Big-O

The bulk of todays standard soft plastics are a polysol base which is a petroleum product. There are different types of plastisizers that are used in the plastisol but even those are very similar in nature and shelf life or longevity is comparable as well. With this said, many of us have picked up old bags of softy's and noticed that they are more oiley than they were a year or two earlier. That is because the base oil that they are composed of is leaching or oozing from the mixture. As these baits are formed from heated liquid state, this leaching process would be accelerated if the baits were stored in a hot environment or in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Of course, the texture or durometer hardness of any plastic will change as this leaching occurs, which will definitely change the received action, if that bait was designed to produce a particular action and not just have a certain appearance. The action change can be minimal to extreme depending on the amount of texture change. If stored in sealed bags, cool place and in low light conditions, they should last for a long, long time. For baits that are deformed or bent out of shape in the bag, placing them in the sun on a flat surface and allowing them to heat up will allow you to reform then let cool. A faster process for reforming is to place them in extremely hot water (near boil) for a couple of minutes then into cool water, this should take them to original shape. The plastic will be much softer for a day or two after this process but will firm back to original texture in time. Hope that helps... Big O www.ragetail.com

Great Fish and sometmes it happens that way...dink, dink, dink, HAWWWWG Big O www.ragetail.com

Yeah....I'd throw a Frog on that water too, WTG ILH Big O www.ragetail.com

Well if your goin' thru the grass, don't underestimate the Keel weighted (swimbait) hook on the Annie....It's a Smoker. I like the 6/0 screw lock hooks for this, 1/8 to 1/4 oz. Slow but SURE and might touch the end of the tail with JJ's Chartreuse Big O www.ragetail.com

Here is a link that might help you with the Toad http://www.ragetail.com/news/rage-toad-rigging/ My favorite hooks are 5/0 EGW Superline Gammy and a 6/0 Owners Twistlock. Big O www.ragetail.com

OOOOhhhhh BABY.....That's a nice one RoLo and I love catchin'em on the ole Johnsons Spoon too, and looks like perfect water for it. Glad your little wife enjoys fishing with you too, that's terrific for both of you Big O www.ragetail.com

Nice Fish and Photos DW.....great when a plan comes together Big O

Nice Post and glad you were able to take your Dad with you. I remember those times well when my Dad in his later years was able to make it on some of my fishing trips and those memories and photos are priceless. Congratulations to both of you and some day I will make it to Guntersville and see what everyones been talkin' about........All of our guys say it's one of the best in the country!! Big O www.ragetail.com

You've been on the water alot Burley!!! I think you're serious about this fishin' stuff ;D Glad you're havin' fun Man.... Big O www.ragetail.com

And a great day it was....Congratulations for being such a great Dad too. Those kind of moments will last forever for both of you...... Big O www.ragetail.com

Fish eat jigs year around as others have mentioned...Cold water slow your fall, retrieve and/or jig movement. As the water warms you can fish'em a little quicker. Style of trailer is debatable thruout the year but I believe that an active trailer is good year around as well, just in the winter when the fish are much more sluggish, you have to give the fish time to get to the jig. Big O www.ragetail.com

Good lesson learned indeed FR....I agree with your examples and explanation too. I have often followed the same pattern to achieve the best results especially outside edges of grass, WAY Outside on the first cast or flip because just because we can't see the grass line, we shouldn't assume it ends right where we visually see it. And it seems that the sweet spot for the larger fish is often on the outside edges. Thanks for the reminder.. Big O www.ragetail.com

They should be good year around SBO. The key is locating the fish during their yearly patterns then finding the fall rate and presentation that they want. Since you can rig most creature baits Tx, Carolina, Keel weighted, weightless or pegged for flipping, there are many styles that can work for year around fishing. Big O www.ragetail.com

WTG Vinny, if that fish is not there waiting on you, you'll find another one... Big O www.ragetail.com

That's Excellent Tim, and glad that your bass fishing is a family activity. Great example for all of us to follow and congratulations to you and your lovely wife... Big O www.ragetail.com.

Wonderful UPS VT, It's not the size of the bass on the hook...It's the size of the smile on his face that counts and that's a memorable smile for sure. Thanks for your post and thanks even more for being such a terrific Dad to your Awesome little boy. Big O www.ragetail.com

"PAAAARTYYY"........Great photo's and always interesting Burley, really tells a good story of your adventures Was that a 10" Annie, cause that had to be longer that the fish in the photo BTW terrific lookin' water Big O www.ragetail.com

WOOO-HOOOOO !!!! Hey Deb, Glad to hear that your Monkey is makin' Money for you. After all take the "k" out of Monkey and that's what you have Mon_ey..... ;D Congratulations to ya and glad you're havin' fun Big O www.ragetail.com

You're a Star Dad Starr.....and your baby is quite the Shining star herself. Congratulations to both of you and thanks for sharing this wonderful occasion with us. Great example for all of us to follow Big O www.ragetail.com

You can just pinch the Rage Craw down to your desired length for a jig trailer or you can Tx rig, cast, flip and Carolina rig it as well. Hope you enjoy'em Big O www.ragetail.com

Great stuff Patrick....plenty of action too Big O www.ragetail.com

That's not a Biggun Matt....That's a Giant and WTG Bud, Uda Man Big O www.ragetail.com

OK Mike, you and Gary are makin' all of us ancy now.....exactly where is this place and when we all goin' there ;D Do they have room for a couple hundred of us at a time : cause that's how many of us are wantin' to go right about now Sounds like you guys had a heck of a trip and glad you had so much fun Big O www.ragetail.com

That's some great info Rhino....sounds like you've got a little experience with those baits I would also think about using a light weight 1/4 to 1/2 oz Carolina rig with any of those subsurface bait designs. The free movement provided is very enticing to the fish and this also allows the bait to move with a more fluid and gentle motion. This is a very important technique that is often overlooked by many in relatively shallow situations. Never under estimate a more subtle approach when things get slow. Big O www.ragetail.com

Memorial Day....friends fishing and enjoying the fruits of our forefathers. It's GREAT to be an American. nice fish and photos and glad you two had a nice time, Big O www.ragetail.com