Runnin' and gunnin'! Will you please take maybe 2 minutes to complete this lil survey – especially if you're interested in giving your 2c on free baits 'n such? When you open it up it might look longer than it is – list of baits/techniques but you only pick 2. Gracias and hope you lip a few (or more) this weekend!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that – email programs keep changing stuff.
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"Valuable time could be wasted messing with fish that won't be triggered into biting."
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- MLF BPT pro Greg Vinson talkin' in a post on forward-facing sonar. The rest:
> All the while, another angler with a solid pattern elsewhere is doing work.
> It still comes down to efficiency, and sometimes that means moving on even though you know the fish are there. The old saying, "Should I stay, or should I go?" has never been more in play.
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What some 10-lb braids break at?
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> I've learned that opting for the lighter 10-lb has other advantages with few downsides. Casting farther, especially with light lures. Using lighter rods and reels, leaving you less tired at the end of the day. Fitting more line on a spool, especially important on low-profile baitcasters. Better able to feel subtle bites or movements of the lure.
> Dropping down from 20-lb to 10-lb lessens your margin for error if your knots aren't always up to snuff.
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3 things I learned from my 2 travelin's
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Here we go:
1. 360 with Spot-Lock is the deal
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I don't have Humminbird Mega 360. I for sure have been in boats with 360, but was not running the troller (til this week), and obviously have heard many pros talkin' 'bout lovin' 360. Now, after being on the front deck of a few boats with 360, I finally get it. And I think for me, I would take that all day long vs forward-facing sonar...for now anyhow. Why:
- 360 is an extension of/improves the way I know how to fish. I know how to look at a map, I know how to find structure, I know how to present various baits. 360 just makes all that better. Whether looking at the full 360 or just the 180 in front of the boat, I could see the structure so much better, I could see structure I wouldn't otherwise would know was there or how big/long it was (like bluegill beds), and you could tell whether to fish an area or how long to fish it.
- I don't care that I can't really see fish eat on it (you can see some fish), and I don't feel like I'm totally blind-casting if I can see the bottom that well. But I don't really mind just fishing structure I know is there vs trying to make a particular fish eat.
- I'm convinced that using 360 and Spot-Locking – and slowly moving around the structure that way – made us 10x more productive than if we didn't have it.
Several top fishermen (but not most) have said that if they could have Live or 360 they would take 360. For now I'm in that camp, and at some point I WILL be a-gettin' it!
2. Ned rigs catch 'em but...
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As you know, I'm not into finesse fishing much. Just not my thing or how I wanna ketch 'em if I have a choice. So I have barely fished Ned rigs (sorry Ned!). This week, I fished one for a bit AND the last 2 weeks talked with folks about 'em too, including several wally-eye pros. So a few things:
- The float of the Z-Man TRD is key. When you're dinking that deal across the bottom and stop, the TRD floats/stands up and that can trigger strikes.
- The most important thing, in my 2c, is the hook gap. I lost 2 fish on the Ned, including about a 4.5-lber right at the boat. I'm sure some of it was my inexperience with the rig, but obviously the hook wasn't in the fish too great.
- I was advised that the Outkast Perfect Ned Head – designed by Elitist Josh Douglas and which comes with either a 1/0 or 2/0 longer-shank Gammy hook – is the deal. I'm gonna get the 1/8 and 3/16 – because I'm impatient for it to get to the bottom...😁
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3. New "appreciation" for spin gear
Ah dang it. I feel like I just realized that Patrick Walters' shorts are cool...😆 Just messin'! Anyhow, I guess if like me you look at spin gear as a necessary pain in the rear then that's all it will be. But if you look at it – like the walleye pros do – as a key tool that's an actual advantage for some stuff (including jerkbaits) that's a whole different story. And I think they're right.
I'm actually looking forward to rigging some spin rods for once: a dropshot, a Ned, a wacky/Neko, and maybe a small swimbait.
The exact braid is key. Not sure which ones I'll use yet. Any recommendations, pls let me know. Like walleye pro Korey Sprengel does, I will be using heavier fluoro for a leader. Starting with 10-lb, which might help me tie a knot.
I'm optimistic that I'll have enough patience to tie the "slim beauty" braid to fluoro knot. Justin Poe and Dave Brinkerhoff, the guys responsible for all those new Fenwick Rods, showed it to me. Here's an Aussie tournament fisherman showing how to tie it regular and then his "improved" way to finish it off. Justin and Dave could tie it fast and it held up fine so....
