WRB-2.0

There are natural lakes and impoundments called reservoirs. Topo maps of the river bed area before it was flooded can be found by researching your states geographic map files. It takes a skilled map reader to locate structures at the depth of pool where bass live. Look for steep drop offs that have flat areas; a point that drops into the river channel may also have a bench or area where the depth remains the same for 20 to 100 feet. The structure feature is only relative if it's at the depth the are bass using; a bench feature at 150 deep isn't good, it better at 30 feet for example. You need to know the lake level when reading topo maps. Over head sat picture can be very helpful to identify features when the lake is down or light brown areas in clear water indicate shallow water for example. If you have aGPS unit, then study the digital lake map at home and mark potential area with way points. WRB

You can get topo maps from Navonics in 1 foot evaluations for some lakes. Google maps is god for over head sat maps. try; http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/ for general use on line maps. WRB

Just about anyone with an interest in bass fishing can become a good bass fishermen with help from a good mentor. Few good bass fishermen can become a professional bass fishermen and earn his/her living from bass fishing. Fishing talent doesn't equal good marketing skills and the talent to promote yourself or products. The most natural talented bass pro I know is Aaron Martens. Aaron is also very shy, a poor speaker and self promoter. Aaron has worked very hard to overcome his handicaps, his bass fishing skills are excellent. Both Don Iovino and Dee Thomas are a contrast to Aaron in natural skills and physical ability. Don and Dee are both smart, good self promoters and marketers that tuned a specific bass fishing skill to become well known professionals in our sport. It is a stretch to consider Don or Dee athletes; however 3 day tournament aren't easy, even for the most fit and both of these men have done that for decades. Bass fishing skills can be taught, your physical skills, personality and drive to succeed, have limitations that may require training to become a successful bass fishermen. WRB

White French cut with dog bone tail and squeaky device, should do the trick. No purple poodles? darn my favorite color. Enjoy you trip to Florida. WRB

Thank you for the reply, Lane is a special lady, tell her we are praying for her. Good work on the video, you both care about our sport, we all appreciate your efforts and use your products. WRB aka; Oldschool PS; Poodle hair jigs, could be the next hot lure.

I have always used forked length, an measure the girth as described. The tails on big bass can be warn and forked length doesn't vary much. WRB

The best night lakes have good water clarity, off color water doesn't work too well for me. I'm, not a fan of black lights or any above the water light when night fishing. You need good nav lights. Your sense of feel and hearing are heightened at night and you don't miss many strikes. Light helps you cast to targets because your depth perception is poor without light. I do use underwater lights in the back of my boat that illuminates the water around the boat and indirectly the shoreline, if casting to targets. My favorite night lures; black plastic worms, black jigs and trailers, buzzers, thumper spinnerbaits, crankbait and on occasion a musky size black Jitterbug. WRB

It depends on how many other fishermen are fishing your pond and the health of the overall fishery. From what you describe, it sounds very balanced. I would keep the crappie if you want fish to eat, crappie spawn before the bass and eat the basses fry. If the 1 to 2 lb bass are in good shape, not big head with skinny bodies, then everything should be good. The big bass are going to die off regardless if you keep them or not. You can't have too many big bass and still have healthy young bass. As long as all the year classes are in good shape, continue what you are doing. The girth should be about 75-80% of the length for healthy bass. WRB

The rule, at one time was 200 feet from any other tournament boat, today you get very close without a rule infraction. The issue is common sense and good sportsmanship. Most tournament fishermen are courteous, some are not. You may have the right to cast under someones dock, just remember most dock owners have had problems with fishermen around their docks, making them less tolerant. When I was a youngster I had very little common sense and zero patience, it takes time to appreciate other peoples rights. WRB

Agree; tail open. WRB

I have more trouble with guides, tournament fishermen and wake boarders. The anti fishermen/women are more passive aggressive and work behind your back, whereas a guide that wants his spot or a tournament bass fishermen who arrives at his spot, wants you to leave immediately. I have had a constant running feud with local "guides" for about 30 years, who soak live bait on big bass spots and catch everything possible. They have the legal right to fish, it's just a difference in ethics. The young gun tournament guys are all about themselves and care less about anyone who happens to be on "their" water. The fact they don't have the attention span of a gnat means they run and gun, so are gone in a short time. You just need to let it be, it isn't worth the time to argue with them. Wakeboarders, fish a different area or lake. If the water sport people are in a closed or restricted area, then call the authorities. WRB

Put yourself in their shoes. You own the property, boat dock and everything on it. Courtesy goes a long way, not all fishermen treat the docks or property with care and snag their lures leaving hooks or getting on the dock or property to remove lures. If the owner is upset he/she more than likely has a good reason to be upset. Try to be friendly, if that doesn't work, move on and enjoy your day on the water. WRB

