Buzzbaiter

In that case, I could understand exterminating bass. If they’re truly invasive, then I see much more value in a native fishery than yet another bass fishery. I think that we as outdoorsmen should value and protect our native ecosystems a bit more, even when it might conflict with our own recreational interest. Killing a 10 pounder would still sadden me though

Yep, eastern cottontails

This is my first year hunting. My deer season was fruitless, so I decided to bridge the gap between now and turkey season by targeting rabbits with a bow. I just don’t know much about the process. What should I look for and how do I find them? All I really know is that rabbits like heavy brush. Also, do I need small game broadheads or will big game heads and field points work?

How is the inland perch fishing right now? From what I’ve read, perch spawn quite early, so I’m hoping to catch some prespawn/spawn perch out of the reservoirs. A healthy fish fry should get me through to March.

I’m sure it’s a long ways off, but I’m itching to start catching. In years past, I’ve always missed prespawn because I started too late (usually around the time they spawn). When does it start getting good in Central Maryland?

Maybe put a few small splitshot or a bit of water in the frog to make it sit lower in the weeds. The fish should find it easier to grab

I’ve never done well with this rig, how do you fish it?

I start with an aggressive retrieve but go down to a more finesse retrieve until I found out what the fish want. That usually means ripping the tube aggressively and then letting it spiral down (rip rip, pause) and intermittently slow dragging or dead-sticking it. As I continue without bites, I like to increase the amount of slow dragging and decrease the amount of ripping until I’m just dragging and dead-sticking the tube. If I still don’t get anything, I tie on something else

More than likely just irresponsible pet owners. I’ve never seen a pleco in an Asian market

It should work just fine. There’s only one way to know for sure. If you want to tinker around, try putting it on a swim jig to bulk up the profile to imitate crappie or some other forage

A heavy flipping jig or swim jig also works well. Since the head designs are so similar, you can use one for both purposes. As you’ve already found, the weightless senko also produces well. Buzzbaits work well around the edges, whereas toads and frogs do well for fishing in the clusters. If you want to fish around the edges, a dropshot can get bites when they’re being difficult. However, I use that approach carefully since it’s really easy for a big bass to run your rig into the spatterdocks. Typically, I turn to a senko for tight-lipped bass

I throw a similar rig, the Menace on a 1/4oz ball head. It works fabulously on a Medium power Fast action spinning rod

I was reflecting on the summer and all of the things I learned fishing for smallmouth in creeks and rivers. One of the things that just occurred to me was that some presentations did very well in some bodies of water, but wouldn’t get touched in another. Does anybody have a similar experience? Maybe I just need more time to figure out these creeks, but the fish seemed pretty selective about what they wanted.

Flukes and lipless crankbaits. I’m going to give the lipless another try this spring, but I’ve never done well on the fluke. They just don’t do it for me

Zman TRD CrawZ and SK Baby Menace

Maybe I’m not being smart, but carp and bass don’t eat the same things or live in exactly the same places. I don’t see how they can outcompete bass.

Same with bladebaits

Now this is quite the spicy conversation. It’s important to consider conservation. People buy licenses, more funds for wildlife (“wildlife” includes the fish that we love to catch). Also, a few standout anglers out of a new generation might be inspired to get involved in conservation by planning projects or volunteering. None of that is possible without new fishermen. Also consider the state that hunting is in. Hunting is quite similar to fishing in that it involves the taking of wildlife from wild places. Hunters and fishermen are intimately connected with nature, and they are the first ones to notice when something is off about the environment. Hunting as a sport isn’t doing too well, with the demographic being pretty exclusive. Years ago, people would fight tooth and nail for hunter’s rights. Now, it’s often just a passing thought or thorn in the side when it comes to land management planning. Why? There’s not enough hunters. Consider conservation before we start gatekeeping our wonderful sport.

I figured I’d pick up tying jigs this winter to get me through the cold weather. With Christmas coming up, a tying kit seems like a fun gift for myself. I have some neat ideas for jigs that I can’t find on the market, so I want to try making them myself. What basic materials do I need? For reference, I’ll be tying skirted bass jigs as well as hair jigs and jig-flies for bass and trout.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_TRD_Tubez_6pk/descpage-ZMTRDT.html These might interest you

I’m planning on camping at Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite and wading the Potomac for smallmouth in the spring or summer. I’ve never been to the Potomac, but it looks pretty wide and intimidating. Is that part of the river safe to wade?

Throw a dart at a map of NC. Then find the creek that is closest to the dart. That is where you’ll catch your first smallie (don’t go too far into the headwaters though, the fish get smaller and fewer). Seriously though, I would recommend fishing a river or creek over a lake because the smallmouth are much easier to locate and catch. It’s also fun to see fish chase your baits. When you find a creek that few other people fish, you have access to a body of water full of unpressured, aggressive fish

I’m at that stage where I have to start thinking about colleges and what I want to do with my life. Which would you guys say is more important in a career: paying well, or being enjoyable? Is it a ratio of both? I hear some people say that if you have a job you love, you never work a day in your life. On the other hand, I also hear people tell me not to mix my hobbies with my work. Which is it?

“How to Lower Your Expectations: a Full Seminar on Heartbreak, Skunking, and Getting Snagged”

What’s the fishing like down in southern Tennessee? I’m thinking about attending college somewhere around the Winchester area (near Tim’s Ford Lake and Woods Reservoir). I’d like to know about about all the different gamefish species there and which lakes are known for what. I’m particularly interested in spots and smallmouth since I’m from MD, and I love wading rivers for smallies. What’s it like down there? Do you guys have actual winters or does the fishing keep going through the year? Do spotted bass and smallmouth live in all of the creeks there? Is Chickamauga as great as people make it out to be? I’m really curious, if you couldn’t tell