helms83

Well, might as well jump on the band wagon too, any chance I can get a copy? Also, I was at BPS and noticed the same thing too. In Clarksville, IN they have a makeshift streming running through the store. The bass were huddled against, under, behind anything possible: along side rocks waiting for something to swim by, under a man-made beaver dam, the bridges. It really put things into prespective. On another note, I thought it would be hailarious to get a pole and drop a line into the stream. Just imagine walking through BPS and someone sitting there trying to catch the bass in the tank or the stream, lol.

What's the best way to respool your reel? Do you use a Arbor Knot?

I thought the samething, but I think many want to say it, but don't want to be "that guy," lol.

The pond I shore fish: Shallow, can see bottom 20-30 feet from shore (is this clear water) A few fallen tree limbs, but virtually no structure Mud bottom, with scattered rocks Some deeper sections that appear to be stained (at least can't see bottom like the shallower areas) Would guess water temp about 80-85 Used weightless flukes different colors, different shallow crankbaits and colors, spinner baits of different colors, different buzz baits, jigs with rage tail and different trailers, c-rig/t-rig with different worms (to include senkos) and different colors (even wacky rigged), and different topwaters. The Lake I fish from boat: Stained, shallow timber, rip-rap sections, a few points, and some deeper sections Mud bottom, with scattered rock bottoms Would guess water temp about 80-85 Used weightless flukes different colors, different shallow crankbaits and colors, spinner baits of different colors, different buzz baits, jigs with rage tail and different trailers, c-rig/t-rig with different worms (to include senkos) and different colors (even wacky rigged), and different topwaters.

Forth time out; forth time skunked. I was even able to watch three bass, one was decent, swimming around near shore, watch every lure/worm that came their way, and disregard it, swimming away. I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong. Everyone says I'm probably fishing too fast. So today I had a stopwatch going. While varying my retrieves, when reeling slow, it would take me anywhere between 4 to 7:30 minutes for my retrieve. And I'm fishing from a shallow shore, so it's not like I'm way out there. And I am changing my retrieve styles. So I just don't know what to do. Any help?

yeah your right I gotta stop being a pansee thanks it kind of helped me out I disagree. You know you're body better than anyone else; even better than your coach. "Sack-up" by being honest with yourself; if you know you're not at risk, than keep pushing, giving 110%. But if you "don't feel right," be sure to take a rest, cool down your body, get fluid, and let someone know. Don't "sack-up" by pushing past the limit if you don't feel normal. Signs to watch for: Coolness feeling: like a cold chill or cold sweat Lack of sweating: meaning you're dehydrated Headache, dizziness, confusion: possible start of heat exhaustion, stress, or stroke Dark urine: dehydration I agree with a previous post, cut out soda, drink water often, and gatorade for electrolytes. And be sure to eat good meals, and rest.

I'm only 26, but I have to agree; alot of the younger generations are the "give me what i want, for free, and now!" type. However, this attitude has to be nutured and encouraged from somewhere, correct? It seems in bass fishing that its easier to get a starter sponsor, even if it's a locally owned tackle shop; why is that? Also, why is it that people are actively pursueing a sponsorship? I have no longterm goal or dream to get sponsored. However, if I did, I would want to sponsor a product that I believe in and prefer to use; or my favorite company. I would feel it to be a honor to represent that company.

I would like to fish with Ike, he's fun, acts young, and is aggressive. But I think we'd butt heads cause he gets frustrated easily, as do I, lol. JT Bagwell would be another choice. I'd like to catch bass in my home state (IL) and he could show me where and how. Of course Bill Dance, he does seem like a nice old guy that could entertain you for hours with his stories, while teaching you a thing or two.

Anyone?

I bought some too and I'm so excited to try them. I bought both craw and baby-craw. I'm curious as to try them weightless, t-rigged, c-rigged, split shot, and jigged to see what works. I would think t-rigged and jigged would present the best. Any predictions?

Do you tip your spinner bait? If so, with what? Do you match the bait to the skirt color? what has worked for you?

Thanks for the tips; but why blacks/blues on cloudy days?

Ok, I finally get to go to the pond tomorrow morning. The weather tonight is 30% chance of showers/storms from 0100-0300, 74 at sunrise (0635), and partly cloudy. By noon, chance of storms again and 85. Like I said, it's a shallow clear pond, with some deeper parts that are harder to get to. I think the bass are holding in three possible areas: off a small point in the middle of the pond that is deeper, off the northern shore that is rip-rap with a quick drop off, or a very small pocket cove that has some down timber and over-head cover (which is where my girlfriend hooked a nice bass that shook off). I'm going to get out to the pond earlier than I have before, probably between 0600-0630 (every other time I was out there around 0730). The plan if the pond is empty, then I'll fish the shoreline hard and all over, fan casting all over with crankbaits; maybe throw some is to throw some top water, buzzbaits, weightless flukes, and spinners. If no luck, then switch to rigs and jigs and try slow fishing. I really want to catch something, been skunked the last three times out, any tips with my plan?

Just want to know on the purchases and colors. I fish a clear shallow pond and a small stained lake.

