InfantryMP

I actually think this lake is a bit tougher than usual. The small spots are making it tough to really have a good protected bag from any other angler. We all know the competition is good, and yea a lot of them are using a wacky rig or something similar, it is who can do more to earn that bigger bite? Well that is why the pros are way better than me too. Those adjustments, and knowing when to leave are key.

I also think of this when I hear about the FFS debate. A mechanic can spend hours diagnosing a vehicle, messing with this or that trying to complete the job. A lot of old school mechanics are very good at this based on experience and trial and error. With no electronic scanners to help them out. Now mechanics, with newer vehicles can "scan" for codes, and it tells you almost exactly what is wrong with the vehicle. It saves time, and potentially money for the shop to be able to diagnose and fix it issues more efficiently. All of this comes down to the business of making money for the shop. Should the mechanic shop not be allowed to use their diagnostic scanners to make more money at their profession, or to take their jobs easier? Probably not. People would want them to use the best equipment available to do their jobs the best. Same principle in my opinion with FFS, its the evolution of technology.

He also just placed 5th in the first BASS open, with no professional level tournament experience.

I am for it, I also have it. I was also for it when I did not have it. I find it hard to believe the 80% of anglers oppose it. I would like to see the study.

I still dream about catching a 2-3LB bass on a drop shot using a spinning rod. I use 55lb braid to a 8lb FC leader via an alberto knot. It is tied on every time I go out, I just cant catch anything with it for some reason. I only have 3 spinning rods, probably 15 BCs. I do not think spinning gear will ever go out. Hell even the RedCrest tournament going on right now the pros have em in hand catching spots.

I was not good with skipping either (still not really good). I tried out a Shimano SLX DC reel and it was very forgiving. Now I can skip under docks every other cast, definitely not every time though.

I was trying to go this year, but I could not make it happen...the kids spring break fell the same week.

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The latest update on the Chevelle...5.3 LS motor is getting worked on and built for the Chevelle. Super excited to get this thing back on the road soon! It will have the 5.3 and 4L60 transmission from a Silverado. It will be a good setup with a stage 2 cam, and larger intake for a good little street car. Hoping to get to around 415 or so for power.

The stunna +1 was been awesome for me in deeper water. I use the regular stunna all the time even in 3ft of water up on the banks. I think my best producing color has been the city lights version or whatever it is called. It translucent and purple and a little bit a chartreuse on the belly.

Yea that would be awesome, I plan on hitting up Dogwood and Pineview I think it is. I did see a sign where they dropped the size limit to 15 inches to keep. I think they are trying to eliminate the small guys, but the problem is, not a lot of people keep bass to eat, especially if they live on base. It may be tough to do.

I caught a bunch...of 1.5 and 2lb bass. One really nice hybrid bass. I was talking to some other fishermen that were out there, and we all had the same consensus. This place since it is only open a couple of times per year, the small bass have taken over, and there is so much competition for food that nothing is getting big anymore. I am sure there are a ton of big ones still, but it seems like no one is catching em.

I hope Ben does well. Either way in the tournament. He is still going to get his, on the Youtube side. I think it is very smart to look at the points vs trying to win every tournament with big bass. I mean if would be cool to see both, but I understand the philosophy. I bet he gets in a rhythm to where he gets his 5 fish limit, and then starts to go look out deep for the giants. If he can find those places in practice then he will be a dangerous man on the trail.

I finally get my first crack at the local trophy bass pond this year on Saturday. I have not fished this pond in about 6 years. I literally caught a dozen bass all between 5lb, and 5.5lbs in my last outing on a 1/2oz green pumpkin color jig. The ponds on Ft. Stewart are home to a lot of the GA bass that are on the record books. I am on the hunt for an 8lb bass on this trip, but will be happy just catching a few of course. This place only opens up for fishing maybe 3 times per year. Here is more info on the pond: Pond 26, also known as Metz Pond and Big Metz Lake, is 53 acres of pure Georgia bass-fishing history. This little lake has produced four of the Top-50 bass ever caught in Georgia — No. 47, 14-lbs., 3-ozs. in 1987; No. 36, 14-lbs., 14.4-ozs. in 2000; No. 22, 15-lbs., 9-ozs. in 1992; and No. 14, 16-lbs., 1.2-ozs. caught in 2001. This pond is managed as a trophy-bass pond, so the size limit for largemouth bass is 24 inches. It has been 80*+ all week and over last weekend during the day. It is a semi shallow pond, deepest holes are about 15ft. Cypress trees in the middle, and an average of around 6ft deep. I think there will be some on the bed, so we will see. Loadout: Berkley Stunna 6th Sense Trace 6" hard swimbait in bluegill 1/2 oz jig Chatterbait T-rig worm/ creature Lipless crank/ square bill Wacky worm A-rig Any other suggestions for this weekend?

