CharlieTN

At Walmart and elsewhere, in the section where they sell hair bands, they have these really small, clear, bands that are used for holding braids. They’re less than the diamater of a dime. Wrapped a few times around I bet they would hold very well and are extremely cheap.

1st smallmouth was over 30 years ago with a Wee-r-spot my grandfather found snagged on a cable holding a boat dock. 1st largemouth was a couple of weeks ago with a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss in green pumpkin/purple flake on a 4/0 EWG fished on a diy jig rig. I hope it’s not 30 years before I catch my next one. LOL

Congratulations to you both. May your marriage always be blessed and may you learn to lean on one another through the hard times.

As an outsider coming in to bass fishing from the catfishing world I wonder why more people don’t use the fish grippers. I have a set of the while Rapala ones and I’ve picked up 33lb catfish with it. Works great, especially if the fish flops some more. One other thing they’re great for is weighing a fish. I did watch a video where Gene Jenson used a smaller set to clip into a bass then place it in the water to revive it some while he got set to take come pictures. Looked like a great use. He was on a kayak and had the grippers tied to the kayak. I would think, especially for dealing with treble hooks that it would make it a lot safer and easier to get them unhooked and back in the water or in the livewell. Just thinking through this.

I live on Watts Bar and they’ve kept it at winter level by dumping water as fast as they can. One issue that complicates maters is that the ground is absolutely saturated so any rainfall has nowhere to go but to run off. I don’t doubt a bit that Watts Bar will be raised to close to normal summer level pretty quickly by this weekend. It is certainly going to be interesting to say the least. If you have seen any flooding in the past in a particular area, it WILL BE flooded again by the end of this weekend. Everyone stay safe and slow down driving.

Shhhh, don’t tell my wife. She gave me that look when I explained why I needed 6 heavy catfish rods. Now I’m talking Baitcasters, lures, line, etc.

Thanks. I’m certainly hoping so.

They are both marine batteries, so that’s a good start. I’ll have to check the amperage and see how close they are together. Thanks for the advice. This is all new to me.

I’m adding a 24v trolling motor to my pontoon boat. My plan is to run two 12v batteries instead of a single 24v. How crucial is it that the two batteries are identical? I have two marine batteries that appear to be good and charge up well but they’re different brands. Thanks in advance for answers to what is likely a dumb question.

Oh yeah, I love the simplicity. I had to reattach the starter out on the lake one time and first summer I had it I had to jump it off of the solenoid. I’ll run her till she falls apart and duct tape won’t hold her together. The bait monkey already has me. Went back today and bought two more packs of the Pit Boss in the green pumpkin/purple flake. It is my one and only confidence bait. LOL

It does seem like a pretty good lake. I’ve been catfishing from my pontoon last summer and plan to do that a bunch more this year but I dont’ venture very far since the motor is a 1973 Johnson. Hoping to put a trolling motor on the boat this year and then I’ll be able to target bass, crappie, and such a whole lot more.

Thanks everyone. I honestly didn’t expect to catch anything and was more playing than anything. There are dead shad everywhere along the banks so i know that all the fish have been gorging themselves. I have been reading a lot and watching tones of videos so I expected the bight to be subtle and it certainly was. I would have sworn it was just bumping into some rocks. On a side note, I really like the action of the jig rig (or Jika Rig). This is the rig I was fishing. 4/0 EWG with a 3/8oz finesse sinker rigged as a jig Rig (Jika Rig).

Caught my first largemouth today off of a dock in roughly 8’ of water. Watts Bar Lake here in TN is still at winter levels but I had some time to kill while visiting with a member of my church who lives on the lake. Mainly I wanted to play with a new to me Baitcaster (Abu Garcia Black Max3 with 12lb mono) and some lures I had picked up. Started with a red/craw pattern lipless crankbait, then went to a square bill in the same color. Next was a white spinner. Finally I tied on a jig rig with the Pit Boss in green pumpkin with purple flake. On about the third cast I thought I felt a couple of bumps but wasn’t sure if it was rocks or what. Cast back out to the same area and again felt the bumps so I paused for a moment. As soon as I paused my slow retrieve the line headed to my left so I set the hook. I was super excited. My first largemouth bass. Hope to catch many more. I’m not sure on the weight but figured maybe 1-1 1/2 lbs or so.

Actually I’ll be doing a bit of both. I have a pontoon and once I get a trolling motor on it I’ll be fishing for bass more from it. For now, I use it to mostly catfish out of.

When I used to shoot competively some we used to say “You can’t miss fast enough to win.” I guess the same would apply here. Accuracy first, then distance.

Now that way I’ll be able to remember. Thanks. Thanks everyone for the input. It is greatly appreciated. I have a good bit of experience with baitcasting reels but it is the larger round ones I use for catfishing and of course you don’t cast those nearly as much and accuracy is not as big of an issue. I’ve been picking trees in the yard and casting to them. I’m much more comfortable with a side arm cast than I am with an overhead and seem to be much more accurate but shorter in distance by just a few yards. As for pitching, I’m trying to learn a trick I watched on a Bassresource video - to learn to keep the rod in my left hand for flipping and pitching. So far, not doing to bad. Focusing on accuracy first then will work on greater distance later. Thanks again. Now to get on the lake and actually try to catch a fish.

Did some trading and picked up my first low profile bait caster and I’m starting to learn how to cast it. It’s a basic Abu Black Max 3 combo and so far the casting is going well. With 12lb mono and an old crankbait body I’m getting roughly 20-25 yards from an overhand cast. I’ve started trying to do some flipping and pitching (Still getting confused as to which is which). What kind of distances should I expect to get from this setup both with an overhead cast or a side-arm as well as flipping and pitching? I don’t want to be chasing unreasonable distances. Thanks.

Being relatively new to fishing, and brand new to bass fishing I would say Lost

I started catfishing last summer here on Watts Bar Lake in East Tennessee. Two summers ago a gentleman pulled out a 98lber from just above the dam. My best so far is 33 lbs (seen in my profile pic). The potential is what makes the wait so exciting. I’ve landed everything from 1 lb to 33 lbs out of the same 64’ deep hole.

It just goes to show that God has a sense of humor.

It would certainly be nice for me as a newbie to at a minimum be able to try out a rod and reel before purchasing. The options are overwhelming for sure. I know with high-end fly-fishing stores they usually have a place you can cast a rod before purchasing it. It would be nice to be able to do the same with bass gear.

Thanks. The first summer I lived here I didn’t fish at all and I live 100 yards from the lake. I kept getting asked over and over again if I fished so I decided I should. I’m loving it. As a Pastor the once a week 4-5 hour fishing trip gives me that respite and escape from the weight and gives me some alone time with God and His creation.

Hello all, Newbie to bass fishing here living on Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee. I primarily fish for catfish, and still enjoy pulling up those tanks, but want to venture into other species including largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, and stripers. This lake is known for all of them so why not. My wife and youngest are not big fans of the waiting game that catfishing entails so they’re interested in bluegill and bass fishing since it’s much more active. Currently I’m fishing off of an older rebuilt pontoon (1983 pontoon with a 1973 Johnson motor). I’m hoping to add a trolling motor before this summer to help with pursuing these other species. I’m here to learn so you likely won’t see me post much as I don’t have much to offer but I want to soak everything up like a sponge. I pastor a church in Rockwood Tennessee, have been married to the same wife for 20 years this past January and have two daughters (11 and 14). Pretty much I love most everything outdoors including deer hunting and hiking. Charles Shepherd