WRB-2.0

The Fish Lab nymph with it’s swimming wings works good on a drop shot or as a finesse jig trailer👍 Tom

Keep in mind using 2D sonar everything on the scrolling screen has already happened, it’s history. The far right 1/4” is real time before it’s displayed digitally so watch that for feedback and the screen for details you missed. Vertical jigging a structure spoon, Ice jig. spider jig, nail head-Neko worm, drop shot or doodling a worm all work at times. The hook set should lift and reel without hard jerk set. If you don’t meter bass try the area anyway as 2D sonar return area is small. Tom

FLMB with water temps in the high 50’s are pre spawn, 60’s looking for males on beds and cruising females. These bass are still feeding and catchable. I would be using 6” Senko’s in Junebug laminate and 1/2 oz spinnerbait with large gold willow blades, keep it simple. Tom

It comes down to a tournament bass angler today can’t troll or stroll, if you are not a tournament bass angler you can, it’s up to you. For what’s it worth live bait fishing requires skill like any other technique, it’s up to you to learn the tricks of the trade or not. Tom

Long line deep crank baits is a common practice in professional bass tournaments. The angler makes a cast, puts the reel in free spool and moves the boat 100 yards or so then retrieves the lure. I would debate that is strolling but it’s legal. Tom PS, If B.A.S.S. Has defined strolling as moving the boat to extend the cast then that solves the debate.

Working any jig uphill is tricky in rocks. Key is don’t let the jig settle down in between the rocks and wedge between them. The heavier a jig the harder it is to keep from snagging. Yes I work my jig down, side and uphill depending what the seem to want at that time. The old rule is Spring up and Fall down for starters. It’s fairly easy to shake a jig out of rocks with a boat as can change angles, from shore that isn’t possible. I suggest going to a 3/8 oz jig in lieu a 1/2 oz for example. Tom

Short tutorial on trolling diving lures for bass. The 1st thing you need to do is determine at what speed is optimal for each lure. You do this by running the next to the boat and watch it closely foe how it swims at different speeds somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 mph. Ideal is the lure just starts to hunt without rolling sideways, this is the ideal speed for that lure. If the lure continues to run straight at higher speeds try another, hunting or side to side swimming is important without rolling. Next set the boat speed and cast as far back as you can then let out another 20- 25 yards. Troll along the bank at a known depth at the ideal speed until the lure start to hit bottom then move slowly move out deeper about 4 feet. This is your lazy S pattern. Move in to the bottom bumping depth and back out 4’, continue along the bank.. Points move out as you approach the 4’ deeper depth so the lure parallels the point and start to hit bottom and then move out deeper until you pass the point end. Stop turn the boat around, cast out into the deep water and continue along the opposite point side, the swing parallel to the bank at the bumping depth continuing your lazy S pattern. Tom

For decades I had 2 bass boats. A traditional low freeboard fast glass bass boats and a 14’ Lund aluminum boat with 15 hp converted bow mounted TM bass boat. The Lund was perfect for launching into small local lakes and the Owens River. I used my Lund to troll with it was a small boat and very maneuverable that had my older electronics. Trolling for LM bass, stripe bass or trout requires different techniques and speed. I found years ago a straight line troll didn’t produce bass. A lazy S pattern changing depth and speed increases strikes. As you make the very slow turns it speeds up and slows down the lure speed and action. Changes in speeds and action triggers strike same as when you are retrieving lures. Using a simple flasher you can follow depth changes with instant feed back, turning to follow point sides for example, plus metering fish depths. Strolling is simply trolling using the TM in lieu of the OB engine. Strolling is very popular and has been for decades. For example the late Aaron Martens strolled in tournaments. Aaron would cast to targets while his mom backseating was dragging a C-Rig. I did the same thing when my son was younger. I would cast a jig a while Tommy dragged a slip shot rig. When I would stop Tommy slowly reeled in line and made another cast. Strolling is a very effective partner technique. Before A-rigs became popular spreader rigs using swimbaits was popular with trophy bass anglers. The AC plug was designed to be trolled by Allen Cole, originally for trophy Brown Trout. Tom

The seller in needs to know right away as any claim after 30 days from initial shipping will be denied. Tom

