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Went out about 2 weeks ago and finally got some solid bass on bfs. Didn't have a scale but im estimating 2.5-3.5 lbs each. I used some home made jika rigs with a 2.8 bellows shad, #2 ewg, and 1/16 oz weight. Line was 8lb suffix 832 to 6lb sunline fc sniper. I started off with an 1/8 oz weight, but the bass would just watch it fall then become un interested. I switched to the 1/16, the slower fall rate held there attention better and triggered them to swim over to it and pick it up off the bottom. Had i not seen my line move or watched them follow my bait down i dont think I would have bin able to tell because of how light they were biting that day.

Thank you for taking the time out write this. This is one of the reasons why I decided to make this topic, for information and ideas and people to share there stories and thought process. Although I haven't gotten that far down the rabbit hole yet when it comes to studying biological reports on my local bodies of water, im trying to get my foot in the door by atleast finding out the stocking schedule in the local ponds and rivers, and using the previous dates to determine a rough estimate when the next stoking will be so I can plan a trip around it. I would love to learn from the electrofishing reports but I dont know how to gain access, and i dont know how well they target the smallmouth. From what I have found in passing, they focus more on the trout and panfish population than they do the bass. From an article last year (I dont remember specifically where) i believe they were able to electrofish 2 potential state record panfish, that were returned safely back into the water after being studied. Im gunna try and make it a point to talk to the fish and game/department of wildlife next opertunity I get, and see if he can get me some info or atleast better leads as to where I can find it myself. And to answer my own question, it would depend on the body of water. The pond i frequent the most holds some decent sized bass. I wouldnt mind blowing that up because its already decently popular with the localsṛ. But I if I catch it on a small stretch of river I can almost guarantee is holding 2.5+ smallmouth, (not a state record but still sizable for the size of river it is) i will release it more for the fact that I dont have alot of easily accesable water ways and lakes, unless I drive 1-5 hours l in every direction.

as the tittle states.... would you? im genuinely curios as to how many people have actually caught a record fish, but decided not to report it to keep "trophy chasers" from blowing up a lake or river and just destroying the fishery. if its a well known bass lake or river that constantly puts out trophy fish then I get claiming that title, but if you were to catch a state/world record bass at your local lake or spot on the river , would you run the risk of having everyone knowing where you caught that fish and potentially ruining the ods of getting another trophy? or would you snap a quick photo and release it back into the water to keep the spot going, and in turn, keeping it from becoming over fished by people just wanting a tittle? food for thought i guess.

i was planing on capitalizing on both the tackle warehouse sale and kastkings website sale. sadly the same day i finally decided to make the purchases, only the KK sale was still going. so I bit the bullet with TW and had to remove a few items from my original list 😅

Already have some plans in the works to take my brother in law and one of my close freinds fishing mor often. I got them started spring/summer of last year and they are now hooked. Besides that theres some new water and stretches of river i have found threw google maps that im going to be testing out. My biggest goals are to catch a small mouth over 2 1/2 lbs, a spot over 2 lbs, and a large mouth over 5. After finally being able to find fish consistently last year, i think I can beat that this year.

I actually made my purchases the day before this post but wanted to wait till everything came in because after years of arguing with the bait monkey I FINALLY was able to get a bfs setup!Kastking was having a sale for there kestrel bfs combo and I had to capitalize on it. 6'3" ul rated for 1/32-1/4 oz (planing on sticking to 1/16th-1/8th range). Reel is an 8.4:1 that i spooled with 6# fc sniper. Now I couldn't just get a combo and not get some new lures; so I restocked on the tiny paca chunks (favorite finnese trailer), picked up some snack craws and juvy craws from glf along side there tube jigs, and 2 packs of bellows shads in the 2.8 I have had my on and have bin wanting test out for the first time as well. I can't wait for water to warm up and test everything out!

Boiled squash is disgusting for me. Nevada isn't really know for its bass and most rivers are targeted with fly rods or bait soakers chasing trout and carp, so im hoping to atleast catch a pb smallmouth on some bfs and spin gear. I may not beat the 8lb 11oz record for smallmouth or the 12lb largemouth, but planing on atleast getting over 2 1/2-3lb smallie and 5lb+ large mouth seems atanable to me. Still have about a month before things warm up and I can't wait!

I have a bfs set up coming in the mail, and figured id try my hand at jika/free rigs. Alot of places are sold out so, I figured id try my hand at making some and im pretty satisfied with the outcome. I clipped the barrel off some snap swivels and used a small split ring to connect them. I'll update once weather warms up and I can test them out.

