Everything posted by bottom_dollar
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3 rods for spots in the fall
3/16ths shakeyhead/ 2.8 keitech 1/4 oz drop shot Nose hooked fluke for schoolers
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Expectations too high or a common trend?
If you’re close to Murray and Hartwell, then check out Lake Russell if you haven’t already. In addition to the stuff your already throwing consider adding a shakeyhead to the line up.
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Co-Angler Strategies/Organization
Docks- 3/16ths shakeyhead with a worm of your choice if you can’t skip it under the dock let it soak in the deeper water in between the docks. Maybe a neko rig if real shallow and your boater is moving fast. Weedlines- 1/8th Texas rig swim worm. open water FFS- drop shot or deep diving jerkbait. When you get the net for your partner, flip the bail and lay your rod down by the motor, there’s usually one or two with the one boater hooked. All the organization stuff sounds good, the lighter and more simple the better. I also hand over my gas money as soon as I step foot in the boat.
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All around Texas rig
I like a 3/16ths bullet weight, 3/0 owner cover shot HD hook, with either speed worm or a baby d bomb.. that’s the starting point but I like to get carried way and will have 3-4 different types of Texas rigs tied up depending on what I want to do that day.
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Fishing trip -- do you head North, or South?
West- Alabama, Tennessee. Hopefully some Up North trips in the future.
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How many of you troll?
Yes all the time especially my younger co workers. Makes a day on the job site go by way faster. 😉
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Favorite jig trailers?
Yamamoto twin tail, Max scent meaty chunk.
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How moderate do you like your jig rod?
I’m the MH/F or H/F camp and use Fluro for 95 % of my jig fishing (docks, brush piles, lay downs). I only like a moderate action and braid for swimming a jig. AJ and some other posters have a good argument for the glass/moderate rods though.
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I have deprioritized hook setting. How about you?
Never again will I regret not setting the hook hard enough on a fish. Screeching braid and twanging flourocarbon are music to my ears. That being said there are many effective ways to set the hook.
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Discontinued Lures
Nice those are two of the better colors. I have 4 left and throw them very carefully
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Discontinued Lures
The Rapala DT Flat series.
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What do you hope to learn this winter?
I’m looking forward to getting better at winter time structure fishing, specifically ditches and deep water flats.
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One word of advice that changed your fishing career
Keep your line tight and never get in a hurry, even when fishing fast.
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only one color of topwater . . .
Carolina Chrome
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Favorite Spinnerbait Brands, Tips, Tricks, and Trailors
Siebert Outdoors 1/2 oz compact tandem, green shad. No trailer most of the time. I like to either wind it a foot or two below the surface, or count it down and use a stop and go retrieve. Probably my best bait for big spots. Need to add the big spinnerbait on the bottom to my tackle box.
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Why can't I catch a big bass?
Wow there’s great info in this thread from some big fish hammers. A pond like that the biggest ones are probably eating bluegills, crappie, smaller bass. Keeping your shadow off the water and fan casting a moving topwater (buzz bait, horny toad, EZ swimmer) while you walk is probably worth a try. If you get a blow up but don’t connect you can come back later with the senko or fat Ika. IMHO the bigger size fish in shallow grass like you describe like to feed on top (think great whites and seals) Being in Texas you know you’re in a place where they get big. Keep setting the hook and eventually a big one is gonna surprise you.
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2025 BASS elite schedule
Not bad, they will probably hit Alabama and New York next season. The really good scopers can use it anywhere they go but now the OGs and their traditional techniques will at least have a fighting chance on most of the lakes, and a lot depends on the conditions when they get there. ie Champlain or Wheeler this year. Of course some people are gonna be upset but in this great country we have not one but at least 3 “pro” leagues to watch!!
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My first creature bait fishing
Hell if they biting a plopper and spinnerbait no reason to pick up a creature bait. Even though you can T- rig or C-rig them I still consider them to be on the finesse-y side and usually start throwing it when the reaction bite is off. baby brush hog fish from a week or two ago.. only bite I got that afternoon haha
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Snagless Search Baits?
Sounds like a good spot for a Texas rig speed worm with 3/16 weight, you can go heavier or lighter if you want but I always start with a 3/16.
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Favorite weedless swimbait?
Gambler EZ swimmer, great as a topwater, under rated for docks, brush etc.
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Best casting accuracy
Bryan Thrift, not only for his dock skipping skills but also for his ability to line up and hit deep water brush piles on the first try.
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Essential Soft Plastics
3.3 Keitech- pro blue red parl Zoom trick worm- green pumpkin magic Zoom UV Speedworm- green pumpkin Ragetail Menace- Green Pumpkin Zoom Baby brush- green pumpkin blue. If I could just limit myself to those 5 I would probably be a lot more organized and have more room for water and snacks
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How heavy of a rain will you fish in?
As long as there is no lightning it doesn’t matter how hard it’s raining for me.
- Best Beavers?
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skip casting question
Yup, it’s also just a fun way to fish and comes in handy for more than just fishin docks