Darth-Baiter

I’ve fished lakes with bottoms like swimming pools. The fish will nestle next to a sunken bottle. Or shopping cart. A fluff of hydrilla would be luxurious! A soft structure

I kinda think (right or wrong) that grass is a type of structure. Just me, the rookie.

i was super curious, so i went and saw the remains of Ho Chi Minh. i am not convinced its the OG laying there. looks like a wax figure. one of my coolest visits ever. did you ever try that "Breakfast beer"? almost no alchohol and it's intent is to be a sterile, hydration method for the locals. i dont think they really wash the cups, but i can attest to it's hydrating capabilty.

@casts_by_fly WOW!! what a trip!! i drove for a short while in Vietnam when my driver got drunk. he had a diesel Hilux, so i was, "give me the keys!". it was in the jungles and not a city so i never felt outgunned. in the city? i would have walked. no thanks.

true. it isnt ideal for treble hooks, but i get by.

i think a shakey head is kinda like a Big Ned anyways. but to the 8lb leader. i think 8lb needs a double knot. as in the line needs to go around the hook-eye twice. i use the double san diego jam knot. i think some people call it the Jimmy Houston knot. and the hooks are needles. you just have to reel and lean into the biting fish to push the barb in.

not sure i would catagorize that as a lemon/lemonaide situation. Walleye are so delicious!!! those are some yummy lemons.

i do this, but a square bill crank. something you can rip thru the tips. this happened once to me, and i have been chasing the thrill ever since. i slow cranked a MegaBass Freestyle Magdraft. it was coming thru the upper portion SEXY-LIKE(!). the bass that slammed it was angry!! it made me scream in joy. hasnt happend again.

since you have Windbuster budget..i would go with the 110 special, or Jerkbait special, in the Orrochi. (i sadly use a Fury..hahha)

we say, "find the grass, find the bass." since it is clear (water) send a tex rig into the pockets? hydrilla fans out as it goes up. there are openings underneath, and since bass cant wear sunglasses, they like the shade.

here in some of our water, we yank big bass out of very tight cover. some lily pads, etc. i dont have lily pads in my waters, but i have these thick veggie mats that are 1 meter thick, and below that is dark cool waters. i sometimes punch a big heavy bait offering into them. the vegetation is so thick, my fishing line plays an almost musical note, when it draws up against it. sounds like a very badly tuned violin. if and when a bass grabs on, you set the hook HARD, and literally which it thru the thick mat and haul it in. there is no "playing" the fish. the thick braid can help slice thru the mess. i have only that reel spooled with 65, but sometimes we dont play the fish. we haul it in with zero fanfare.

i'm secure enough to not associate any vehicle to any labels. a learned that in therapy.

i think in Summary, the Brazilians have smaller rods? i'll be in Brazil soon. the guide instructed us to spool up with nothing smaller than 65lb braid. i am gonna bring one reel with 40, just cuz the line is so new. i'll be the grinning dude with a big Peacock. i will be playing with the guides diminutive rods. the brazil noodle.

the whopper plopper, especially the bigger ones dive into the water about a foot when they land. they always come up twisted up in the grass. super frustrating. but i have seen some explosive bites on my friends attempts. i hate the things.

i was passed in my kayak by TWO cigarette style boats. it was daunting. they made a surpisingly small wake. but if we didnt see each other, they wouldnt even notice the greasy water spot i left behind.

a couple of my slender friends, i notice they were not eating sugar. they both told me they are Diabetic!! i was blown away. i'm not fat in the classic sense. haha. i am still very limber, and strong for my age. not fat really. i can still lay on the floor and get up off of it, without using my hands. i got to thinking. if my skinny buds are getting sick..i am doomed. so i have been eating lots of veggies and in general making healthy food choices. i already got off the booze train. my fishing kayak friends are way younger than i am. i can hang with duration and distance. But i am going to eat better and heathier..and cheaper. no more mid week workday lunches. i dont care if the Tesla Charger is right next to an IN/OUT burger. hahah..dangerous. it starts TODAY. oatmeal and salad packed for work. (yuck - this is gonna be a tough adjust)

ahhh.. too soon for me to trash talk the A-rig. i only have one fruitless season on it.

we have a beautiful lake here. Lake Sonoma. i hear stories of giant bass, but none for me. i have been known to fist-pump in celebration a 2lb bass, in this lake. i have NEVER landed anything bigger. think it is a biology problem? stunted fish? over population? bad genetics? i dont get it. the lake is amazing. clean. deep, lots of cover.

this sums it up. i dont even get pictures. quick operation and fish goes away into the water ASAP. i know some days, when i dont feel the bite, they get the hook way down there.

the Pandemic made everyone a sourdough starter bread maker and bass fisherperson. EVERYone is fishing. our lakes are full of kayakers these days. i dont mind, i like the challenge.

Some DEPs. Bluegill glide bait. $50 and it’s fishless. I just carry it now. And anything with Bellows in the name. oh the tiny(est) whopper plopper sucks!

I’m trying to target a great 1/8oz t-rig (total weight would be around 1/2) and 3/8th jig rod. I do own some 1/2oz finesse jigs. I was thinking FMJ, but I was told that’s for heavier stuff. So I started thinking x-bites. Full disclosure: rod I’m trying to replace is a simple Fury 733. It casts them great, but sensitivity is lacking, unless im actively dragging the bait. thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Spring fishing is weird. I wore a puffy jacket yesterday. Then six hours later…shorts. In the evening, puffy jacket with shorts. Haha. im confused. our local bass are freaked.

How’s that x-bites? About to pull the trigger. I’ll probably top it with a Bantam.

@A-Jay yea. I’ll give him a crack at it. Thx.