WRB-2.0

2 suggestions; 1. learn to feel your line as you retrieve it and 2. Use Tangle Free line conditioner. FC line is water proof, doesn't absorb any water and dries out so it should be lubricated often. Must anglers today using baitcasting reels palm the reel and don't bothern running the line over the tip of the index finger and under the tip of the thumb during the retrieve. If you learn to do this you will feel any line anomaly and increase your strike detection. You may be damaging the line pulling out a backlash and creating a flat spot in the line that severely weakens it. Learn to control the spooled line with your thumb during casting by not letting the line spring off the spool, preventing a backlash. If you get a backlash avoid pulling on the line loops, instead first put your thumb on the spooled line and wind the cast back onto the reel with your thumb applying pressure. After the line is back on the reel, slowly pull off line while keeping thumb pressure, put the pulled off line back onto the water. The backlash area should pull out without needing to pull out tangled loops or damaging your line. Good luck. Tom

ALX makes my custom rods and the site sponsor DVT makes custom rods, check them out first. Tom

When Rapala came out with the Husky Jerk. Tom

The last 20+ lb LMB caught in CA was March 2006, comming up on 8 years. The last 20+ lb LMB caught world wide was July 2008, nearly 6 years ago, Kurita WR. The spawning season in Japan is approx July, the spawn in CA is approx March. Every 20+ lb LMB officially weighed was caught during late pre spawn or spawn, when they are at the max weight. The one exception being the Perry bass reported to be caught in June 1932 from a southern Georgia small shallow oxbow lake....at least 3 months after the spawn for that region. Pure FLMB were introduced in Japan during mid 90's and Kurita's WR bass was from that stock, those bass are dead now (15+ 1995= 2010) and their offspring must carry on the gene pool. I don't know if Biwa lake had Northern LMB population before the FLMB were stocked? There is a good possibility that Japan has more giants, I don't believe CA has any more giants over 20 lbs at this time, hope I am wrong! Tom

Post the entire rod model numbers. Tom

There are more myths about world record size largemouth bass than facts. Myth starts with the Perry 22 lb 3 oz LMB, not enough facts to support this bass was authentic. Dottie was never weighed officially at 25.1 lbs and released before authenicated. The Kurita 22 lb 5 oz LMB is the official authenicated world record and this bass goes down as a tie with the Perry LMB. The facts are a world record LMB is a Florida strain transplanted to a ecosystem with cool deep structure that has high protein base prey source. The cool water (70f) allows the FLMB to live longer outside of their natural range. A world record size bass doesn't get that size as a adult bass unless the food source and sanctuary areas allow fast growth as a juvenile size bass. Giant bass need a head start to continue to grow, gain weight and sanctuary areas to survive. All giant bass have one thing in common; they are pure FLMB strain from Florida's cool water areas like Cypress Gardens. The reason this is important the genetics of this FLMB allow this strain to live longer; 15 years in lieu of 10 years is a big advantage. The original California and Japanese transplant came form this region of Florida. Yes there could be another giant LMB swimming somewhere, both California and Japan are potential places. Africa, Cuba and Mexico could also produce giants over 20 lbs., time will tell. Tom

Bagley's burned down in the late 70's and restarted production agian in the early 80's. The Balsa B was one of the first square bills that would "hunt" swim in a zig zag pattern on it's own. If you have a B that hunts it's worth some money, if it doesn't they get resold. The originals B's are single line tie square bills. Tom

Get yourself some good books on collecting antique fishing tackle then you can determine what's is valuable and what isn't. Tom

Little of topic. When I was traveling around the country every other week during my 45 year career in aerospace the opportunity to bass fish came from time to time. May have missed a few states that had a bass population, but not many. The reason I share this is to point out been there done that and have first hand experience with a lot different types of lakes, rives and ponds. I feel blessed to have shared fishing time with a lot of different bass anglers across our country and Mexico. Back on topic. The map posted of this small lake with points and spawning bays adjacent are classic in regards to discussing structure and I sincerely hope the OP and a few members learned something from this thread. This site has a lot of talent to give everyone a slightly different perspective and that is what makes our sport so interesting. Tom

Tommy you posted some gems in the past, this is one of your best! Tom

Your profile tells me you are 13 years old, your profile indicates you have caught a 13-14 lbs LMB! Impressive for Alabama. What did you catch your PB bass on? Tom

I always use strong light weight snap like Berkley Cross-Lok, no swivel. Standard split rings can easily damage your knot if the line is tightened into the wire ends. Oval split rings help to resolve that problem. Using a light wire strong small size snap doesn't damage knots and improves most deep diving crank bait action contrary to what others have stated. Light weight lures like original Rapalas and jerk baits like LC Pointers and top water lures work better tied direct, no split ring or snap. Loop knots are also a weak link as the line wears, flattens or chafes. The snap swivel has little use in bass fishing. Tom

I believe we are talking about helping he OP to understand this structure. This first thing to look at is how the bass use this point or any point. What is above the water helps us to understand what is below the water, the terrain doesn't change. You should visualize the structure without water and try to figure out how bass and baitfish or crayfish would be located. The first thing you look for is a river or creek channel and any structure like points or humps intersect the channel. If you go back to the beginning of this thread there is common structure features discussed; the 10' flats adjacent to steep breaks into the channel, the end of the point that breaks into the channel and the funnel zone or saddle area. You can apply these structure features to most deep structure lakes. The first question to solve is how deep are the active feeding bass, this fact determines where the bass should be located on this structure. This isn't a large area to fish and shouldn't take long to learn what's going on. Deep is relative to the region, where I fish the lakes are over 100' deep, so this lake looks shallow to me. I know from experience that 20' is deep water east of the Rocky Mountains and south of the Mason-Dixon Line. During the summer the thermocline will affect how deep bass will locate,another factor to consider. Type of baitfish are important, no pelagic fish, no reason for the bass to move out into deep structure, other than seeking comfortable water temps and sanctuary. Good luck and hope we helped more than confuse you. Tom

