trophyhusband
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i went bass fishing for the first time last weekend, in a tournament no less. i was happy to turn in 5 fish, but they came in at just under 7 pounds. i have another tournament april 20. i'm told that they will be spawning and much more aggressive. what kinds of baits should i have on hand? what are the techniques? are there bait, lures, or techniques that will catch maybe fewer but larger fish? i'll take all the help i can get.
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SHAUNPMR
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It depends on the fisherie and types of water your fishing. But for better quality fish, I would go with a jig, cranks, tubes, and big creature baits.
If they are on beds then I would throw a dropshot rig, but with a 1/0 hook and on baitcasting gear with 25lb test, use a bright pearl white worm. Cast the rig past the bed and drag it onto it and let it sit on it and quiver. Its deadly!
Shaun.
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trophyhusband
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how do you find a bed?
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SHAUNPMR
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look in the shallow water. Its usually a light circle a few feet across. But ive also saw beds that were as big as a car. Just cruise the shalows and look. Also keep in mind, when there are bass on beds, not every fish on the lake is on beds. you can also catch them with other techniques.
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trophyhusband
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i'll keep an eye out for them. the water may be too murky though.
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Mojo
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TH, where is your tourney? We caught some pigs at Strike today. We being everyone but me... 
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Chromeo
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Smallmouth will almost always make their beds around some kind of structure. Look around sticks in the water dock pilings and any other kind of structure you can find. From my expierence smallies tend to build their beds deeper than largemouth. If the water is clear dont be suprised to find them in 12' of water or more.
As far as the gear i like a 7' 4-8lb spinning rod with a drop shot rig on a #4 hook. I like the KGM dropshot baits and some minnow imitations that i will not mention here...
If they dont bite at first or they move away from the bed when they see you set your rig on the bed and back off until you cant see the bed and just shake the drop shot. They'll come back and grab it. If you can see the fish and it is nosing down on your bait, swimming around the bed fast, or moving their fins back and fourth they will bite just keep pestering them.
GOOD LUCK!
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trophyhusband
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it's at strike.
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Mojo
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Well, there might be some smallies spawning April 20th, but I doubt you will be able to see any beds. The water will be muddy, and it may be 10 degrees colder than it is right now, if runoff starts. I'd stick with finesse tactics and small green plastics. That's what worked best for us yesterday.
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trophyhusband
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thanks, i'll be sure to get some of those.
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Trouthead
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Chromeo, I know what baits your using, I think. Do you order the KGM baits direct?
Cold, dirty water, yuck. Smallies will probably be deep. Think slow. Football head jigs with Yamamoto curly tails or split shot for search baits (browns and greens). Drop shot once you find them. A suspending jerk bait, pulled not jerked, and a rattle trap for shallower water (less then 20 feet).
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alanmikkelsen
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We were out on Dworshak on April 3 for smallies, couldn't turn a nibble. We drop shotted, fished tubes, a couple of cranks, etc. Marked a few on the finder, water temp was 43 degrees.
We're hitting it on April 26 with Knottyer, so things should be looking up!
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Chromeo
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I get them at three rivers
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fishingmom
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starting to hear that things are picking up on the snake for smallmouth - paddled around wawawai today and had 2 really nice sized fish and then this on a gold floating rapala....  
alan,,,,where about were you on dworshak, i was around canyon creek that day, didn't see anyone bass fishing (the kokanee are looking really nice this year, inch or two bigger then last year)
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Great job Sue! Nice smallie. Taking the kids Sunday to chase some of those kokanee! Weather should be perfect and I don't really care if we catch a fish or not! 
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Mojo
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Johnny, Pez and Mojo are taking Mojo's kid after gators tomorrow. Nothing better than getting the kids into fish...
I hope to have some killer pics to post tomorrow.
Good luck with the kiddos on Dworshak. If you see any good turkeys up there, GPS the spot would you? Thanks!
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fishingmom
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luv2fish,,,,kokanee are really looking great - it'll be a beautiful wkend up there (big eddy and dent are the only ramps open according to 1-800-321-3198)....(secret turkey spot is big eddy road at dusk, had to stop and let them cross)
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BorntoFish
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wow, that's a dandy sue. did you happen to get any vital statistics on it?
what size are the kokes running on the average? as i recall, last year they were kinda on the smallish size compared to what we were getting down here.
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fishingmom
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wish i had a tape measure along but didn't expect to catch one that sized! my husband never believes me unless theres a pic to go with the story so at least had the camera....kokanee are 8-10" and chunky, its promising seeing that size this early up there...we are headed to a friends house at rogersburg tomorrow for my first sturgeon, i hope, and smallmouth...
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Mojo
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Sue, andy Toad Gobblers in that bunch? We'll be up this week with shotguns in hand. Always looking for another goot Turkey spot.
