BSmaster

exactly. To add, small mouth will leave the shallow water and hover around the bait fish out in the middle as well. While they like the rocks and cover they are not married to it whereas it is more unusual to see large mouths suspended in open water. Could offer suggestions as to what you are seeing rise in largemouths and decline in smallmouths. I think the smallmouths that you you use to catch are out just a little bit further than you remember them being. I have seen this on Keuka. 20 feet of water there was nothing but at 30 foot of water they were stacked up. This was verified by a diver. Only thing consistent anymore is change. Got to adjust. good luck. Joe

Good times for sure.

I agree with everything and would like to add that there is one trade secret item I get there and only there but other than that I take the wife and kids and we shop for crafts for family gifts. The store can not keep up with simple demand on average items. What good is it if I can get the same item for a fraction on amazon? I kind of disagree with the comments about the talent at the store. I am not saying across the board but in general I have had some good conversations with the staff in the past.

Unless you are fishing the tourny I would forgo opening day. I was thinking about going to Lamoka and decided it is not worth the hassle. Between parking and the channel it can be a headache. I have been there to experience it firsthand. I tried the really early thing once and those tourny guys were stacked up staging. They have a lot riding on it and I respect that but it is the stress that I am trying to get away from - so I steer clear. Try this website. Plenty of great lakes in NY and not all of them have a tourney every weekend. Good luck, Joe http://www.wnybass.com/opentournaments/

This is what I observed too. My cooler had 2 each but I pulled a lot of fish up that went back as shorts that would have been good to go last season.

Take the wife shopping. Seriously - there are wants and needs and you have to find balance.

Car Fax

They've been tearing into my electric blue 4" worms but they can't seem to get the 3'0 hook in their mouth.

haha - very subtle

Water is still cold so I would fish shallow. Bass is one fish that is everywhere there is water. They are gonna be in shallows right now so make sure you can cast long as to not spook em. If you see them it is over. I have never fished braddocks but like I said bass are everywhere. Welcome to the site.

Good point Steelman. When issues happen, I think recreational boaters are more ignorant and less malicious and that the fisherman are more malicious and less ignorant. Although I can be ignorant sometimes - I screw up unintentionally and some times I don't think I did anything wrong when I get yelled at but I still apologize and say "sorry for being an idiot" and I move on. On the water to relax - not argue. Nobody Know's the Woes of Foes = don't be so quick to judge. you do not know what the other guy has going on and what his intentions are. To the original post - You could keep a casting rod handy with a 3oz pyramid sinker. That might get you some space just try not to hit them in the head. It is a big lake. Even the bays are pretty big. Courtesy space. Good luck - long summer. Joe

2nd that. I am always scared some kid is going to run me over.