Here it is
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Is it just me or have things gotten a little tougher? Granted, I’ve fished my own lake and mostly the same spots for the last week. Had to stay close to home for family reasons. Should be swimming instead of fishing some days. Beats the hell out of winter in my opinion tho. Good luck.
Here it is
Nice!
Thanks! Yes it has really slowed down for me this weekend. 4 hours 2 bass one dinky pike.
Fished 2 days this weekend. To say the bite was tough Saturday afternoon to evening was a understatement. 1 35.5 inch pike on a small lake a a few small bass.
Sunday morning 530 am to 1030 am. Bite was on fire, had to run back to the launch and use the Biffy. Came back to 2 boats who were watching me, now sitting on my spot. Moved and couldn’t find fish. Found one more spot and it was lights out. I took my mom out with me. She ran a wacky and neko depending on depth. I ran a 4 inch black with red flake tube.
That tube was hit so much that my arm got tired. 6 casts 5 fish. Happened at least 10 different times that morning. I couldn’t believe how good the bite was. And on a tube jig I typically only use for smallies
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Nice pike!
Crazy amount of fishing and boating the last 4 days. Thur. I got out with Tim from here. Had a fun outing, caught some fish, and got to fish a new lake. The highlight was watching a BIG fish hit Tims topwater bait. Sadly the fish is the new owner of the bait. I would have loved to see that fish in his hands. Thanks again Tim for letting me Jump in with you. Friday I finally got a chance to get back out to a new lake close to home that I caught a few real nice LM and SM bass this spring that is close to my home. I was really looking forward to getting back out there and seeing how the weeds in the lake setup. Sadly there was no weedline at all and no mainlake structure that I could locate. Only caught a few small LM bass. Well I can check that lake off my list. It may be worth a check with Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in the fall when the fish move shallow. Sat. morning got back out with my Main fishing partner. We had another good day for some large fish. Including this stranger back to back duo. I had caught a Nice 20″ fish just before this Bass. When I caught this one I decided to toss it into the livewell for a few minutes to see if i could get another nice fish to take a double fish picture. The next cast hooked into what I thought was a really nice bass ( For the first 30 seconds or so anyway ) 10-15 minutes later we got to finally see this beast. A short time later we caught a even bigger Cat. The one in the double picture is 33″ long. Didn’t think to measure the bigger one. I believe in the 35-36″ range. The Belly’s on both were huge. Sat. evening took my cousin, his son, and his son in law out. Caught lots of 14-15 bass and a handful of 17-18″ fish. Sunday morning back on the water and fished 2 different lakes. Lots of smaller fish and another handful or so of 17-18″ fish. Sunday afternoon took some neighbors and their kids out Tubing. Lake was crazy busy with pleasure boaters. I felt really sorry for the few fishermen who were trying to fish. I now know why I don’t fish several lakes in the afternoon or evenings on weekend !!!
As far as Bait choices and patterns go. All the same as the last several post. Jigworms, Dropshot, and Niko rigs. Deeper weedlines and mainlake humps.
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Nice fish Fishthumper! I really like this thread it really helps a guy know how things are going. Seems like it is hit and miss for everyone.
Holy channel cat! That’s awesome! My trips out lately have been all or nothing. The last one I went on was when I lost that big fish, but I probably caught 30 fish on the Neko and 5 more on a plopper.
Another monster kitty huh
Another monster kitty huh
Two more. Actually 3. Those cats in the pictures are two different fish and we caught a 3rd one that was smaller ( Probably 7-8 Lbs ). The smaller one was the first smaller one we have caught there. All the other ones have been 32″+
All the other ones have been 32″+
I would say based on their girth that they are eating quite well.
I have never seen so many people talking about throwing the jigworm and absolutely CRUSHING as I have the last month. So much so next time out I’m going to give it a shot. Anyone throwing it lately?
Something new for me is a simple jig worm but I use a 3/8 ounce bullet head jig with a plastic craw 3 inch seems to be the best not a skirted jig. I fish it almost like a Ned but swim it back slow. Or retrieve over the tops off weeds not a skirted bass jig mind you. roughly 3 weekends ago got 60 bass in 2 trips went through 7 bags of various craws. simple and worked great never would have thought of a plain jig head only I think the smaller profile was good, also I have had a lot of luck on pressured lakes with a 1/8 or 1/4 beetle spin with a small 2 inch twister tail something small but flashy. I think they have seen enough spinnerbaits and chatter baits.
Something new for me is a simple jig worm but I use a 3/8 ounce bullet head jig with a plastic craw 3 inch seems to be the best not a skirted jig. I fish it almost like a Ned but swim it back slow. Or retrieve over the tops off weeds not a skirted bass jig mind you. roughly 3 weekends ago got 60 bass in 2 trips went through 7 bags of various craws. simple and worked great never would have thought of a plain jig head only I think the smaller profile was good, also I have had a lot of luck on pressured lakes with a 1/8 or 1/4 beetle spin with a small 2 inch twister tail something small but flashy. I think they have seen enough spinnerbaits and chatter baits.
Yep, that’s all it is. A naked jig with a worm on it. And apparently it’s been crushing for a month.
YEP you ain’t kidding. Amazing how something so simple works. SO is a Ned rig the same thing basically?
YEP you ain’t kidding. Amazing how something so simple works. SO is a Ned rig the same thing basically?
Basically, although the ned is typically a shorter worm. And I believe the Ned is technically supposed to sit vertically. Although I can’t stand throwing them so I’m not the guy to ask….. 