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A few more bassin' tidbits from the road
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No particular order:
VMC RedLine hooks look and feel different
I was in the boat with Rapala Elite pro Bob Downey who had the hooks and we were dropshottin' with 'em. He said he likes the RedLines because they're stronger, and they for sure are – you can feel it when you mess with one, like getting it out of a fish. They're also a silver-like color, and seemed super sharp. Penetrated the worm and fish great:
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Lol okay I did tell him that but AFTER he caught that fish...😁
Saw the Bacca Burrito in action
Fished with MN stick Noah Schultz and he pulled one out while we were fishing a rockpile/rocky point in I think about 12'. He caught 1-2 on it and got a bunch of follows:
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Said he loves it. Costs almost $40, which sounds nutty for a soft-plastic, but he explained that it's not a soft-plastic – it's made outta silicone so it doesn't tear like soft plastics do. I'm gonna get one. Here they are on TW, also have a new smaller size for docks:
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Reminds me that one time we were going down a row of docks and Noah was fishing a hard swimbait. Just about every time he got one to chase, Minn Kota's Adam Knowles – in the back of the boat – caught one. Apparently I was just there for extra weight...🤣
SIMMS saved my bacon
IA was WAY hotter than NJ for some reason. Yep I can read the weather app but I guess I didn't believe it? Anyhow, I roasted myself on the first day of feeshn, couldn't do it again and luckily Minn Kota gave us a new SIMMS SolarFlex Hoodie. Wow was it great.
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Super light, super comfy/soft, no seams/chafing, it breathed and no polyester discomfort. Says it's also anti-odor somehow and come to think of it no one smelled like a buffalo when we were done so...🤙
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1. Check Matt Becker's custom color Shad Shape Worm.
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Matt finished 7th at the Cayuga Bass Pro Tour and said:
> "17 of my 20 fish came with a dropshot and a Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm in 'Becker's magic juice,' an exclusive color for one of my sponsors and I also caught some on the 'morning dawn' color."
Got ahold of him about that color:
> "It's a dark gp/natural shad laminate. I wanted something that could imitate a bunch of different forages with the same color. Looks super natural in the water. If you've ever seen a goby in the water, they have a gray/natural shad-looking belly."
Real nice-looking color fo sho. Dropshotted it on a #4 TroKar TK150 Hook and used a 1/4-oz Epic Tungsten Tear Drop Drop Shot Weight. He also weighed a few on that new 2.5 Yamamoto Yamatanuki (watermelon red)...👀
2. GREAT dad's day post by Matty Herren.
3. BassEdge Radio got something wong.
I mean MATTY Wong who actually does have something wong...😁 Also former pro is on there Dave Mansue talklin' the free "willie" rig.
4. Why Adam Rasmussen got this belt buckle...
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...after winning the Wheeler Open:
> ...when the folks at Vexus Boats launched their REV Rewards bonus program for tournament anglers, they thought it would only be fitting to send each winner a commemorative western belt buckle [like Forrest Wood wore]....
> Adam: "Just about all boat companies have a contingency program, but only Vexus sends their winners a buckle, and that's a pretty darn cool keepsake to set on your trophy shelf."
Check the Vexus REV Rewards program here. Word is it's real good....
5. These guys won the Sturgeon Bay Open.
Not real sure what happened to coverage of this deal, which was never great to begin with, but I finally found it at northamericanbasschallenge com (sorry can't link it). Spencer Samplawski and Paul Castellano had 54-08 of smallmouths over 2 days to win it.
Couple unknowns name of the Johnston bros 👀 were 2nd with 53-08. No word on anyone's baits....
6. Robert Montgomery has a new kids bassin' book.
Robert is a long-time bassin'/Bassmaster writer and a heck of a guy. He says:
> "It's about a girl who learns to love bass fishing from her grandfather and also discovers that battling a big one 'is more fun than flying downhill on a roller coaster.'
> "It features guide Big Sam, who helps her pursue a lunker. And it pays tribute to some of the legends of bass fishing, including Ray Scott, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, Bill Dance and Penny Berryman."
The book – "Cindy Sue and the Lunker Club" – is is well-illustrated and you can get it on the 'zon here.
