LrgmouthShad

Buzzbaits have been severely underperforming year after year for me. Weightless senkos have been falling off, too. Crankbaits are red hot.

Sweet job catching em, y’all

I’d run 14-18lb fluorocarbon for that

I do trim a little, most of the time. There’s no method to it. I just kind of guess the way I want it to be

Strike King Lil Mr Money, 1/4oz Nichols frame, or Humdingers are good choices

9lb 9oz on a spinnerbait in December, NC

I don’t do much finesse jigging in TX, but I did a lot of it in Missouri. I think it’s a baitfish/craw size deal. I lean on a shaky head more in the spring and summer, while I will use a finesse jig year round. A finesse jig with the skirt flared at the head can be a better craw imitation than a standard full size jig. The flared skirt at the head looks like a tail. If I am using a finesse jig, I usually want my jig to closely replicate the local crawfish and I seldom use ‘flapping’ trailers with them.

NY’s finger lakes are my choice

I got your back

You haven’t been on my water park thread have you?

On the squarebill front, the Rapala BX Brat is a great choice. You can often find them on sale nowadays for under $10. I agree with @Jar11591, the DT line by Rapala is a staple.

Spinning rod deal for me. I don’t fish a shaky head in real thick cover because I find it gets hung too easy. My standard setup is a 6’6 medium spinning 15lb braid to 10-12lb fluoro leader. I like a finesse worm. I would prefer even lighter line, but I find I get more line abrasion fishing a shaky head than most other baits.

Sure, I think there will be some bass at the back of most creeks if that's the case. 1,000 acres is not that large. A lake a lot larger like the gauge you use, 20,000, will have sections of the lake farther ahead or behind in the spawn depending on where you are. Even after the fish spawn, not all fish leave or head deeper. Some will stay shallow and in close proximity to where they spawned. Different, generally. As previously stated, some sections of a large lake will be farther ahead in the spawn than others. This is kind of narrowing in on the spawn but I think that's part of the conversation you want to have here. I know this isn't an assumption you are making here @JHoss but I just want to reiterate that not all bass spawn at the back of creeks. I've spent the past couple of seasons learning how bass set up to spawn on mainlake structure including shallow points, humps, flats, islands, and more. That naturally leads into an exploration of how bass stage for these locations for the prespawn. It's cool stuff and fun to look at on a bathymetry map or a depth finder. And by golly, @A-Jay, I am talking about green bass here. I have no earthly clue what smallmouth do 😄

Beyond just the different sizes of lakes which affects how quickly they warm up and cool down, every lake offers different forage of different sizes which in turn affects how the bass set up. Beyond that, a lake’s unique cover and structure will affect how fish position, as well. I am cautious of ‘patterns’. I believe there might be some truth to a majority of fish behaving similarly in how far they push back into creek arms at different times of the year. That being said, there are many bass that I don’t think push back into creek arms at all.

Anyone been on Devils River TX? A friend is suggesting we float and fish there in May but according to a quick google search it can be a dangerous venture. I am interested in but cautious of this potential adventure. Hoping you fine gentlemen have some advice.

I recommend the Native Watercraft No Limit tournaments. The directors work hard to protect the legitimacy of their tournaments and diligently investigate any potential angler misconduct. I had more fun than I expected

I don’t have a routine snack that I bring and it also depends on whether I’m daytime or nighttime fishing. I like Jerky, peanuts, or a meal from home. My favorite to bring on the water is kimbap when I have some made. It’s like a picnic on the water

Let’s ask @Swamp Girl Truly, Katie, how do you do it?

Since you asked, my workout schedule and composition has varied a lot. More than I would like it to. In any case, right now it is usually some form of cardio in the mornings and a lift in the evening.

😆 Well, thanks. At a certain point since the fishing was bad, I just started trying to educate myself on how to deal with those type of conditions. It’s definitely fishable but less than comfortable and limiting.

You’re not kidding! I was out there today. Didn’t do any good. Battled some high curling waves by the afternoon

Jigs I run 15-22lb test fluoro unless punching with them. If punching it’s straight braid. Topwater I run 15lb big game or braid to leader with the leader once again being big game. In the case of frogs I run straight braid. Crankbaits I run 12-20lb test fluoro and in rare instances 15lb test big game Don’t throw chatterbaits enough to comment on them

My 'home' lake is Stillhouse Hollow in Central TX. I have been in TX for about 2 years. Stillhouse is not a small lake. I spend about 20% +/- 10% of my time purely graphing on a regular trip. Time well spent. On a new lake it is the first thing I do. I often won't bring any rods

Hard to know what to say here Catt. Prayers up for you during this difficult and uncertain time

They say never meet your idols. It is equally tough to not select some members on here to fish with. There is one professional fisherman that would be a safe bet to meet, I think. I would 'shadow' Steve Kennedy for a week on the elites, present day. I don't think he has much to hide, besides maybe some of his baits 😄. I think he would be a really enjoyable guy to be around. I would learn a lot. My only fear is that I would somehow make him nervous 😄