Big-O

What is your favorite hook for the Rage Toads? Mine is 5/0 EWG heavy wire hook and Braid. Big O

Welcome Brewu24, and thanks for sharing your situation with us. Our prayers are for the very best for you and your family. Big O

Welcome Brewu24, and thanks for sharing your situation with us. Our prayers are for the very best for you and your family. Big O

Welcome to the group B Mullins, I'm Texas too. Big O www.ragetail.com

Edges-Edges-Edges. Wherever deep meets shallow which includes ditches, creek or river challels, humps, points etc. Deeper edge of moss line, Edge of timber where water depth changes to deeper. Big O www.ragetail.com

Great stuff Catt Big O

This is true, Big O

You set the hook and THUD, everything in time stops, your rod is bent and creaks under unbelievable pressure, your line sings with the tremendous stretch as if to say "Hello, this is the Real Deal", and suddenly something is moving at the other end of your line....................... "Oh A Happy Day" Big O www.ragetail.com

Thanks Glenn, Big O

Hey Crzy, your story is perfection. The stories told about the one that got away are much more impressive, memorable, fun to tell and fun to hear than the one that we caught. When we catch THE fish, the adventure is over because our story goes like this, Man I caught a giant, LOOK! And only the picture is remembered. Then the next time you get back to your favorite fishing hole you wonder "maybe I caught the biggest fish in this lake and what do I have to look forward to" or "I'll never catch another fish like that" so the excitement is fading away.......................... Don't ever let this happen, Stay on the quest. Be happy that you got a chance at a true giant and have a real chance at that true giant again! This story and adventure has only just begun. Will you catch catch that giant or another one like her, YES. But don't get in a hurry or obsessed with the challenge, relax and fish..... It'll happen. Big O

Terrific ! Big O

Now thats a PERCH ! Excellent Big O

Will see Chris at the ICAST mid July and will mention it to him. Have you contacted him by chance? Big O

Biggest was 11lb 11oz. Only took pics of the bigguns but an 8 1/2 pounder gave me the biggest thrill. Was fishing in about 14 ft of water and the fish had to have been going full speed when he smashed the jig cause it almost ripped the rod out of my hands on the hit. No sooner did I get the hookset and the fish wrapped up in some small brush that was about 6 ft deep and I could see the flash of her side down there trying to get free. Thinking it might be a giant, I emptied my pockets and went in after her and after a successful grab brought her up to find she wasn't the giant I had thought. But the added excitement kept me goin for several hours not to mention the nice coolin off that I got. Big O

Green Pumpkin is the basic color to build around for daytime use in most all water colors and clarities. Kinda like my avatar. Also black and blue is popular. This time of year the craws are turning to reds and browns so they work well too. Big O

Way to go Kybasser, some nice looking fish! Big O

Way to go Bassboy, two really nice looking bass. Looks like maybe four lbs or better to me, great job. Big O www.ragetail.com

Good stuff LBH, Most of my fishing is at night and with 6 rods on deck most of the time it is important to stay organized with everything. Many of the lakes I fish here in Tx are full of standing timber and brush that a bait hanging over the side will snag on to something and jerk the rod out of the boat. I keep the baits hooked at reel or base of rod to avoid such incidents. All Tackle and baits are under accessible deck lid. Keep up the good work Big O

Be glad its a memory, cause we can learn from it. A few close calls is part of fishin' but too many close calls is called ignorance and I've had to brand myself with that one a time or two. Glad you made it safely thru. Big O

Any type of depth finder will be a big advantage for you. Welcome to the Forum !!!! Big O www.ragetail.com

6'8" to 7' med heavy action $50 to $100 major manufacturer rod. I would choose the $100 range cause those rods will be quality enough to utilize with any other bait choice such as Spinner bait, cranks, t rig worms, top waters etc. Stay with the jig and craw trailer, shallow water 5 ft or less in grass-light weight. Med depths 6 to 12 ft water heavier weight (around 1/2 oz) and deeper water, (13 plus) 3/4 oz plus jigs. Rocks, gravel, cleaner bottoms Football style jig. Grass, heavy brush etc. Flippin or swim style jig. This info may seem too detailed but is only my opinion for basic jig use. In reality, there are many other factors besides water depth that come into play for jig weight such as wind, matted vegetation, etc. My best advice is take it slow and maintain contact with the bottom and use small hops and drags. You'll get the hang of it and soon will be teachin' us how it's done Big O

Fish have been off of the beds for over a mth, but their tails were still in the healing process and alot of rocks so beat up pretty bad. Actually fished 4 full days and tried nights 2 different times and got blew into oblivion both times. One evening I made the mistake of running to the Dam, about 40 miles from launch site and stayed til 11:00 pm and that was a HUGE mistake. Took 2 hrs to get back to the ramp and my little dog "Tito" was a nervous wreck.

Good stuff LBH, and yes boat position is always a top priority. I start any of my favorite locations on the out side and move up as I go so that I don't miss any fish (often larger fish) on outside edges of structure. Big O

Welcome to the group Crankenstein, Big O www.ragetail.com

Great stuff LBH, Big O