LrgmouthShad

I really love plum. Plum apple is on another level though. Red bug is cool too I guess…

4 hr drive Stillhouse and Brownwood are pretty much on par. Somerville does not have the same record, but less people fish there and I believe there are a lot of catches that aren’t being reported. Trophy caliber here means DD. Forget about catching a teener at any of these lakes. You would nearly be breaking the lake record. It ain’t happening.

Short pitches, then work the jig like this for a short distance. Pitch again. You are just punching it down into the grass and then picking another hole. A jig can be a phenomenal grass bait.

Oldham Trailer Hitch Jig. I would like a wide selection of colors and sizes, thank you very much

Hey y’all, I don’t do this often but looking for advice on where to fish this weekend. I make no secret of the lakes I fish. Don’t really see it as a big deal. I’m not a good enough fisherman for people to care. Let’s do Saturday since that’s the day I’m most concerned with. Conditions are as follows: Stillhouse Hollow 14ft low. Been rising quite a bit over past month. Prefrontal conditions. Thunderstorm is forecast to hit in the evening. Winds 7-14mph SE prior to storm (dominant wind direction). During storm ESE. 70 degrees overnight. Pretty close to water temps. Comments: I don’t think I like how this lake fishes while it has been rising but it should set up well if I wanted to throw topwater all day to try and coax a larger fish that pulled up. Stillhouse is my home lake. Hydrilla galore. Somerville About 0.75ft high and dropping slowly. I do like this lake while it is dropping. Should be stable conditions. Winds out of SE all day. Similar winds to Stillhouse. 70 degrees overnight (similar to water temps) Comments: I’ve fished here a little and it is my arch nemesis lake. But, I had my best day on the water and biggest fish of the season from this lake last year. Moreover, my electronics work on this lake is very thorough. Brownwood Wild card. I’ve never fished here before. Conditions are similar to Stillhouse except it is coming from about -9ft and a little cooler overnight. Thunderstorm is even larger here coming in. I like the look of this lake a lot but as I said I’ve never fished here before. TX. I fish in a kayak. Only going for a DD this season. I will be fishing daytime for this trip. Here would you go?

The type of ‘weed’ matters a lot And there are a lot of great grass lures. I mean a bunch. This is like asking people what their favorite color is. You’re going to hear 10 different colors.

@ol'crickety smoked salmon is smoking great

Siri has an opinion. And she is not apologetic about it I asked her if she was sure and she said "surely." Siri will make an excellent forum member

^^ The video series is incredible. It reminds us that grand days like that simply don't happen by accident.

After trying Sunline Sniper, I have a high regard for quality fluoro, but it comes with some drawbacks. Cost, less resistant to small kinks, worse knot strength, less manageable. Invisx is also good fluoro that improves on some of these characteristics, but it will always be worse than mono in these areas. Overall I like sniper better. I use fluoro when I can afford it, when it makes sense to have some some extra sensitivity, and when I want a little less “bow” setting the hook. Otherwise I am trilene big game all the way. People tout big game for being a “pull your truck out of a ditch” kind of line, but I have experienced the same kind of strength fishing 18lb sniper, which is still thinner than 15lb big game. 15lb big game is actually just 22lb line in strength and diameter… fun fact. What do I like most about big game? I can change out my line every trip or every other trip if I want, and it costs me pennies. Good line is great, but what beats fresh, good line?

This is a good thread. Makes you think about what you check for before you go fishing. I saved a copy of my post into my notes with a few additions based on comments here. With any luck, I will be doing pre-fishing ‘layouts’ based on this list before I go fishing.

1. Scale. Must verify it is working and that I have spare batteries with me. 2. Sonar with battery and appropriate cables. Must verify it is fully charged. 3. Kayak paddle 4. Kayak pedal 5. Anchor 6. Lifejacket 7. Small pliers 8. Multitool 9. ‘Fish grippers’ 10. Sharpener 11. Smelly Jelly Pro Guide Formula 13. Scissors 14. Spare line 15. KVD line conditioner 16. Hat 17. Sunglasses 18. Beverage of choice 19. Snacks Night Edition 20. Headlamp with spare batteries 21. Lantern with spare batteries 22. Bug spray 23. High powered flashlight for signaling, with spare batteries

@king fisher sorry brother. I like the anticipation and wonder about where my lure will land. Over a tree limb? Dry land? My ear? I find shorter casts to at times be more effective at night 🙃. I, for one, enjoy night fishing, but I understand your pain. This season should see the majority of my outings after hours. Several reasons why, but if I am to achieve my goal of a DD on pressured water, I feel my odds go up at night when ol sally cannot see quite as well. Still deep!

Bait monkey adores this thread It pleases him very much

You want it to come through grass?

First, line choice is always selected based on how you want the overall system (rod, line, hook, drag) to perform. To speak generally, I used braid to leader on my baitcasting rigs for a couple years. I switched to straight mono or fluoro on most of my baitcasting rigs to reduce a potential weak point in my line, to cast more smoothly through smaller guides, to allow more stretch/give in my overall system, to allow me to cut off frayed line more regularly, and to skip easier. The advantages of braid to leader are a more direct pull, more sensitivity on tight line, and the ability to cast higher lb test line easier.

Yes. Coffee always or I do the same while night fishing

I watched a seminar by Lee Livesay recently about topwater. He starts throwing topwater earlier than many. I am going to wait until water temps reach 50 before I consider it, but they will bite it sooner. Side note: if you live in TX or anywhere close by, you need to listen to Lee. He gives great information.

@FishTax if I have the opportunity to come back to NC for the winter holidays, we should try again for Thom-A-Lex or Badin. Bojangles before or after.

Bojangles outside of NC simply isn’t Bojangles. I had it in Georgia once and it was disgusting. But Bojangles inside NC…. WHOOWEE

We can fix this. Show up to my place 9am sharp tomorrow. Slow cooked grits or buttermilk biscuits. I will make you a believer

I perform the best on a classic breakfast for athletes... old fashioned oatmeal and eggs. If I need something faster, usually a bagel and banana or similar works for me.

My Mom was just out fishing at Ol Muddy as well… she said she lost what she thinks was the pond record. Saw her jump and broke off at the hook. Okay y’all…. we’re okay…. I don’t think it’s going to happen to us too… right? Right? By the way I told her to try the maxscent general and report back…. She’s slaying em

A spinning rod Fenwick Techna 7’0 Medium, Fast Pflueger President XT Power pro 20lb —-> Invisx 10lb 4lb drag 3/8oz Nichols Pulsator, 10ft deep over grass Literally just using what I had on hand

@ol'crickety there are two ways that I get a photo to upload upright every time. 1. Send from phone to computer and upload via computer. 2. Crop the photo just slightly. Doesn't matter where or how much. Just snip off a tiny bit of the photo and save as a new copy. Upload via phone. Nice fishing!!