There are several weight formula's around, the one I use for bass is; Length X Length X Girth / 1200 = weight in lbs. Length as Catt illustrated is mouth closed to end of tail, girth is around the widest area, dorsal fine down. You need the girth measurement to be accurate. A northern strain largemouth bass averages about 80% girth to length for a healthy bass. 80% of 21" = 17" (16.8) and that would be a 6.25 lb bass and that looks about right judging from the photo. Nice bass. WRB

Tony, how is Lane doing? Hope she is well. WRB

The catch & release ethic is good on one hand, over the top on the other. No one can have a 100% C & R survival rate, bass die from being caught regardless of the proper care and handling. Donating a couple of big adult bass shouldn't be a problem. My question is; if this friend is a biologist why doesn't he shock a few for his research project? One bass will not provide much information about the species, it will be all about that one fish. Fish at night and target bass that you have never met before. WRB

Though I don't think color matters much relative to other factors, it is a minor characteristic of your presentation. Actually the In-Fishermen formula does take color into account under all 3 factors. What colors make up the fishes (bass) primary prey, what type of presentation works best for that particular fish and where to find the fish, based on seasonal conditions. Basic bass behavior sums up the Lindners formula. The 2 colors most overlooked by today's bass fishermen are; black (no color) and white (all colors). Black verse white is total contrast. If you take those 2 basics; use black under no or low light conditions, white under bright or good light conditions and combine the two; black back with white underside for average fishing conditions, you may not need any other color. Food for thought. WRB

To a fly fishermen a roll cast is a roll cast. Bass fishermen have different names depending on the region your from. The underhand loop cast is exactly what some bass people call a roll cast; the lure is whipped by the rod tip in a circle, then cast to a target in the flat trajectory. Pitching is very similar to flipping, except as you swing (pendilium) the lure forward with the rod, the reel lets more line out. Most pitchers use their thumb to control the cast. Loop casting requires practice, like any other bait casting skill. To slow roll a spinnerbait means to slowly retrieve the lure, just fast enough the keep the blade or blades turning and lure off the bottom. WRB

You didn't memtion what type of fishing you are doing; bass? WRB

Agree with Catt. Start with determining what the bass are eating and match those colors. WRB

I put fresh frozen garlic cubes, available at Trader Joe's, in my pork rind trailer jars. 1 cube equals 1 garlic. You should not add scent to soft plastics that already have a scent molded in; like power bait for example. Soft plastics without scent, you can add whatever you like, just avoid adding different scents. WRB

You fish low land reservoirs or natural lakes that don't have the typical highland or hillland features most bass fishermen have experience with. Pre spawn is the transition period between spawning and early summer. Think of recovery period; pre spawn bass are not happy campers for a about 2 weeks after spawning. Unlike the deeper reservoirs, your spawn period doesn't last for months, it's over quickly for the majority of the bass. By now the bass may be early summer period, focus on those presentations. Early/late low light periods with a few mid day feeding times. During active times, use reaction lures; spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, buzzers, jerkbaits, frogs. Inactive periods go the the slower saturation type lures; senko's, soft slow jerkbaits, swimbaits ( slow sinking blurgill or golden shiner), jgs, T or C-rigged or slipshoot worms. Work those channel breaks throughly and learn everything you can about what structure there maybe and target cover near the structure breaks. Structure in your case could be soil changes; sand to clay areas for example. Night fishing; if the critters allow you to be out at night. WRB

You are using premium hooks, rod about right, line wasn't defined. Roboworms are very soft, so you shouldn't have a problem with penetration of the hook point. Two things come to mind; spawning bass don't eat your worm, they kill it or move it and easily can miss the hook point. The second is putting the hook eye too far into the worm nose; it should be flush or only in about 1/16". Too much worm can fill the hook gap. If your worm come back bunched up in the hook throat, you may need to skin hook the worm. Off set J bend hooks don't work well for Texas rigged worms, IMO. The straight shank sproat style hook is better for hook ratation. Keep the rod loaded up and enjoy your fishing. WRB

Good basic article on how to properly handle bass. Keep in mind that this article wasn't specifically directed at bass boaters with live wells, that issue is far more complicated. WRB

Fishing the HBC4 ? WRB

Putting teener's in the boat. LMB over 15 lbs are very rare fish, you can't afford to lose any big bass you hook...period. This is simply the difference between success and failure. I consider myself to be as good as any trophy bass fisherman out there and I have lost few. Lets make that 3 in over 40 years of pursuing giant bass and I remeber every moment in full color. The fact that I have put hundreds in the boat, the 3 misses still huant me. How do you prevent from making a mistake; be prepared, check knots, change line,rod giudes and use only sharp premium hooks. Tune your tackle, reel drags and fish like the next cast is the fish. Position yourself to be able to land the bass, keep it under control and in front of you, every second and put the bass in the boat as quickly and calmly as possible. Giant bass can only fight a few minutes at the longest, stay cool, there will be a lot of time to celebrate or ponder what went wrong. WRB