What I learned on my last feeshn trip:
2. I can't cast 1/4-oz crankbaits for anything. Need a new rod for it or something.
3. For me, some rods cast where I want them to, some ain't as accurate. You?
4. I take zero trolling motor and battery issues for granted but it's a blessing.
Lmk! And please keep praying for Aaron, his wife Lesley and their children. Much appreciated. 🙏 ✝️
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How Jason Christie uses his 'lectronics spinnerbaitin' now.
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More from my convo with him about cool-water spinnerbaitin' (B.A.S.S. shot ^):
> "A lot of it is finding the areas. When it starts cooling off, the bait seems to come off the top and especially on a windy day you can't tell where the bait is. I will use LiveScope to know I'm fishing around bait.
> "...bait, any kind of structure you can't visually see...brushpile or a log or stump under the water...also looking for fish. It's like you're looking for everything above the water, it's just below. Everything's pretty much in front of you going down the bank...just looking for stuff you can't see that nobody else is fishing.
> "Bait live in a lot places there's not any fish. So you have to know what the difference is...you want to be fishing around fish obviously. In the fall there seems to be baitfish everywhere but there's not fish everywhere.
> "I've kinda got a rule with bait: You don't want [too much] bait. If you pull in an area and there's millions of 'em, I tend not to hang out much. It's too much of a competition factor. I want some bait there but not everywhere.
> "Sometimes you see fish, cast by them and catch some.
> "There's no such thing as an inactive school [of bass]. The only inactive fish are carp or turtles or something. If there's a school there, something will make them bite. And the more fish there is, the easier it is to make them bite due to competition.
> "There's really not a day that goes by that thing's not a part of fishing anymore – that's just the way it is. No matter what you're fishing. I fished a tournament [a couple weeks ago] where they were in 1.5-3' all day – outside grasslines, clumps of grass. – and I used it for that."
Well I learned something – turtles are fish! 😆 Lol just messin'. We were talkin' spinnerbaitin' and of course Jason's faves are the BOOYAH Coverts. In the fall his 2 faves are a 1/2-oz tandem CO in white/chartreuse/silver (below), and the exact same bait/color except tandem willow:
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Or maybe we could just split the difference and fish the double IN version?? In the fall he uses a pearl/silver flake YUM Swim'N Dinger for a trailer. It has a paddletail and he uses it a lot because:
> "There's not a lot of plastic there – it doesn't affect the bait much and looks realistic."
Said he also likes burning the War Eagle Screamin Eagle because it's made for burning and the skirt colors are "more translucent."
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Do we have too much line on our reels? 🤔
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> "Skipping is not the place for high-capacity reels filled to the brim – that's a disaster waiting to happen. The best combination when skipping with baitcasters is heavier line with less line on the spool. ...this is exactly why Lew's specifically designed their Pro SP skipping reel with a shallow spool that only holds 40 yards of 20-lb diameter line.
> "My favorite skipping line is 50-lb Tour Grade Braid.... It's my go-to line for skipping frogs and swim-jigs around heavy cover in colored water. If I'm skipping in sparser cover and/or clearer water, then I'll go to a 20-lb XPS Fluorocarbon. As long as the lure isn't sinking far down into the water column, I'm not that worried about downsizing line.
> "...if I have to skip finesse jigs on deep docks where I'm letting the jig fall to the bottom in clearer water, then I'll bump down to 14-lb fluorocarbon."
Honestly I wonder if we have too much line on EVERY reel. Why:
1. Kevin's point is basically true (to me anyhow but I'm no KVD!) for every reel used in every technique. I mean, how much line can we cast on our best day? And once some of us get a backlash or whatever and lose some line, does the reel still cast as far? Etc.
2. Line is EXPENSIVE mang! Good line anyhow, and in my 2c there's no excuse for not using the best line you can afford. For me it's like skimping on tires – not good!
3. Would less line be fewer or less-gnarly backlashes?
Whachoo think?
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Will CA be the first state to try to kill conventional outboards?
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Don't think CA doing anything would surprise anyone, but it sure as heck would be bad for fishing! Some info from here:
> Due to pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office and other state organizations to crack down on emissions in the same spirit as the new gas-powered car ban by 2035 law signed last year and the ban on new small engine gas-powered machines by 2024 law passed earlier this year, the CA Air Resources Board [CARB] decided to go after emissions coming from boats.
> ...the state would require all boat engines to be modified with technology to cut back on emissions. However, CARB found that the needed modifications either don't exist yet, and even if built would be too big to safely fit on most boats, necessitating the building or purchasing of new boats that are or can be compliant.
