DitchPanda

That's an awesome story...inspiring indeed.

I agree with this...I know its easier said than done to switch jobs and money isn't everything but the reality is you still have to make a living. My management team pushed corporate to allow us to create a position for me to move to the management team as a way to get my wage up so I had incentive to stay. I got "promoted" twice but in reality my job responsibilities didn't change much but my salary was increased about 12k over the past 18 months. I'm grateful that I work for some guys that try to reward their good employees and recognize the financial situation we are all in.

So heres my take as a bank angler: the old saying is there's always some fish up shallow. My past few trips have been a struggle in the mornings...got 3 little ones last time and today I got skunked. Like stated above my guess is the majority of the fish are in deeper water on points or in brush. There's probably some fish shallow but they are likely scattered so if you insist on fishing the bank I'd burn up alot of shoreline with a buzz bait searching for those rogue fish. Then in the afternoon a Texas rig worm or creature and a weightless senko thrown into lay downs and under docks should work after the sun and heat have positioned fish. My local lake usually has an hour or so bite window starting from 30 minutes before sun up until 30 minutes after sunrise. This bite normally takes place once the water is consistently above 80...normally July and August. Its spurned on by shad balls up shallow early morning. It hasn't started yet this year but it should be close. When that's happening I usually have a fluke,popper, small spinnerbait and white Ned rig tied on. Its not uncommon to catch 6-8 bass in that hour. When that bite wanes the fish are extremely predictable..they get on the closest shallow cover. So I fish laydowns, the few docks on the lake and shallow brush in 2-6fow. I use my Ned rig, Texas rigged worms and weightless senkos\flukes. Its not uncommon to get another 5-8 fish. This entire process usually takes 3hrs and I often catch 10-15 bass and have several other bites. Plus I'm home by 9 before it gets scorching hot.

Ah yeah that's a long day...still 5 an hour ain't nothing to sneeze at.

Is this a normal catch rate for you? Seems amazing to me

My favorites include: worm threads particularly about color...cold water threads because where I live they really apply...drinking threads- I'm partial to ones about whiskey and I love cooking threads.

I carry a cheap Gerber folder clipped to my pocket

I miss @Paul Roberts input on topics. He was always very in depth and instructional...also just seems like a good dude.

I can be fairly handy but like mentioned above sometimes I feel like my time with family or even fishing is worth more to me. Besides my brother in law has spent alot of time over the years working on various home construction/ repair/ renovation projects for several different contractors so he has a wealth of knowledge. So I've got a list of things I'm gonna have him do...redo my garage door framing and install a new overhead door and man door, some minor wiring and light installation, etc. Last summer he shingled part of my roof...what a roofer would have charged me $1000 to do he did it for $600.

I do believe so...I can't think of a skunk combo.

Yeah she sounds...yuck. Absolutely no self accountability in people these days. She's a moron who can't read and somehow its your fault? The world doesn't really give people what they deserve..but in your case I hope it does this time. Be cool if the cops somehow found a way to arrest her because her neighbors are cooking meth and she didn't stop them.

Sorry if my first response came across wrong...hell of a day!

Holy hell...70? That's what I catch in a month

Kind of ridiculous. Can't even legally bass fish until the waters warm enough to get on a frog bite.

I used stren growing up because that's what my dad used...to my knowledge its still a decent line. Now days I use trilene XL in 6-8lb for leader on spinning with braid and use 10-15 lb big game on casting for treble hook baits. No complaints with either. I had a 3.5lb largemouth wrap me around a piece of metal this week and it took me at least 20-30 seconds to get to her. My 8lb XL was chewed up but it didn't break.

I believe you handled it amicably. Now the question...am I ever a jerk? Oh yes...without a doubt.

I've been having a few budweisers here and there myself...its been hotter than hell so a cold beer does the trick. Tonight I'm having a nice pour of Michters rye...been a while since I had whiskey

St Croix makes great rods and daiwa makes great reels..so a hug is in order. Depending on his age maybe raise his allowance to!

I wanna get in the water so socks kinda defeat the purpose. Plus socks and sandals of any sort is an image I'm not trying to project...although I could get a visor and a fanny pack to complete the outfit.

Any worse than with flip flops?

My girlfriend and a buddy have suggested crocs. This may be the route I go.

Good point. Guess I meant something I won't mind getting wet that will shed water instead of getting soaked thru and ending up stanky.

So as many of you are aware I've been dealing with lower back issues for some time and it got pretty bad a few months ago. Since then I have been stretching, walking and doing core exercises on a regular basis to keep it in check. While that has helped immensely its still not 100%. Now that we are in summer im looking for waterproof footwear options that won't kill my back. Normally in years past I'd wear flip flops but they offer no support...I wore them 2 days the past week fishing for a total of 5 hours and could feel it. Any suggestions?

Oh god that one hurt a little but I'm alright

I've got several buddies that say if I love the quiet solitude of bass fishing that I should get into golf. Then in the same breathe they have many of the same complaints you have about noise and lack of etiquette. For that reason I stay away as I already deal with enough trashy drunk jackasses being obnoxious and leaving trash in my fishing travels.