The Dean : Fishing Forum Posts
All great feedback on Flouro. PatkinParkin, I heard that Aarons brain surgery went well yesterday. I'm so happy to hear that. If you didn't know, Aaron has had two procedures on his brain in the last two weeks. We all hope to have him up and back to normal very soon. Send prayers to him and his family.
One thing you have to take into account when studying Aaron and his fishing is this. He pushes the limits of line diameter in his fishing. Whatever technique we are talking about, Aaron will use a thinner line than most all the other pros. This puts him in a place to keep his line spooled more often. He feels this gets more bites but forces him to replace his line more often and also puts him in danger of breakoffs more often. It's a very tricky balance you have to decide in your own fishing and each situation requires an angler to weigh in these details. Do I use a line that is thick and strong so I will be able to land more fish or do I use a super-light line to get more bites but risk losing a portion of them? In most situations, I chose to go heavy on line, especially in tournaments. There are a lot of pros in the heavy line camp. Hackney, Ish, Hank Cherry are some that come to mind. However, there are just as many pros that side with Aaron and his light line thinking. I think its fun to challenge the thinking on each strategy and I'm glad you guys are diving deep into this topic.
basscfo, It's a great knot that Jacob uses. I've seen other pros use it too. I have settled on the improved clinch knot. Ike helped my on this. I also was breaking with fluoro on hooksets and so frustrated I was ready to give up. Ike had me fire the polomar knot when using fluoro and go back to the improved clinch knot. I have never been happier. I can tie this knot in my sleep and it never fails on me. Jacob's knot is a great one and the improved clinched knot is too. The takeaway on this is to fire the polomar knot for fluoro when it comes to techniques that require a powerful hook set.
I hope we get to get back to fishing soon. I miss it soooo much.
All great advice from fishingfather and Jason. One of the things you might be up against in this pond is the spawn. In your part of the country right now the spawn is probably still happening. Your powerbaits tend to be less effective when the bass are in this mode. I like the ned rig like fishingfather suggested and drop shot. Other tools that are my choices this time of year are the floating worm and of course a weightless senko. I usually use a five-inch senko, but in ponds, during the spawn, I drop to 4" or even 3" and I always fish it weightless during the spawn. Good luck and keep us posted. They should start eating the power baits soon.
The Delaware River offers a lot of challenges for spawning bass. You are right to be concerned about them getting enough sunlight and warmth. This is why the Delaware river spawn occurs almost a month after spawning occurs in lakes in this area. The bass wait until the water is warm enough before they get started. This begins in May on the river. They place their beds one foot below the low tide mark. This allows the sun to have the maximum impact on the eggs. I'm sure that is the reason that the river has never had a huge population of bass. I'm sure it's tied to the spawn.
Where you need to look for spawning bass is in the man-made backwaters. Harbors and coves. Two of the most popular spawning areas on the river are Dredge Harbour and Tully Town cove. Look for other areas like this that are near main river or creek current, but completely blocked from the heavy flow. The really cool thing about river fish is that they will bite fairly aggressively on the beds. Things like shakey heads, crankbaits, and small jigs are great tools to catch spawning largemouth on the river. Good luck!
Hi Chris, I think you approached this correctly. When the fish begin to move in a pre-spawn mode and then get knocked back, this can often put them in a very difficult mood. Finesse and reaction are the best choices. The two best reaction choices are lipless crankbiats and jerkbaits. These two tools can really help in this situation. I will often go to micro jerkbaits to get the bite. Baits that are only 2-3 inches long. I also downsize the finesse baits if I can't get them to commit. Things like the ned rig or drop shot with a small bait. Reaction or finesse is the way to go, but don't be afraid to downsize.
