OldManLure

If the rod is rated for baits up to 1/2oz., I’m pretty sure there’s nothing to worry about.

The bass will still visit shallower water to feed. There is a window of opportunity there, and depending on where you are and the water you’re fishing, the window will vary in size.

This was indeed the original definition and was undoubtedly derogatory. The term seems to have evolved to now mean an accepted strategy to determine a pattern. It now implies a little thoughtfulness, and appears it is no longer derogatory.

The boat ramps are to be closed during drawdown and inspection of dam. I’m not sure of the date they will close, but I suspect this may be last weekend they are open. WVDNR website may have more details.

Unless you’re a market analyst, you probably should limit postings to fishing and grandkids.

I have been involved in the home building industry for more than 40 years. You don’t mention how long you have been retired, but I haven’t seen a ‘carpenter’ on any of my job sites for more than 25 years. Plenty of framers, but not 1 carpenter. Guys today think a framing square is used to draw a cut line, and a level is just a straight edge with a bubble.

And the guy who caught it was hungry… https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/angler-almost-ate-record-breaking-18lb-fish-caught-in-pennsylvania-river/ar-AAQRrtM?li=BBnb7Kz

You can’t go wrong with Rapala Flat Rap., Silver or Silver Blue. Probably my best shallow twitch bait.

Can’t agree more. Received mine last week. Couldn’t wait until Spring, so I unpacked my yak and talked a buddy into going to the river. Awesome rod!

Really! I’m betting that all of the little fishes in that river are still celebrating!

It’s a monster! https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.upi.com/amp/Odd_News/2021/11/16/Pennsylvania-state-record-walleye/4631637087350/

I do love the bite on a jerkbait, but I haven't experienced any bite more exciting than on a topwater. I can't think of anything that compares to seeing it, hearing it, and feeling it. Boating it can sometimes seem almost anitclimactic.

I love spinner baits and have used them regularly for 50+ years. I seemed to have always used jigs and chatterbaits only when other baits didn't seem to be working. But I started using them more frequently a couple years ago, and this past year had good success. I caught some nice fish in places that in years past I would have probably floated past without a bite. Whether jigs, chatterbaits or spinnerbaits, I size trailers so that their main feature...curly tail, flat tail, split tail, pincers, etc....is distinctly clear of the skirt. I'm thinking my prior lack of success may have been a tendency to use trailers too short for the skirts. I try to avoid trimming skirts because you can never get back what you trim, so I'll buy larger trailers and, if necessary, trim them instead. My typical routine is to start with the trailer as it comes out of the bag, throw it what I consider a reasonable number of times, and if no bites I'll trim 1/8" off and start throwing it again. Some days I got bites without trimming, and some days it was after trimming twice before things started happening. My favorites trailers, because they seem to have resulted in most of my catches, is the 4 1/2" Zoom Z craw and 4" Berkley chigger craw. I'll admit that there are hundreds of others I haven't tried, but then there are also hundreds of others I've never seen. BUT, like with any bait, you'll have to experiment and see what works for you. (I'll share that a lot of my success with chatterbaits and jigs was on the Shenandoah.)

I’m with you on this. I think bass feel sorry for a bait that swims like it’s drunk, and leave them alone.

In the brief time I have been a member of BR, I have been exposed to a wealth of information and learned quite a bit. But the MOST important thing I have learned has to be that I know more than I realized, and for that I am grateful. It makes learning from the information available here easier and much less daunting.

After nearly being run down in my kayak by a jet boat in the fog a couple weeks ago, I started looking into lights. I ended up buying a handful of LED keychains in the Walmart auto section. They have a flash function, and were less than $2 each. I hang one on the front and back of my pdf. My buddy and I went out in the fog a few days later, and tried them out. They are incredibly bright and very visible. I’m not sure how often you encounter fog this time of year, but these inexpensive little lights are worth it and worth checking out. By the way, nice fish.

Maybe. Maryland does have reciprocity agreements with other states. I am not sure whether or not you can take the online test in one state and attend the field day in another state. You may want to contact Pa, Va or WV to see if they allow that. But Maryland now offers a new ‘Apprentice’ license that seems to waive the field day requirement. Check out the link below. There may be conditions, but it is worth checking out. https://dnr.maryland.gov/nrp/Pages/hunter_education.aspx

I grew up fishing Guntersville. We fished it pretty much year round. I don’t recall March being ‘markedly’ better. It’s been 45 years since I was last on it, but if given the opportunity, I’d go in February or March in a heartbeat.

If they have actually left creek for their winter spot in nearby river, they’ll be back in Spring when water temps move towards 50s, and sun is in sky a little longer.

Congrats! Spinnerbaits are winnerbaits.

I target smallmouth. Whether in one of my sit-ins for river, or sit-on for flat water, I carry 3 of the small Ozark Trail bags. One holds my topwater, crank baits and jerkbaits, one is for spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and jigs, and one for worms, soft swim baits, tubes and trailers. They are inexpensive, functional, lightweight, and small enough to easily fit in the limited space of the sit-ins…one between my feet and 3 behind seat. There have been times I’ve been fortunate enough to have only needed 1, but I know me and I know I would feel lost and out of sorts without the other 2.

I suspect there may quite a few on this forum that share your sentiment. I know I do. Whether it is some of the people I fish with, or some I talk fishing with, or some who write (and now post videos) about it, or some who post online, I have become amazed at the mental contortions many seemingly go through to get a hook in a fish’s lip.

Welcome! What took so long?

It seems to me that a Colorado in front of a willow, or any smaller profile blade, would affect the action of the rear blade. Is there no affect, or is it so negligible that it doesn’t matter? Is this why downsizing front blade may be more productive?

It is intended to prevent the missed hooksets allegedly caused by typical arm length. I have to believe if this was a real issue, the spinner bait as we know it would not have enjoyed the consistent success it has, would have by now lost popularity and would have disappeared from the inventory of tackle suppliers. I do believe it offers a slightly different profile and can, I guess, present a new look to the bass who has seen it all.