DitchPanda

I'm going based on normal temps for my area...this year has been colder than normal especially as of late Finesse jig with chunk or twin tail Spinnerbait Bladed jig bluegill color black blade Senko Black Buzzbait Last two are strictly for late afternoon into evening after the water has warned during the day and the fish have slid up

My birthday gift summer of 94...I had just turned 11...Abu Garcia 5500 C3...next month it will be 26 years young and still gets used for catfish

Oh and the chatterbait thing is certainly very specific for me. I like at least stained if not dirty water. The two times they shine for me are leading up to and right after the spawn...they move alot of water and must imitate a bluegill better than a spinnerbait. Also I have had success in cold water a few times when they wouldn't touch another moving bait. Otherwise I'm a spinnerbait guy 90% of the time.

Rebel pop r Hula popper (don't throw them like I should but still do) Double willow spinnerbaits Berkley havoc pit boss...for flipping and trailer The pit boss is kind of a bummer to me...they stopped making the havoc line and I personally don't like the powerbait version near as much. Last year I started using the D bomb in its place and while it's not the same bait I do like it.

I use mono on my shallow crank rod and my popper rod...braid on my frog rod...everything else is 12 or 15lb izorline xxx copolymer...I feel it has a good balance of mono and fluoro qualities but it could just be in my head! At any rate I've had good luck with it and therefore I have a lot of confidence in it

This is incredible news...so happy for Aaron and his family

Thanks for all the replies...that water dog is a cool looking bait

I used yo zuri hybrid for a few seasons...switched to izorline xxx and stuck with that...seems like the yo zuri had line management issues no matter what I did...wasn't awful by any means and the line was plenty tough but it was noticeable

I generally throw the same size baits...not downsizing much..but I don't throw huge baits much anyway Typical baits for me on my smaller ponds are: 5/16ths green pumpkin sniper jig 3/8ths bladed jig in bluegill or black and blue 3/8ths war eagle buzzbait black 5 inch senko style bait 1/4oz swim jig bluegill color with a zoom ultravibe craw 1/2 oz black booyah pad crashed frog These are listed in order from ice out through summer on when I throw them and is it cools I basically go backwards through the list again Also I agree with some of the above posts about small ponds having some studs in them. I have a pond that I frequent that I can fish around the entire thing in a few hours and can cast across on one end. Two years ago in the fall I caught a 25lb bag one day on a buzzbait. The fall before I caught a jig fish there that I estimate at 8lbs. Every summer I catch a few on a frog in that 5 to 6 range.

I know a lot of guys will say cavitron and for good reason..they are a great bait For me my confidence lies in a 3/8ths war eagle...white with silver blade 10% of the time...the rest of the time black on black One knock I've heard on them is they aren't very durable...kind of like there spinnerbaits...but wearing a bait out catching fish is a fair trade to me...especially at $4.59 a buzzer

I also use my leatherman file. I don't sharpen trebles or worm style hooks just replace them. I sharpen my single hook baits...spinnerbaits,chatterbaits,buzzbaits and jigs of all types

So I was at work a few days ago in a typical Friday. Nothing much going on there just a regular day at the office in my estimation. At the end of each shift we do a shift exchange with the oncoming crew to discuss plant issues that need resolving and any process changes that had been made and for what reason. Well anyway we all take turns saying what we did that day and when we got to a co-worker of mine... a guy I've known for years... he was visibly upset and on edge for some reason. We are doing these meetings over speaker phone due to health concerns and while he was talking somebody from the night crew said something. He instantly stopped what he was talking about, told them to go F themselves and walked out. Whoa...that caught everybody offguard. So the next day im complaining about being stuck at work on such a nice day as we all do sometimes I'm sure. This coworker of mine walks in and apologizes to us saying that it won't ever happen again. Of course we all tell him it's ok and move on. He waits until the other guys are gone, turns to me and tells me that he's just stressed because a very close family friend of his just tested positive for covid. She is 62 and her husband had been in a nursing home for his health issues and she found out the day before he came home that she had it. Here I was complaining about having a job when so many people don't while also having my health at least for now which is also not the case for many of us. Including some members here. I guess I'm saying be grateful for what we have everyday and don't focus on the things that could be better. Focus on enjoying the reality as much as you can..even things like still being able to go to work and provide for your self and family.

So I haven't really thrown these in probably 15 years of so having opted for brush hog type baits instead. Anybody still throwing these? Brands? Colors? Thanks in advance for the replies

Green pumpkin variants especially ones like zooms version which is more Brown than many other brands. I used to say black and blue which is great but I may prefer June bug now...seems a little better in the waters I fish at least part of the time. And of course some sort of white or shad color for grubs and swimbaits.

That's an awesome day man..those don't come around very often at least for me. Had one a few years back in a small pond early fall in a rainy really day. Was throwing a buzzbait around weed edges that were dying back. I caught probably 10 bass...all quality...had around a 25lb bag...had a 6, 3 5s and a 4 for my best 5..unreal for where I live on public waters

My bass all come from shore...I don't have a boat and when I go in a boat with my uncle and dad or some buddies we are usually fishing walleyes, perch or crappies. I have been at this bank thing for bass going on 20 years. Over the years I've probably caught 6 or 7 in the 7lb and up class. The biggest was around 8lb 10 oz if I remember correctly almost twenty years ago. Over the past 8 years I've caught the other 6 over 7lbs with 2 of them in the 8lb range. In fact last week I caught one about 7lbs on a chrome blue super spot lipless in a pond literally two minutes from my house.