> Faced with few options, those who can't afford the changes or new boats by, at the earliest, Jan 2023, will...essentially go out of business.
> As anglers alone bring in $5.6 bil annually to the economy of CA, even a dent in the sector could prove to be disastrous.
> "Socially, it would ruin the diversification [in fishing]...that is currently happening. Many people have been saying for decades to help bring people of all races and creeds and genders closer together, and the fishing industry has been doing that organically for some time now.
> "And we can't forget ecologically, as a lot of those fish stock programs to help keep the populations growing...have been funded by the very people fishing them. You kill the fishing industry, you really harm fish stock programs."
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Some innerestin' bass tub stuff.
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Been seeing this more 'n more – how many peeps are gonna put depth contour SeaDek on their rigs? Posted by Xpress Boats:
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Check a dude named Shane Haas' rig, posted by Power Pole. Looks bassy but believe it's for redfish – either way how the heck do you fish outta a boat blacker than even Brent Ehrler's in the summer???
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Is your rig keyless? Me neither, but this is standard on the Vexus VXs glass boats – pretty cool! More deets on how it works at coastkey com (can't link it sorry):
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How to get a little more power outta your outboard? Try Sea Foam Marine PRO to dissolve the junk that remains in there after burning gas, and/or gettin' your motor on the program:
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Was gonna include a pic of a Bass Cat with a Merc 450 on it but I can't find the post now – not where it was. Anyone got a pic??
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Couple weeks ago, looks like he's doing well. Heal fast brother!
> "...there is nothing that is 'too shallow' for bass this time of year, even places that are hard to navigate because they are so shallow. That's the first thing I would look for on a new lake during the fall.
> "The squarebill would be my top choice and your casting angle is very important. I'm not just going to make one cast at the tip of a laydown – I'll parallel each side and really dissect it. It may be 3, 4 or 5 casts to the same piece of cover and you'll be surprised how many you catch at the same place on the 5th cast when you make the perfect angle to trigger a strike.
> "If the water is dirty, I like a balsa bait because it displaces more bait and has a wider wobble. Plus it doesn't hang up as much around wood because it floats right back up much quicker. For rocks and clear water, I prefer a plastic squarebill.
> "I like a spinnerbait when I'm looking for a bigger bite and stick with the basic colors of whites, white and chartreuse, and maybe something with a few strands of blue.... I also really like to pitch a green-pumpkin tube with a light weight to pick apart pieces of cover. It's a good way to catch those dormant fish that don't want to chase anything."
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Appears Revital is now getting pros who don't live on Kentucky Lake...🤔
Lotta reasons but after readin' that deal I think it has mostly to do with challenging himself, going fast, rescuing donkeys and getting his tailed kicked?? 😁 Lol good read as usual!
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Not sure how wise that is but let us know how it goes man! 🤣
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Looks like it never goes bad! 🤪 🤢
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Doesn't look like you caught any on that deal Lee! 😂
Not really but posted his latest recovery and said:
> This is the 7th boat I've found over the years using Side Imaging!
Most practical question was, "How do you tie on to it?" Greg said, "Jumped in." 👊
Usually 1/4-oz because the bait is smaller now, lemon-lime color if the water's dingy but:
> "...most days I'm going to tie on 'sexy shad' or 'foxy mama.' Of course, blue/chrome is the greatest seller of all time and there's good reason for that...."
Largemouth bass virus:
> Since 2008 smallmouth bass displaying similar skin lesions have been sampled during several outbreaks in Lake Michigan and Green Bay waters. While test results...had been inconclusive, the virus was detected in all 14 of the diseased fish sampled this year.
The post puts it on fishermen to do things to "avoid spreading largemouth bass virus and other harmful pathogens." 🤔 Not buyin' that fishermen are the reason a fish virus happens without some kinda actual proof. That's like saying hunters spread chronic wasting disease or whatever.
Gotta say again: A lot of bad things that happen in water have zero to do with us, and much to do with commercial shipping, aquaculture, pollution, etc.
Terry Brown from Wired2Feesh is as fired up as he gets:
> Last week the IL DNR adopted Administrative Rule Section 810.90 and Administrative Rule 110.4 specific for fishing tournaments – a $25 permit fee and, for tournaments with more than 20 participants, a tax of 10% of the total purse.
> The state is looking for additional funds and finding it in the pockets of unprepared tournament anglers who were told this would not happen. It seemed like it was slipped in at the last minute – permits for 2022 had already been applied for.
