Tynan has been wanting to catch a Largemouth for a while now so I fiqured the best way for him to catch a decent fish was to use live bait. In the time we fished he caught 4 while dad got 0. I can't tell if it was the googles or his new secret weapon, The Visor! What a rush he got out of seeing the shiners trying to get away while the bass just inhaled them. His largest one just blew up out of no where and caused quite a stir.

I think you have a fisherman for life there Casey! Better get bigger goggles and a bigger visor before he starts to look silly!:btu: Great pics!

It was nice to see the sun yesterday for the little while it was out. Conner had more fun paddling and playing with the shiners than fishing.

Great, now I have to get a visor to go with the goggles!

You could add one more step to the fund by having them catch their own bait. In MA you can use sunfish as bait, so instead of buying shiners, I bring a small jigging rig with a #12-14 size hook and put a little piece of worm on it. The baby sunfish and baby perch will attack it while trying to beat out the larger fish. I then unhook the sunnies and perch and live line them under a bobber for bass and pick's.
(Since the sunnies are caught fresh, and haven't been transported in a bait bucket they are REALLY lively. Since they are also the natural food source for the predators in our waters, the will attract them just as quickly. On a good day 1 worm can get you a dozen or more little fish, and since they both breed like flies, you won't be making much of an impact to the pond ecosystem.

Give it a try when you get a chance.

Note that the sunfish will survive longer on the hook than perch or shiners, and I've seen bass chase them like a dog chasing a squirrel, with both fish leaping out of the water during the pursuit.

Awww, great - now I'm gonna have to wear goggles and a visor...:laughs:

Attaboy Tynan - :kewl:

I think he needs a nickname if he's gonna keep outfishing Dad...maybe we'll call him "G-Man" for the goggles - :musc:

Great pix as always, Casey - looks like a good day with the boys

Note that the sunfish will survive longer on the hook than perch or shiners, and I've seen bass chase them like a dog chasing a squirrel, with both fish leaping out of the water during the pursuit.

Good idea. I have always used them as bait but the problem was getting the small ones. My son was bored with catching all the sunfish. But they were all fairly large so we couldn't use them. Good point on the natural forage also. I could see some of the bass just swimming around our shiners without going after them.

:wavey: I heart my boys...Proud Mama!!