20 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I love this post.

On 7/9/2026 at 10:42 PM, papajoe222 said:

Matching the hatch isn't as important in bass fishing.

Very true. However, it is important to me to understand the preferred meal of the day. Not to match colors, but to understand more about locations and activity/reactivity.

13 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Very true. However, it is important to me to understand the preferred meal of the day. Not to match colors, but to understand more about locations and activity/reactivity.

Here's an example of why it is important.... and why my obstinance gets in my way.

One mid June morning I struggled. Surface temp 84, bass had been deep and/or off shore chasing shad last few days. Really had a hard time forcing anything to eat anywhere that worked in recent days. Came in around 11 and after tying up, I stood on the dock for 45 minutes or so and watched big bass feeding on minnows in 12-24 inches of water. Turns out bluegills started bedding overnight. Gills aren't a big part of bass diet here. Too much shad. But the bedding gills apparently drew in small gizzards to feast on fry. The bass were relentless, but stealthy enough to not be noticeable from a boat away from shore. Almost no surface commotion. Worse, it happened to me again the other day. Takes me too long to learn from my mistakes.

8 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Here's an example of why it is important.... and why my obstinance gets in my way.

One mid June morning I struggled.

I am such a fan of humility.

I've got only one rule of thumb: It's the three As- Adapt, Adopt, Apply. Works most f the time.

I am relatively new to getting deep into bass fishing too. So from my limited perspective:

Green Pumpkin has a reputation for a reason. So do stickbaits.

Your rod and line selection matter more than your reel.

Bass are like women, they're attracted to confidence.

You have to catch fish to build confidence. And you have to build confidence to catch fish.

56 minutes ago, SpellCaster said:

You have to catch fish to build confidence. And you have to build confidence to catch fish.

This reminds me of having to have experience to be hired for a job, but having to have a job to have experience.

19 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

This reminds me of having to have experience to be hired for a job, but having to have a job to have experience.

Exactly

On 7/9/2026 at 9:20 PM, king fisher said:

You can bass fish, and you can do yard work, but you can't bass fish while doing yard work.

"Yarbo" sez "Hold my beer!"

On 7/11/2026 at 5:49 AM, Swamp Girl said:

My rule of thumb is don't forget your glove or your thumb will be swollen and scabbed:

This reminds me of a literal "rule of thumb":

The further away from the tip of your thumb your "bass thumb" wound is, the bigger the bass were.