You hear anything about the huge drones being seen over NJ? Congressman apparently saw 50 over the ocean on Wed! Check this: Some have been seen over and around the lake/state park right by where I used to live. The same exact place that Homeland Security was all of a sudden interested in, then multiple earthquakes hit there this summer, and now UFO drones?? WTHeck!

"The authorities" say they don't know what the drones are. C'mon man. Our military and LE 100% know what they are because a) they have the tech to know and would know if a golf ball got too high, and b) they would be incompetent if they didn't.

I say get Drew Gill out there with some FFS and he'll figure it out! 🤣 Anyhow, weird – glad we're gone!

Quick marital note: My wife is so organized that she keeps changing where things go. To me that's being UNorganized, but I've been assured that I'm mistaken. Starting to believe God really does have a sense of humor....

Okay let's bass!

GREAT post by Dustin Connell talkin' 'bout what he's learned about bait from using FFS. Worth a full read for sure, here's some tiddybits:

> Those suckers move fast and often, and there is no rule of thumb for what they "should" do – except that the bass will always be where the baitfish are.

> ...we've been told to follow the shad migration to the backs of creeks if we want to catch bass in the fall. While some fish absolutely go shallow, there's plenty more that still live on the main lake and don't migrate anywhere. You don't have to head to the creeks, because the shad may be in main-lake pockets, ditches or creek mouths. Also, not all bass and shad will be doing the same thing.

> In the past, those fish in the backs of creeks were simply the easiest to find. But now it's never been easier to locate baitfish in open water.

> Traditionally we had to watch for birds or surface activity. Those are still great clues, but if you don't see any activity, you can still find the baitfish just by panning around until you spot them.

> This time of year, I will fish where the bait is and not waste my time anywhere else. I'm also not using baits that don't imitate shad.... I'll most often be throwing a spinnerbait if the water's dirty, and if it's clear, it will be a jerkbait like the Rapala PXR Mavrik.

> Another eye-opening insight from forward-facing sonar is how much bass will move daily...it happens plenty with largemouth too.

> ...it's not just electronics that help me find those fish [that have moved] but knowing which way the wind had been blowing. I'm always paying attention to wind direction because of how susceptible baitfish are to it. Water clarity is another factor that can significantly impact shad migration.

That's actually a lot of juice! Thanx DC!

Since the 3.5" Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow is finally available – and Dustin and Jacob Wheeler won a combined 4 tourneys on it this year 🤯 – asked Dustin why it's all that and he said:

> "The reason that bait is so good is it's subtle, different and It still has that rolling action that you need. It perfectly imitates a shad swimming and is the right size for all lakes.

> "I feel like that extra action and subtle vibe of the tail matters when the fish have seen every straight-tail minnow on the market. It's also TPE and very durable."

There you go! Fyi the shad colors are already sold out in some places but not on TW yet. I believe DC's fave color is "green shad": 👇

What Jacob said about it:

> "For me it's just about the versatility of the bait. If I wanted to straight reel it right out of the package, I can like a swimbait. I can put it on the back of an underspin, put it on a smaller ChatterBait, dropshot or Ned rig it. Of course the main reason I designed it was to use on a jighead.

> "Also, because the bed is super [durable plastic], the durability is insane. It floats and is also super durable.

> "The last thing that I really like about the bait is being able to adjust the action by cutting the tabs like I showed in my YouTube video."

Says his new fave color is "green pumpkin disco:"

He rigs it on the new VMC Sleek Jighead and the new/not out yet 3/16-oz VMC Tungsten head:

> "I suggest a jighead with a 1/0-2/0 hook. A 3/0 is a little large on the bait and can hurt the lifelike action."

Quick note: If your social media of choice is not notifying you there's a new Top 5 video, pls make sure you check! A new one is out just about every week.

Here's the rundown for this month's Abu Garcia REVO Top 5 Tips, Techniques 'n Trends of the Month in Bass Fishing – Episode 11!

