DitchPanda

Not sure what qualifies as experienced...I've got 20 years of chasing bass 100 to 200 days a year so hope that's sufficient! For me its all about water temps. If yours are in the 50s or above I'd use fluke...spinnerbait...jig. My water temps are in the low to mid 40s...I'm using ned or drop shot, jerk bait, flat sided cranks, small lipless and jigs.

I feel like regional style lures used to be more of a thing before YouTube and social media. Now everybody sees and knows everything. Kinda how dropshot used to be a huge deal in clear deep water in California, Arizona and New Mexico. Now guys are using them coast to coast and everywhere in between in all types if conditions and water colors. Colors are another deal mentioned above that I feel everybody experiments with now. They always say match the hatch but I don't know how true that is. Take for instance swim jigs...got a lake by me that has no shad but a white swim jig is great...my local lake has tons of shad and a bluegill swim jig is a better option. Another thing that was hyper regional that has spread is the damiki rig. Guys have been using that in places like Cherokee lake for a long time...I've seen guys using them up here in Iowa for smallmouth in late fall and early spring. I really think dropshot is a west coast thing that is now and everywhere thing. Brad knight won the 2015 Forrest wood cup in Arkansas on a drop shot in dirty shallow water.

I'm in Northwest Iowa and we recently had a bout of crap weather. Several days of mid 20s for highs and single digit lows...small ponds even had ice for a few days. Water temp dropped into the high 30s...about as cold as it gets around here before freezing. Went out Saturday with a buddy decent weather but high bluebird skies and frigid water...aka not great fishing conditions. We fished a few hours and managed 6...no its not over!

I don't hate crappies but will agree they have a very mild almost boring flavor and a texture that leaves something to be desired. I recently kept some wall eyes...they were good but far from a favorite. I'm pretty sure that perch and especially bluegills caught thru the ice are as good eating as you can get from freshwater fish. This works out good for me as I have a buddy I ice fish with who prefers crappie over gills so it makes splitting the fish up after a trip good for both of us.

I've eaten a few over the years. One year my local lake had a huge year class of 10-12 inch fish and the county made a special under 12 keep 5 a day limit to thin it out. I kept some that year to do my part..that size they were not bad at all. That lasted one season. Since then I've only kept a few that I hooked deep and knew they were gonners. I'm not hating on bass or bass eaters...but I have plenty of places close to me to catch bluegill,crappie,perch,yellow bass and walleye all of which I feel are better eating...so I don't ever go out intending to keep bass.

This is one I've looked at as well

Gotcha...well thanks for the info Yeah I guess large is relative. I must have been thinking of something else...that's not a big bait at all. Ill give them another look.

I've been eyeballing the LCs alot and this is the info I'm looking for. I've always liked the KVD 1.5s but wanted a bait that runs a little shallower since I'm a bank angler. Also I like a bait that rises quickly and is more buoyant in general for fishing around wood. Are you using the $6.99 silent ones or a different version? Any go to color in the LCs? These look good as well but if remember correctly these baits are very large compared to other baits like them? May be thinking of the wrong bait

Oh I have enough of everything...but that's not the point!

So I use square bills but not near enough...next spring I plan on busting them out more. I already have and use Norman fatboy, bomber square a (my favorite), kvd 1.5 standard and shallow versions,the new booyah Excalibur copies(haven't thrown yet)..also a few store brands like bps and Academy. I'm looking to add a few to my short list to pick up over the winter. I prefer the 1.5 size and I shore fish so I like a shallower running bait. What are your go to? What should I add to the arsenal?

It was a good time. Also considering the cold water temps and the fact that I'm shore bound I'd say it was a surprising success.

Tried a few ponds a little ways from the house today since my local trip yesterday didn't go well. First spot was much weedier than I thought..did manage 1 decent one on a jerk bait. Ran up the road twenty minutes to another county pond...this one was much cleaner and easier to fish. I got 3 more on the jerk bait and 1 on the Ned. My buddy caught 1 on a flicker shad. 6 total in a few hours may not be on fire but ill take it.

Well I missed a bite on a shaky head and that's it. Found a spot from shore I could reach deep brush drug shaky, Ned and finesse jig through it without a touch. I have a tiny pond about 25 minutes from my house I rarely get skunked at that ill try tomorrow. If that doesn't work..then I don't know!

Not smart in the traditional sense but instinctual and aware of the surroundings. They have to be or they wouldn't survive. That's why guys who do more prep and homework are able to read more conditions and be more successful. Especially for big bass. I started really watching and studying water temps, sun angle, prey species for time of year etc. several years ago and it has helped me greatly. I've caught far more big largemouth...fish over 6lbs...the past 5 years than I did the 15 years prior. I believe being able to read water and "think like a bass" so to speak is the reason. So they aren't smart but we are in their house on their terms so they kinda have home field advantage. As far as giving them to much credit I agree with that. That's the reason you often hear bait and color isnt nearly as important as where and how it is presented.

I am not a fishery biologist so I havent done the research but based on what I've seen I would agree. Case in point how many time have you hooked or snagged a fish that didn't fight at first until they realized something was wrong? Happened to me several times Wednesday with carp. Pretty sure if you jammed a piece of steel through my ribs or jaw I would notice immediately.

Ha yeah I get it...I've always hated the Yankees. Just got tired of hearing about the 95000 world series wins.

Here is what I've found fishing creeks or small rivers even. If the water you are fishing is the deepest best looking water for a long distance up and downstream then fish will likely be in it all winter. So it may slow the bite some but if the hole is good and your using live bait I'd still think you could have success.

Bass are much more resilient than there prey. I think they suck a craw down so fast they don't even have time to react. Most fish I believe they attack head first so they go down easier.

Yep I plan on posting here my results. My local water temps are high 30s so I don't have high expectations. But ill give it hell... Ain't gonna catch em on the couch.

Oh...your That guy

Ha...just remembered I bought some when they were in sale. Forgot all about them..never threw them once!

I grew up as a huge Braves fan..not sure why honestly never lived remotely close to Atlanta. Can't tell you the last time I even watched a baseball game period.

Touche

That's awesome man! My old lady has been quoting dumb and dumber at opportune times lately...its been great.

I wasn't laughing as if I thought it wasn't productive...I just don't target bass with live bait. Nothing wrong with doing it...just not my style.