DaubsNU1

Most of the lakes in my area have similar clarity. @DitchPanda has some great advice ^^^ I like buzz-baits first thing in the morning as well. You might consider running a square-bill (get a good lure-retriever). I throw a lot of spinner-baits, weightless Senkos, NEDs, and t-rigged plastics. In the past month I've been pitching a black / blue jig-n-craw under docks, piers, heavy cover...and landed some nice 4-5lb bass. Another option to consider is a drop-shot. Good luck!!

This market is causing people to do crazy things, like cash offers without inspections. Friends of ours had to move to Kansas due to job relocation. Found a great property, 10 acres in the country, older home, out-building, owner lost her husband...92 years old...wanted to sell fast. They made offer and got the house... After closing storm blew through...they noticed water...and started looking real hard. Found bunch of water issues, lots of mold. Thankfully for my friends, the previous owner had what she thought was an inspection, and sent their way before closing...turns out it was an estimate to fix all the water / mold issues. I'm sure there is more to the story...we just got bits and pieces while talking at a graduation party. They have contacted an attorney. Stay careful out there people!

Local lake has some abandoned fishing piers...I was flipping under them just last week.

^^ Hard to argue with this ^^ I might add a buzz-bait in the morning.

I was VERY lucky growing up. Dad was a carpenter by trade, and a pretty good back-yard mechanic. He started as a painter, then got in to carpentry back in the early 1960's...when one crew built a house from the ground up. He knows how to dig and lay foundation, block walls, frame, electricity, plumbing, dry-wall, finish, cabinets, siding, roofing, etc. Not much that man cannot do! And we have tackled some fun auto projects: replaced engines, transmissions, timing belts, cam shafts, brakes, body work, etc. My latest project is replacing pool liner. One side of the pool was sagging...so I took pool apart and re-leveling the foundation before the new liner goes back in. Hit YouTube and the internet...not much you cannot tackle! I do draw the line at the power box. I want NOTHING to do with that level of electricity. I'm okay running wire, outlets, switches, etc., when it comes to that box, I call the electrician.

Lately I've been buying two of everything, sometimes three -- don't want to lose a lure and be on the water wishing I had another. What's your philosophy when purchasing lures / tackle, and why?

Sound asleep a few nights ago...dreamt I launched my boat (with the rope) and successfully tied off to the dock...pulled the trailer out and parked the truck... Walked back to the dock just in time to see last of the boat submerging under the water.... Woke up in a cold sweat! And, did not sleep again that night. Dang nightmares!!!

20" / 4lbs-14oz, jig-n-craw, black and blue.

I gave up bank fishing when I got a belly-boat. I gave up the belly-boat when my buddy got a canoe. I gave up the canoe when I got my boat. If all you have is bank fishing...keep bank fishing. You are still fishing!

Thanks @Captain Phil, you hit the nail on the head! I've got a pretty good memory, and love to think about patterns, conditions, where I caught fish, how I caught fish...and tend to get stuck in past ways. Coming here, reading posts, learning...I've really changed my fishing techniques and methods. Last weekend I was fishing a local lake...got their plenty early, hit all my spots, caught some fish. As it approached mid day, sun high in the sky...i started to make my way back to the dock. Decided to hit a few more spots...broke out the jig-n-pig, and pitched under some docks...and boated four really nice bass (16"-19"). They are out there...just got to find them, and adjust to the conditions.

Recently caught smallmouth on pumpkin green NED rigs. They weren't hitting on much else. Worth a try.

1000 series reel...10 lb power pro high-visibility yellow, tied to a 8# or 10# fluorocarbon leader. Let me tell you, I was not a fan of braid-to-leader on spinning rods...then forced myself to give it a long try...and now it's on ALL my spinning rods. Casts like a rocket, super sensitive, and haven't really had any issues with knots failing.

Got my first bait-caster years ago (I'm talking early 1990's)...and pretty much hated it. Mono would back-lash all the time. Spooled up some braid and it made a huge difference! Braid has been on all my bait-casters ever since. I started with 30lb Fenwick IronThread...I still have a spool or two laying around the shop. Moved to 20lb PowerPro. That's pretty much all I run. It's light enough to give me good casting distance on all my lures...and heavy enough to throw the big stuff when I need to. I use a modified version of the Trielene knot... After step #2, I take the tag end back through the opening on the right. Note: keep a chunk of wood / broom handle to wrap around braid if you get hung. That stuff is tough!

I think we will see more boats hitting the market this fall...with inflation and fuel prices high, people are going to start unloading those luxury items like boats, RV's, ATV's, etc.

Power Pro braid.

The lakes I fish, anything in pumpkin green -- TRD, Senko, craw, power-worm.

94, and heat index cracking 100 here in Nebraska. Caught fish this morning...now I'm sitting in the AC, watching the CWS.

On the water at 6:30 AM. Hot and humid today, bright sun, stained water, and water levels about 3-4' lower than normal. I figured what the heck. Turned out to be one of my best days fishing in Nebraska! Spinnerbait and jig-n-craw all day long. Three LMB's under 13" 3 @ 14" 2 @ 15" 2 @ 16" 1 @ 17" 1 @ 18" 1 @ 19" And a 24" catfish caught on my spinnerbait : ) The four biggest fish caught pitching the jig next to docks between 11:00-Noon.

Grew up in Omaha...been to move CWS games than I can count. Family friend has 4 tickets on first base side...my daughters loved going! Sooooo glad they moved from Rosenblatt to the new stadium. College baseball is fantastic. Wish it got more exposure outside of the CWS. Looking forward to watching some baseball this weekend!

Frances Case in South Dakota last week with my brother and Uncle. 19" / 2lb-14oz on a NED rig.

I've been fishing two lakes recently...my game plan on both: Lake #1: I like to be the first one off the ramp, 30-40 minutes prior to daylight. Start the day with Buzz-bait or a Plopper on one rod. Move to other rods/setups as the day progresses -- spinner-bait, chatterbait, SENKO, KVD 1.5, NED, T-rigged plastics Lake #2: again, first off the ramp...start with buzz-bait, then move to spinner-bait and square-bills, maybe a rattle-trap. The other lures do not tend to produce on this lake.

I used to hammer coke/pepsi and anything caffeinated growing up. Noticed the highs and lows, and caffeine cravings...so I switched to caffeine-free soda. After about 3 months, I quit soda all together. Never liked the smell of coffee, and have had exactly one coffee in my entire life...an exchange student got me an iced coffee as a "thank you," so I choked it down, a smile on my face. I drink a ton of water throughout the day.

My top 10... NED Senko Spinnerbait T-rigged plastics KVD square-bill Buzz-bait Whopper Plopper Chatterbait Slug-Go jig-n-twister tail grub

I started using braid on my bait-casters in the 1990's. Really liked the sensitivity, and decreased backlashes. Tried on a few spinning rods, but did not like it much. Did not like the way it handled finesse baits. When I joined this site...read lots of thread on braid to leader on spinning gear. Finally forced myself to try it again...this time with bright yellow 10lb braid to fluorocarbon leader. Took a while to get on board, but I really like it now. Casts a mile, and the fluoro handles finesse presentations well. I was skeptical about knots, but have been using the Alberto with no issues. Really like ability to see my line and detect strikes visually.

Spinnerbait his producing well for me recently. 20 inch, 5 lb 4 oz. on white chartreuse SBait this morning.