DitchPanda

Ummmmm.....yeeaahhh...go fishing. You'll be mad at yourself if you don't...always wonder what it would have been like. If you go you don't have to wonder what coulda been. Btw according to alot of things Friday was supposed to be a crappy fishing day here...I caught 21 bass that day. So don't believe every conventional wisdom nugget you hear about bass...they are only predictable to a point.

This is me with crankbaits. I use them but they aren't a go to for me. I'm much more of a spinner bait or swim jig guy. That said explain to me how I have 75 spinnerbaits, 20 swim jigs and 86439 crankbaits.

What are some favorites? I haven't thrown one in a million years

Almost every year I could go with spinnerbait, finesse jig or senko. This year I'm happy to report it's a 1\4oz swim jig with homemade bluegill skirt and a menace on the back. It really ain't even close. That said my 3 biggest bass of the year....a 7 and two 6s came on a lipless , a chatterbait and a spinnerbait.

Can easily add an insert if you want

Awesome man...I caught one pushing 6 yesterday on a war eagle mclelland finesse spinnerbait

At least you caught it instead of having a stroke...coulda been down a lot longer. Hope it goes well.

Guess I'm wondering if it's a good imitator of bluegill or if it's more shad/baitfish color?

Never seen this color in person..how would you describe it? What does it represent?

That's the exact color I found...looks brand new... No nicks in the paint and the hooks have no tarnish to them. Now I'm excited...hope I find a few more! Found it floating by a beaver dam on my local pond.

Anybody ever thrown these for bass? Found 1 today and it looks similar to a size 7 shad rap..except it's plastic.

I never really thought about it. For years all I threw was motor oil or grape worms and caught plenty of fish. At some point green pumpkin became my go to and it is for sure my most used color in jigs and soft plastics by alot. Is it a better color? Yes for me it is..I have more confidence in it.

What frogs are you throwing?

I 2nd the sex panther...it's made with bits of real panther so you know it's good.

And another strange day. Went back out to the lake I caught 15 at earlier this week...Fished about 3hrs again this time with a buddy...we only caught 7 between us most being small. I also hit my local pond an hour in the morning and evening. Managed 4 fish and lost 1. The bright spot is I caught 2 fish pushing 4lbs...by far my best fish in a while.

Easier time wise maybe. Money wise no way. Not to mention living with the pain until it's fixed. I still think you got out ahead!

Well the windshield sucks but you got some nice fish. Could be way worse...coulda taken that bait to the face and knocked some teeth out.

I agree with this. Spawn is the only time of year that bass have something on there mind besides eating. Every other time of year food is a huge consideration most times the #1 factor. Funny you mention this...I watched an interview with Rick Clunn recently where he said if he could do it over again he would have spent less time learning about the bass and more time learning about the forage. He said he thinks that's what bass anglers have always done wrong.

I fish small ponds and small lakes both...anywhere from a few acres to 75 acres and to me they act the same this time of year. It is all about your baitfish. I have a pond that has craws and gills but a huge base of shad. I also fish a lake that has a forage base of gills. The past few weeks of fishing both all my bass have come from 3ft of water or less. Bait is shallow right now for me so the bass ain't far behind. I've tried fishing some deeper brush piles both places without a bite.

I've never thrown one myself but I've seen many on here claim they are the best ever in the category of ultra shallow cranks. I just started throwing super shallow cranks this year...strike king kvd 1.5 shallow and 1xs...and have had great luck. Wish I could find a couple subways to try.

I have great luck on spinnerbaits fishing around hard cover. Laydowns especially because they come through it better than anything in my opinion. Never really thought of them as a grass bait sticking more to a swim jig or chatterbait...May need to rethink my approach. That said I think even if your grass is gone they will still be very effective...just may have to change where you throw them.

That's why a spinnerbait is my favorite bait of all time! (Jig is dang close)

Could be yours..what lake did you lose it on??

1.how often do you go fishing? Completely depends on time of year. Spring and fall it could easily be 3 or 4 times a week. Winter is ice fishing time and will often only go a few times a month. If say averaged out it would be 2 times a week. 2.what type of fishing do you usually do? Always freshwater for me...I live in Iowa. Id say it's bass 9 times out of 10 during the open water season. Thru the ice it's crappies and bluegills or perch. 3.how do you hear about new products? Social media? Friends? Online? Most of it comes from right here on bassresource. Also I get some info from youtube. 4.when buying a new product what makes you finally decide to purchase it? Reviews? Friend reccomendations? Again for me it's a combination of thing...first I'll research it on BR or YouTube from a few guys I trust. Also I consider does it even fit my style of fishing. I only have one buddy...who is also a member here...who is a basshead like me so when he suggests something I listen because we fish the same waters. 5.where did you usually shop pre covid? In store? Online? Almost all of it online for the past several years. They just have what I want in the sizes or colors I want and I don't have to drive an hour each way. My big 3 are...tackle warehouse, fishing skirts.com and siebert outdoors. 6.does the fishing industry have enough gadgets? Too many 7.how much do you spend yearly on fishing equipment? Depends on the year. Most years around a grand. If I'm replacing rods and reels maybe two grand.

I don't have any kids but I have a similar reaction when my lady leaves. She just went camping for a week with her brother and sister and I lived the straight up bachelor life. Fishing whenever I want...eating cheesy potatoes and grilled ribeye or fried pork chops...drinking a few to many brews. I love her very much...but every now and then I need a break and have to live like a caveman.