...I went to Bass Pro Shops today and bought some new baits to fish in both a small pond and lake near my house. I purchased: Booyah 3/8oz Black Buzz Bait Booyah 3/8oz Shad Spinner Bait Norman Fat Boy Shad Crankbait (1-4ft) Norman Ghost Crankbait (2-3ft) Norman Shad Crankbait (3-5ft) Zoom Super Fluke in Baby Bass Rage Tail Craw in Watermelon Red Rage Tail baby Craw in Green Pumpkin Lake Fork 4" Worm in Watermelon Red (Garlic/Salt Impregnated) Gamakatsu offest 3/O hooks (red and black) Any thoughts?

This weekend the lake I go to is closed, but I'm going to a small pond for practice. I think the bass are limited, but I do know some are in there. The water is fairly shallow (would say most areas are 3-6 ft) and clear. I think the bass are holding in 3 possible areas, so its just getting them to bite. The weather is suppose to be hot, with hit or miss storms. I'll be fishing from the shore, but clear spots to fish from are limited. From what I read, I believe I want to use natural colors to the pond, with baits the resemble the forge. Is this right? Any tips?

Well, I went out and got some soft plastics: Zoom super fluke in baby bass Rage Tail Craw in watermelon red flake This weekend the lake I go to is closed, but I'm going to this small pond for practice. I think the bass are limited, but I do know some are in there. The water is fairly shallow and clear. I think the bass are holding in 3 possible areas, so its just getting them to bite. The weather is suppose to be hot, with hit or miss storms. I'll be fishing from the shore, but clear spots to fish from are limited. From what I read, I believe I want to use natural colors to the pond, with baits the resemble the forge. Is this right? Any tips?

Seems like the more i read, since I'm fishing stained water, I should use something flashy, vibrates; basically anything that will cause more of an attraction for the fish since it's a little harder for them to see?

I'm trying to build a good starter set of soft plastics, but I'm not sure what is a "must have" and what color. I currently have: Fluke pearl w/gray back and blue flakes Fluke watermelon green with black flakes (?) Senko 5" green/white Senko 5" black/red Senko 5" midnight blue (?) Green/Brown Frog Black/Red Tailed Worm Black/Blue Tailed Worm Brown/Tan Kreature Brushhog (?) Orange/Tan twin tail trailer Green Tube baits I bought these 3 years ago and then was unable to fish for 2 years. So I'm trying to rebuild. Any suggestions?

Thanks fellas, you guys have me wanting to leave work now and hit the water! I'm excited to see what happens. I'm going to try all of what you guys said, and see if anything works. It's been a rough summer for me on the water. Now that I think about it, the only good day WAS when it rained. And then after the rain stopped, and the sun was out for an hour, the bite was gone. I usually work from 0500 to 1800-1900. But we're in the middle of preping to go to training for all of August. Next time I can get on the lake will be September. Then around winter it'll be a year of no fishing. I got to get the casts in while I can. Thanks for all the insight!

The weather broke a little today. It's actually raining and cooler. Generally, how is fishing while there is a light rain during the summer time? I'm hoping to go out this evening, as I'll be unable to fish for a long time, but I work 14-16 hour days and don't really want to waste my time if it turns the fishing off. Any insight would be great, thanks.

Patience, and persistence. Did you throw any senkos? If so what color did you throw, and what were the conditions like. You said sunny around 85 if I remember correctly. What is the water clarity like? And a water temperature wouldn't hurt either. A lot of anglers will tell you that they have a "search bait." I agree with this as long it is a certain style of bait, not a certain color and presentation. As you might have guessed mine is the mighty senko. The color and presentation depends on said conditions. That being said, you just might not be finding them as well. But with all of the cover that you seemed to be fishing that seems unlikely. Let us/me know what the water was like. I threw two different senkos: 5" black/red and green/white. I tried wakcy rig, c-rig, and t-rig. I tried bouncing it off the bottom, I tried swimming it, I tried dragging it. All varying speeds. The water is stained, muddy looking. I would say visibility is no more than a foot down. I'm not sure water temp, but I would say over 80, not hotter than 90. The bottom is hard to tell. By the timber is mud bottom between 2-8ft. There are sections near the point that I believe to be rock or short grass, with the majority being mud. But I'm not able to tell exactly where these areas are.

I've been trying to get out to Taylorsville, how is the bite this summer? I've been to Rough River and Nolin once each. Did ok, but nothing big. I also fish at Freeman Lake in Elizabethtown every weekend, but the bite has been terrible. I also want to shoot down to Barren River, Green River, Dale Hollow. How is Lake Jericho? What areas are you guys focusing on your body of water, and what are you using?

Shad and bluegill were mainly coming up. But every now and then we would see a bass jump. I about hit a bass on a cast as he came flying out of the water. And the bass jumping is important cause the lake is small and not a bass hot spot, but they are there. She was simply casting and waiting for a bite, what I deem the catfish method. Caught the only bass of the day.

Well, I got skunked again today. They were jumping all around us, but I couldn't get anything going. Swimbait to jig, and everything in between. Nothing. My girlfriend caught one on a night cralwer, does that mean anything?