Basseditor

Welcome, you'll learn a lot here. You could join a local bass club. Get paired with an experienced boater and learn all about Austin area lakes. BTW, what part of Austin? There is a club with lots of guys on the north side. Some of us in south Austin go to Canyon Bass Club in San Marcos.

Don't want to mess with your choice. Cabelas Arachnid is a Tatula R with better specs. On sale at $143 now.

Cabelas Arachnid (Tatula R style) on sale for $143. Normally $179. I have 3 and I use them a lot. My other favorite reel for lighter line is Lews Team Lite.

Many times, not much you can do. I try to do the opposite of the boater for a change (not all fish are doing the same thing). If he is fishing heavy weights, I go lighter and vice versa. But he has the advantage to throw out in front of the boat. Mostly the back seater has used water. Or areas already spooked by the boat. Watch for places he misses or passes up. That is your best bet. Lastly, try out on the deep side. Carolina rig off the back corner on the deep side.

ConnectScale. Use my link to get a discount. http://t.co/v2JMWFAS1C I haven't used the above link for awhile. Let me know if it doesn't work. I'll get a new discount code for you. I have no stake in the company. I bought 3 scales. They gave me a discount code to share in return.

4 Kistler rods 3 were Zbones @ 1500.00 Nearly every Paycheck Baits Transporter frogs I could find. They're being discontinued so I bought out supplies from all over. About $400 worth. My photographer friend calls it Gear Acquisition Syndrome or GAS.

Yes, fly fishing is where it's at around there. But a light spinning rod with 4-6 lb line and inline spinners such as Mepps, BlueFox Vibrax or Panther Martin work. Size 0 or 1. Just realize the fly-fishing crowd will snub their nose at you. But you'll most likely out fish them. And depending upon rate of snow melt, that time of year could still mean high muddy water runoff. Ditto Flaming Gorge. Cool place to catch smallies. Again, runoff may force you down the lake to Wyoming/ Utah border area to find cleaner water.

Cul m rite A new one coming soon is Connect Scale. You weigh fish and it's recorded on your phone via Bluetooth I ordered through the funding site indigogo or something like that I'll go look it up if you want to know more

I have Tatula R and Cabelas Arachnid. Like them both for 20-25# flouro.

I agree mostly. But for me, the hotter the better from noon to dark. And calm too. I throw frogs all day in thickest cover I can get to. I might get only 5 fish, but I'll have 20+ lbs. And don't forget to cover up. Sun hats (hoods), arm sleeves, gloves. Thin pants, no exposed skin any where. It's amazing how much better you feel when you get off the water.

ION Air Pro HD. About $100 on eBay. I have 2 and one air pro 3.

I had to scarf up some remaining PayCheck Transporter baits (frogs) because they are being discontinued. Bought $300 worth (or more) so far. From 4 places. That's a life time supply. But when they are all out all over, I'll sell some for $25 each. (Watch for them on eBay next year. Ha. Ha.) Three Kistler Zbone rods, custom. I get weak when they do their 35% off deal.

Numbers or size? Numbers Amistad 2008 = 200 bass, my son and I, in a day and half. 2# to 7 # and broke off bigger ones. Size Falcon 2012, 40 bass from 5 to 10 pounds all on one hump. Never moved all day. I hope those lakes rebuild before I'm too feeble to fish any more.

Thanks fir the tips. I'll be on the road heading north in a few hours.

Thanks for the reply. I've Googled some areas. I know guys here won't steer me wrong. I'm trying to decide how far I'll need to go. Some have suggested the Cisco chain. I've never been there so it could be fun.

I know it's a wide open question but... I've been researching some options. I don't see any really good fishing reports. I'm driving from Texas and have a few days to go fishing. I'm not bringing lots of gear. I'll be in Green Bay. I'm willing to travel north to fish so any general areas or counties that seem to be better now? Bass, and Muskie. No walleye. I'm more familiar with far north like Vilas County, but it's been decades since I've been there. I'll have access to a boat.

When? Right now Fork has a bunch of newly flooded brush etc. I've been on both. You're going to have good and bad days on either. Fork fishes surprisingly good on hot summer days most of the time. I like both but Fork wins by a little.

I ordered a Connect Scale that is supposed to be out in July. Weigh your fish and it connects with your mobile device. It will keep a log of your catches. Some data is recorded automatically and then you can key in bait, etc. Sounded interesting to me. I have a Cul M Right or however the name is spelled that is digital too. I've had it for 20 yrs. Works ok for tournament culling but it doesn't do as well on fish much over 10 lbs. but because I catch so many 10s (sarcastic) ...

I use them a lot. Weightless Senkos and flukes — you don't need to set the hook hard. Just tighten quickly and keep reeling like drop shotting. I don't use them for weighted plastics. My sons' hooking and landing percentages went way up with Trokar.

I agree with the fish it slow camp. Cast it next to grass or other target let it fall, eat a small candy bar, pull it lightly and be ready to set the hook. If nothing there, reel it in and pick the next target. The bass will come and find it.

I just ordered a digital scale that interfaces with my phone. Weigh fish and some data is recorded automatically and you can manually enter more info. You can take a picture too. Keep tracks of a day's catch and more.

Where in WI?

Sometimes I regret not going to law school. I would like to be in environmental or water rights law now. I was prepared and did pretty good on the graduate school tests, but decided on MBA at the last minute. After a year, I thought that wasn't for me either, so I got a Masters in Communications. It fit me better. I fished a lot all those years, and still do. I found I made a better living being around fishing, but not directly tied to being in tournaments. I write and manage an outdoor magazine full time, and have time and the means to fish when and where I want. I also dabbled in tackle and bass boat sales in between magazine stints. So, there are ways to be around the sport without being a full time pro. (I hated the long hours by myself in a truck driving between events when I thought of going pro.) Now, I fish local events that are within the state. Less driving and more fishing. In nearly 40 years of being employed, I don't feel like I've really "worked" a day in my life.

BA in English and Masters Degree in communications and I work for a magazine. I've worked on several other magazines over the last 20+ years. All fishing or outdoor magazines. But I owned a tackle store, guided, and sold boats too before getting back in to magazines.

I used to buy a new boat every two years. I've owned most of the major brands. But my last two boats I've kept longer. I sold my '96 Stratos after 6 years, but it started to show some wear. Don't get me wrong, I like Stratos. I used to sell them. My current boat is a Phoenix 721 and it is almost 6 years old. I love that boat! It's been in extremely rough water and has some scratches from busting through flooded trees, but it still is going strong. It will be my last one, unless I have a mishap that damages it. Then I'd get a 921.