PotatoLake

I live in Western Mo, and I had a night where I caught double digit number of bass on it. It was this spring around the spawn. My grandfather fished a devils horse on an Ozark Highland Reservoir for 35 years and caught many many bass with them. He was nuts, he'd throw it in 100 degree weather in the middle of the day and still caught fish.

Hey I was just curious if anyone put the size 60 to test this year. Last time I checked, it sounded like it was winter when everyone put their order in for the 60. I'd even take a quick thumbs up or down.

I’ve had really good luck with a Missile Baits 4.5” Quiver Worm. That little paddle on the back reacts to any subtle movement. Good stuff.

Amen on the crazy flapper. I’ve even slapped it on a Ned head.

Top water - If there's not a ton of muck, I like throwing a popper. Slow, with a loud bubble noise. I have better luck with ones that have a feather on the back hook. Lots of cheese on the water, then I've been liking the Scum Frog lately. Mid depth - XZone Swammer in 309 color on a bluegill swimjig. To be very specific. Mid-Bottom - Rage Cut R Worm in Blue Craw to be specific. Bottom - I like big ribbon tail worms, Rage Anaconda's, Ol Monsters etc. Super light worm weight or weightless. And yeah, if you're not getting bit, wacky rig a Senko, and it'll get you bit.

Awesome, this intrigues me. I appreciate the info. We don't get to fish for meanmouth, smallmouth and spots very often over in my part of Mo, so that would be a good time for my boys for sure.

So I looked into this, and I had read by July all the bass will be super duper deep, but perhaps I'm misreading the situation. While Chick is on my bucket list, the logistics of my trip make it so fishing the creeks around Bryson City and fishing at Fontana much easier. Man I love a popper bite... Were you kayaking when you caught that spot? Does anyone have a recommendation for a guide? One other problem is that I've dragged my feet and I only have a short window of time I can probably make it out onto Chick, I'm betting a lot of them are booked up.

You read my mind, that’s my next thing I’m going to try. I have a 1 1/4 oz. punching jig I’m itching to use. Thanks for all of those ideas. Perhaps you’ll see a bait monkey post someday soon with some of these suggestions making guest appearances.

Yeah, I saw that. I might have to make an order!

I am taking a family vacation this July where I'm driving from MO through Tennessee and stopping in Bryson City, NC. I think I'll be traveling and stopping in Nashville, The Smokey Mountains area, and then through the Chattanooga area on my way back. For those of you with experience or live in this part of the country what are some must visits for me and my two boys to fish? I know about Chickamauga, but I always hear about how pressured it is, etc. Might be able to afford a guide for one place, but the rest of the time I'd most likely be either shore fishing or wading or floating creeks.

My local fishing hole holds good sized bass and grows over with cheese mats and grass. One day of laying into them with a punch rig and I’m all in as it’s super fun, sort of like ice fishing but with vegetation. I was catching them on a BBB Fighting Frog and a Gambler Why Not. Anyone have any other suggestions for plastics I’m missing out on? I always like to have a few options. TIA

I can tell you that I’ll throw a big dark colored worm after a rain. My working theory is that type of forage gets washed into the lake. I’ve had some solid success with it.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Rage_Cut_R_Worm_7pk/descpage-SKRCW.html This in Blue Craw...

I took mine to Minnesota last year to throw for pike, and stupidly never reached for it.

Yeah I think now is prime time here in Missouri, not sure what your water temps are in Michigan. Just like all swimbait fishing, you have to convince yourself it’s worth the possibility of getting no bites. I struggle with that a lot. More likely, next time I fish this I get skunked.

Secret Lures Ledge Shaker, Gammy hooks and Have a keeper that actually keep the plastics on. Has a divot the helps your worms stand up easily.

I’ve owned one of these for a year, and decided with bass spawning/ guarding fry plus the bluegill spawn being a possibility I thought I’d let it rip and fish it for a few hours. Had the best 20 minutes of fishing for bass I’ve ever had. Caught a 6, 5, 5, and a 4, just all in this little window. And then just like that, poof, no more bites. I figured I must have ran into a wolf pack of big girls and cashed in all I could. Also, there’s nothing like a bass destroying these baits, they hit it like they meant business. What is beautiful about these is they slow float, so you can work them over submerged grass, I sort of worked them like a jerkbait. Fun stuff.

I keep seeing the Keitech Crazy Flapper go on clearance at various retailers. That is my favorite pitching / flipping bait. I’ll shed a tear if they go bye-bye.

Never caught a largemouth on one, but crushed the pike and smallies last year at Rainy Lake with one that was plain old silver and black. Looked just like the Cisco they were munching on.

I like aurora black and ghost minnow.

They are a legit company, I own a lure of theirs for pike/Muskie fishing. They work. I bet the downsized version would work on bass.

Mojo rig w/ French fry or Yoto worm Devil’s Horse Tokyo or Jika with a Bluegill colored swimbait (Bass hate this thing)

Mojo rig with a green pumpkin french fry bait.

Yeah I think its Midwest, or even Missouri / Arkansas Ozarks terminology. @Bluebasser86 I think you may be right that guts and pockets may be the same thing.

I’ve heard countless times to look for bass in the guts of pockets? What exactly does this mean? I’m assuming down the middle of a pocket? But can someone add a little nuance to this?