Amistoad

Here in Texas, there’s a magic combination of ample water volume, big prey fish (sunfish, tilapia, and/or gizzard shad), and temperatures that cool enough in winter to allow bass to pack on weight. Tournaments and fishing pressure are high here, but a LOT of guys throw small baits for “keeper” bass. They’re impressed by numbers, not size. There are the well-known lakes and also some sleepers (that I need to get to!) that have double digit bass.

Cool blast from the past! I’ll add my top three as of today: MS Slammer 7” or 9”, 2 or 3 piece Mattlures hardgill 3:16 Wake Jr runners up: Deps Bullshooter 190 rats...any rats

After a cold front came through and dropped Daytime temperatures about 35 degrees yesterday, today was warmer and overcast. Time to hit my local lake and wake up some bass. Fortunately, the lake is still open. No huge fish, but a bunch of 16-21” bass happy to attack the Wake Jr on a deadsticking or slow twitch retrieve. Met another SU member, Ryan (I think) from San Marcos and kept a good social distance. Good to see another maniac throwing the big stuff here in my corner of the world! Hope you nailed some on your Pizz baits! I’ll keep trying to find those big, hungry lady bass. Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep grinding!

Been up to my eyeballs in little guys like that lately.

This is a great start! I love seeing progress reports on boat rehab projects and as one of those old bastards without Instagram, I appreciate the posting here! Keep it coming please!

Same thing happened to me the last couple of trips. Been a weird spring, that’s for sure!

Thanks man. There’s actually 3 different fish in those photos. Last 2 are the same though.

Working from home and decided I had to get out and stretch a line. Overcast, prefrontal weather was perfect for throwing the slammer around some shallow cover. Missed one after I snagged some shoreline reeds, yanked it free, and the bait landed behind me about 6’ from my boat. As I was reeling in the slack, a bass slammed the dead stick bait and hooked itself, jumped a couple of times, and then unbuttoned. I haven’t put in much time with swimbaits this year, so I need to make up for lost time...as long as my local lake stays open!

Lost a 6” bullshad a couple of weeks ago. Towards the end of a long day, I went into some flooded timber to see if I could finally catch something. Lots of wind and I got a backlash, started to pull it out, and my boat went over my line. Finally got the snag out and started to retrieve, when I felt a bit of resistance under the boat, then nothing. I looked around for the line in the water and couldn’t find it. All I can think is it must have been a weak spot in the 25 lbs mono. Called it quits after that.

I’m going to give it a go in the next couple of days. My local lake has been on the downturn since mid-October. Thinking night might be the way to go with some rats. Fingers crossed!

Probably not hard to subtract the weight of the eight from their weight. Also, Instagram isn’t exactly known for honesty and unbiased information...y’know?

Some spawn earlier, some later. It’s an individual thing with bigger bass. They tend to spawn a bit deeper than smaller fish too, or so I’ve been lead to believe. Partly that may depend on the lake and type of structure present.

Just got home and found these waiting for me. Scored them from a local guy who didn’t ever fish them. Super psyched to try them ASAP on my local where the bass inhale sunfish like nachos. I remember watching Dave’s videos back in the day. Inspiring and funny! Coming up on 10 years since he died and that’s hard to believe. I’ll think of him as I fish for “donkeys” with these baits!

Great looking bass. Congratulations!

Here’s a comparison of the mink and full sized possums along with a Spro rat for scale. The ruler is 18” long. They’re both monstrous big baits and I haven’t thrown either very much yet. But this spring, post-spawn into the summer, they’ll be getting a workout. Keep trolling the Black Market. That’s where I was fortunate enough to score my mink.

Zebra.

Nice bass!

I’d give 24 hours then a gentle reminder. I had one dude on the black market that was selling some baits. I told him I’d take 3 of them. We agreed on a price after some initial confusion on his part. Then I drove home and sent funds within an hour. THEN he tells me he’d turned around and sold two to somebody else and offered the third is still available with a partial refund. But out deal was for all 3. I wasn’t very happy and told him so. I chalked it up to him being young and not a very good communicator or businessman. But it still sucked. Communication is key so make sure your buyer or seller KNOW what’s expected time-wise.

Cool looking lure! And the fish apparently dig it too. Keep on grinding till the water locks up!!