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7. CA: Clear Lake tourneys can only be 6 hours for now.
> ...went into effect Thursday and runs through Sept 15. The purpose of the regulation is to protect the fish during hot weather.
> When the air temp reaches 95 degrees, the water in the livewells can get so hot the bass die. Even with the regulation a lot of bass will die after being released.
Who is writing this stuff? Does he know that bass fishermen keep their bass cool in wells? Some folks are way too casual with their words man....
8. AR announced 5-yr plan to renovate Conway.
> AGFC said it's the largest lake renovation project in the agency's 108-year history, estimating it to cost between $8-12 mil. In Sept, Lake Conway will be completely drained to remove the sediment....
> ...AGFC will also replace the dam, expand the fishing habitats and create more access points.
9. PA: Is this a cop-out by the DNR?
Kinda sounds like it?
> So what can PA do to allow better opportunity to catch 10-lb largemouths on a more regular basis? According to [warmwater biologist Bob Lorantas], not much.
> "Apart from a longer growing season, that is not possible to influence, angling practices where black bass are carefully handled and afforded opportunity to live a long life and grow to large size before succumbing to mortality would be an option. Reaching that benchmark rests solely upon PA anglers in fish-handling along with harvest and release practices they employ."
That's fair but what about state habitat and fisheries work? Wonder if he has ever seen smaller-headed (young) huge bass. Maybe PA (and NJ, etc) should take a look at what AR is doing? 🤔
10. NY: St Lawrence water level is higher than normal.
> ...water levels are sitting around 246.5'. That's about a half-foot higher than average for this time of year.
But the water temps are in the 50s instead of the 60s. Love this line:
> Anglers say the levels are just right for their reels to be in the water.
Hahaha!
11. OR is allowing spearfishing and bait for smallmouths...
...temporarily again on the Coquille River. Supposedly to help salmon runs in the fall.
12. Few more deets on the new Berkley Nessie swimbait.
Available in Sept, 5" ($7.99), 7" ($9.99) and 9" ($12.99) sizes, colors = golden shiner, hitch, perch, hickory shad, rainbow trout, shad, voltage, burnt bone, raw, green pumpkin.
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13. Walleye guys say tungsten noise attracts fish.
Banging it on rocks....
14. New SRD20 boat soap.
Never heard of it, here's some deets:
> ...cleans away dirt, oil, grease, bugs, spider droppings and fish slime from fiberglass, steel, chrome, aluminum, glass and painted surfaces. Highly concentrated, it contains no wax, produces a thick, sudsy foam blanket, is eco-friendly, and can be used in either a foam cannon or bucket.
Spider droppings a big problem for you? 😬 Website is here.
15. PA is going to drain Kahle Lake.
For dam and spillway work so all limits are off right now.
16. KY Asian carp update.
> ...over 9.5 mil lbs of invasive carp was harvested from KY waters in 2022. That's up drastically from when the program first started in 2013 – when just under 800,000 lbs of invasive carp was harvested.
> ...about 80% of the 2022 invasive carp harvest, or roughly 7.6 mil lbs, came from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.....
> Commercial [fishermen] and processors alike told Fish & Wildlife staff that even more subsidies...are necessary to speed up the removal of the species....
16. DC: NOAA gets record funding in Inflation Reduction Act.
Not helping inflation reduction but:
> To maintain sustainable fisheries and to keep up with fish stock range movements due to warming water, acidification, sea level rise and other climate impacts....
Sea level rise eh? Here's a little experiment: Fill a glass of water about 3/4 or 7/8 full of water and the rest with ice. When the ice melts, does the water overflow the glass or...? 🤔
Headline of the Day
What Do Bass Eat?
The 2 correct answers are: everything and sometimes nothing. 😁
Line of the Day
Meet the salvinia weevil, a subaquatic herbivorous insect genetically wired for a Texas-sized task
After getting my dictionary out, seems like TX is using bugs to eat salvinia...😆
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"I think I just lost another co-angler."
- Clay Dyer talkin' in a very and honest post about almost not fishing with him and then fishing with him (and glad for it) by Bassmaster Radio host Thom Abraham.
Hurts to think about all the things Clay overcomes and on top of that some folks would choose not to fish with him.
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Little MN dude is pretty stoked and he should be! Hope you get this feelin' again this weekend mang!
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