DaubsNU1

Outstanding! Excellent work. The lakes I fish have lots of vegetation and moss...about the only jig fishing I do is pitching and flipping trees, docks, structure. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for bass!! Believe me, I miss fish....All. The. Time! I agree, with the smaller fish, you can feel the bite. With larger fish, it's usually: I pay close attention to the fall...if the fall stops early...a fish has it = set the hook After the fall stops...if the line moves...a fish has it = set the hook On retrieve or pickup...if the line feels "mushy"...a fish has it = set the hook On retrieve or pickup...I can feel my line rubbing against limb = do not set the hook My boat is small (14' long, 60" wide), casting deck up front with cable steer Minn Kota 40lb...I can steer without looking down. I can jam my boat in areas like this, where others won't go. Keep after them!!

5 MPH limit on this lake. No wake.

Local lake today. Yes, that's a trolling motor and battery. I'm going to say, "nope."

I'm fearful of losing a finger, a foot, a limb, or an eye (or both!). Deathly afraid of being paralyzed. Afraid of getting in an accident, and having uncontrollable pain for the rest of my life. Afraid of addiction...I've never tried drugs of any kind. I do drink, but just a little. All of the above are a result of seeing others experiences.

I'm old, stupid, and cheap. Still fishing the Cabela's branded rods I purchased in the 1990's. I'm told, by a friend who worked at Cabela's corporate HQ in Sidney, NE, those rods were produced by Loomis, with similar blanks, in the same factory. I like them very much. They work for me. Can I tell the difference between the Fish Eagle II, C44x, XML-Ti? Not really. they all fish well. My advice for anyone looking for fishing rods...get what you can afford, and like...and hold on to it as long as you can. Manufacturers are always looking for a way to save a buck / increase profits. They don't make then like they used to...

My boat is equipped to hold 6 rods. Depending on lake, it's either four bait-casters and two spinning rods, or three of each. I want to be able to secure all rods when traveling and on the water. When I fish in my brother's Lund, I take three rods, again, so I can secure every rod when traveling and on the water.

^^ I've heard this as well...better odd of getting struck by lightning twice on same day vs. winning lottery. Not sure on the Musky part : ) ^^ Talked with a guy who worked for a company that advised lottery winners. They said if you do win the lottery, do the following immediately: Do not tell ANYONE! Especially family and friends. Cancel all your credit cards, close them out. Cancel your phone Lock down your bank account Call an attorney Keep going to work Figure out how you want to accept the $$, lump sum, annual payments. Set up a trust. Figure out how much you will be sharing with kids, family, etc. Set aside some fun $$ for you and spouse. Lock down a big chunk in to long term stuff to plan for future. Then lock remainder down...so if anyone comes asking, you can honestly say, "can't access that $$." ** Yep, I've thought WAAAY to much about this stuff...I should probably buy a ticket every now and then ** My one-liner at work is this..."you will know I've won the lottery...there will be popcorn in every microwave, set to 40 minutes...and you will never see me again!" (our office has a ban on microwave popcorn...it's a long story... : )

Most of the lakes I fish here in Nebraska have visibility less than 1-2' I catch bass on all kinds of lures -- spinner baits, jigs, cranks, Senko's, NED, drop shot, chatterbaits, t-rigged plastics, Slug-Go, square-bill, etc. Green pumpkin has been my go-to color for a long time for plastics.

Lots of kayakers on one of the local lakes here...The fishermen kayakers are very respectful, good to talk with, share information, etc. I got nothing but respect for them. It's the recreational kayakers that get frustrating. A small business has set up on this lake, and they rent yaks to bunches of people daily (weekends are the busiest). They will often paddle between me and bank / trees / cover, not knowing that I'm fishing right there(!). And they clog up the small ramp...even though they have a dedicated, specialized kayak launching dock just yards away. I smile and try to respectfully educate when I can. Most just don't know. The lake is relatively new (open for 4 years), allows gas motors with 5mph limit / no wake, has great paved trail around entire lake. Lots of foot traffic, families, dogs, bikers, etc. It's a fun lake, holding LMB, Northern Pike, crappie, and bluegill. Catch and release only. Lots of timber...

Most all of the lakes I fish around here are perfect for a kayak, or my small v-hull boat. Fished Lake Poinsett in South Dakota about 15 years ago. 8,000 acre lake...the wind picked up...I honestly thought were would not make it back to shore. Ugh. Brother has a 18' Lund Alaskan...we took my Dad to Frances Case in South Dakota a few times. That lake can get scary really quick. No way I'm taking a kayak out there. I think it really depends on the lakes in your area, and your comfort / expertise on the water.

I like your list. Recently I've circled back to my "old-school" presentation, and have had good luck... Spinner bait Jig-n-pig T-rigged worms

Good details @casts_by_fly, and excellent point. I purchased my boat/motor/trailer for $600 (granted, that was in 2000). Immediately added casting deck, two seats and the bow mounted Minn Kota. Through the years I have lots of upgrades, changes, renovations, etc. I probably have ~$3k in the boat total. So when my buddy suggests I sell my boat, and get a kayak...that does not make sense for me.

Keep shooting!! One thing has lead to better fishing recently...getting back to basics. This spring I decided to focus more attention on my basics -- spinner-bait, jig-n-pig, Texas rigged plastics. I am catching more fish.

