Frezzy

Why only 5 Ned setups? Do you not use them very much?

You need a killer JB for Smallmouth? Try a Megabass Oneten MAX LBO. Don't waste your time with that dinky little bait...

I fish a clear water reservoir for big Smallies (5's are very common) where ultra long casts are required. I also fish from the bank 100% of the time. I have experimented with every type of topwater bait, rod, reel and line to maximize casting distance while still presenting a bait a large Smallie will eat. For baits the Lucky Craft Sammy in 115 size if pretty tough to beat in terms of casting distance and a great bait that Smallies love. The Plopper in 110 and 130 are good Smallie baits and cast well, but won't cast anywhere near as far as a long casting spook like a Sammy 115. The Evergreeen Shower Blows in 125 size does cast an absolute mile and catch fish. The Sammy 115 will out fish it, but the Shower Blows is the king of casting distance (color selection is kind of week for clear water). Another great casting spook that Smallies love is the Megabass Dog-X Diamante. Casts almost as well as a Sammy 115 and has great colors. Vixens, Rovers, Super Spooks, Kick Knockers. Sexy Dawgs, Gun Fish. I have them all. They all catch fish and are good baits, but not on the same level as the Sammy 115 if you need long casts. For gear go with a spinning rod. The longer the better. Use a 4000 size reel with 10-15lb braid and a short 10lb mono leader. Keep the leader knot outside your top guide on the cast. I use a 7'5" G Loomis GLX in MH with a fast tip and a size 4000 Stella or Exist.

Hit me up on PM.

I mostly fish big smallmouth in a clear water reservoir up north. Sammy 115 in ghost bluegill is tops. Whopper Plopper 110 is Perch is good as well.

So big you pee’d your pants. Lol. Great fish bud!

X Zone is putting out some nice baits these days. Big fan. I love the Swammer as a swim jig trailer.

Pretty much exactly how I am.

Thanks for the info on Whitehall fellas. Very helpful. Just found this link below. Holy S**T. There seems to be a tournament on Whitehall every weekend basically all year. Is this common? Leaning towards the dedicated Quabbin boat as my primary rig and a kayak or small jonboat for Whitehall (will fish it at night mostly with big baits). FBA Scheduled Events | Mass.gov Frezzy

Hey Guys, I've been really getting back into freshwater bass fishing over the past few years after a long break. Mostly been fishing the Chu the past few seasons. I'm a die hard surfcaster for stripers for the past 20+yrs or so. I have two young boys (8 and 3) and the sleepless nights and long 1-1.5hr drives chasing stripers are starting to wear on me. The state of the striped bass fishery is not helping either. Approaching my late 40s now. I live about 3 minutes from Whitehall Reservoir in Hopkinton. I was thinking about picking up a small 17' aluminum bass boat like a Tracker or Ranger and getting it rigged up with all the bells and whistles. Maybe spending $25-30K or so. I would mostly just use it at Whitehall. Now to my question. How is the bass fishing at Whitehall? Is it good enough to justify the investment? Its a beautiful lake and I like the fact that it's highly restricted (12mph max, not jet ski's, no houses, etc.). I have poked around casting from the bank and caught some small fish, but really just early in the season before the Chu opened. I know it gets a lot of pressure because I drive by it multiple times every day. My other option is picking up a 16-17' Lund, tricking it out with graphs, and dedicating it to the Quabbin. The only downside there is its an hour drive., but at least it wont be at 2am. Tough decision. Let me know what you guys think of Whitehall. Thanks!

Yep, completely agree. Swammer as a swim jig trailer has been very productive for me.

Question for the MA guys throwing big swimbaits. Is it too early in the season to be throwing big rat baits or slammers on top? I'm planning some early morning trips before first light this week and looking for some suggestions. Thanks!

I got my first two swimbait fish beating the bank in my waders over at Whitehall. Couple of 2 pounders on an 86 Baits doomrider glide. No giants, but I'm hooked on the big baits. Just a little warm up before the absolute beatdown I'm going to put on some brown bass this weekend.

I took a spin by Hopkinton Reservoir and Whitehall just to check the ice. I was surprised to see guys out ice fishing on Hop. I have never ice fished before, but that seemed a little aggressive and unsafe.

I regularly use the 130 size for smallmouth. Just don't see any reason to use such a small topwater bait like the 60. If you really want a more subtle presentation just use the 90.

Hey Jig, thanks for asking around. Look forward to hearing back from you. Jason

Hey Guys, Does anyone know how the bass fishing is in Hopkinton Reservoir? I fish there quite often with my boys for stocked trout in the spring, but never really tried for bass. I live a few minutes away, so might try it out once the ice breaks up. Thanks, Jason

Great post bud. Lots of good options.

Identify a lake that 1) is known to hold big fish and 2) you enjoy fishing. Fish only that lake and nowhere else for the entire year or even two. Get to know it and the fish that live in it like the back of your hand. Learn the spots where the bigger fish hold. Throw big fish baits. Pay attention to moon phase and focus your time around the full and new moon. If you can fish at night do it and do it often. Good luck!

The Keitech tungsten football jig is absolutely killer. A little expensive but worth it.

Thanks A-Jay. That's good enough for me. Going to order a GP Pro Perch and give it a try this spring. I love the Max LBO and was looking for something slightly larger as long as it casts well. Thanks again!

Can anyone comment on how well the Kanata casts? Ideally, how well it casts compared to a say a Vision Max LBO?

Great thread fellas... Soft - 6' Senko, 3.8" Keitech Fat Swing Impact & 3.5" River Rock Customs Tube. Hard - Vision 110 (Standard, 110+1 and Max LBO), Sammy 100 and Keitech Tungsten Football Jig. Honorable mention goes to Brovarney Baits Swimjig.

Tatsu is all I need. No reason to look elsewhere.

Female stripers produce eggs until the day they die regardless of age. That’s been proven by science for decades.