WRB-2.0

The 1st time experience with FFS-Live Scope was fishing with a friend and it was new to both of us. We played around withthe new equipment and went fishing. The day checking out spots we were familiar with without any success. The game changer came at Lookout Point one of my favorite spots. We made several casts that usually resulted in a good bass. I said let’s Live Scope the area and to our surprise the bass were suspended over 150’ if water 75’ off the point. I made a cast with a 3.8 swimbait retrieving slowly though the suspended bass watching the bass react and caught that bass. We sit up on that school catching a quick limit. Back at the ramp talking to the local guide who blanked showed him the pics… game changer. Tom

My favorite Smallmouth bass color jig is Fritz named after Dave Fritz. Basically a hair jig with brown back, chartreuse with red around the head, If interested I will send you a photo via your email. Tom PS, a friend caught the Montana state record using this jig.

It’s hard to beat fresh walleye shore lunch. I rarely deep fry anything and BBQ grill fresh fish of several species. Breaded fish fry Crappie on the list would be 1st choice. Tom

My 1st experience with FFS-Live Scope was over 3 years ago and posted back then this technology is a game changer. If you are a tournament bass angler you need this technology to be competitive. Turns I was right then and now. What has evolved is using smaller soft minnow lures for suspended bass in lieu of larger lures targeting more active bass. Location, location, location at the right time has always been the key to successful bass fishing. FFS solves the location factor. Tom

Possible but the Wohford dock doesn’t or didn’t have a shed. Tom

Immediately released the bass…in his garage? Nice bass and good see a giant show up at Wohford. Tom

What I always did with my outfits was bow string the line and spin the rod so the line wrapped around the rod guides. This keeps the line from tangling with adjacent rods. Plus use lure wraps for treble hooks. Tom

Our lakes Threadfin Shad, crawdads and young of the year bluegill, crappie and carp make up the primary prey sourced. Hatchery stocked rainbow trout if they restart that program . Shad colors pearl white/iridescent blue back. Crawdad colors red-brown or brown-green w/red purple specks. Bluegill colors green w/blue-purple dark green bars. Crappie, green w/black specks. Carp colors gold-brown. Trout colors green back w/ black specks and pearl white. The only staple color I only use at night or mid winter is black-blue. Tom

Sent let me know if received Tom

I have a In-Fisherman early Study Report on fishing various types of aquatic plants found in your location. Very good detailed sketches. If interested will locate the article and send to you via email. Tom PS, PM your address

Saved have my 1st bait casting reel I bought new in 1955 when I was 12 Langley Lure Cast 330. Didn’t save the rod Connolin Feather Lite tubular 5 1/2’. Tom

Today it’s down to 2 bait casting combo’s and 3 spinning a total of 5 for back seating. Tom

1 110 AC power chord to the onboard Noco 10X ( number of batteries). The onboard charger has a separate charging cord for each bank to each battery.. Tom

Daiwa TD Minnow hit US markets before Lucky Craft. 1st Japanese jerk bait I used and the hooks were scary sharpe compared to domestic lures. You had to unhook bass with the TD Minnow using needle nose pliers to avoid hooking yourself. TD Minnow is a slender shape suspending lure with weight transfer, excellent action and forgotten today. Tom

Being on the water is my happy place😀 Tom

I fished Bull Shoals back in the 60’s and watched a man harvesting catfish from trot line. The man was close to me and asked him what he used for bait and replied Concord grapes and reached into a bucket to show me a hand full. I thought he was pulling my leg but watch him put grapes on the trot line hooks. Years later I tried Concord grapes for channel cats and caught a few….who knew! Tom

I bought Smackdown based on the hype on this site and wasn’t pleased casting performance changed it to Fins Spin5 using the same rod, reel and lures very happy with performance. The difference comes down to braid diameter and smoothness coming off the spinning reel. 15# Smackdown is .009D vs 15# Spin5 is .006D. Tom

The Vanford has a shorter reel stem then equal size Stradic. This may be an issue if you have large hands. Tom

Yes and no to some lakes produce harder fighting (Largemouth) bass. Overall Lake Casitas seems to produce harder fight pound for pound bass then other SoCal lakes because the bass are generally healthier outweighing the same length fish. It comes down to individual bass in each lake. I caught bass and ask who was helping you as fish fought like it was life or death struggle. Others fought a ho hum battle giving up easily at the same lake. Tom

Yes

Just buy the Shimano 2024 SLX 70A, true 70 size reel with MGL ser 3 spool. Don’t let the $150 price sway you, excellent reel. Tom

Yes you can smell the odor difference between crawdads eaten and fish eaten. Tom

Deep is relative to each lake. Our local lakes the thermocline sets up around 35’ or deeper. The surface water temps where your livewell water comes from could be 10 degrees warmer then water at 35-40 deep. The reason is the water temperature slowly change as it gets deep to where a faster temp change occurs creating a thermocline. Your bass may have been deeper then the depth it struck your lure and pressure change coupled with temperature change over stressed the bass. I made up a release stringer made from 300 lb mono and 2 SST D ring safety clips and 1 lb sinker to hold the bass down 10’ to acclimate before releasing big bass. Can take a photo and email to you if interested. Tom

Fully understand the channelization of Florida waterways. Aeration is different from pumping water to flow to off set decaying aquatic vegetation killed from spraying weed killing pesticides. If you are happy with aeration/waterflow system that is all that matters. Watched several MLF events held at Head Waters you are fortunate to have trophy bass management. Tom

PM your email and will send you a detailed sketch as part of my In-Fisherman article Horizontal Jigging. Tom