So I will say that when I go out i have the goal and usually the expectation of catching fishing. I have spent a lot of time,money and energy learning this craft and have gotten decent at it over the years so I always feel like I should be able to figure some out. But I have learned to be realistic and temper my expectations over the years. So I live up north where it is cold for a big chunk of the year plus I'm a bank angler and I fish pretty much all small public waters. Much of the year I'm happy with a fish or two, especially after ice out until the water temps and weather stabilize. Then there are times when we have had several 65 degree days and the water temp and color are looking right that I anticipate cracking on em. I agree with the above mentioned sentiment of still enjoying and getting something out of those tough days. Anytime on the water is worthwhile and can at least be a learning experience, just another tool in the box for later. Plus I also mentioned in another post that I am not afraid of the grind...in fact I embrace it...makes good days even better.

Well I'm fortunate in that my mom hates fishing...and my dad taught me how and even moved to Okoboji Iowa a few years ago when he retired to fish more so I don't have the issues your talking about. But I did when I taught my girlfriend how to fish and I will say like anything it all takes time. Get cheap gear they can beat on and be patient and it will come together. Also don't feel bad about saying hey I work hard for what I have so please be respectful of my things. They are your parents so surely they should understand that simple request since they probably said that to you growing up. If they don't respect it don't take them.

Guys use them in FLW...pretty sure they aren't allowed in the bassmasters elite series

Ok looks like at 50 I'll bust a Buzzbait out! No better way to catch em in my opinion anyway

I almost never wacky rig because I seen to have better luck weightless texas rigged with both baits. I use the trick worm in shallower water and a senior style bait in deeper water. Rate of fall there too..seems to me in super shallow water a senko is on bottom instantly while trick worm hovers in there face long enough to trigger a bite. Just my experience.

I'll add to my first post and now echo a few mentioned above that I agree with: passion- most people want to catch fish but don't really give a care about the science behind it but anglers who care about those environmental scientific factors like water temp, Sun angle, pressure change etc. seem to succeed more and more often than a casual angler. I myself like the challenge and also have that kind of mind in that I want to know more than just the what but also the why. My job has driven this part of my passion as well..I am a plant technician for a biofuel company so I have a lot of training in chemistry, physics, fluid dynamics and the like so a big part of my job is troubleshooting a.k.a detective work. Looking at clues and getting to the root of a problem through knowledge and process of elimination. This has helped me in understanding more of when to switch what to switch to and why it will work. Pieces of the puzzle. The other one of these that I agree with that WRB mentioned is being gifted. Natural ability. Raw talent. Whatever you call it. Some people are naturally smarter than others. Some people are mechanically more proficient. Some guys like Aaron Martens...KVD....Brandon Palaniuk are both. It just makes sense to them on a deeper level and they are more able to do the physical things to get where they need to. Myself I believe I have a some natural ability...it has always been my main hobby because I love it and it's also made sense to me. I'm not the smartest or most physically talented...far from either... But I'm also far from the dumbest and average or above at casting accuracy and distance. I make up for my deficiencies through study, learning from people better than me at certain things and lots of on the water practice. PASSION!

I honestly feel like I'm pretty consistent in my home waters especially and it's taken me a long time...so I'm proud of that I would agree that lack of knowledge regarding location is for sure the number 1 reason...some people seem to be able to read water and the signs easier than others and how they relate to seasonal patterns Presentation is also a huge one...can't tell you how many times I've fished with someone when the water is 40 degrees and see them burning a moving bait...I look over and say if you sat in your fridge for 12hrs would you get out and Sprint after something? When they say no I say ok..well slow down then The next one is seldom mentioned but I think is also very important...handling adverse conditions/ability to grind This is a very important aspect of success and failure as an angler especially in tough times of year like the coldest and hottest water periods when fish are not in peak condition. It is very easy to go out throw a few baits and when fish don't jump on it get discouraged after an hour and say screw it I quit. But it takes a more determined angler to lock down and say I don't care if it's tough I'm gonna grind until I figure at least one out. I embrace that struggle and almost enjoy the feeling of pride I get from even moderate success on a seemingly hopeless outing. I believe this is why I sometimes catch fish when others around me are not.

Work like normal just with some new sanitation and distancing rules in affect around the office Girlfriend took a voluntary leave from work 3 weeks ago..her choice..so spending a lot of time with her talking, watching movies etc. Still going fishing pretty when the weather allows its only 30ish right now with 25mph wind... by myself or with her and she goes hiking while I'm fishing...caught a 7lber sunday

I've always heard that a buzzbait will work in high 40s but never really had luck doing it myself...I could see why a popper would work small and can sit still...any of you ever fish a rapala floating minnow as a topwater? I've heard that can be awesome early