Bassin_Fin@tic

One of the most superior flipping/pitching baits ever created. 8-)

Great rig Roger! I haven't weighted mine like that yet. We have been fishing them on the surface rigged sideways weightless for a long time now as an alternative to the buzz frog and yes the fish respond to it VERY well.It veers from one direction to the other sometimes and highly resembles a wounded shad scurrying across the top. Fished weightless it requires a very large hook to help keep it from spinning (a 6/0 wide gap works) and must be rigged perfectly straight. Give it a try sometime,if you havent already. I was thinking about mentioning it for a while now but decided to keep it secret.Guess the cats out of the bag eh?

I think it's kinda neat. For 30 bones though I wouldn't touch it.

^^^ Try Lake Dorothy in Norton. Don't know about these days but about 10 years ago it was loaded with them.

Throw you a 10 inch worm,a lightly weighted rage lobster, or like BWELL said a full size brush hog if you go at night. A black buzzbait or hula popper never hurts either. 8-)

The bigger question is: how healthy looking were the small bass? Little skinny bony cigars or were they plump and round? That will tell you something. Also, when and if you get a bigger fish, if they turn out to be paper thin with big heads then you know you got a forage problem and its a very common problem in small impoundments in Florida. Its always warm and the fish never stop eating. Still I'd say give it some time.Throw some bigger baits.Just play around with it and enjoy the fact that it is right outside the door. If all else fails see if your allowed to harvest any of them.

Too funny! I couldn't have said it better myself. 8-)

I actually prefer the stiffer ones on the rare occasion I get a hold of some.They last longer. You want em softer with more action? Try leaving the bag open and leaving them in the sun. The humidity and heat will get to them and make them soft. Senkos absorb water like crazy and get soggy.You will notice after you've had one on your line for a good while if a fish doesn't rip it first. If you put a wet bait in the bag and then seal it up or even leave it on your dashboard after doing so they will be nice and squishy in no time. You can even add some megastrike to the bag which will eventually permeate the plastic.

Can't beat the rico in black. Man I like the looks of that river2sea.

Wow nice clear water! Jerkbaits for sure,start with an x-rap. Spinnerbait w/willow blades, and probably a 1/4 oz. trap ripped atop the grass. Morning time throw the popper or a sammy to death.If you got any slow sink or floating swimbaits this looks like the place to toss em. Then theres the obvious of all obvious a weightless senko in a nice translucent color.

Weedless spoon,senko with a nail in the rear,spro poppin frog. 8-)

Yup, and if any of the surrounding area has a soft muck bottom it makes it all the more attractive to game and prey.

I'm a believer. 8-) The stuff is great. And yes when flippin make sure you slather it down real good,coat the sinker,and then run the excess up the line a few feet.

We got people that do that in small ponds around here leaving them barren and empty. :

They are all my favorite as long as I catch something. . But if I had to choose I'd say topwater. Also in my limited experience jerkbaits are getting right up there too. I love the way they crush it! Twitch,twitch,pause,twitch- WHAM!

I've barely used mine yet but I think a 2/0 is too big. I'd use a 1/0 or even a size 1 wide gap hook.

Fish at night the same as day. Most of the time it can be good to use baits that either have a larger profile or basically displace more water/put off more thump and sound. I don't believe color makes much of a difference. 10 inch worms, gambler flappin tail 8 inch is a killer night bait,all rage tail baits, and paca craws,colorado spinnerbait,3/8 buzzbait,large poppers. Some people like jigs with rattles. I also do exceedingly well with GYCB 6.5 kut tail worms fished weightless at night. A lot of times I use a brass weight and small glass bead on t- rigged plastics for extra sound.

When it gets tough like that along with the shakey head use a light splitshot rig with a trickworm,finesse worm, zoom centipede,4 inch senko type,baby brush hog fished painfully slow. Night time fishing can be a bonus as well. I think everyone struggles when the water temps get that hot.

Strike king series 1xs

Bingo...but remember thats racist :

Yup.They will herd shad and shiners and bust em just like bass do. Coincidentally the best bait I've ever used when I used to catfish is live injured shiners and blugills fished on bobbers.

I rig any flat paddle tail type bait horizontal.

Although others will surely argue I just don't like the action of it.To me it's like dragging a piece of scum or weeds through the water.Imo theres a million creature types on the market big and small and many are far superior to the yammy.Not to mention the one fish one bait thing... Not saying I don't use the heck out of yamamoto baits,just not that one. I am actually kinda surprised one of those 5/0 monster hooks you mentioned even fits the Ika. A 4/0 pretty much goes end to end. The monsters are a very heavy wire hook too.Maybe thats the problem I don't know but I've always used the owner since it has maximum gap for such a thick stubby bait. I am also using braid and a med heavy rod. I can drive a hook through a rock if I need to. I have never fished an ika on mono so if you are then maybe someone else will chime in as well. Good luck.

Thought so. I really like this worm. The smallest one is good on a dropshot and shakey head. The big 10 inch will also work any way you rig it. Texas rigged I use a light weight and slow lift and drop. Carolina rigged on structure will get you some big bites. I have also dropshot/flipped the big worm with a 1/2 oz sinker in pads with a 5/0 gammy offset worm hook. Also use a football style shakey jig to crawl over structrure.It stands right up and looks gnarly.

I don't care for the creature much. On the Ika I use a 4/0 owner wide gap plus. Best hook I've used for it. yes it's a thick wire hook but the gap is higher than the line tie and the owner knife point goes through bone like butter.