T-Billy

That would be a fun video to watch. Looks like the drive cam took a direct hit.

Laydowns: All are not created equal. The structure they're laying on is a big deal. Some will produce consistently, some will produce seasonally, some will never produce, even though they may look good to our eye. Remember which ones produce, and when. Spinnerbaits: Seasonal baits for me. Pre-spawn mostly, and only if I have some wind. Jigs: I mostly just use them to fish rock structure anymore. I've caught lot's of quality fish on 'em, including my PB LM, but I just get more bites with a flippin rig, and it comes through wood and weeds cleaner than any jig. I'm pretty much to this point with the flippin rig and chatterbait, at least with the green fish. Add a tube, a ned, and a grub, and I'm pretty well set for brown bass too.

I have a couple years on my Ampere Time 200AH. 100% happy with it.

Ark Invoker Pro 7'4" H MF. I throw 'em on braid and prefer a MF action.

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

I've done OK with them in the daylight, but for me, they are king of the nighttime world. Burned over shallow weed flats, stop and go on the outside edge, crawled over rock structure... they flat get bit, and they draw big bites. I figured out the year before last, on those nights when they're just nipping at the CB, all I have to do is switch to a paddle tail on a jig head and fish it in the same manner in the same places, and it'll get choked. This scenario is usually on those slick, calm nights. A little wind definitely helps the CB bite, night or day. So... I'll agree with both Matt and Mark, but mostly Matt. The only time I just straight retrieve one is when I'm slow rolling it, banging it through chunk rock.

I'm a fan of the weedless wacky hooks with the fluoro weed guards.

BOGO sale on the Ark website, on Invoker Pro's and Viper Classic's. Must...Be...Strong. Don't...Need...More...Rods..................😂 I do have a hankering for a 7'11" XH F Invoker.

Safety first Katie. Wise trumps brave. Fishing alone, late at night, in a tippy canoe, in a weed choked bog, is not the safest of activities. On the other hand, a more stable craft, like a small row boat at your new place... 😉

Things get more consistent and predictable once it tops 50 for sure.

I've done worse. 😉

It'll get easier as those surface temps start edging up closer to 50, @ol'crickety.

That's typical in spring on the lakes I fish Woody. The fish stage at the mouths of bays first, and move toward the back as the water warms and the weeds get growing.

I can go back through decades of my big fish pics and find two common themes. The majority were either caught in the dark, or from cold water. Sub 55 degrees gets me excited. I've caught big's in about every condition, but those two factors definitely up the odds of connecting with a giant.

Absolutely. I'm really looking forward to it. Normally I'd be about six weeks out from going nocturnal right now, but this spring, who knows? Last August I added these guys into the night fishing mix. They up the excitement ante by a big margin.

I'll try a new knot when I have a need. Currently... Trilene Knot for mono. Alberto with an extra wrap through the loop at the finish, for braid to leader. Palomar, for braid to bass lures. Snell, for braid to flippin rig. Improved Uni with 9 wraps, for braid to A-rig and leaders for muskie. All the above have proven to be very good knots for the listed applications.

The fish were a bit more cooperative today than they were yesterday. I got out for about four hours, put 8 in the boat, and lost two more. All were caught pitching flooded brush. The two lost were both dinks that came unbuttoned as they were sailing over my head. 😂 Best of the bunch was this 3.21#

Yep. U-40.

8hrs. 3 dinks. The only lake I can currently launch on, due to flooding, is a mud hole. The others are 6' + high, and the ramps are inaccessible. The eclipse was pretty underwhelming. Was within 50mi of full coverage, I was expecting it to get darker.

8 is a lot of blade for 3/4oz. Also be sure they're regular 8 and not mag 8 blades. Big difference in size

Congrats @JayMac89!!! Nice fish, and a good learning experience.

Shallow. TIGHT to cover. Jig, Trig, spinnerbait.

100% ^^^ THIS ^^^ All... Day... Long. A stupid rigged tube is another great option.

New Tranx 401HG on the way. I'm clearly not responsible enough to possess both a credit card and the interwebs. 🤦‍♂️ Dealing with the Bait Monkey is easy compared to the Muskie Gorilla.

I ride in a different seat each day and lick the windows clean. 🤪