JonB2

@MIbassyaker Thanks man, I enjoyed it greatly. It’s my favorite river in this state and is full of big smallmouth with the occasional bonus largie. Felt great being back on her again!

Shore fished this afternoon in the heat, but it ended up not being too bad out. Sun/clouds mixed and a steady SSW breeze made the 90* day tolerable. I did a quick 5 hour smallie run which I haven’t done all summer since I’ve been getting into the largemouth. I’ve caught smallmouth all my life, but mostly on bait. I landed 6 solid river bass that averaged 15” with a 19” and 21” as big fish. I also lost 4 and missed a couple. They were lean and mean, but this continues to be a strange year of slim bass. I got the biggest on a 4” black senko which I threw to give a decent leech look and it worked fine. The best bait by far was a bitsy with a chigger craw. I hooked something big that eventually busted 10lb big game leader, which is what I got my fish on. All but one came on the M caster save for the big girl on the ML spinning rod(of course)

I keep a loose, rough count in my head, but overall don’t really care. Numbers are too subjective and a 6 fish day could be really solid in some fisheries, while in others, 20 is slow. I fish mostly from shore and am probably creeping up on 300 nice bass since late April, I could never keep a clicker or exact numbers because that points to ego imo, and I’m not interested in that. I take pics of fish I consider good sized and some that are just nice looking or great patterning or whatever reason I see fit. I love photography, and I LOVE fishin’

Well, I’ve ran braid and mono so far and don’t mind both. With jigs and Texas rigs…man, I’m liking tough, low stretch mono right now for some reason. I whacked a bunch of fish on jigs with braid in June and early July, but the feel of mono suits me atm. I do have 20lb braid on both of my 7-3 casting rods for the heaviest cover I’ll fish. My main rig, a 7’ MH has 14lb green trilene xt mono and man, it’s so fun going toe to toe in some good weeds with it! I drug a mean, big-headed 19+ and 5lbs of weeds in on it the other day and there was no issue. My three spinning rods have 10-15-20lb braid on them. Simply go with what you really like the feel of and what keeps catching you fish. Confidence above all else my man

@N Florida Mike I feel ya man. I know where a big one lives where I fish and I’ve had her out twice, but haven’t put a hook to her yet. First time she shot out her lair five feet and I simply farmed her and watched her wake torpedo back to her tangled lair. Next opportunity I just threw out into the shore slop behind her castle and drug it out quick on the surface and she waked right out after it, but wouldn’t commit to the open. Her behavior and the spot she’s living all say big fish…

Most guys go a bit lighter lead with braid so they only snap the mono/flouro and not a section of braid in the water. For me, growing up fishing steelhead, it’s natural having a heavier mainline and lighter leader

I know, it might come across a little whiney lol. I’m just raw and simply write what I was thinking/feeling in the moment. I didn’t catch a bunch of bass at all, not even double digits. I was just mentioning those were the ones I did take pics of. I have a few scenery shots, but get a little leary of Looky Lou’s

Bite days are when the day just feels alive. Frogs are heard, turtles are poking around, gills are popping, and you can see bass around and there’s chasing and blowups; just feels like it’s a day of activity overall. Some days everything is stale; quiet, panfish just sitting around, no bass activity etc As far as numbers or success; I have no idea what kind of waters have 100+ fish days, but I’d likely avoid them mostly. I stay happy because I stay hungry because I stay challenged. I’ve noticed in my 43 years that lots of people get good, then get jaded and lose the original simple pleasure of fishing. I’m not out for the biggest or the most ever; I’m just out to catch fish period. I’ve had a few 20 fish days on the little pressured river I fish, but despite the frustration here…leaving after having a solid day and a few good fish just feel’s different because you know it ain’t “luck”. I have zero ego and am very humble…but few things get me going than fishing behind someone and pulling fish after they just hit that spot

Took the kayak for a little midday float and had fun. Man, any day of the week anymore is just always commotion. I did make the best of it and fooled some pretty decent fish. Sometimes I laugh at the way I think and how it affects my fishing. I took a couple MH’s today; 7 and 7-3. I mostly got them on the 7’ with straight 14lb trilene xt. The sun was high and bright, but they would eat in the right spot with the right cast. Standard senkos to start when it was bright, and the big senko once shadows started hitting the water. I didn’t start until after 10am, which I know isn’t ideal but typical for me lol Gonna give senkos a break for a bit and try some other stuff again. I get kind of “alright, that’s enough” with senkos, because they can get too easy for me. Only took a few pics because it was hot and I don’t like fumbling with my phone a lot. I did get a real nice fish a little over 19” on a 7” speed senko. I like leaving the tail paddle style

That “old brand” is now way under used and the fish are not seeing that bait. The funny thing about worms is there’s lots of them but the fish still respond to old stuff because it still works and no one runs it…simply a “new” look for them. I’ve caught some nice fish on the old pre-rigged Stopper worms, with the hooks and snell removed of course. That bent, kinked worm rolling and twitching around is typically more than they can bear

Diawa has the Tatula XT lineup for $99 and they’re solid rods for that price. My whole lineup is xt’s and I beat the hell out of myself and my equipment(seriously). They have a rod just for frogging and one just for heavy flipping(punching)….well worth a look imho

