I’m not an expert.

[Just_Bass]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

[camobass]

Nice one

[Just_Bass]

Thanks. Just try to keep one thing stupid simple. I have 5-6 setup for panfish, more than 10 for bass, but always bring just one setup. I don’t even carry backpack anymore just few bags of plastics and some hooks, is good enough. Minimalist? May be, just try not to forget things when move from spot to spot.
Before I change lure, I always try different retrieve. That usually work.

[Stringbean]

Thanks for sharing, not many reports here.
It seems the big bullgill are in hiding.

[Just_Bass]

Thanks for sharing, not many reports here.
It seems the big bullgill are in hiding.

I found a bunch of them along outside of weed edges about 8-10’ FOW. It is still a lot easier to get them once the weed get taller and thicker gonna be harder. They are really hug the bottoms, though. I go after them just before sunset.

[Gotfish?]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

Have you gone over to the dark side? Thought you were "Just_Bass"? Maybe "Just_Fish"?

[Just_Bass]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

Have you gone over to the dark side? Thought you were "Just_Bass"? Maybe "Just_Fish"?

I’m just bass since beginning of time, started learning how to catch these panfish 4-5 years ago. Before this crappie I did a short journey for bass not bad land 4-5 lost a few not big or pictures worthy only 2-3lb.
I go after them crappie and brought this one home for picture to confirm my argument that I know what I’m talking about and to be some kind of proof when idiots ask for pictures.
Just a few of my bass reels.

[professionull]

Was that out of hodges?

[senkosam]

deleted

[Gotfish?]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

Have you gone over to the dark side? Thought you were "Just_Bass"? Maybe "Just_Fish"?

I’m just bass since beginning of time, started learning how to catch these panfish 4-5 years ago. Before this crappie I did a short journey for bass not bad land 4-5 lost a few not big or pictures worthy only 2-3lb.
I go after them crappie and brought this one home for picture to confirm my argument that I know what I’m talking about and to be some kind of proof when idiots ask for pictures.
Just a few of my bass reels.

Looks like some Daiwa T-wing reels. My favorite too.

[Just_Bass]

With hogs like those, you don't need light action gear and finesse lures! Any fish over a foot long not only strike bigger soft plastics and some crankbaits, but put a serious bend in your medium action rod. Granted, there are time when going lighter and smaller catch the most fish of all sizes and species. But generally speaking, the larger the lure, the larger the fish with larger mouths. I'll bet a 4" swimbait on a jig or weighted hook would catch em fine! Dropshotting in the water you descrbe is another option.
(The above does not appy to sunfish.)

Seem like you are saying “the slab” will bite anything you throw at them while your special creation only for smaller ones?
Doesn’t matter what size lure if you are not in strike zone and if you are not in the right movement you won’t catch a thing.

[senkosam]

deleted

[Just_Bass]

“Generally speaking, lures must match conditions, NOT targeting species using natural-looking lures”

IMHO, ROFL what is this look like? East coast Water spider?

[Gotfish?]

For those who think lures have to match what fish feed on, what do you think so called "poop baits" match? https://www.tacticalbassin.com/blog/poo ... ss-fishing

Not to mention plastic worms? How many bass have actually eaten a real earthworm in the 1st place? They work everywhere, in areas with worms and in desert lakes where there aren't any worms for miles.

For that matter, what condition do poop baits match? Conditions whenever they work? That would be circular reasoning.

[camobass]

Why are you throwing a rat at Barrett then? You are definitely matching the hatch. I have seen plenty of rats swimming at places like Barrett, Loveland, river bottoms. Had a fish cough a rat up at Loveland too. A heavily salted flylined “poop” bait may not resemble anything under a microscope but a green one thrown in the grass sure looks like a small fry or gill. On the ground, it’s close to a craw.

What about a frog. Expecially lunker hunt frogs. And they work.
I’ve seen worms in the water too.

Most lures resemble something natural. Bugs, birds, bait fish, predator fish, reptiles, crustacean , mammals, worms etc.

This on going argument that you don’t need match natural forage or are dumb for trying is ridiculous. Juvenile fish will eat anything. Pan fish will eat bare hooks, flower pedals etc. and you know what, probably because it resembles a bug. Probably out of desperation in the juvenile state also.

[camobass]

If you truly want to test your theory about not matching the hatch, why don’t you put something like a shirt button on a hook and go fish that all day. Most of not all lures mimic something in nature. Even your best friends creations. Most likely bugs. That fall into the water.

[Gotfish?]

If you truly want to test your theory about not matching the hatch, why don’t you put something like a shirt button on a hook and go fish that all day. Most of not all lures mimic something in nature. Even your best friends creations. Most likely bugs. That fall into the water.

So what do you think poop baits match better than other baits? Or what do plastic worms mimic better than other baits? Why are these so effective? If appearance is super important, why are there any lures out there that don't match natural forage?

Comes back to instinct. If you want to know more, get https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Bass-Sci ... 159228616X .

A shirt button does not usually trigger bass instincts to strike. Doesn't mean they will never strike a shirt button (or sinker for that matter) but makes it much less likely. Put a hook in a shirt button and jig it just right and you might catch a bass. When conditions are right, they can even be caught on bare hooks: https://www.google.com/search?q=catchin ... UTF-8#ip=1

Great thing about bass (and most fish) is that they will strike baits that don't look anything like natural forage. Anyone who has ever visited a fish hatchery, had an aquarium or seen a pond feeder can attest that fish can be trained to eat featureless pellets. This is not to say that they can't be conditioned or evolve to avoid lures.

New lures or techniques (plastic worms, Senkos, drop shot, etc.) are often red hot for a while and then get slower with time. This could be due to the conditioning (in catch and release) or selection if the fish are kept.

Simply put, how closely a lure mimic nature is not a measure of how effective a lure will be.

[Gotfish?]

last line, should be "mimics"

[Carpkiller]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

Have you gone over to the dark side? Thought you were "Just_Bass"? Maybe "Just_Fish"?

I’m just bass since beginning of time, started learning how to catch these panfish 4-5 years ago. Before this crappie I did a short journey for bass not bad land 4-5 lost a few not big or pictures worthy only 2-3lb.
I go after them crappie and brought this one home for picture to confirm my argument that I know what I’m talking about and to be some kind of proof when idiots ask for pictures.
Just a few of my bass reels.

So...the lefties for normal stuff and righties for flipping/pitching? Or Vice versa... or just an ambidextrous show-off.....

[Just_Bass]

I’m just a guy who love fishing not an expert with 50 years of experience nor create my own lures. Just plain simple tube and this what I got.

Have you gone over to the dark side? Thought you were "Just_Bass"? Maybe "Just_Fish"?

I’m just bass since beginning of time, started learning how to catch these panfish 4-5 years ago. Before this crappie I did a short journey for bass not bad land 4-5 lost a few not big or pictures worthy only 2-3lb.
I go after them crappie and brought this one home for picture to confirm my argument that I know what I’m talking about and to be some kind of proof when idiots ask for pictures.
Just a few of my bass reels.

So...the lefties for normal stuff and righties for flipping/pitching? Or Vice versa... or just an ambidextrous show-off.....
inigo.JPGinigo.JPG

Hard to tell, I started fishing left hand a few years back when my left cannot hold rod longer than 30 mins due to frozen shoulder. I used left for mostly finessed and bottom contact right for everything else and especially slow steady retrieve which I’ve been using for 30+ years.
Nowadays with tennis elbow again on my left. I use most of the time lefties for everything but right just when I get tired.
Not good things though since buying new reel, I’m not sure which side should I get end up getting both lol.