AlabamaSpothunter

I was going to mention how I'm starting to prefer the Little Jon 50 if I can get away with it too. Lost a nice fish on it a few hours ago. I just hate the weight on the two baits OP mentioned, whereas you can get the same sized bait profile/depth with a Little Jon 50 that weighs 1/2oz and has a nice subtle sound to it.

Fantastic healthy prespawn looking fish. Us rednecks need weights not lengths though ?

Couple of studs for sure, awesome job!

Apparently they'll kill just for sport besides eating them as well. Hate to hear that, as somebody who would love to own a pond someday, this is a nightmare.

You asked about "trophy" lgm, not 10# fish. Change the thread title if you don't want people who haven't caught hundreds of DD responding to you. A trophy Bass is regional based, it's all relative.

Or just eat it ?

I hate to break it to you friend, but Bass fishing is nothing but one big puzzle that resets daily ?

Ben Milliken recommends the San Diego Jam Knot IIrc, I've been meaning to learn it. OP, I'm just a redneck, but knock on wood a properly done clinch knot and inspected afterwards has worked excellent for me. I haven't thrown much over 3.5ozs though.

From Jay Kumar's Bassblaster 1. When's the last time you won a tournament with 2 fish on the last day? > "I can't say I've ever won a tournament without having a limit on the last day. I did not even think I had a chance coming back [on day 3] – the boat ride home was horrible. The worst feeling ever. > "I couldn't believe it ended the way it did. Looking at all the past Classics, somebody always catches them big on the last day."

Awesome, keep chasing those dreams!

Nice ones, trolling for Bass is a lost art, a misunderstood skill I've found.

Pretty and healthy! Nice one!

Awesome fish man, congrats!

I think that's what makes guys like Jones and Milliken jedi masters with it verses others, they have an amazing ability to differentiate the species, size, reactions, etc. on the scope. I'd highly recommend watching Ben Milliken's FFS videos if you haven't. To me he illustrates peak FFS usage.

You can't if they are sucked on the bottom, you could see it this weekend during the Classic when Gussy was Moping on the last day, he'd run a Damiki rig over their heads and then they'd show themselves on the scope. If they are a bit off the bottom, they'll show up to the trained eye. Somebody like Milliken or Jones will be able to spot them easily.

Yeah that's normal, and I wouldn't bother painting unless you fish clear waters. Jackhammers are overpriced and made in China and this is coming from a guy who loves them. They should be $10 baits at the most imho.

Sounds about right to me, I've seen 3 fish including that one checked in over the last week. IIrc one was caught in a tourney.

Lmao, you don't realize how bad fishing pressure is until you see some posts in this thread. I'd say a Whopper Plopper is one of the most common found baits among you guys, and yet they are one of the more expensive lures. I've heard people talk about these baits exploding in popularity after somebody won a big tourney on them or something.

No wrong way to catch them as long as it suits you needs. I was mentored as a 90% T-Rig/Jig/Shakey Head fisherman, my first decade and half was spent on the bottom. The other 10% was Jerkbait for the most part. I started back in July of last year in terms of diehard time on water, and for the first month I was still dragging bottom contact stuff. Then I started fishing a Chatterbait, and for the last 6 months I throw moving baits 99% of the time. I know I'm leaving meat on the table somedays for sure. Who's to say if I would catch more big fish on slow presented bottom contact stuff, but according to a recent breakdown of winning baits in major tourneys in Jay Kumar's newsletter, moving baits + power fishing accounted for more wins than non moving bait + finesse approaches. I think it was like a 60/40 split. Not a huge margin, but enough to notice. Having success on the Chatterbait made me think what else could I get them to eat that is vastly more exciting than dragging stuff which led me to big swimbaits, A-rigs, Blade baits, and tail spinners, all of which have been a revelation in terms of average size fish, and overall excitement while fishing them. I'm also constantly moving looking for active fish, I seldom slow down to bank beat until I catch a fish. Everything I listed above would never make me a good derby angler, or even a good Bass angler in general, but it's the way I want to catch them, and the way I can endure going hours without catching a fish. T Rig will come back out this summer at night, but I'm okay not catching bottom contact only fish at this point in my journey. When I get a better boat with a casting deck and foot control TM, I'll start fishing them a ton more I'm sure. Good thread, I think about this often....."how many quality fish/big fish am I leaving on the table being a power/moving bait only fisherman currently".

5 fish, but one of them was about 5lbs lol.....75degree water temps today, and that's up 17degrees in about a week's time. Toad came on the Jackhammer with 5" Spunk Shad, really loving this combo now. Big profile, big thump, just throws more jet fuel on an already big fish bait. Another chunky Spot did as well, then two quick Buzzbait fish in the back of a pocket, and lastly the Spro Little Jon 50 picked up the 5th one. Dying to get on that first wide open topwater bite. ***note the Crappie fisherman in the background, not sure I would have been snapping a pic if it wasn't ?

Awesome report Bob! Beautiful fish, and where that red neck like a badge of honor ?

5 and 9 for me, Kentucky Blue

I was waiting for someone else to say it ? MLF is slap full of hammers, but nothing compares to the prestige of the Classic, it is the Bass fishing super bowl imho.

I like the Frittsides a lot more, just a much more quality bait. Caught fish on both, but again Rapala's QC didn't thrill me for a $10 bait. Berkeley's baits are beautiful.