Did a quick, on a whim fish this evening and got a few. Man is it getting weedy, shore fishing is really challenging, but still doable going heavier. It was a pretty slow pick, but I did get three nice fish from 16.5-18”, and some overzealous 10-13” dinkers. A 7” senko and 10” worm both caught fish as big baits were best today. El piko collected per usual, but only once atleast I got a solid, still ragged ol’ bass on the big worm right in tight to the bank in about 1’ of water. I noticed a few weeks ago some good fish were pulling up and ambushing from right up by shore, in a shoe box sized pocket of weeds/slop collected by the current. People walk right by these fish all day. So I’ve been periodically running baits along certain spots and this fish waked right after a large senko, but pulled up and went into the slop. I waited a few minutes and dropped a weightless 10” worm above the lie and ever so slowly scooted and pulled it along until it got close and that bass grabbed it without hesitation and I corked her probably 5’ away from me. Ya take what ya make and that’s it man lol I had to take a couple mug shots of small bass with big attitudes!

Right on man! Simple, easy fishing is often just right most days. Enjoy yourself and good luck!

So everyone often cites “bite windows”, which I think are a thing. However, I’ve noticed there are bite “days”, where the whole day is fishy. No major lulls, a good switch up is right back into fish, etc. These days are unknown until likely you arrive and instantly “feel it”. I’ve had trips where I could just tell things were active. On the contrary, I’ve got there and after a few casts…I’m already antsy and on the move looking for a quick hitter to get on the board and get in a groove. I’ve quickly come to realize how a day is likely gonna go after a few casts. With bass, I don’t see the “first cast curse” like steelhead or walleye. A first cast bass is like “alright, let’s get it!”. Often relaxes you and puts you on point and purpose. The off days are the exact opposite and you fish tight, tense and terse. Anyway, that’s something I’ve often thought about since I joined this forum and finally put it into words lol. I’d rather have a full bite day than a fleeting bite window

Well I’m just learning my kayak game, but I like to use mine to mostly get around. A good area, I’ll beach it and go for the stability. I have an anchor and brush grabber too. I don’t like the idea of a fish/weeds pulling me out of position and into a spot, so I bring the hip boots for versatility. Your situation would take some thinking for sure lol

@gim Sweet post! I’d be really, really excited fishing that water. I love heavy cover and heavy tackle. I’m taking the kayak tomorrow with MH and H casting rods, 7” senkos and 10” worms and I’m going into the nastiest stuff I can find on my little river. This post gets me excited for it! That’s a d**n good fish my man!

Tougher for me like errbody else, but gotta keep it real and 💯. I scrounged out a few fish in a couple of trips, but it was a frustrating grind. Not much for size really save for one potbellied 17-17.5”. A few 14-15” and some dinker 10-12”. I did blow it on a big one in a spot I know a really good fish lives. No real hot baits, stick worms and ribbon tails in the weeds. I think next trip I’m going heavy and bringing my two 7-3’s and throwing some big stuff in nasty areas. Might be fun…here’s some realistic MI late summer bassin’

@FloridaFishinFool All good my man, I agree with you on that. He did say he mostly fishes them in open water and “around” brush/logs…so I felt medium would likely suit his situation well. I throw senkos on MH all the time, but just like the lighter feel with the way they typically fish is all. I’ve had a couple close calls on my M this season and mostly carry around MH for largemouth. They’re ready to pull this time of year and if they’re near any cover, they’re definitely headed that way!

I’m no expert, but I think M power is perfect for senkos. You can easily toss around a 5” senko with 10-12lb on a MF casting rod, but I also really like running them on spinning rigs for some reason. Either way, I think medium power is the way to go

@Swamp Girl I’m very grateful and happy with my action. It’s a unique and satisfying fishery overall and fishes well if you know your… After I missed those two on my normal rigging with a bigger senko, my mind quickly said to downsize and be a bit more active instead of fishing the drop. I am curious if I would’ve stuck both those misses if I was wacky rigged 🧐 I’m gonna play around with a lightly weighted, wacky rigged finesse worm

I guess as far as bank bassin’ goes, I’m on a roll somewhat. I was gonna try an early morning run for a change, but didn’t get on the water till after 8. It was quite flat, sunny and kinda warm. Things were quiet for a bit, but I knew not to force baits and decided to stick to the senko bite that’s been steady, but downsize to 4” and wacky rig only so I could throw to the far bank and twitch/pause back. After missing two good bites with a t rigged standard senko, the adjustment proved correct as they started choking it. My next best bait was a 1/16oz Texas rigged pre-rigged worm with the hooks removed. The bass that ate the worm were right on it and ran like crazy after grabbing it. I love that feeling as you reel up the slack and know one’s got it!

I wouldn’t worry about it my man, just part of getting better as an angler. I just got into bass fishing like this, but I’m really lovin’ it! I already have a lineup of 8 rods and I’m just a shore guy lol. I’ve got 5 casting rigs and 3 spinning, but man am I versatile

@Swamp Girl Did you use a weighted wacky hook then? I’ve thought about that, but that style hook makes me iffy. So far no weight has been best for me running senkos. I do enjoy seeing my line jump, then feel it pulling tight as I reel up the slack!

Great job @Swamp Girl, nice morning catching. What did you think about that senko bite? I’m continuing to try new and different things for me, and will be throwing this next trip. Can’t wait to see what kind of reaction I get. Research seemed to show everyone considering this a spring bait, but bass eat bluegill all year and my home river is FULL of panfish!