I have never had an issue with mine. I wonder if maybe you just have a faulty ratcheting device. You could probably test it with a ratchet strap that works and see if it comes loose. If it does not, then you could narrow it down probably to the ratcheting buckles.

I will definitely use side and down scan to locate good structure. Instead of chasing the bait fish, I would probably just move to the next piece of structure I have on a waypoint and see if fish are on it. I think a lot of bass like to use the structure to ambush bait fish, so odds are there will be bass on the structure regardless if the bait ball is there or not. If you graph enough, you will have enough waypoints to go cycle through. Also if you have a couple pieces of structure near by, it may not be long before new fish or the same group of fish come along and check it out. Also another thing I have been doing lately is not always looking for physical structure, but also abnormalities in the bottom contour. If there is a deeper hole out there, it may be a spot for bass to hang out. I have caught some real good bass lately in those types of holes in 30ft of water. Now if I randomly see a bait ball with bass around, I will throw my stunna in there to see if any of them want to bite, but definitely will not spend my day chasing em.

You may be able to shim the caliper to get the uneven pad wear taken care of. I know when I did disc brake conversions on my Chevelle, and my C10, you have the ability to do that. I would imagine it is similar.

I think a lot of it has to do with the time of year, water conditions, water temp etc. Right now for example in the Southeast part of GA, it has been cold and water temps were in the mid to upper 50's. A few more 75-80* days and we will be in the 60's and the pre-spawn and spawn time again. So right now, I will start deeper in 12-30ft of water. I am fishing a known big bass man made lake / large pond. There are 12's in this lake, a few were caught during the last spawn. I will use my Active Target to fish known structure from my other views. I caught a 7 two weeks ago doing this in cold water with a 3/4oz black and blue jig just dragging the bottom. Once that water gets to 60ish. I am going to move closer to the bank, but still in the deeper cuts that parallel the bank for those pre-spawners, and then I will head to closer to flip over to bed fish when that time comes. Here I would probably use something like a DT6 or another gill pattern moving bait for those feeding up. I do not turn off anything, as I try to stay back far enough to not spook with the boat presence. I think it has been mentioned before, but other have used FFS up shallow and it still works. If you are in a massive grass lake, then maybe not so much.

I feel your pain in a tournament that brutally cold. I fished one up in Indiana, where the high was 28-30*. All of my rods and reels were frozen up besides 1 spinning rod. I said I would never do that again. As far as your boater goes, I think it is great that he was so cool. It makes it a lot better and enjoyable even if it was cold as hell. I think tournaments are the ultimate learning experience. Even though it did not work out for the numbers, it seems like it was still valuable!

Mark Davis, is a hammer today with a large over 30lb bag.

I watched the video last night with no volume. Great catch for sure! I bet there will be a ton of "guides" out there now for someone to use to catch their PB.

I used to work in Vidalia at the Army Recruiting Center across from Lowes. Small world

Where abouts in GA are ya?

Can I fish without it, sure. Did it for a long time. Last weekend I was finally able to use Active Target like I believe it to be designed. 25-30' of water here in the south. Slow day fishing, and found a couple bass laying on the bottom. (55* water temp). I switched from a DT 16 and DT20 to a 3/4oz black and blue jig, and in 3 casts, I beat my previous PB in a row. 1. 5.8 2. 6.3 3. 7.1 This is why sonar, especially FFS is awesome. It wasn't just that I saw them on sonar, but I was able to see that they were not interested in the moving baits. It showed me that I needed to change tactics, and when I did, I watched them eat it. It was a great day of fishing with those 3 fish. I also caught 3 or 4 2lbers as well.

Well the new 5 fish limit is live starting today with MLF. So far so good in my opinion. Shin Fukae has an 8lber already. A lot of the anglers have mentioned they are a fan of the 5 fish limit.