44 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

That is tough. Without a doubt my least favorite conditions to fish are chocolate milk clarity. Cold and muddy is even worse. Did you get the one through the mud on a jerkbait as well? 

Naw, it came of the flashback mini, imagine the only way the fish found the bait was the vibration.   

 

That's the worst part, it killed the Jerkbait bite I had been on for a few weeks....#firstworldproblems ?

4 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

If you're fishing chocolate milk, a chatterbait or noisy surface lure might work even better since they couldn't study the lure before hitting it. 

 

Full disclosure: I'm just guessing!!!

You got it Katie, flashback mini.    Maybe tomorrow I break out the Whopper Plopper ?

7 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Naw, it came of the flashback mini, imagine the only way the fish found the bait was the vibration.   

 

That's the worst part, it killed the Jerkbait bite I had been on for a few weeks....#firstworldproblems ?

You got it Katie, flashback mini.    Maybe tomorrow I break out the Whopper Plopper ?

Figured it was something shiny or thumpy. At least with the water that color, maybe the FOMO won’t be as strong ?

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

The water color looks better in the 2nd pic.  Is part of the lake clearer or is that just how the picture looks?   I figure I'll be going up the creeks a ways tomorrow to find decent looking water.  We've had a BUNCH of rain.   

No it's not which isn't what I suspected.    This isn't a huge lake, about 150-200acres.....but is relatively deep for it's size as well.    Lots of places with 30+ ft of water.     Over 3 days, I can't even see an improvement yet.     

 

Hopefully you don't run into this stuff.    Second pic is from before on 1/2, first pic is from today 3 days after the rain.  

1 minute ago, Jar11591 said:

Figured it was something shiny or thumpy. At least with the water that color, maybe the FOMO won’t be as strong ?

strong enough for me to still haul gear to a boat.....get on the water for the 30mins, and then drag it all home like a fool for 3 straight days.......Einstein had a quote about this, something, something definition of insanity ?

 

10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

No it's not which isn't what I suspected.    This isn't a huge lake, about 150-200acres.....but is relatively deep for it's size as well.    Lots of places with 30+ ft of water.     Over 3 days, I can't even see an improvement yet.     

 

Hopefully you don't run into this stuff.    Second pic is from before on 1/2, first pic is from today 3 days after the rain.  

strong enough for me to still haul gear to a boat.....get on the water for the 30mins, and then drag it all home like a fool for 3 straight days.......Einstein had a quote about this, something, something definition of insanity ?

 

That’s the beauty of a boat trailer my friend, find clear water! I’ve got chocolate milk water at several of my normal haunts. Right in front of my dock being one of them! Haha. Also the river in downtown Knox is brown. BUT! There are clear water options, to which I shall be traveling here shortly 

Wanted to be out early as the weatherman said possible T-storms in the afternoon, but work issues kept me busy until 11:00. I wanted to fish from the boat but with limited time I opted to fish from the bank. Since it’s close to home, I brought five rods (3 spinning, 2 baitcasting), especially as I wanted to try my Fuego after the recent clean and lube job I completed a few days ago. 
 

I started off with a spinnerbait using the Fuego. No bites but everything worked well (almost lol. The handle started to wobble later in the day. I had to tighten the nut when I got home). Next was a jerkbait, a Whopper Plopper and a squarebill (no bites except one superdink tapped the WP). Tried a weightless Senko TR followed by Mann’s Jelly Worm TR (also a Zoom Trick) and a Ned rig. Nothing at all. 
 

I cut the squarebill off the Dobyns Fury/Tatula 100H and tied on a 3/0 Gamakutsu EWG and rigged the only Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Macho I had on me. Color is General’s Melon. I fished it for several minutes and got a strike. Not big but the first bass of 2023!

 

Not long afterwards something hit it and ran fast as soon as it hit the water, but when I set the hook it was gone. Fished it for 15-20 minutes more and was ready to pack it in when I saw a fish strike something 2”-3” off the bank in heavy weeds. I figured what the heck and casted to that spot, hoping to catch the last dink of the day. 
 

Bam! It got hit. Hard. I set the hook and the fight was on. I knew it wasn’t a giant but definitely bigger than the first one. After a nice 20-30 second battle to get it out of the weeds, I had it in hand. 
 

My scale’s batteries decided to crap out so I couldn’t weigh it, but I’m guessing it was 2.5-3.0 lbs. Hooked it good in the lip. No damage and back in the water quick. 
 

I mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again. That Dobyns Fury 705CB may not be a rod one would use for that application per the specs, but I have caught several nice bass with it rigged with those hooks and either Neko Machos or Fat IKA’s. Every bass has been hooked solid. I like that set-up a lot. 

Well..... I didn't get skunked.  The water wasn't exactly chocolate milk, it was more like coffee with cream and a bunch of stuff floating in it.   Water temp was 49.  I was surprised it wasn't warmer.   I managed to catch one bass.   The people I talked to at the landing weren't catching many either.   

Just went out for about 45 minutes and got my first two fish of the year. Both were 1.25lb. It was my first time fishing a swim bait and first catches on the new SLX.

Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4 oz Berkeley Fusion head

18 minutes ago, Woody B said:

Well..... I didn't get skunked.  The water wasn't exactly chocolate milk, it was more like coffee with cream and a bunch of stuff floating in it.   Water temp was 49.  I was surprised it wasn't warmer.   I managed to catch one bass.   The people I talked to at the landing weren't catching many either.   

Man that's seriously impressive coming out of that water clarity.    I'm pretty sure the fish hate this as much as we do.   

Just now, Jmontgomery87 said:

Just went out for about 45 minutes and got my first two fish of the year. Both were 1.25lb. It was my first time fishing a swim bait and first catches on the new SLX.

Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4 oz Berkeley Fusion head

Nice, I never thought I'd be more jelly over someone's water clarity than fish, but here we are ?

29 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Wanted to be out early as the weatherman said possible T-storms in the afternoon, but work issues kept me busy until 11:00. I wanted to fish from the boat but with limited time I opted to fish from the bank. Since it’s close to home, I brought five rods (3 spinning, 2 baitcasting), especially as I wanted to try my Fuego after the recent clean and lube job I completed a few days ago. 
 

I started off with a spinnerbait using the Fuego. No bites but everything worked well (almost lol. The handle started to wobble later in the day. I had to tighten the nut when I got home). Next was a jerkbait, a Whopper Plopper and a squarebill (no bites except one superdink tapped the WP). Tried a weightless Senko TR followed by Mann’s Jelly Worm TR (also a Zoom Trick) and a Ned rig. Nothing at all. 
 

I cut the squarebill off the Dobyns Fury/Tatula 100H and tied on a 3/0 Gamakutsu EWG and rigged the only Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Macho I had on me. Color is General’s Melon. I fished it for several minutes and got a strike. Not big but the first bass of 2023!

 

Not long afterwards something hit it and ran fast as soon as it hit the water, but when I set the hook it was gone. Fished it for 15-20 minutes more and was ready to pack it in when I saw a fish strike something 2”-3” off the bank in heavy weeds. I figured what the heck and casted to that spot, hoping to catch the last dink of the day. 
 

Bam! It got hit. Hard. I set the hook and the fight was on. I knew it wasn’t a giant but definitely bigger than the first one. After a nice 20-30 second battle to get it out of the weeds, I had it in hand. 
 

My scale’s batteries decided to crap out so I couldn’t weigh it, but I’m guessing it was 2.5-3.0 lbs. Hooked it good in the lip. No damage and back in the water quick. 
 

I mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again. That Dobyns Fury 705CB may not be a rod one would use for that application per the specs, but I have caught several nice bass with it rigged with those hooks and either Neko Machos or Fat IKA’s. Every bass has been hooked solid. I like that set-up a lot. 

Congrats on the nice one, watermelon red flake is arguably the best plastic color invented imho.  Top 3 at least.  

Temps got tolerable after midday and enjoyed some decent action with Dark Sleeper and Rozante 77.  Caught fourteen counters but still no bigs. We've been fortunate since the big chill at Christmas.

57 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Nice, I never thought I'd be more jelly over someone's water clarity than fish, but here we are 

Haha, visibility in this strip pit was down to 8-10" three weeks ago, then it completely froze over around Christmas. It just opened back up in the last week and visibility is back up to about 6'.

Looks like a fun day!

 

                                                         

Gorgeous, fat, long smallmouth!

21 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Fish are beautiful, boat anchor is epic ?

6 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Fish are beautiful, boat anchor is epic ?

Thing cost a pretty penny lemme tell ya 

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Thing cost a pretty penny lemme tell ya 

I love it, and this thread is a testament that it doesn't take $100k late model Bass rigs to catch fish 

 

Who's to say that isn't a Tennessee Power Pole ?

3 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I love it, and this thread is a testament that it doesn't take $100k late model Bass rigs to catch fish 

 

Who's to say that isn't a Tennessee Power Pole ?

If you lose it…it’s structure! 

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

If you lose it…it’s structure! 

That’s where I found it ? 

First bass of 2023. Could not buy a hit on the top water popper but a Ima Flit jerk bait got bit. 

Darn fine way to start the year @Dwight Hottle!!! Congrats brother!!!

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

First bass of 2023. Could not buy a hit on the top water popper but a Ima Flit jerk bait got bit. 

Out of likes, but those are two toads, congrats!

22 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Thing cost a pretty penny lemme tell ya 

Just seeing it makes my back ache.?

Friday's best of 3 LM, a crazy fineese jig eating Crappie.

While attending to my state of the art Bass rig earlier, I watched one of the coolest things I've seen on the lake.....heard a commotion behind me, look to see a big ole bluegill flat side on the surface, within nanoseconds I'm watching a nice 5lb class LGM finish the job off.    First time I've ever witnessed a bluegill eaten, much less a hand sized one.   

 

Caught a quick fish in the rain making sure the TM still worked lol, and called it.   This Spot was so pale, same with the other LGM that came from this dingy water the other day.    Amazing how fast these fish can change their coloring.    Slowly but surely viz in returning, and the Bass don't seem to have any trouble eating in it, perhaps this might even be advantageous to them.  

 

 

 

 

I think that electric motor is toast.