Woody B

There will be other with way better advice than me on that. I'm cheap, and not up to date on all the soft plastics available now. 90% of the time I'm using a simple Zoom( because they're cheap) worm either in Motor Oil, Purple or Black. If I think they're short striking I'll use a Missile Baby D Bomb. Occasionally, I'll use some kind of lizzard but there's no method to my madness.

I suspect I'm different than most. For me a Jig is good for deepish structure in colder water. C-rig for deep structure in hotter water. I probably use a T-rig more than a C-rig or a Jig. I pretty much always have a T-rig on one of my rods. Half or more of my T-rig casts are after something rolled on a top water lure or I seen followers on live sonar. I've been using a bladed jig quite a bit lately but I don't consider it the same as a "regular" jig. When the water temperature get's into the 80's I'll be dragging a C-rig up points. I position the boat over the point, and drag the bait up it.

I decided after yesterday I needed to go earlier. I still didn't go early enough. I caught 8 including the 4 pound LM pictured between 5:20 and 6:15 AM. I caught 3 between 6 and 10. I'm going to try to go next weekend around midnight. I've never been much of one to believe the fish just "turned off", but I might be changing my mind on that. I was watching them on live sonar basically swarm on my lures until the Sun came up. (sunrise was 6:15ish) After that most would just follow then turn back around. They were still there, just not biting. I caught a couple on cranks, , most on a bladed jig. The 4 pounder was my only topwater (Devils Horse) fish. I threw my tackle box at them after sunrise. 2 of the after sunrise bass came on a bladed jig, then other on a T-rig. The Shad spawn in happening now. I suppose they're gorging on Shad, then going to "sleep" when the Sun comes up. The Mayfly hatch isn't happening yet. Bluegill Spawn should kick on with the full moon in a couple weeks.

I don't watch any of it, but I like the MLF catch, weigh, release format. The only thing I hate more than seeing bass hauled around all day to be weighed is taking them miles away to a stage somewhere for hero photos. I'm also a fan of the fish handling rules. I don't think landing nets are allowed. I think they should be. IMHO a proper net is the best safest way to get a fish into a boat.

I had 2 guide insert failures today. Both were the tips. The insert fell out of one, the other has a section missing. I had 2 guide failures last year (not tips). I blamed them on the brand of rod, and braided line. (Both were BPS rods, both failed while using Braid) One of the ones that failed today is a Lews TP1 Black. I bought it last September. It's not an expensive rod by most people standards but a $100+ rod for me is expensive. I had a bladed jig on it. I noticed it "felt" funny. I looked and a section of the tip insert was missing. The other one is a Dobyn's Colt. That's their "economy" line. I bought it last December. The insert fell out of the tip on it. Do I replace the guides or just put new inserts in them? I've got a friend who builds rods for Carp fishermen. He fixed a rod for me last year, but wouldn't charge me anything. I used to take him fishing when he was a kid. He's really busy building rods. I may take them to him, but I feel like I'm "using" him if he won't charge me anything.

I went this morning from 5:45 until 10. Caught 9. No "real" dinks, at least by my standards. The smallest ones were 2 poundish. I caught a 3 1/2 pound spot within my first dozen casts. Later I caught a 3 1/2 pound Largemouth. The early ones came on a Devils Horse. The later ones on a Bladed jig. I left the lake aggravated with 2 messed up rods. The insert in the tip fell out of one. The other has a big groove/crack in the tip insert. Both started "feeling funny" so I looked and saw the problems. I've got a friend who builds rods for Carp fishermen. These 2 will be going to him tomorrow. I might just start buying Ugly Sticks and throw them away when a guide fails. I fished for 30 years with no guide failures. I've had 4 now in the past year.

I read somewhere that he was disqualified because of rule 15. IMHO he left tournament waters as the WMA lake isn't part of the tournament lake. I still think he knew he wouldn't win, and this was a publicity stunt. He's got more than his 15 minutes of fame.

So far myself an Mrs B have been OK this year. We take Flonase and Claritin.

Wind make bass aggressive....or at least less wary around here. I've fished a bunch of days this year with 30 mph gusts. I just stay in smaller water then. I don't mind rain, or cold, at least the cold we get down here. I hate gloves so I keep some hand warmers in my pockets. For Winter fishing I want a reel with a heated side cover, and a rod with a heated grip. Some one needs to invent and market those.

When I was a kid an old man told me that a Channel had a forked tail, and a Blue didn't. I see now that the "internet" says both have a forked tail. I don't look at them that close, just look at the pictures later. The one I pictured a few days ago was more Olive colored than most of the ones I catch that I call "Blues". I do know this one is a flathead.