Hi Bob,
I have seen a lot of laydown scenarios over the years. A heavy jig and spinnerbait are excellent choices along with a texas rigged creature bait. Below are some other options that might really help you when the fish won't commit to a power bait presentation. The first link below is to a seminar I give on the tail weighted senko. This is an amazing way to efficiently work the trees in deep water with a finesse approach.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/tail-weighted-stick-baits-gluszek
https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=c1UQEdGla5o&mid=38416&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tackledirect.com%2Fz-man-project-z-chatterbait-weedless-lures.html
I use the albright know. Its fast and easy. The key is to use crazy glue on the know. Makes this know 100%. I discuss this knot at minute 58:00 on the following seminar. https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/tail-weighted-stick-baits-gluszek
Welcome to Bass U! I have fished a little bit in Arizona and Nevada on Lake Havasu and Lake Mead. When the water temps get hot, I really like to use topwater baits too. Fish get kind of weird when the water hits 90 degrees or more. Its often long casts with a topwater water lure that helps me connect with the bass. Here is a great seminar about topwater fishing from one of the best. Good luck! https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/bryan-thrifts-top-5-topwater-bass-fishing-techniques
Hey Gene, great question about water temperature. In a lot of lakes, the water can stratify based on water temp. The cooler water is always near the bottom. The thermocline is the depth zone where the water temp drops dramatically. On northern lakes, this is the zone where the baitfish congregate in the summer and early fall. You can see the temperature change with your Helix by increasing your sensitivity on your 2d sonar. It looks like a horizontal line across the screen. I've never seen this in Florida lakes, mainly because they are so shallow there the temperature is the same from top to bottom.
However, springs are key in Florida as you rightly mentioned. They can provide warm stable water during cold fronts and cool water in the hot weather. The easiest way to find them using my sonar is by identifying bare spots in the grass beds. Springs don't allow the grass to grow due to the current flow. This leaves a hole/bare spot in the grass that can easily be seen with side imaging or 2d sonar. So when you find a bare spot or open area in the grass mark it with your GPS and concentrate on that area. All bare spots in the grass aren't springs, but they are a great place to start looking.
I'm rigging my boat this year with Humminbird Solix units. They will be new to me and I'm looking forward to learning all the upgraded features Humminbird has produced. I'll be filming the process and uploading here on Bass U. The functionality will be the same as the helix with the exception of the touch screen so I'm sure you will be able to apply all the lessons. Below is a great seminar from Brian Thrift. He is a master with his Humminbirds. I've also done a couple of interviews with Miles for Bass U. One of them is linked below.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/electronics-master-class-bryan-thrift
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/miles-sonar-burghoff-on-all-brands-of-electronics
Great feedback jondoe67!
Topwater is such an important tool in Florida Gene. You are definitely gonna want to have something to throw a prop bait. Buzz frogs and holly belly frogs are also going to be a big deal. A texas rigged soft plastic is so steady in Florida. Chatterbait/spinnerbait rod will be on my deck too. Two other rods that I would have ready are a fluke and a senko. Those would be my top five. Welcome back to bass fishing and Bass U. Lilly pads are key in Florida and below is a link to a great instructional piece from JT Kenney that I'm sure will be of use for you.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/breaking-down-lilly-pads-jt-kenney
Seasonal patterns are always the first place I start. The season and water temperature will tell me to be looking shallow or deep. Seasons can eliminate things to make it easier too. For instance, if I'm fishing in the winter months I can leave my topwaters at home. Below are two excellent tutorials on how to fish a new lake.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/breaking-down-a-new-lake-christie
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/fish-with-an-open-mind-adrian-avena
I have never fished in Colorado. I can say this, fishing in the Great Lakes region is different from most places in the world. I'm sure there is going to be an adjustment for you. I always try to keep it simple when I'm in a new place. The seasonal patterns will tell me to look for fish in the shallows or in deep water. Spring and fall will find most of the bass and bait in the shallows. Summertime is usually when you need to look deep. There are a lot of great lessons on bass U about fishing a new body of water. Below are a couple of my top choices.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/fishing-new-bodies-of-water-ott-defoe
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/fishing-a-new-body-of-water-ish-monroe
Great question Logan. I have fished quite a bit in your part of the country. Kentucky and Barkley lakes, Douglas in TN and Lake Cumberland in KY as well as several others. The spawn should be done at this point and most of your larger bodies of water will be post-spawn. What I have discovered about these lakes is that after the spawn, the fish really start to feed in groups. These groups of fish are most often in deep water. When bass get done their spawn they move to where the bait is abundant and that is usually in offshore deep water. IN places like Lake Douglass, TN the bass can be caught in 50 feet of water feeding on schools of shad. On the TN river lakes, the bass move to offshore shell beds to feed on the shad. Below are some great seminars are tackling the post-spawn.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/post-spawn-cranking-davy-hite
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/post-spawn-success-jacob-powroznik
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/understanding-post-spawn-funk-jason-christie
The rain just keeps coming. Rain can affect things in many ways. I can muddy the water, increase the current, raise the water level, slow down the spawn and a bunch more.