Bagley’s original Small Fry series Crappie look as real as a live Crappie, shape and coloration. Oddly the most realistic was on a pearl background but the chartreuse background coloration caught more bass where I fish in clear what....go figure. My guess is the brighter color stood out from all the real crappie. Tom

The world record Smallmouth was caught trolling. Like any fishing technique you can put into trolling as much skill as you desire. Today’s trolling motors can follow specific depth contours a skill needed to be a good bass angler when trolling. Imo deep diving crank baits are ideal to troll for bass and a good method to teach anglers how a crank bait feels bumping bottom vs strikes as the lure stay in the strike zone. With FSS and Livescope trolling would be a deadly combination. Moving the boat using a trolling motor (strolling) vs a OB (trolling) are the same imo. Tom

I mentioned Lake Arrow about 15 miles from Big Bear Lake as the crow flies. Arrowhead is a third the size of Big Bear and 2,000 feet lower elevation (5200 vs 7200) but has very good Smallmouth bass fishing compared to Big Bear. Less pressured fish that react to all the normal lures including jerk and crankbaits. Right now Big Bear still has ice and today it’s snowing. Should be ice free soon but the water warms very slowly reaching about 62 degrees in the summer, a little warmer east end sheltered areas. The Ned Rig would work at Big Bear, just overlooked it. Tom

Fish isn’t going to break your rod if you set the drag properly and don’t high stick ( pointed straight up) the rod. Tom

The shorter HF rods will be a little difficult to load up to launch a medium size swimbait although the weight is near the top of it’s rating. Your drag set properly will prevent treble hook pull out before any stretch occurs with FC or Mono line. Your issue is line capacity and braid helps that problem. What leader you choose is up to you and knot tying skills, mono has stronger knot strength. You might consider IROD IRG 754 F, 7’5” rated 1/2 to 2 oz or IRG 783 SB 7’8” Jr Swimbait rod rated 1 to 4oz. both $150 each. Tom

Comes down to Crappie species, Black Crappie have specks and White Crappie have faint bars, not sure about the black back stripe? My preference for Crappie colored lures is dots-specks because our local Crappie have them. Tom

For Smallies the fire tiger Panther Martins are really good. Tom

Senile1 we feel your pain and loss. We lost our only son 22 Jan 2020, no grandchildren to ease the emptiness, no living siblings or parents. No one should out live the children. The BR family is here to support each other please take a few moments every once in awhile to reply to whatever it is, it has helped me. Tom

No, during the 2006 Ike was using a swim worm and caught a nice bass to cull, when he opened the livewell all his bass were belly up. Ike reacted by going ballistic screaming, swearing and then ripped the flag off the boat tossing into the water. This tantrum cost Ike most of his sponsors. Tom

PM your email Tom

Mepps Long Mino spinner is over looked and a good bass lure. Tom

Too early for both bass and crappie fishing at Big Bear lake imo, good trout fishing however. Big Bear’s micro climate is very cold and the remains cold until May when both Bass and Crappie are more active. The majority of Big Bears Smallmouth population lives in the western or dam end of the lake from Metcalf Bay west, deeper water areas. Drop or Slip Shot rigged Roboworm in purple tones or oxblood red flake and black hair jigs for Smallmouth or Largemouth and marabou crappie jigs fished around docks for crappie. From shore a Thill slip bobber set about 10’-12’ with 2 lb leader, size 16 gold treble hook with Power bait dough ball about 3/8 diameter ball for trout or trout spinners, spoons like Thomas Boyant in gold colors, 4 lbs line. Neighbor lake Arrowhead has good Smallmouth bass fishing, but a private lake. Tom PS, Cachuma has a good Smallmouth and Crappie in February.

You need to change the gasoline about every 6 months and add Sta-Bil. Start the generator let run run a few minutes then put the old gas in your vehicle. Tom

Not expensive Don Iovino’s NAC - T681M/SI Splash’It rod, 6’8” MF, 1/4-1/2 oz lures is ideal for poppers. Don put a lot of his experience designing this rod and suggest you try this rod for a baseline before buying a custom or higher end rod. This rod is no longer available off the shelf, contact Don. Tom

I think it’s good idea to have a lure that sinks then swims back up. Actually a Scrounger jig can do this but doesn’t look like a jerk bait but don’t tell the bass! Tom

Sent