Life in 2025: it has bin a BIG change and all for the better, finally got that promotion at work so im know an overnight department supervisor. I am now no longer just keeping my head above the water and finally able to start chipping away at debt. My wife and i almost fully paid off our truck and are now looking for options on a second vehicle. We can finally afford to take camping trips and are planning on going backpacking for the first time this weekend. Fishing 2025: I have learned ALOT about my local waters, found some new spots. Most importantly, i finally found time to take my brother in law and close freind out on fishing trips. I mistakingly introduced them to the bait monkey, but I now have fishing buddies for life that come to me with questions and the same curiosity I had when I first started. When we go out, I mainly sit back and "guide" for them, and it honestly brings me more joy watching them catch fish hand over fist, even if it means I get skunked. So far my favorite memorie for this year is taking them out on there first trip. It was a tough at first, then we found a good spot and i told each of them "you cast your lure down the bank on this side, and you cast it next to that curve in the bank." Almost like premonition, they both immediately caught a fish on there first casts in those spots, and it was game on from there. Season is coming to an end here, but I can't wait for next year to take them out on a good prespawn bite.

Found some legging material used for flys, figured id try it to make an actual jig. Planning on picking up actuall skirting material now.

Local sportsman's warehouse finally had an affordable fly tying kit for sale, so I picked one up along with some material to try my hand at tying some jigs for river fishing. i decided to through caution to the wind and just tried to see what i could come up with and im kinda proud for my first jig (fly?) with little to no instructions. Its on a 1/4oz gama ball head jig and i chose oranges and browns to try and mimic the craw colors that have bin working here recently. I got 1/4pz to practice since i dont use them often and a pack of 1/8oz for when i get better at tying. Planning on getting actuall jig material soon to try and make regular jigs in the future. Any recommendations as far as patterns or material is appreciated! Would making the tubes in a slightly clearer (opaque?) Plastic make the head more visible? Also would a white tube head change the color of the tube, kind of like a laminate or layered color bait?

Im already deep into the rabbit hole of finnese jigs with craw trailers and looking into finally giving tubes a shot.... the bait monkey is becoming more and more convincing these days.....

How did you attach the hook to the spinner? Same split ring or upgrade? I might do this to some of my 0 and 1 size vibrax lures as a more finnese spinner

After living in nevada I have finally found a spot on the carson that holds some smallies and i was finally able to catch my first smallmouth! I dont know how a 2" fish could latch onto a 3" popper but ill take it! The second smallmouth i caught was a bit bigger and overal had a decent day trying to locate them. I took one of my freinds fishing there and he was able to pull a nice one as well!

The weather finally warmed up enough to warrant a trip out to the pond after work. I work nights, start at 9pm and get off around 6/7am. So friday I loaded up the rods, then once I clocked out Saturday morning went straight to the pond for a few hours. Bite was super slow but I managed to catch my first bass of the season. Didn't get a good side photo but have a video on the release. https://youtube.com/shorts/OIc3buRMfak?si=zYzVVLFhJSjwH1Gz

I guess mine would be stealth. While in Oklahoma I'd fish pressured ponds and rivers that had very clear water. It taught me how to use the curent to my advantage and cast ahead of fish instead of directly on top of them. I also learned a lot about having a soft entry for spinning rods. Several spots I fished, If you made any sort of loud splash the fish would instantly run, but if you could pitch soft enough and get the lure to just land with minimal noise, you were more likely to get bit.

I got the mesh cause it was a bit cheaper. I got tired of having to dig threw pouches and pulling out all my boxes to get that one bag that slid under them. Hopefully this solves my issues.

On my re-up for the tw sale I decided to get a quick qube for my fishing bag. So far so good and keeps all my plastics in one place. Can't wait to put it to the test once the weather warms up

I'd recomend looking into the bass x line up from st. Croix. I have the 6'10" ml from there spinning line up and I like it so much I'm considering getting a casting rod aswell. There casting rods range from 125-160 as standard depending on the model

only people i have let influence me on a rod is tactical bassin. I was looking into a new spinning set up and finally had a little extra for a good one. Ended up with a bass x and I'm now looking into getting a casting model in the future. 9 times out of 10 though I use influencer types mainly to get ideas and info on specific tips/techniques that I have never used or tried and I'm looking for a high success rate to gain confidence in the specific technique or presentation im trying to use.

I mainly fish from the bank unless I visit my brother or decide to bring out the paddle board. And that has bin mabey a handful of time in the last 2 years. I have enjoyed being out on the water, but walking along the bank is so mutch easier. I also enjoy being able to follow deer and animal trails to get access to body's of water that people don't normally know to look for. Like letting my inner cave man out and go on the hunt for the next location.

I have seen a few posts of people asking about buying blanks and what websites but not one where people just post there recommended sites in one place. I was considering about getting some blanks from peekilure myself but after scrolling through i haven't seen any info on them. if you have any insite on there blanks (the bl-108 or there swimbaits in general) or any others you might want to post, I feel this would be a good place to post them and have a list of places we trust as a community.

I love watching his videos aswell. I would love to make my own baits, but I'm probably going to start painting blanks first. First one isnt always the best, but it is the best teacher.

I'm planing on purchasing blanks and don't have the funds ATM to invest into an air compressor and airbrush. Would handpainting/spray paint be a good alternative to start? Also would it be best to use spray on clear coat or would an epoxy/resin coat be a better longer lasting finish? Planing on painting plastic/hard baits if that helps.

I have visited the lake once so far and it was more of a "Scouting" mission while walking my dogs. I mainly fish from the bank and from first impressions.... I'm going to need to euther save up some money, or get into better shape 😅