shinner

awesome to see him out and about.. true blessing for sure.

some great top water fish for sure..

sweet.... it looks like it almost caught you slipping when she bit.. they have this 6 sense to hit the second you look away or let your mind drift.. congrats bro

I think Scott makes a heavy one.. Haven't talked with him in a few years though

Levanthian Big Bait Co. 2X4 10" and is over 7oz.. its like throwing your kitchen table leg with hooks.

crack?

words to live by

Yea I don't know why it took me so long but now I got the blessing. I do remember that day when we went on that night run.. you laughed at the size of baits I was throwing and couldn't believe they were getting bit.. Good to see the sickness spread

the 2X4 is a mans bait... Its been a while since I have seen them around.. Huge top water bait..

This morning's delight was out of sight.. 1 Big Vidali Onion (big as round as you can find) 1 Big Pepper 1 Pack of hot sausage Shredded cheddar 1 Egg per Onion or Pepper Ring Cut 3" thick ring from the widest part of the Pepper and Onion (pop out the center rings on the Onion (leave 2 rings thick for shell) Pan fry some hot sausage out of the casing, Chop into marble sized pieces. Chop some remaining peppers and onions, saute until soft. In the same pan place your pepper and onion rings, fill the bottom with the cooked sausage, peppers and onions. Crack the egg on top. Add the shredded cheese. Cooked covered until the egg is done to your liking. *Bonus topping: Lou's homemade fresh farm tomato bruscetta ShinnSimmons saying.. Rule your stomach or it will rule you.... Meaning how does it feel squeezing into those size 48s like a stuffed sausage.. don't let your stomach push you around.

stop...I'm just a hack that doesn't get out nearly enough anymore.. Welcome onyourknees steve.. Looks like the slammer bite is has been good to you.. keep it up

that thing is a pig... can't beat big bites on top...

Lucas.. load up the van.. This looks like another gem in your go-to spots.. Very Nice D

I have been fishing the gan craft S-claw slow sink this spring for the first time. I used it early in my swimbait addiction and didn't like the action on a straight retrieve. I thought it flopped around and didn't really have any rhythm. I picked it up again this spring to try and find something that I could work like a suspending jerk bait. I found that working the bait with very smooth slow jerks with the rod tip can get this bait to glide left and right and then just sit there and suspend. (you have to use the reel to pick up the slack line or the bait will glide over the top and foul the front hook) the fish were slamming it on the pause. I had success at 3 different lakes that I tried it on and caught both smallies and LM. The bait tends to glide up to the surface very easy with any type of speed. You can give the bait long pausing and it will hover and then start this slow whole body wobble as it sinks. I played around with adding heavier hooks (owner 2x in different sizes) and you can get the bait to sink quicker and stay down by swapping out both hooks. nose down with swapping out only the front and vice versa with only the back. I thought it made a great bait as an alternative to the cold water jerk bait bite.

Happy 4th Gang, hope everyone has a safe one.. and God speed to our men and women past and present serving in our military

SWEEEEEET

What a pig... awesome speedb... holly cow...what a awesome fish.. congrats bro..

very nice Dan

atta boy Luka.. way to put the stick to a couple good ones

night fishing is going to be your best bet and will give you those adrenaline filled top water strikes. I have done well at night with any of the freestyles, baby wake, wake jr, the punker is a fun bait as well. In July/August we try and find suspended bait that is coned up or balled up on the graph (sometimes over 60+ft) and then target the smallies under them. if you want to stick with swimbaits you cast out 68s, hyper herrings, FS shad and let them sink.. we are marking the smallies under the bait around the 25 to 30ft range I saw one of the bassmasters where they would cast out and keep the bail open and drive the boat letting out a ton of line so they can get the bait down deep.. that technique might work. Its a little colder at the finger lakes then here and we usually don't see them out suspending until later in the month into August but due to this early warm trend they might be out there.. Good luck... DJ

okay...I have been guilty of not knowing proper handling of catch and release fish in my younger days. I used to put them on the ground to get a pic in relation to my rod for size etc.. I was told (not so nicely) by some of the fishing guys on a local site what I was doing was wrong.. Instead of fighting back and trying to save pride I actually listened to what they were saying and have never done that again. I also try and PM guys that I see that could use a little care in handling the fish, some listen some call me an ass etc.. Hopefully fishingallday will take it in a positive way.. and understand people care about the fish regardless if its in their local waters or not. Awesome fish.. I'm sure next time you will try and take just a quick pic and get her back for you to catch another day..

what a cutie... get it in now before she discovers all the girlie stuff and wont want to fish with pops..