I've been logging / tracking my fishing since the 1990's...with hopes of "cracking the code" and figuring out the best times to fish, the times to stay home. I track lots of factors, including barometric pressure. My findings..."inconclusive" A few situations to illustrate: Fishing a local lake...day started off hot, good bite going. Thunderstorm blew threw (I sat in my truck for 40 minutes), then got back on the water, and the bite was on FIRE! Three weeks ago...weather had been mild and clear. Front came through night before, temps dropped, cloudy, interment light rain...I decided to get some fishing in before leaving town. The good bite that morning...lots of fish on the board. Two weeks ago...weather patterns steady for a week...the bite was non-existent. I don't stress too much about barometric pressure...if it's going to rain all day, I'm staying home. If the wind is blowing 25+, I might stay home. Otherwise, if I have time, I'm fishing.

My favorite was the '95 Orange Bowl. Watched with family...When Brook threw INT in the end zone, my Mom blurted out, "oh d**n...we are going to lose." I said, "nope, keep the faith...we got this..." Her reply, "If we win, I will kiss your ass, and give you a $1!" (The $1 bet is our standard family wager). She signed the $1, and I have a picture of Mom kissing my behind!! Priceless! ** She was a woman of her word! **

Agreed! I remember the 1978 NU/OU game, Osborne finally beating the Sooners. Had season tickets from 2005 to 2015...the 2009 game vs. Oklahoma was awesome. Our tickets were in north end zone...got to watch Alex Henry's 57 yard field goal start wide...then curl back through the uprights. I don't think I've ever heard the stadium so loud! Great memories...

HA! I'd say it's the money : ) Football season is good...growing up I loved the Minnesota Vikings (Tarkington, Alan Page, etc.), but stopped following them when they moved in to the dome. Panzies! Liked the 49ers when they had Roger Craig and Tom Rathman in the backfield (I'm a Nebraska alum). Liked the Giants during the Phil Simms days...mainly because I hated the Cowboys...why not cheer for their rival : ) My daughters became Chiefs fans about 5 years ago. Fun to watch. Got in to fantasy football back in the early days...won two leagues, pocketed enough $$ to purchase a really nice deer rifle. Then quit...found that fantasy was ruining the way I watched football..."no, don't throw that TD to the stupid WR...throw it to my TE!!!" I mainly watch College FB on Saturday, and then get after hunting/fishing/projects on Sundays. I will watch Sunday and Monday nights...

I don't know that bass really care about line color. I ran Fenwick Iron Thread on my bait casters for 10+ years...it would get faded and turn almost white...still caught fish.

^^ Great advice ^^ I have two Shimano Nexave spinning reels. They are great! Bunch of buddies and I went to Lake Fork in the 1996(?). It was tough going for the first few days...then talked to a local who gave us this advice: "Get some slip-bobbers, rig them to run about 8-9' deep...then get yourself some big-ol-shiners on a good sized hook. Might need a weight to keep them down. Toss in the flooded timber...crack a beer...and wait. When that bobber goes under, count to three...then SET THE HOOK! And HOLD ON!" We caught a bunch of 4-5lb bass, and one that went just over 8lbs. Great time! Enjoy!!

I was out of fishing for about 15 years...joined Bass Resource a few years back...and learned a lot about braid-to-leader. I started fishing straight braid on all my bait-casters in the 1990's. Still do. On my spinning rods, I switched from mono last spring. I now fish spinning rods with 10lb PowerPro bright yellow, tied to 8lb fluoro leader. It's been a game changer!

I started fishing braid in my bait-casters in the 1990's. Fewer backlashes vs. mono, increased sensitivity & strength, lasted a really long time. Never fished a leader on these set ups. No need in my mind. I was firmly against braid-to-leader on a spinning rod. Read a ton of posts here...and last spring finally decided to give it a try. At first, I did not like it. But kept after it. Now I would say a spinning rod spooled with 10lb bright yellow Power Pro, tied to 8lb fluorocarbon leader is my favorite way to fish. Why: Increased casting distance No line-memory Greater sensitivity Love the easy to see bright-yellow line If I get hung, can break off 8lb fluoro easily...vs. cutting braid

My personal best was caught in a small pond, I'd say less than an acre total. Knew some guys who would catch LMB's at a larger lake, and transport them to this pond. This was back in the 1990's. You never know until you fish it...

Crazy! I was fishing a t-rigged, weightless Senko on a local lake. Nice fish broke off my lure...never saw him. About 20 minutes later, still fishing the same area...boated a nice 3lb bass...looked in it's mouth...and there was my Senko and hook I had lost! : )

In 1996 me and a bunch of buddies who worked at Cabela's were invited down to fish Lake Fork in Texas. A mutual friend of ours lived down that way and wanted to host us for a few days. Of course we rolled in to town cocky and sure of ourselves. We threw everything we had...got skunked for day and a half. Finally talked to a few locals who suggested we either 1.) hire a guide to show is the ropes, or 2.) get some shiners, slip bobbers, and start fishing the timber. We opted for option #2 and started slaying them. Boated an 8 lb bass and multiple in the 5-6 lb range. There is no substitute for wisdom / experience.

When I was a kid, kayaks were not a thing. I started shore fishing...then got a belly-boat...then fished from a friend's canoe. All were GREAT upgrades from previous! I have mad respect for kayak fishermen! If I didn't have a good tow-vehicle, and a place to store my boat...I too would be getting a yak. A few buddies have transitioned from boats to yak's, and keep trying to talk me in to one. Nope. I have my boat just the way I like it. So why did you get a kayak?? My boat for reference...It is old. It is paid for. I can stand. Makes 20 mph on it's best day. I can fish two if needed.