detroit1

It's been my experience that no bait is a sure fire can't miss bait in spring.

Use a screw. Everybody has a ton of these, different lengths, weight, etc. Cheaper than buying anything....

Really? Funny?

I don't want my d/s bait spinning around so i stay away from those spinshot type hooks. I don't like the standouts either. Too much "hardware" near my little bait.

Thanks everyone. I was not saying that i fish a 12' crank in 30 fow, but that i don't dig bottom all the time. I'm usually within 2' of the bottom, sometimes digging, sometimes not. And we'll never know if i'm missing fish unless you are out there with me. You may be de-weeding hooks while i de-bass mine. Anyways, about the only rule i go by in cranking is to not be too mechanical.

deaknh03 may be on to something....

#1 : rules are meant to be broken. You do not need to dig the bottom to catch bass on a deep (or any) crank. I cringe every time i read this. Then, it's "if your not digging you are swimbaiting." Call it what you may, but only about 15% of my crankbait fish occur when i drag bottom. Most of my cranking is baitfish imitation, and i really haven't seen baitfish scratching the bottom to move from point a to point b. It's unnatural. Maybe in muddy or stained water it is important, but in the clear waters i fish, i don't think it is. Then again, maybe i don't know what i'm talking about. See for yourself.....

I have glued a stem of red maribou on the belly of a dropshot fluke to imitate a blood trail. I have noticed no catch differance, but it can work on your buddie's mind a little. I split my jig weedguards to form a vee, so the hook has a clear path. Also trim soft plastics to snug up to jigheads better, and add a drop of glue.

My pb lm was caught on a super shad rap, which is a pretty big bait. A 16" lm would have no problem eating that bait. Don't let bait size wig you out...

A few years ago, 1 year only, Lund came out with a 17' (?) deep v aluminum boat with an inboard/outboard. It was a cool looking boat with that rear deck. I've never seen one in person and wondered if anyone out there has one and would like to share your experience with it.

The new standard box will now be called the 3700a.

A new johnboat for $200 I'll take 20.

I love spinnerbaits. Bass and pike love them too. For the last dozen years or so i assemble my own. My favorite is a 1/4 oz. head/frame with a 1/4 oz. rubbercore sinker mashed on the hook after some variation of white skirt was put on. A size 3.5 and 4.0 gold willows and sampo swivel, and a trailer hook, and just add water. I prefer the head not to be painted....

DA BUMS ! later.......

What happened?

I didn't know there were fish in that "lake". I fished there many years ago a few times, caught a few with nothing to brag about. Have note been back since they drained it years back. Good to know the put some fish back in....

B.BLVD. : the second choice on your first reply is funny. It was funny when i went back to it. Thank you sir....

The lakes i fish i usually run into a pike about every other trip. I do own a steel leader, but have used it only a few times while throwing pike baits around. Out of maybe 40 trips a year, i lose maybe 1 crank, 2 spinb8s, a swim jig, and a couple d/s rigs. By the way, after fishing for over 40 yrs. and catching hundreds of pike, i have NEVER caught a pike with a lure in his mouth or body. Or have i ever seen one belly up or washed on the shore with a lure stuck in them. They must work them loose or sink to their death.

I fish Orchard lk. quite often, right now it's my 2nd favorite lake. It's been tough fishing this month for me. My usual d/s areas haven't been productive, and i've had problems finding/catching fish. I talked to another angler i see out there and it's been the same for him also. Lots of fish seen suspending between 15-20 fow, no matter the depth. Last week i saw a few bass moving about in shallow water, the first time in a couple months. It should pick up in sept. I have never fished Cass...

I like J. Cash's voice. That is the only nice thing i can say about country music. When i got married in '95, my DJ wanted to spin some country music. I told him that if he did, he would not get paid. He earned his money...

Lazy losers? That description may be true for most people that drag lures around, but there are many that know what they are doing. Proper trolling is a lost art these days. I remember stories written about Buck Perry and his spoonplugs back in the 60's and 70's. It was a way to learn the lake's structure before there were depth finders. The only times i troll is when i'm eating my lunch (i can't be on a lake without a bait in the water) or when i just can't seem to catch anything while casting...

I live within 45 minutes from a BPS, Cabela's,Gander Mt., and 2 Dicks stores. By far, bps has the most and best selection of bassin stuff. Cabelas has maybe 50% less than bps, which is followed closely by gander mt. And I have a better selection than both Dicks put together...

Pay attention to your forum posts. Just got done looking at the General fishing topics, and out of 27 topics on the first page, 14 had to be moved. You need to pay more attention to the details, or you will have a hard time consistantly catching bass. You might want to try panfish.

You don't need constant bottom contact with any lure , finesse or not.

Tough news G...but lots of good advice from all your friends here at BR. Keep your head up and on straight and you will get through this...