WRB-2.0

To put the stitching presentation into perspective the late 60’s we were trying to catch Florida strain LMB that didn’t respond to traditional Northern LMB lures or techniques. We learned to camp out on high percentage areas by double anchoring (100’ of anchor rope off the bow and stern) moving the boat quietly between the 2 anchors. This allowed covering the area without relocating the boat and re anchoring. Our belief was the bass would move into the good area eventually and not detecting our presence. The very quite stitching presentation allows keeping a low profile sitting in the boat without a lot of rod movements. We were stocking wary big bass that were hard to catch. The stitching technique required anchoring the boat parallel close the shore and casting outwards 180 degrees working the crawdad or worm slowly along the bottom and through brush. Fishing for hours and catching a few big bass was well worth the effort. You could cast traditional lures all day and only catch a few dinks. Today’s F1’s-F3’s have lost the original pure FLMB wariness and willing to strike a wider range of lures developed for these Florida strain bass. It’s different today then back in the late 60’d early 70’s. I haven’t stitched or double anchored in decades since developing my Horizontal jig presentation. The trophy live bait anglers continued to double anchor and stitch crawdads to this day. Tom

Authentication requires a biologist or state warden to examine the fish for added weight and identify species, plus current fishing licenses. Catch & release without all the above the application is denied impossible to authenticate. Tom

Being a one time IGFA line record holder the lake name or location wasn’t a mandatory requirement on the application. A general fresh water region is all that is needed. You do need to be able to authenticate the species, weight length and girth from a independent authority, not easy back in the day but with todays smart phones making contact with local wardens and photos is a lot easier. Tom

Anytime I think the bass are targeting Shad the white w/green-black back hair with white pork trailer gets the call. Tom PM email to see a photo. Until recently my hair jigs were a closely held secret.

Not a bass it’s a creek chub😎

5 lb Maxima Ultra Green is the same diameter as 4 lb Trilene XL; .008D, with superior knot and abrasion strength then 6 lb XL. Tom

Mergansers, Loons, gulls and cormorants are common fish eating birds in northern lakes. Smaller the lake and colder the weather the fewer birds. So much is written about southern reservoirs that isn’t applicable to northern lakes, fall baitfish is one of them. Tom

Basically lakes have 2 types of bait fish; dormasol (near shore and palegic (0ff shore). Northern lakes like southern usually have some of both, just different species. Crappie, Yellow perch, White fish, Emerald shiners, herring, alewives are pelagic fish bass can target if small enough. Bluegill, Pumpkin Seeds, Green Sunfish, Bull Heads, Suckers are a few common Dermasol bait fish. Everyone thinks Bluegills are a preferred bait fish but they tough for bass to swallow too spiny preferring soft ray fish. Young of the year crappie and Perch are often preferred over Bluegill. In your lakes I would look for crappie and perch by watching for fish eating diving birds. These pelagic fish are not large schools like southern lakes with Shad schools. Tom

I have a unique view on stitching as a original Picese bass club member with Bill Murphy during that time. Stitching began as a retrieve technique using nose hooked live crawdads. The technique was borrowed from fly fishing retrieve line over the index finger under the pinky finger alternating back and forth. This allows you to feel the line and slowly walk the crawdad along the bottom. I used a small bucket with water in it to drop the stitched line into to prevent tangling when the crawdad acted up indicating a bass was about to eat it. During the strike have time you reel up the slack line and set the hook. The item that is essential is a stationary platform like anchored boat or standing on shore. Stitching is very slow requiring patients, it’s a saturation presentation. When semi buoyant hand poured worms became available we stitched a split shot worm because they worked and didn’t crawl into brush like a crawdad did. Today’s bass anglers don’t have the patients needed to stitch or double anchoring system. We do have hydraulic anchoring today but few if anyone stitch today….it’s too slow! Tom

California has had a 3 hook max and no snagging fresh water fish for decades. You need a dedicated rod/reel for A-rigs. Picasso Flash mob jr w/ Kietech swimmers works everyehere. Tom

Casting or spinning rod using 20 lb braid? Tom

Contact Smooth Drags, give them your reel make, model and year they make Carbontex drags for all reels. Tom

PE 1.5 is 20 lb braid, PE .8 is 10 lb. Medium Light power rod max lifting weight is 2 lbs, Medium 3 lbs. Max drag force shouldn’t exceed rod lifting power or 1/3 line strength whichever is greater. Set your drag with reel on the rod and line through all the guides. I use 2 pints plastic drinking bottles for ML rod or 6-7 lb test line (weight 1 pint = 1 lb.) Put the bottles in a plastic grocery bag and hook the bag by the handles and left carefully (don’t high stick). Set the drag when the bag starts to lift. You will be surprised how much 2 lbs force loads your rod. Fight fish using your rod power reel to take up line to the rod loaded. We call lifting the rod to control the fish then reeling the bent rod down”pumping” and that is how you get fish fast without cranking them with the reel. Tom

You don’t reel against fighting fish with any spinning reel just keep the rod loaded and line tight. Tom

Thank you👍

Watch 1976 Star is Born, Kris Kristofferson was fantastic ….RIP Tom

Farm raised salmon are raised in cold water ocean pins and the only farm raised fish to consider eating. We always have fresh line caught salmon available it cost more but I prefer fresh line caught fish especially the fish I caught. I grew up eating trout and crappie we caught and grilled not deep fried, that is how I prepare fish today. The commercial fish we eat is fresh, never frozen Pacific Halibut. Avoid farm raised Talopia! Tom

The cost of premium spinnerbait hook from Gamakatsu or Owner in 25ea is over $12, Highend blades like Hilderbrandt are $1.50 ea., titanium wire frame, tungsten molded 1 1/2 oz head, premium swivels and hand tied skirts all add up. Add supply and demand for artisan skilled workmanship custom JDM spinnerbaits demand a high price Be glad we have Mike at Siebert Outdoors! Tom

Same tackle forum scroll up it’s above this thread. Tom

Tournaments are time limited and location limited because you have a start time and other boats to compete locations with. Always get to best location 1st if possible and fish for kicker bass early rather then later if you want to win. Average size bass are easier catch when you just go fishing. Tom

I am finicky about proper functioning smooth drags. Since I use line with lighter pound test then the fish weight setting the 1/3 the line strength using dead weight is essential to preventing line/knot failure. Check your drag for smooth operation and set properly every outing you never know the next hook set could be a fish if a lifetime. Tom

What you are discussing is a gut feeling or intuitive thought you know a bass is going to strike without conscious awareness. intuition is something we have to some degree, not always a good feeling. Bass fishing for some means getting in touch with surroundings looking for clues for activity and when everything is in focus undistracted your intuition kicks in and know where the bass is and when it will strike so trust you gut feeling. Tom

Siebert introduced his Megalodon spinnerbait yesterday on this forum! Tom

My favorite spinnerbait has double Indiana blades. Booya 3/8 oz convert double Indiana looks good, the wt/chart-blue with Zoom white spinnerbait trailer is a good bluegill color. Mike at Siebert can make up whatever you need. Tom

Scope eliminate eye dominate issues, red dots don’t. I am a fan of Leopold scopes better performance in low light with duplex optics. Tom