I have found using the short 3 inch senko has not been as good for me this year 4-5 inch senkos, rage craws have really been the ticket they seem to want bigger presentations = jig worm
The jig worm is so versatile. You can fish different weights depending on the wind. You can fish them shallow or deep. You can fish just about any plastic you want on them. Any jig head will work. I prefer either the OutKast tackle money jig or the all terrain mighty jig. I probably fish the 1/8 oz 90% of the time and the 1/4 the other 10%. The one thing you want on a jig is a good worm keeper barb. Those pesky panfish will keep pulling the worm down or even off if there is not a good keeper barb. As far as the bait goes I mostly fish berkley powerworms. Both the 4” and 7” size work well. I have also done well using stickworms or ring fry on them. Even had luck with craws or tubes on them. Getting back to panfish. If using powerworms learn the difference between panfish taps and runs and the more solid pickup from a bass. If you set the hook on the panfish taps or runs you will lose a ton of tails😢😡. A lot of fishermen tend to work and reel it way to fast. I fish mine more like a shaky head or a Ned rig. Toss it out, let it fall and start to retrieve it slow with a few pops or shakes. Then let it fall and sit for a few seconds and repeat. If you get it hung in a weed usually a good pop will free it. Watch the line close after the pop, lots of times a bass will hit it right after you pop it free from the weeds. I tell people if you are not getting hung in the weeds once in awhile then you are fishing it to fast. Being just slightly in or at least close to weeds is the key. It’s a simple lure to fish. Play around with it and find what works for you. If I’m with someone who’s new to fishing it’s the first lure I start them with. Good luck.
I’m not a purest from the standpoint of always using an open hook with a jig worm. I think the better fish are near the thicker weeds a lot of times and the exposed hook can be a pain. I opt for an 1/8 oz Owner Sled Head. I think I get just as good hook-up percentage as an open hook, but I’m only clearing weeds off the hook between casts about 1/3 of the time instead of 2/3 the time. Can still rip it off the weeds in higher percentage spots, just don’t have to constantly. https://www.ownerhooks.com/product/sled-head/
If I can move with at least a little speed, I like the curly tail of the Powerbait Worm – either 4 or 7 inch. If its really a slow soak, then I like the Roboworm Fat Straight Tail worm in 4.5 or 6. That hand-poured tail really undulates with minimal/no movement.
Frydog. I use to use those sledheads a lot. Kind of forgot about them. I don’t remember them having the grove to add a skirt. They may have changed the design to that later. I will have to dig them out of storage to see ( if I can find them ) I like the idea of adding a skirt cut short and then adding a craw trailer to it and fishing it in place of a normal jigworm. Like you said, should be able to fish it in heavier weeds with far less hang ups. Now you got my mind working. Hope I can find my old supply of them and they have the grove on them. If not I think finding them locally will be a long shot. May have to fire up another online order. I hate when that happens 😄
Yes, the bait monkey calls…
I checked my last order and actually got the 3/16 oz and that had the groove. I usually don’t add a skirt but at least you have the option. Can’t remember but for some reason I think the 1/8 may not have the groove, or at least it didn’t last year when I ordered. I like the hook up % of the Owners over the popular Charlie Brewer heads.
Had to place the order thru Owner directly to get those hooks, couldn’t find them at TW, Amazon or other online outlets then so hopefully you have some old ones laying around somewhere!
I took Brock Lesnar’s cousin out on a guided trip tonight… West Metro, 81 degree water temps, 8-12 fow just off weedline. Caffeine Shads, tubes, drop shot, Neds.
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I took Brock Lesnar’s cousin out on a guided trip tonight… West Metro, 81 degree water temps, 8-12 fow just off weedline. Caffeine Shads, tubes, drop shot, Neds.
Was happy to see that post over on FB Frydog…..
Thank you 
Milestone – with more to go, but will take any inch I can turn into a 1/2 mile at this point ~
Are you married to Lesnars cousin ?
Are you married to Lesnars cousin ?
Yep, that’s her maiden name. A part of the original Lesnar clan from the Webster, SD area. I’ve been over fishing that way for close to 30 years with them, even before many of those lakes formed after the floods in the 90’s.
Only saw Brock once, in full camo during duck hunting season. At his size, he didn’t exactly blend in..!
Had another Good outing last night. Caught a fair amount of bass in the 16-19″ range and I think 3 at or over 20″. I also landed a nice 34″ Pike. Like all the fish from this lake it was super healthy. Wish I had taken the time to get a picture of it. For some reason the fish wanted a bigger bait this outing. I caught almost all my fish on a Punch Jig setup. Basically a 3/8 or 5/8 oz Punch Weight with a skirt collar. I add a Black and blue skirt Tie on a 5/0 Mustad hook with a Grip -pin keeper and then use a D-Bomb by Mission Tackle. I do add a bead between the hook and the weight to protect the knot and to add some sound when the force bead hits against the tungsten weight. I also put a rubber bobber stop on First to hold the sinker tight to the hook. I think I posted a picture of the setup here before but if not here is what it looks like again. I like this setup better than a standard Jig and Pig. I think it comes through heavy cover better and I think my hook up ratio is better with it. It is a rather Big overall bait but sometimes it seems that is what the fish want. One other strange thing, it seems like on some of the lakes I’ve fished in the last week or so the Deeper weeds are dying off or totally gone already. This usually doesn’t start to happen till late June or a little later. I’m thinking it must have something to do with the High water temps we have had this year. It kind of sucks. The fish seem to be more scattered than normal this time of the year. Normally they School up in big groups on some of those deeper weed spots.
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Instant hot water temps are my guess for the deeper weed die off… will be interesting to see how this heavy rain will affect things. Will be hot and dry again, I’m going to look for any culverts or drains into the lakes in about 4-5 days after this settles
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