You are right, but I could say a deep diving crank bait and it would be wrong for the area he is fishing.

There are so many gadgets, rigs, live vs artificial, food for thoughts out there it will drive you insane. Personally, I like using live bait around bridges and piers in the early spring late fall when the water is colder. When the water gets warmer, I use artificial baits and switch from Carolina/Texas/Wacky rigs with a worm to anything from spinners to crank baits depending on where on the lake I'm located. When the water is above 80 degrees, the bass tend to hide under docks or go deeper so use a rig that gets you deeper. That's my two cents.

Welcome Chris to the group. Thank you for your service. I too am an Army and Navy Vet. I live and fish the Eastern TN area in the Holston River Valley between Cherokee and Boone Lakes and chase pretty much anything that bites.

If you are using artificial baits, try a drop shot rig with the plastic worms or some of the deep diving crank baits. If you are using live bait, try shad along structures like bridge piers. Just my 2 cents worth 😉

Depends on where you are fishing on the lake. I was on it a couple of weeks ago up in the northeast part of the lake and the water temp was over 80 degrees. I got a few strikes under the docks, but now that they are drawing the lake down, things are going to change.

I was on Cherokee last week and the water temp is still high. Look for the bass in the deeper water and under the docks. Until the lake is drawn down completely for winter, enjoy the creeks and inlets you can get your boat into right now. As for walleyes, I haven't seen any in the upper Cherokee/Holstein river area. I saw some small Gar up Poor Valley Creek.

Ahhh...the old Oarfish. I have come across them fishing off the coast of Maryland and NC in the summer months.

US Army 76 - 80
US Navy 80 - 91

https://youtu.be/Aoa3ZtiCB64

I came across this old commercial and it made me laugh.

Attached file:
(Download)

I always had V hull boats for the longest time while growing up. When I retired, I picked up a 1974 Ebbtide Bass Boat as a project. I restored it and even with a little 25 hp motor on it, it runs great on the water. It has a tri-hull and once it planes out, it's smooth, fast and I don't get wet. I'm not saying I wouldnt want one the $50k bass boats with a 300 HP motor and all the bells and whistles on them, but there are times I think, that some at the boat ramp are over compensating 🤣

Iraqi troops were surrendering to anything American made in the first Gulf War. 😆

Neither did I...trolls like him are everywhere. You can either ignore the moron or screw with him. Personally, I think the military wouldn't take him and he is jealous of us because he couldn't measure up to a real man.

I did if you look back through the responses.

1976 to 1981 US Army
1981 to 1991 US Navy