?? Awesome!!!

Yup.

We're biding our time. Our pressure campaign will continue, gently.? 7 pounda incoming.?

Fantastic! Awesome! Boom! Love it!

Less than 4lbs separates 10th from 1st. Anyone's game. Very interesting final day.

I fished a 6" Trace Monday night. Dried on the rod overnight and put back into the plano early Tuesday morning. Been there ever since. Tail is fine. Not sticky or anything weird.

I like the Owner Bullet Head, but I prefer this one. The hook's point bends down so it stays skin hooked better. Ultra sharp. Great hookups. It's also a fantastic NED head if you have snot algae. A finesse TRD stands up just fine rigged on it. Decoy VJ-36 Decibo Darter Offset Jig Head - Tackle Warehouse

Cayuga Lake, Texas...

Just crazy. Avena 29-6 now.

Some of it comes down to people in that culture simply wanting to be seen catching a big fish on a collector class big bait. I have swimbaits galore, but I never post catches on the big FB swimbait pages, but many guys there live for it. That's cool for them, it's their club. Whatever makes them happy.

Low production mostly hand-made anything takes more time and costs more to make, so you'll pay more. When it's from a famous or hot-right-now maker you'll pay even more if you want it while the buzz is high. If things like that don't appeal to you, that's OK. There's an entire subculture of swimbaiters that only want to catch fish on big baits. The big bait bite can be pretty intense, and doing anything that juices one's anticipation is sort of addictive.

This is me when my gut tells me I should, which is more often than not. I may bounce a bit until I feel it, but once I do, I'll camp out. This has really paid off in these places. I believe part of this is that lure entry simulates other fish feeding, and over a period of time fish will be drawn closer to the action which is within my range.

The frog is a good idea but mix in something like a Keitech Noisy Flapper Toad rigged on an unweighted 6/0 Berkeley Fusion swim bait hook, and one on a weighted swimbait hook as long as it's a screwlock type. Both come through the junk cleanly because of this bait's sleek nose shape, and even unweighted, it casts like a bullet. When they won't come up for a frog, they may come up for something just under the surface, and when they won't come up even a little, slowing down might be the ticket. Fish it fast sometimes like a buzzbait. It has no blades to get fouled up. But also creep it very slowly like a swimbait where the legs are barely kicking. It's a compact and very eatable presentation that has been the ticket for me many times over the years in the intensely choked out waters where I fish.

30lb for the weeds and 50lb for the pads. No problem. Go straight 15lb Big Game mono for topwater treble baits where you can avoid getting ran into the pads,

I couldn't say as they're not a feature in my county. There are large muskrats in my local spots, but they don't seem to have much impact. I'd be worried about otters though. They just showed up close to my brother's house in a very good mill pond which is part a river system. He found one floating on its back eating a bass like we'd eat corn on the cob. I'm glad they're not here. Yes, as long as the lake is fertile and supports large populations of bait fish. All of your fish look well fed, so I imagine that food isn't an issue. Just like anywhere else, but even more so with airborne fishers hovering over super shallow water, it'll come down to time, place, and presentation. The bigger survivors of this ever-present threat know to lock down in cover and rarely chase on calm or bright days. Cover in the form of heavy ripple might motivate them sometimes, maybe, but darkness and low light will open up very aggressive yet short feeding windows where bigger fish are concerned. This always seems to be about 40 minutes here. They gorge, then they're gone. You just need to be there when.

There's ultra-fine dust here on horizonal outside surfaces. Anything I've touched has had it. Feels the like super fine baby powder that I wanted to wash off quickly.