Not cool – get 'em Terry! When Terry gets real mad he might say "gosh darnit" or something like that...😱
Good to hear!
IN's Brian Waldman is crazy enough to try something like this 😁 – after he saw Ned Kehde's 238 on 1 bait record:
> "When you're only using a single bait, you also get creative with presentation. I did a lot of straight swim retrieves, fishing the bait like a swim jig over grass flats and parallel to banks. Also did a lot of bottom-hopping and slow swimming out in slightly deeper water.
> "The most creative was fishing the bait like you would a frog over slop. It was cool to pitch a 1/32-oz open-hook jig head over the mats and watch bass blow up through the veg to eat it...I had to be super careful...as I was only using 8-lb leader line on my ML spinning rod."
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Believe a 1/32-oz jighead weighs as much as 2 human hairs and is unusable in 1 mph wind...😂
Survey ^ is just 3 questions.
South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance – SC peeps are wisely making sure fishing interests are heard politically.
6-8 pm at the Tavares Civic Center.
To premier from supporting. They'll also pay a bonus to any Elitist who catches a tourney big bass on an Original Floating Minnow.
Okay just messin' – but that deal still ketches 'em!
Works great, looks cool and:
> In support of Folds of Honor, an organization that champions educational scholarships for families of fallen soldiers and disabled vets, we're donating up to $150,000 through the sale of this YETI Rambler.
Outstanding. 👊 🇺🇸 Click the pic to get one IF they're still in stock! You guessed it: They come in red, white 'n blue, but when I was on the site looked like red was sold out?
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For quick-release brackets, not on TW yet....
> For the 3rd quarter of 2021, Brunswick reported consolidated net sales of $1,427.2 mil (aka $1.4 bil), up $194.1 mil from the 3rd quarter of 2020.
Vs Q3 2020:
> The propulsion segment reported a 19% increase...boat segment reported a 22% increase....
> Revenue from the marine segment grew 25% in the 3rd quarter with growth across multiple categories, led by strong demand for chartplotters. Gross margin and operating margins were 56% and 26% respectively, resulting in $54 mil of operating income.
$677 mil, closed last week.
Because the cost of everything is going up, sounds like.
Kinda cool/funny deal to raise $ for the DNR:
> GoWild Alpha, a Louisville-based outdoors company, picked MoWild as the common name for the crayfish after winning the naming rights at an auction last year.
Guess what color it is – yep, gp.
Sounds okay but who's gonna pay for it?
Lines of the Day
From a Lake Lanier, GA fishin' report. That sitch about covers the entire country 24/7/365! 😆
Does that really need to be said?? 🤣
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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> "I try to stay near the main lake on secondary points or at the first turn of a creek arm. I'm looking for shallow areas with deep water close by. The best places are those little flats that are a foot or 2 deep, but your boat sits in anywhere from 5 to 30'....
> "...it's hard to beat a buzzbait when the water starts to cool. Two of my other favorites this time of year are the Berkley Choppo and Spin Rocket. There are times when you can realistically keep those baits in your hands all day long.
> "...times when the Choppo gets bit all day long and others where they don't like the action. That's when I'll grab a walking bait like the J-Walker because you can keep it in the strike zone longer, and you can walk it fast or slow if you need to.
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> "This is when the 10.1:1 REVO Rocket shines because you can turn and burn all day long. I spool it with 30-lb Spiderwire Ultracast. I'm a huge fan of that line for topwater, and if you move the bait constantly, you won't have any problems with the braid wrapping around the treble hooks."
His topwater rod is a 7' 3" MH Abu Veritas PLX – the new Veritas Tournament rod also comes in 7' 3" MH. Rod/reel/line always important, maybe extra-important here because Bobby says your casts need to be pinpoint.
Gotta say Bobby loves that Spin Rocket and it ketches 'em. He fished it a bunch when we spent time in the boat in July in FL, and a giant one smashed it so hard it bent one of the trebles almost straight....
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"The 5.5-lber I caught had one treble in the very top of the forehead – it was just head-butting the bait but I caught it anyway."
> He changed out the stock hooks...in favor of #2 Hayabusa TBL 930 NRB trebles. "Those hooks have kind of a slick coat and some fish that don't really want to eat, you'll hook them on the side or on top of the head."
Maybe NRB = Nailed Right in the Brain?? 😁
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How 'bout a 5+ derp smallie!! 👀 👊 🏆 Dang son! Caught by a bass-head named John "somewhere in the Midwest." Don't blame ya for keeping the derp juice on the down-low mang!
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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