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fishingmom
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gosh i don't know if they were toads, they were turkeys though which is about all i can say  ...we have boat camped up around cranberry creek and have had them come thru bright and early, its neat to see, along with the eagles and deer, its perfect up there...
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SHAUNPMR
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Nice smallies fishingmom! I like your avatar!
Shaun.
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alanmikkelsen
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Hi Sue, we were across the lake from Canyon Creek and then ran over and spent an hour and a half working the banks. We were able to mark a few fish, but no bites. I saw several boats fishing kokes, wasn't sure if one was yours.
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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Mojo
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We managed a few bass today while fishing for sturgeon (hooked 2 and the kids fought 'em dilligently till the big fish won the battle). Here is what mey turn out to be the best picture of me and a fish ever takem. My daughter is an artist!
16 3/4 inches of rabid smallie...
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Nice one Mojo and Sue! How did you guys do Luv? LIL
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fishingmom
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thats another nice bass mojo....im still waiting for a sturgeon,,, as we were enjoying coffee and the view off the deck this morning somebody broke one off in the rogersburg beach hole - we fished it for several hours but only came up with a few nice bass....  ...next time
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Mojo
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Wow Sue, that looks like the same fish I got yesterday. They sure fight well, don't they.
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alanmikkelsen
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you guys are killing me with them smallies!
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Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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fishingmom
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almost twins, mine only taped 16 (did i mention we saw several turkeys up there too?)....alan do you bass fish on flathead?
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Well.... The day was a great one. One lost one caught. About 10 inches. Just Conor and I went but Southfork came along and we picked up a husband & wife team in Lenore. We had a great day on the water and even BBQ'D some dogs on a floating dock. I managed to leave my camera there after lunch and we had to run back to get it so we could take some pics of Conor and the fish. Thank god it was still there. I'll post the days pics in a bit. Mojo that big Tom your going after is in Carters front yard. If you leave tomorrow, you might just get a shot at it before I do.
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alanmikkelsen
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Oh, yeah!
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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fishingmom
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hey thats a winner too alan!...we camped on the north end of flathead 16 years ago, rented a small boat the 'sea gypsy' and putt-putted around the lake, remember how pretty it was...
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Trouthead
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Noxson Res. in Montana is full of Bass also. Watch out for those pesky Pike and Brown Trout.
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luv2fish
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Was a great day! Hell even Denali smiled! Thaks for guiding us into the fish Captain Fork.
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Looks like a beautiful day on the water! Man they got the res. down. I hope that there is enough snow in the mountain to fill it back up. If that boy keeps growing Luv he is going to be able to woop you pretty soon. Glad you guys had a great day. LIL
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trophyhusband
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this sunday is my tourney. i'll take any last minute advice.
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fishingmom
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good luck this wkend, put up a report how you do...maybe fish your baits/lures slow this early?? i really don't know, just tried to be deliberate and slow the 2 days i got out and did get some bigger fish, also tried some new things other then 3" curly tail grubs,,,rapala, paddle tail minnows, a big worm on a jighead all caught nice fish ....
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alanmikkelsen
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Sue, I think you better get into that tournament! You seem to have them dialed in! 
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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fishingmom
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that sounds like fun - i don't cover much water though in my kayak ....the guy i fish with has done some tournaments and fished with luke claussens dad, he also tested equipment/lures and has a good assortment along every time we go
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trophyhusband
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thanks. i don't know how good things will be. after a couple days of perfect weather, a front moved in last night and the forecast for tomorrow is wind 16-21 with gusts up to 29 and a chance of snow. hopefully we can find someplace on the lake where the wind isn't too bad.
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trophyhusband
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the wind was horrible and so was the fishing. i only caught one fish and it weighed in at 1.15 pounds. only one person turned in five fish. our next tourney is at anderson. hopefully the weather will be better.
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Mojo
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Good luck at Anderson. Use small baits fished drop shot and go SLOOOOOWWW... It's tough fishing.
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Trouthead
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Trophy: Are these club tourneys or one of the local circuits?
Mom: Who are you fishing with? If he knew Luke's dad then I probably know him also. PM me if you want.
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trophyhusband
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great. tough fishing coupled with inexperience should make for a long day. hopefully i can get up there before hand to practice a little.
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trophyhusband
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these are club tourneys, so they're pretty small with a major emphasis on having a good time.
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Mojo
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Try dropshotting 3.5" finesse worms. I'd fish points. I can't tell you all my secrets...
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Trouthead
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Quote:
trophyhusband said:
these are club tourneys, so they're pretty small with a major emphasis on having a good time.
Excellent. Being in a club is the best way to learn the sport. I was with the Puyallup Hawg Hunters for 17 years.
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Trouthead
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