Big-O

Yes Brian they will firm up with time. When plastics are produced, it can take up to 6 wks for them to cure completely and the final product will wind up being approximately 25% firmer. Most plastics are cured to 90% over a 1 week time period and the final 10% over the remaining period. Not really noticeable on normal or less action style soft plastics. But with the super action designs, the hardness ranges become much more important and sometime require tuning as previously noted. This in turn makes the smallest differences from perfect shape and hardness more noticeable to us. Not sure how much the fish care but ultimately our confidence in the baits action and performance is a big key to our overall success. Good job, Big O

The Pearl White and the Blue Glimmer are a bit firmer plastic and are used alot in salt water applications as well. Since they are firmer, they are more aggressive in sound/action etc. Also means that you have to move them slightly quicker to engage the motion. This can be adjusted on these firmer baits by "Tuning" as was previously mentioned to stretch sharp U bend in tail. Illustration can be viewed on my website message board subject Tuning the Rage Tail Shad. The other colors are basically the same medium hardness range around 28 durometer. These hardnesses can vary slightly due to additives such as amount of color (dye or pigment), pigment type, glitter amounts etc. Big O

With a jig, you can cast, pitch, hop, crawl, drag, rip, punch, swim, dress it up, dress it down, and just plain fall in love with it. Big O

Smokey Shad is a popular color and is a # 28 durometer plastic hardness. If you use Hot water as you mentioned, just heat water to too hot for touch (not quite boiling) and place the baits in water and let set for 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Take directly from hot water and place in cool or cold water and leave for same time. DONE! Big O

Ck out General Fishing Forum Big O

Hey Catt, I was really paying attn. earlier ;D Forgot who I was responding to. Must have been concentrating on that barbecued chicken lunch. Come to think of it, it was pretty tasty. Big O

Might want to watch and read each of the posts on Glenns interview with Gerald Swindle. Will give you some good info to digest. Glenn has other interviews here on the Forum that are good viewing as well and in many of them this subject is basically covered. Good fishing Big o www.ragetail.com

Agree totally with you Catt, and when fishing the outside edges, I like to lighten up on weight and slow down so that I can intentionally bump the bait down the grass edge carefully and not get tangled in it too much so that when the bait reaches the bottom it is "right in the strike zone", the outside grass edge where it meets the bottom. This is definitely a slower approach because you are feeling your way down to the most productive spot, but it is absolutely the best way to catch, not just more fish, but more quality fish in grass. The biggest fish in the grass will most always take up the best real estate to ambush and feed from and that is most often the edges of grass to open water. Edges are created just as you said by open pockets, ditches, points and thick mats. Absolutely one of my favorite patterns to fish. Are we giving away too many secrets here? Big O www.ragetail.com

I sure do like a jig too. Big O

Sounds strange to me BrianB. What color are these you are referring to? Big O

Hey Brian, have you tried them at night? Ohhh Buddy!!! Big O

I vote for fishing with a friend or a kid. I too am older and have had a world of fishing adventure behind me. So now, I kind of like sharing these times with others with hopes that they to will have some of these fun times to remember as well. You young people will get here too, just wait and see. You'll have as much fun or more watching some one else catch their first 5 pounder, wilt in disgust because they missed the big one, catch more fish than they've ever caught before, fighting the waves in a 40 mph wind on the way back to the ramp, scream at the top of their lungs "Now That's What I'm Talkin' About", get soaked to the core during a driving rain, catching the biggest fish of the trip, You get the hint. Our memories are intact, theirs are just now being realized and we get to relive it all over again. "Aint life Grand" Big O www.ragetail.com

Hopefully not but %#&^> runs down hill. If you smelled the same thing all around, possibly broken sewage line or septic system running to your pond. Let's hope not! Big O

x2 deeper structure is a safer bet and more predictable and you won't have much time to locate where the shallow fish have scattered to.

Welcome new guy, and hope you enjoy your stay. Some of us need all the help we can get ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

MNGeorge, Microwave is a No No with formed soft plastics because it melts them quickly. Some use micro to melt plastic to pour your own but must be extremely careful and cautious or it will burn the plastic and give foul smell and other bad results. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey Backwoods, I designed the Rage Tail toads and you can view the action results on my website. They are a buzz type frog, and are popular. There are alot of different styles out there that are good in different circumstances. Good Fishin Big O www.ragetail.com

Many plastics won't tune because they are really not designed for a particular action, but more so for a basic shape or look. If those stlyes of plastics get out of shape, they can be reshaped in the oven as well or in hot water. Be careful with the heavily scented plastics in your oven because Little Momma might take offense to smelling up her house. Big O www,ragetail.com

I think a Rat tail in a different color would look good and not interfere with action too much. Hmmm too many ideas on too many lures. Aint it fun! Big O

Welcome to you Thi85 and good morning. One of my Nieces now lives in Boise and she said it's so nice that she'll never move back to Texas :'( Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey there IMPY03, welcome to the group and good fishin to ya. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey Justin, Do you think the skirt might interfere in the walking action? I think it probably would if the skirt was very heavy at all. Maybe tie a few strands doubled over the two hook bends and lash them on. Big O

In the daylight, my favorite color is green, Andy's favorite is purple, Lisa's favorite color is hot pink (getting the gals involved), notice we all like different colors. Then it starts getting dark and my green looks like purple to Andy and Andy's Purple looks pink to Lisa and Lisa just looks crazy Hot to me and Andy (Oh, sorry about that, we kinda got off track there). So maybe it could be very similar in the Bass' world depending on what is most visible and attractive to them, then combine that with what we feel is most attractive to us, Hotty Lisa (Oh, did it again!) After combining the preferences of these two different worlds, is it any wonder that no two fishermen will have identical preferences at any given time but will mutually agree that Lisa should be a centerfold. Big O ;D www.ragetail.com

A blackbird sitting on a leaning cattail reed. Big O

Chaddy, wish I was familiar with them cause I'm a jig finatic. Big O www.ragetail.com