If I keep catching decent size catfish I'm going to start targeting them. 9.84 pound Channel Cat on a bladed jig. I've never been that familiar with different species of Catfish. According to various sources 10 pounds is considered a trophy for a Channel Cat around here. (30 for a Blue or Flathead) I got a replica made of the 53 pound Flathead I caught last year. I caught an 18 pound Channel a while back but didn't realize they ran smaller than Blues and Flatheads. Had this one been 10 I would have taken more pictures and measurements for a replica. It would be cool to have a big Blue, and Channel swimming on my wall with my Flathead.

A few comments. My main comment ties back to this. He's got way more attention that he would have had he not been disqualified, even if he would have won. (So has BASS). Attention = $$$$$ in most cases. I don't watch videos, and I don't follow bass tournaments beyond looking at an occasionally internet post. Perhaps he knew he couldn't/wouldn't win, and pulled this stunt for attention. IMHO there's nothing wrong with that. It's entertainment. Decades ago, back when I was drag racing I was known for "thinking outside the box". Over the years there were many "Woodrow rules". I won some races by thinking outside the box. I also generated a bunch of attention. (back before social media) I worked on, sold and manufactured various race car parts. Attention was good. Had social media been around it would have been even better. I've always been a "ask for forgiveness" person instead of an "ask for permission" one. I applaud him for that. I wonder if they draw straws to see who "has" to ride in the boat with him.

I'm with you. The fishing isn't the bad part. The boats zipping around at 70+ MPH is downright dangerous. That, wake boats and jet skis makes me like the winter time.

Here after the bass spawn we have the shad spawn, bluegill spawn and mayfly hatch.

I've been catching good number but not many quality fish lately. I decided to change my strategy today. I left the landing around 5:45 an went up the river. (I've been fishing down the lake) I caught 8. My smallest of the day was a 16 inch Spot. I caught it on my second cast. It's the out of focus picture. My phone camera uses a long exposure when it's dark. I guess I was moving some. I need to work on my photography skills. I caught 3 Largemouth. 2 were 18 inches long. The largest LM was 20 1/2 inches long and weighed 4.45 pounds. The rest of the spots were between 16 and 18 inches. They were feisty. I also saw a HUGE Bowfin splashing on the surface.

Thoughts on catching other species while bass fishing? Not whether it's fun or not, but obviously if you're catching bass, and other species they're all sharing forage. Is this an indication of a good eco system, or is it bad for bass fishing. Back in the 70's 80's and 90's with the exception of an occasional Striper I never caught another species while bass fishing. I sold my boat and stopped fishing in 1992. Bought my current boat and started back fishing in Dec 2021. Since then I've caught several species while targeting bass. I've caught some really big Catfish including a 53 pound Flathead. I've caught so many Cats over 10 pounds this year I've lost count. (I'll count pictures later) I caught a 9.84 pound Channel Cat today. Is this an indication of a healthy lake with a bunch of forage? Bass fishing is good, at least by my standards.

I went today from 6 until shortly after 10. I caught 12 Bass, a handful of White Perch and 2 Channel Cats. One cat was tiny, the other was 9.84 pounds. The biggest bass was a 4 poundish Largemouth. I didn't take a picture of it. When I was unhooking it a guy in a Kayak came up and asked if he could have it for a picture. I just unhooked and released it. I told him if he wanted a picture he'd need to catch it. It's my belief he was wanting to cheat in a Kayak tournament. I HAVE NO USE FOR CHEATERS.

Gator Trax is not a BASS sponsor. The sponsor boat companies probably don't like a "cheap" boat going places their boats can't go. Just another reason I don't follow any professional sport.

Notice the hook holes in it's mouth.

I keep the spool tension just tight enough to eliminate side play on all my reels, not just the DC's. I keep my DC brakes on "1" most of the time. I'll change them to "2" at night or casting into the wind. The mistake I see most people make is casting too hard. If the lure and rod are matched 75 feet should be an easy flip. DC brakes get really aggressive if you cast something really hard. For most people less effort, with less brakes equals more distance, and better accuracy.

Glenn, you make excellent informative videos. How about one on loading a boat? (if you haven't already)

Mrs B goes occasionally. She doesn't like to fish for hours and hours, and gets bored easily. One of her Sisters lives on the lake I fish often. I'll pick her up at her Sisters house, then take her back when she get's bored. She backlashes my baitcasters by just looking at them. I hate spinning equipment but she's good with it. She caught one Bass over 4 pounds last year.

I fell in the lake with my Galaxy S8 in my pocket. It was fine afterward. It's IP68 rated. (I think that means it's waterproof). I upgraded to an Iphone 13. It's also supposed to be waterproof but I haven't fell in the lake with it in my pocket yet.

If you get your boat loaded crooked winch the front down, then back in a little deeper into the water. It will center itself.

My youngest grandson had Lymes Disease a few years ago. Thankfully they got it soon enough.