Roger, Bass lakes in the heart land of professional bassdom are 99% man made, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, etc. This region has native northern strain LMB population that were not transplanted and evolved in reserviors after the rivers were dammed over 60 years ago Not dissagreeing with yor hypothosis, bass behavior in deep structured lakes differs from low land natural lakes. Tom

All we know about this lake is it's a man made reservoir,it has a dam, possibly located in Indiana. The bass could be northern strain LMB or Smallmouth both, a typical bass lake for this region. My guess is the prey fish are; bluegill, crappie, perch and minnows with crawfish added. I would class this as a hill land reservoir. If this lake has pelagic baitfish, fish that live away from shore, then deep structure becomes more predominate. The OP hasn't shared information regarding scale, the size of this lake or what baitfish are available. I have ruled out shad due to how far north this lake may be located?? If bass anglers believe bass are shoreline fish, they are missing a big population of bass in man made impoundments. If this lake was located where threadfin shad or herring are predominate, the point we are discussing becomes good structure. Tom

This point doesn't slowly taper, it has steep breaks and transitions in steps. The first step is 7-10, the next is 21' with a 1' high spot or knob at end. Rolo's comment that the high spot may not exist or would not exist on a 2' elevation map is true. However the knob mat be more pronounced due to harder soil and the softer adjacent soil may have eroded away with wave action during draw down or lake filling with water. You will never know unless you meter the area and fish it. Regardless of what you call it, it's a good looking point with structure elements that are worth fishing. Tom

What is important about the insignificant 20' depth high spot is it's location on the end of this point out near the middle of the main lake basin adjacent to the channel. The fact it's only 1' higher then the point ridge still provides bass a killing zone for baitfish and the surrounding deeper water provides sanctuary. My gues is this spot is over looked by the locals and should be checked out for soil composition and any rocks or sticks that may be there. This is classic swimbait structure were you retrieve the lure up and over while bottom bumping. This is also good jig water for casting and retrieving bottom bumping presentations. Don't over look this type of structure when fishing deep structured lakes. Tom

It's been my experience that bass avoid water 1' or less for spawning, bluegill will use the 1' water. This means the darker blue zones are too shallow for lakes that fluctuate 6' each year. To look foe spawner's the 2'- 3' zone would be a better choice than 1'. I would use the 10' - 20' depth zone when targeting pre spawn, then the 10' zones with flat areas for late pre spawn and post spawn. Depending on wind direction the back side of the little island may hold a few spawner's, the 10' saddle is looking good to me. I also have a preference for fish tail shape bays like across the lake adjacent to the main lake point. The10' flat on the point looks good for pre spawner's. Summer, the main lake channel swings next to points look likely toehold bass. Catts 1' hump point area should be good anytime. Tom

What brand and color? Tail spins are good when school bass are feeding on schooled baitfish. Generally you cast beyond the baitfish school and retrieve under the baitfish. A straight line or zig-zag up and down, stop & go, patterns depending on what the bass react to; Wounded or fleeing baitfish. Tom

If the OP wants to post details of the spawning bay with the island or the opposite main lake point we can reply. I doubt that there was a creek draining the spawning bay, it does provide deep water access into and out of the bay. The island looks to be connected to the inside secondary point, creating a saddle.... Tom

You are describing a pond not a lake. It is possible the pond doesn't support either a adult size bass population or enough crawdads to interest the few bass. Aquatic weeds or grass doesn't root in sand, however mat grow over sandy areas on the surface in the form of weed mats. Bass like to suspend under the floating weed mat and jigs are good dropped through small openings. My guess is you are not fishing the right spots, or using too heavy of a jig for the pond. Tom

That puts it into perspective, however you didn't add scale, approx distance length width of the lake area posted? Your point borders a spawning bay, so it's difinately a good staging area for pre spawner's. The major point across the lake also looks very good for pre spawner's, coves for the bass to spawn. The 3 rd major main lake point is near the dam, good winter and summer for big bass, depending on the baitfish available. Don't worry about boat traffic, they bother you more than the bass. The main river channel makes some nice S turns against the points, this creates good structure where undercuts and rocky ledges can hold bass. The spawning bay next to the major main lake point in question has 2 secondary points close to the little island, the 1st point closest to the island would be another late pre spawn and post spawn spot and the island will hold some bass. Good looking lake. Tom

Not too familiar anymore with western Ontario, Rainy river area was a good smallmouth fishery and Kakagi ( Crow Lake) near Nestor Falls, lake of the woods area had under fished smallmouth bass population, average about 4 lbs with a few 6's each day. Crow gets lake trout fishing pressure, however the bass and muskies are not targeted. Crows water is gin clear, big lake with a few good resorts. Check it put. Tom

Can't do much more without knowing where this point is located on this lake and the scale of the map, we know the elevation is 1' increments. Tom

The whole point could be a secondary point or a mian lake point depending where it is located. Based on the depth elevation, no distance scale, this appears to be a small area not nore than a long casting distance fron the deepest area to dry land. I evauate this type of structure without water, adding the water level as it only predicts where the bass maybe located during the seasonal periods. Tom