1. Slower jighead minnows? 🤔

2. Jighead minnow annual report 📊

3. Dropshots still rolling 💪

4. JackHammer #1 🏆

5. Krej rising 👀

Baits 'n stuff in this episode:

Abu Garcia REVO Reels

Queen Tackle Tungsten Jighead

Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow

Z-Man Scented Jerk Shadz

Greenfish Tackle Tutu Jighead

VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jighead

Humminbird Helix 12

Big Bite Baits Nekorama Worm

Roboworm Straight Tail Worm

Z-Man EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer

Berkley Krej

Jakall Riser Bait

Limited edition Berkley Krej colors

Here's Trey Kistler of Kistler Rods back in the day:

And here's how he thinks about rod actions:

Hahaha love it! I believe the ML is a 10mm? 😁

Btw Kistler now offers customized cork handles like such – kinda cool:

1. We lost Miss Stella Hibdon

Guido's wife (we lost Guido in 2018) and Dion's mom. One of the great "behind the scenes" wives in bass fishing. This will give you an idea, from an In-Fish post:

> According to Dion, his mother used to fish with his father with some regularity, but nowadays Stella is the family's CEO, planner, accountant, chauffeur and chef. Dion and Guido say their days would be in a constant state of disarray without her guidance and helping hands.

Hope they're hugging like that right now. Bless you bassin' sister. Please pray for the Hibdon family. ✝️🙏

Gotta share this story from that same In-Fish post:

> [When Takahiro Omori] won the Bassmaster Missouri Central Invitational at the Lake of the Ozarks on Apr 25-27, 1996...even though he didn't have enough money to purchase enough gas for him to venture very far away from the launching site.

> ...on the third day...he was...paired with Dion, and since Omori was in 1st place, Dion [allowed] him to control Dion's boat the entire day, while Dion fished from the back...Dion finished the tournament in 4th place....

The Hibdons are solid peeps.

2. Bobby Lane Cup HS tourney gave $71K in schollys

> ...402 participants, more than 2,500 spectators and awarded $71,000 in scholarships....

Stout! 2,500 spectators?? Charge admission to that deal! 😁 Congrats to 'em all!

3. What John Cox's first tourney in a Vexus looks like

NPFL:

#becausecox

4. Check the trailer on Matt Herren's finesse jig

A Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig:

5. Alton Jones Jr's boat is for sale

2024 Phoenix 21XE, Merc, all Garmin, Poles and he says he'll throw in a few packs of Bellows Shads if you ask!

6. B.A.S.S. has a new Elite Advisory Board and...

...redid the Elite payouts and Classic payout. Board was elected by their peers – for 2025 it is Ben Milliken, Alex Wetherell, Lee Livesay, John Crews, Drew Benton and Mark Menendez.

Crews will of course have to hit Ike's cloning facility again because 2 Crews are already not enough for fishing the Elites, doing social media, running a tackle company and being involved in the tackle industry trade association, plus having a family.

Davy Hite is in charge on the B.A.S.S. side and can be a hammer – which is good because seems like a few of their young'ns need it. Be like Ray, Davy!

Also:

> B.A.S.S. also announced the creation of a new Angler Services program to assist Elite Series pros with marketing, improvement of pitches to sponsors, and professional development off the water.

Sounds good in theory, hope it works.

7. Good Phil Marks tribute with Zona and Hackney

Phil was Strike King's bait designer (and more) and a highly-regarded man and fisherman. He designed or co-designed many baits that we all know, some of the best Strike King has ever made. He passed on in 2020 at just 55.

Hack gets emotional in that deal – never seen it before...except that one time he thought he had "definitive proof" of a Squatch, but then military-looking dudes wiped his trailcams.... (Sorry Hack couldn't resist man!)

8. Is this bait a Z-Man Jerk Shadz?

Hayden Marbut's bait in the MLF Day 5 vid after he won the 'Yota Championship. Looks like a Scented Jerk ShadZ to me? Reminder that Hayden didn't say or show what bait he won it on.

Those MLF day 5 vids often have some real juice.

9. TN: Bassmaster Team fishoff won with all smallmouths...

...on KY Lake. Congrats to Tyler Campbell who weighed 5 browns for 22-05 to qualify for the Classic in March. He was runner-up in the fishoff 2 years ago and also got a 2nd at the Bassmaster College Champeenship. How he caught 'em:

> ...a Zoom Winged Fluke 5" minnow (TN shad).... "Current is king on this place. Anywhere where the fish can get out of it, I was catching fish."

Homers Noah Morgan and Clint Knight won the team part of it.

