JonB2

Seems I timed a week of fishing well as today was very solid from shore again. Started at a river mouth and got 6 smallies, missed probably a half dozen. No largemouth. Jigs were dead here, but paddle tails came through. After it really dropped off, I headed to a harbor and feel I hit the first wave starting to poke in. Pulled 11 from two particular spots, 7 brown, 4 green. Jig/finesse and paddles were about equal. I have a little spot with a single piece of “cover” no one else ever fishes that I found last year. It gives up several fish most times unless it’s flat and bright.

I do, but I’m mostly a quiet guy that keeps to himself. I don’t do the “like” type thing at all. Maybe once I get more under me as a bass fisherman I’ll have things to say.

Had a fun and interesting two days bass angling from the bank. Made my first trips for prespawn smallies and it’s getting going. I fished river mouths and had to work a bit for fish, but I enjoy those days for some reason. The one spot has a mix of brown and green bass, and I got a couple solid largemouth each day. Of course I also lost the biggest greenie I hooked. Paddle tails are usually a gimme, but were not as automatic. However, the ol’ reliable jig/craw was on the menu and took most of my fish. I did have a nice little flurry the second day on paddle tails. Jerkbaits, cranks, and underspins were dead. I got one big smallmouth on a c rigged beaver. Bonus fish were a spawned out walleye and good sized Atlantic salmon, both on paddles. Man, my world feels right now that bass are full blown back in action!

I’ve got the week to fish and tried today after a low of 21* and the second day in the 40’s for a high. Only good thing was nearly full sun and slight winds. The winds were what I would call come and go, and man did I struggle with positioning in the yak, but it’ll come around. I could quickly tell despite the chill, jig bite wasn’t happening…at all. Structure was hit or miss today with fish tight, but I did notice for the first time bass slowly cruising the slightly deeper flats just off the shallows. I tried a jerkbait and nothing at all, which I thought was a bit surprising. I wanted to slow down, but still search around…so I ran a carolina rig for the first time and caught every bass on it today. A handful of 12-13” dinks, a lucky to be alive 17-18” male and heavy 20” female. A 3/16oz tungsten with a glass bead and since I couldn’t get an old school lizard in pumpkinseed-chartreuse, I used a knockoff baby brushhog in gp/chart tail. Both bigger fish choked it and the one absolutely was t-boned by a large northern, likely last fall. I loved easily feeling and working that c rig and the bite was cool. I only had a 7’ MH today, but will 💯 bring the 7’3” next time!

I just take it for what it is during the spawn when the majority are on beds. I usually switch to panfish or something when it’s peak spawn and wait till good amounts start posting up resting and hungry “post spawn”. I do not think there is any magic wand for that period, take what you get and call it good.

Sometimes I think that bulky, compact profile of a jig really appeals to bass. I agree with @Lottabass …go light and use feel. It takes patience and touch, but a lighter weight allows you to “float” and glide your jig around cover like that. Usually bass are in major ambush mode in standing cover, so you typically don’t have to do a ton to trigger them. Don’t give up on jigs; huge mistake in my opinion.

Had a few hours this afternoon and since I’m 20 min at most from the lake, off I went. I brought two casting rods, M and MH, then the bfs. I started in the back end of a semi-protected spot. I warmed up with the bfs since I hadn’t caught any fish with it. I started with a ned head and ned bug. Got dinks and one keeper, losing two other keepers. I then decided to switch to a jerkbait, throwing the smallest husky and started hitting dinks, bluegill and a few crappie. I was a bit much at first, pulling hooks before chilling out. I also hooked a big gill on the ned bug but it flipped off in the kayak. After that, I went bass fishing and got a handful of keepers with a couple decent fish. Fish were still relating to docks, but the deeper heads were barren and working the shallower sections paid off. I got a couple swim jig fish, but most on a black/blue bitsy bug with gp finesse trailer. I feel the big females have pulled back again with a slight cooldown and definitely will with 19, 20 and 23* nights coming up…man I sure love bass fishin!

Swim jigs and casting jigs in lighter weights and natural colors have been solid for me on my first two trips here in MI. My bite is just getting started.

Fished this afternoon and had a nice, solid day. Overcast and flat calm for a good while before a slight chop kicked up later on. Yesterday’s pattern wasn’t there today as fish were not set up the same. Big females seemed to have pulled back deeper again with a few medium girls hanging around structure, but scores of 10-12” dinks and smaller keepers were around and active. Working flooded brush, stickups or certain docks with an 1/8oz bitsy bug with a finesse trailer worked low was best. A jig bite is my favorite bite and even better around cover. More variable weather including continued rain, but also a cold spell in the mix so it will be hit or miss. Might check a different, slightly bigger lake next trip. Most keepers were 14-16” with a 17ish as big fish. Even threw tight to the dock at the launch before leaving and got one lol

