LrgmouthShad

Nice man How big she go? DT-16 has been a player here in TX as well

I am basing my recommendations on an anecdotal level. I find Jordan, especially in recent years, to be a higher quality fishery than Shearon Harris and I like how the lake sets up better. Badin is fantastic but it has a lot of smaller fish. I believe @Huckfinn38 fishes Shearon Harris on a kayak and does good. Shearon Harris is a smaller lake though. More ideal for a kayak. You have good options in North Carolina. There are sleeper lakes around @Pat Brown. But after being on Jordan for the first time this summer, all I could think about was why I hadn't come to that lake sooner. Wow, what a place.

Of those, Jordan or High Rock. Badin is also great as are the Greensboro lakes. Randleman is another to consider if it is still open. Good luck.

The bite is good right now. I am excited to get back out there. Discochef and I caught a few each on Ray Roberts. I guess he expected it to be worse since a cold front came in. The fish are biting good and some of the biggest ones are dirt shallow

Yes I have speed cranked and yes it works. I have not tried it in water in the 30s though like you say.

Yall are crazy. Just come to TX. Just remember TX is not responsible for any feelings of overheating or constant need for a cold beverage

For largemouth, I like to fish deeper reservoirs with well defined channels because the structure makes more sense to my brain rather than a lake with the bottom contour of a fishbowl. Honorable mention to river and creek fishing for smallmouth

Truly two different worlds, man. Triple digit heat index on the water today in TX

I went out for a long fishing expedition today. The bite was pretty good. I can’t complain. The trouble is I just didn’t land many. I caught 5 but missed as many. A crankbait and a swimbait allowed me to get some bites. I want to share an experience I had with the swimbait. Now, I do not use a net in the kayak, but I certainly will after this experience. I was burning the swimbait as fast as I could on an island. I wanted it to wake on the surface and then stop before it breaks. I am not a swimbait aficionado but I remember some people recommending to not mess around with swimbait fish. They say you should just grind them into the boat. Well, a giant fish explodes on my swimbait so I start going through those motions. Things are going pretty good until the fish gets close. I try to rush the good ol arm scoop underneath the belly and the fish dives under the boat. I lose control of the fish momentarily and when it comes back out from under, the fish thrashes and throws the swimbait next to the boat. If I had a net, probably would’ve been a different ending. This was a massive fish. I would say 7lbs is conservative. While I did not land it, I confess the fish gave a thrill I’ve not experienced before. It was like a buzzbait bite on steroids. Absolutely the most massive topwater explosion Ive had the pleasure of enjoying. So I can’t even be mad. Swim on, fish

Yeah that thing was a rod in Academy. Don’t know if it’s cool or what Y’all get a nice haircut?

Nichols Depth Finder spinnerbait sells in 1.5oz @$10 with high quality components. $35 for a spinnerbait is ridiculous

Matt Allen probably said something Booyah covert is a good starting point They are not necessary but lots work. Use when you want more bulk/different profile, different colors, more lift, or more drag For me, only during the spawn when they tend to swipe ———————————————————— Accurate casting and reeling slow next to/over/through cover is a good way to start with them

I do not possess spidey senses

Any day I can get on the water with @thediscochef, @Pat Brown, @FishTax, Jake, or @IcatchDinks is a great day. I need FishTax there to remind me how to set the hook! I fish with family sometimes at home and I keep a second kayak at the casa for fishing with guests in Texas. I’ve fished with someone else more this year than any year in the past.

@WRB it’s a good kinda stank. Smelly Jelly adheres strongly to my baits and doesn’t wear off after a few casts. I believe it gets me more bites and makes fish hold on longer.

White

Never use insect repellant in a yak and manage where sunscreen gets. I use this for scent I believe it helps

No favorite brand. No favorite trailer. Tips and tricks: accurate casts and good hardware to get the blade(s) turning sooner.

@A-Jay done. Just not the red hooks. You can keep those

Early prespawn or winter

Hey y’all, I have a few Red Eye Shads at mi casa. It is hard to pass up on 20% off Strike King to stock up! I always replace the hooks on these baits as follows: Mustad Triple Grip 1x short 2x strong 1. 1/4oz: #6 2. 1/2oz: #4 3. 3/4oz: #2 This year I will change the split rings as well. I want them to be stronger but still size appropriate. What size split rings should I use for each size of RES? What split rings should I get?

I like cooked cabbage for meals like stir frys. I'm also fond of leeks, green onions, and garlic. Broccoli cooked or raw is good. I like mushrooms. Radishes, kale, and turnips are excellent depending on the dish. My favorite vegetable cooked with some flavor is zucchini. In short, I like vegetables cooked as a part of dishes, but seldom on their own. Vegetables are good except for squash and brussel sprouts. I despise those.

As a former NY fisherman, I can confirm that spinnerbaits are plum perfect in that state.

Winter - Lipless, Jig, Spinnerbait, Jigging Spoon, Crankbait, Senko Fall - Buzzbait, Spook, Spinnerbait, Lipless, Swimbait, Jig, Crankbait, Senko, Popper Summer - Worm, Jig, Crankbait, Flutter Spoon, Creature, Craw, Senko, Frog, Popper, Spook, Buzzbait Spring - Worm, Jig, Crankbait, Creature, Craw, Senko, Frog, Popper, Spook, Buzzbait, Plopper, Lipless

Like @TnRiver46 so eloquently stated, fishing pressure makes fish harder to catch. Stealth is the best course of action. No matter how quiet I am, nothing seems to beat: 1. Making as long a cast as possible in open water 2. Being as accurate as possible when picking apart cover 3. Staying anchored/locked in place for a period of time The concept is simple. You either catch them before they know you are there (long cast and quiet approach), catch them in where they holed up in when they heard you coming (cover), or stayed put long enough that the fish felt comfortable around you.