10. How to fish the Yo-Zuri Twitchbait

Salty bait that Yo-Zuri brought out for freshwater, kinda a new category of baits in freshwater. The video does have underwater shots of it working.

I've fished the bait a little – because it doesn't a lip it took a little getting used to for me. But the big deal as you can see in the vid is neutral buoyancy plus a roll/flash. Means you can fish it in or over deep water or in/through a foot of water – pretty different for a treble-hooked bait. It does come in "ghost sexy shad"!

It's available in 110mm and 90mm.

11. New Abu Garcia Veritas LTD Rods

These are different than the new non-LTD Veritas rods – a little upgraded so they cost a little more ($130 vs $100). Believe they have higher-tech resin and higher-tech components which means lighter, stronger and more sensitive.

Just remember that when you have sensitive rods, only talk nice to 'em:

😁🤙

12. You checked out the Seaguar line bags yet?

They have a new Bulk Spool Bag and a Leader Bag. I was skeptical before I saw at at ICAST, and then right away realized I needed one – not just wanted one. Here's Z talkin' 'bout the Bulk Spool Bag and the Leader Bag on YT (quick vids).

Both are now on sale at TW!

13. Bull Shad has a new "pro herring" color

14. Interesting new wake/glide bait

Called the Big Buddha Wake by Buddha Baits, about 8" long with the tail and 2 oz. You can remove/replace the lip and the tail so you can wake it, swim it or glide it – and maybe some more. For now only available at the Buddha site for $29.99.

15. FL: New group trying to bring grass back to St Johns

The call it "weed" so I'm assuming it's the same thing? 🤣 Just messin' and hope they get it done!

16. VA: Carp have eaten most of the hydrilla in Smith Mntn Lake

Sorry to hear it.

17. CA: Now all ramps closed at New Melones

Federal Bureau of Reclamation closed them due to invasive golden mussels recently found...in the Delta. Says your boat/trailer will eventually need a "quarantine seal" to launch whenever they open it again.

18. A USA Bass Youth Team is heading to fish in Africa

19. AR also wants duck hunters to "clean/drain/dry" boats

Because of invasive species. However they're not saying that to the ducks...? 🤔😁

20. Q3 Sportsman's Warehouse net sales slightly down Y2Y

4.8% though fishing was apparently up a bit.

21. Keep an eye on...

Maryland commercial fishing groups are arguing that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission regulating striped bass violates the US Constitution

Interesting development/tactic. Many gov't things violate the Constitution but seems like a long shot to have them rolled back? Check this quote:

> Chesapeake Bay Foundation executive director Chris Moore said in a press release..."Environmental conditions from climate change and invasive predators will make it much harder for striped bass to rebound like they have in the past. Now is the time to act."

Again with the no specifics. I'm all for rational conservation, but not based on vague fears.

Has MX gone around the bend too?

> The Mexican government sued leading American firearms manufacturers in federal court, alleging that American firearms manufacturers are responsible for violence committed by Mexican drug cartels in Mexico.

Bahahaha what? I mean, can we sue them for their gov't enabling these drug gangs that kill people here?? Sheesh.

Line of the Day

Police in Dunedin conducted a raid on a King Cobra gang pad this morning as part of a joint operation targeting an organized crayfish crime ring.

Organized crayfish crime ring?? The King Cobra gang?? Sounds like a video game! 🤣 In New Zealand....

How Denny Brauer saves $ respooling

Electrical tape! Says make the longest cast you can, pull 15-20' more off, then put some tape on there. When you get back to the house, despool back to the tape, cut it and there you go! Cool little tip on an IG vid.

Maybe get a reel with a shallower spool too?

"My co-anglers they almost go insane because I might make 50 stops in an 8-hour tournament."

- MI's Scott Dobson (Toyota and BFLs) talkin', and I believe he's talkin' 'bout mostly SMALLMOUTH fishing thataway! His cos are like:

Whatever you do don't tell ol' Scott about Red Bulls lol!

Check this, posted by Greg Vinson:

> Within 2 minutes of us putting out a Mossback Predator-Prey combo tree on Lake Martin there were fish coming to check it out. Notice the bubble trail above it because it had just landed.

Wild! DNRs get on the habitat train please!

Anchovy lasagne? Swap red meat for oily fish, scientists say

Yuck! If they themselves do that for a couple years and report back some benefits, I might consider it...one bite anyhow....

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