Below is a seminar at bass U about how to deal with some of these changes. Good Luck.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/adjusting-to-condtions-pete-gluszek
One of my most versatile rigs when this time of year is the Carolina Rig. It can be fished deep and shallow. One of the best things about fishing this rig is that it helps an angler understand what the bottom composition is. you can feel the difference between hard and soft bottom, grass, and wood. It's also very good at catching big fish.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/how-to-fish-a-carolina-rig-peter-t
Hey Luke,
Below are the two rods The Bass University designed for Cashion fishing rods. One spinning and one casting. We designed these to do exactly what you are looking for. All around rods that can do a lot with just one rod. You can use the code bassutv to get free shipping.
https://cashionrods.com/bass-university-series/
I prefer Gamma line. I believe it's the best, but it is at the higher price point to get started. You can use your VIP discount and get some major discounts with Suffix line. All bass U subscribers have access the the VIP program. I would suggest using 10# braid as your main line on your spinning rod and picking up Flourocarbon as your leader material. Also 10# line as a good all around leader. On your casting, I would suggest 14# test as a good all-around line. I also use Flourocarbon here. You can pick up some 10# and some 20# line to switch up if you for some different applications.
https://www.rapala.com/VIP-Register.
There are so many good baitcasting reels available right now. I really like Lew's. I would choose a reel price point between $50-$100 to get started. This would be a good choice and is a best seller on TackleDirect.
https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=c1UQEdGla5o&mid=38416&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tackledirect.com%2Flews-laser-mg-speed-spool-slp-baitcasting-reels.html
Shimano makes a good spinning reel and I would keep the price point around the same $50-$100. Below is a good choice.
https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=c1UQEdGla5o&mid=38416&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tackledirect.com%2Fshimano-sahara-fi-spinning-reels.html
Good Luck!!
Water temps in the low 40's can be tricky. When the water gets this cold, the best bait for me is the blade bait like the silver buddy. Other techniques that can work well are the hair jig in cold water. Below are some links for the baits. Find deeper rocky areas with no current. Most importantly find some bait around. In the winter it's all about fishing around the bait. Here is an example of how Brian Thrift fishes the blade bait.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/blade-baits-tiny-baitfish-bryan-thrift
https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=c1UQEdGla5o&mid=38416&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tackledirect.com%2Fdamiki-vault-lures.html
I just filmed with Oliver Ngy for Bass U on this exact topic. We will be releasing it in a couple of weeks. He recommends #4 & 5 egg snaps depending on the weight of the baits.
Hi Cody,
Big swimbaits definitely have a place at Chickamauga. Watch the two episodes below and get the scoop on how Westly Strader and guide Billy Joe Wheat fish the lake. Billy Wheat is well known for using big swimbaits to help his clients catch the big ones.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/bucket-list-lake-chickamauga-ep-1
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/bucket-list-lake-chickamauga-ep-2
I love Lake Seminole. I only fished it a few times in the early spring. I found fish in the springs on the lower end of the lake. The springs make circles in the grass or on the flats. In the early season, I was able to catch them really well on no. 7 shad raps and senkos. Such an awesome lake!! Crawfish pattern.
https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=c1UQEdGla5o&mid=38416&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tackledirect.com%2Frapala-shad-rap-lures.html
Hi Darren, I've never fished the tidal rivers in SC but have spent my life fishing the tides. Some habitat that excels in incoming, rising tide is rip rap, cypress knees, and shallow docks. Fallen trees on the bank can also be awesome on the high incoming tide. It's the hardest part of the tide cycle to fish. In the summer I would use buzzbaits or other topwater, chatterbaits, and senkos. That's a good place to start.
It's awesome that you have introduced her to fishing. Congrats Dad!!! My best advice to help her with some casting distance is to switch her to 8# braid as the mainline on her spinning reels. Tie a short leader so she doesn't have to deal with the leader knot in the rod guides. The braid will double her casting distance.
Have her practice at home on the baitcasting gear. That will take some time. go heavy on the spool control and magnets too. Put a heavy jig on the line - 1/2 ounce. Give her some targets and let her go. It takes about 10k casts to get good. I would save this until she is really into fishing.