I finally got on board in northern Michigan! Man, sometimes we really have to go through some crap and waiting up here in the north, but it’s well worth the wait in anticipation. I had made a couple early scout trips to the north side last week, but today went south. I did a scout run, noting what and where, then started fishing. This is my second serious season bass fishing and my first with a kayak. They’re really annoying in wind of any breeze, but after some clunky moments, I started getting a feel for anchoring. I ran a bladed jig, senko, underspin and jerkbait to no avail. However, off one dock a switch to a bluegill swim jig with a perch Mayor pulled two good females, one was pretty nice. Both inhaled the bait and pulled the MH well. After no more action, I went out and around between the other side and next dock. No further good fish, but before I left, I pitched an 1/8oz bitsy with a rage Ned bug trailer and got a handful of 10-12” dinkers on the M spinning rig which was pleasant. I’m headed out whenever I can again which may be Friday. Scattered schools of bluegills up shallow sunning and one good school of crappie that just stared at me under a dock lol

I can’t bring myself to use anything but an offset worm hook texas rigging a rubber worm. Beaver baits I use ewg and haven’t had any issues hooking up, they seem perfect. Senkos I use ewg for t-rig and either a good j hook or c style for wacky rig. I feel an overlooked aspect is how and how aggressive the bass eats your bait. Fish that are tentative or skittish might mouth more and cause less bite chance. The correct answer is the usual answer; whatever you do best with.

Are you on shore or in a boat/kayak? I think a 6’6”-7’ standard MHF rod is perfect for t-rigging worms or creature baits. Nothing says summer bassin’ more to me than a texas-rigged electric grape or blue fleck power worm on 12-14lb green trilene xt in heavy cover!

I can easily see @Swamp Girl’s logic in sticking near shore. As an older woman, her overall odds of escaping a spill are better near shore. Bottom could be soft, but it’s better to have possible than have not at all. This spring has been horrible. I’m still waiting around in northern MI and it’s getting really annoying. Probably atleast another week, if not longer.

Still waiting here, but am now hyper prepared. Bass might be in trouble this season with how hungry and ready I am. Cannot WAIT for that first day I’m able to get into some prespawn fatties!

I caught a bunch of fish on tubes last early season, both smallies and largies. I remember the very first fish I caught on a Gitzit, an 18-19” smallmouth on albino pearl in the late 90’s.

Size on bass is definitely tough from pics, but you can usually tell a solid fish, and definitely a big one. I think smallmouth are tougher to gauge for whatever reason. I’ve never taken a selfie and stopped doing hero shots a few years ago. I decided it’s about the fish anyways, so I just take a shot of them and back they go usually 30 seconds to a minute or so. A minute of time is more than you think and you can unhook, admire, snap pic and release in one minute. Set your phone to “live” pictures and you can go back later and select the best frame, using that as your pic. It gets bass back quicker and you will 💯 find a choice shot. I love photography and no way am I not taking pics.

A skirted jig is always on if applicable as I fish both smallmouth and largemouth, and jigs rail both. It’s my first choice and most confident bait I use. Anything beyond that depends on what I’m doing and what’s going on. Give me a jig and I always feel ready to catch bass.

Original Sweet Beaver for creature in black/blue flake in the clouds or black/red flake in the sun. I like Rage Bugs as well, but use Beavers way more. Both T rigged for me and pitched to heavy cover. For craws, I’ve mostly settled on Crush City Cleanup Craws in several colors depending, but GP/blue pearl, Watermelon-red, and half black/blue flake-half GP. I mostly run them on jigs, but also T rigged. The 1/2&1/2 color on a black/blue jig will be absolute money on my largemouth river.

I think this thread is goofy. Some guys seem way more invested in their fishing perception than their fishing reality.

All my setups function with versatility, but have strengths. I have realized getting into bass fishing, there is no doubt we accumulate several rigs because it can be fun and interesting deciding what’s needed for a given day. Sometimes we even grab a rod just because we’re in the mood to fish or catch fish with it lol. I’ve found serious bass fishing highly entertaining as it’s full of challenging situations all the time. I love the puzzle.

Crankbaits are something I really wanna get down, both lipless and squarebills, and will be putting in time with them this season. I have a small handful of lipless to start…Rippin’ Rap(3), Rattlin’ Rap(2), Red Eye Shad(1), Original Rat L Trap(1). Colors are a mix of mostly flash and baitfish with one craw pattern, one brighter pattern(blk/chart/orange). I am in high anticipation for their use!

Green stained water, I’d throw white/pearl. Great contrast and still maintains a natural baitfish look. Black and purple together would be a great darker, more subtle alternative. I love purple!

When I got into serious bass fishing last year, I knew right away squarebills would be something I’d be interested in. I agree with @Swimbaitstud , keep it simple and confident. I got a few KVD 1.0 and a handful of 1.5’s in mostly shad and craw patterns. A few rattle, most don’t. I’ve got a 7’ MM rod with 12lb flouro on a 6.2:1 reel and it feels right which is truly what matters for you in fishing. This is my second season and I’m itching to fish more ways this year and much earlier!

Stay away from women and fish your ass off. You just spent 20 years with them and are a free man with none of the problems. Fish, that’s what you do.