Big-O

Other colors for soft plastics in stained water are june bug, green pumpkin candy, black neon and blue fleck. They not only have the silhouette factor that Fluke referred to but also have the extra flash that is provided by metal flake in plastic. All are standard colors with pros and in high demand for these conditions. Good fishin Big O

Hadn't heard of that Brian but sounds like you gott'er done. Learn something everyday. Thanks for the info Big O

X2 on this. I've kicked 'em pretty hard before, during and immediately after rain. But if it muddy's up real bad you have to change your tactics accordingly. Big O

Welcome to ya Backwoods. I like the big worm and jig idea as well and deeper water like RW mentioned. I would concentrate on any structure that is close to deeper water. Those two baits don't guarantee bigger bites but they definitely entice a bigger bite. Good fishing Big O www.ragetail.com

Catchnm, For what you are describing I would definitely use a 1/8 to 3/16 oz keel weighted hook and let it drop for a few seconds before starting retrieve. This gives you a 3 1/2 inch power house swimbait. If you run it too quick it will come back to the surface on you so just feel your way into it. Remember, you can tune the shads tail to achieve a more subtle action and it won't surface as easily. Ck out the message board on my website and click on tuning the Rage Shad topic to find out how to do it. It's pretty simple and will give you a variety of action results. Good fishin and let me know how you do. Big O

Brian, Here is a photo of the Shad tail tuning for less agressive action on the firmer plastics. Stretch the tight U bend area of tail as shown but be careful not to tear. Glad you are smackin the fish on'em and let me know if I can help you with any more info Big O

Deep, stained, cloudy water or low light conditions or at night big worms are even more effective and can be fished Tx rig, Carolina rig and heavy swimbait style keel weighted hook for the most seductive fall style. Do I believe in'em, Ohhh Yeah. Can't leave home without 'em. My bigg'un is coming out in the Fall. Was a secret till the SKL boys found out about it, so what the heck, guess they are gonna show my big worm to everybody. Maybe I should've rephrased that!!! ;D Big O www.ragetail.com

I agree with Catt Big O

Sounds like you are asking us what baits we would have the most confidence in, if I am reading your post correctly. If the fish are thru with the spawn, fish the drops and bottom changes nearest to the spawning areas with Jig'n'craw or tx rig worms. To locate them quickly might use a chatterbait style swimming jig with a longer trailer than usual as this time of year they like a mouthful to get back healthy. Small cranks are good locators and hammer time as well. Small lakes are normally easy to disturb with your presence so keep things calm and quiet as possible. Top water early or late going to fluke style baits then to deeper sub surface as the day progresses. Good fishin Big O

BFM, I agree with the above comments and I always start around the outside edges first then go in after 'em with frogs first then finesse type jigs, tx rigged craws or creature baits that are just heavy enough to slip down between the pads. The fish will soon tell you which they prefer the most that day and it'll be On with a big O Let us know what you get figured out. Big O

BrianB, just woke up and had my first cup of coffee, and when I read your post, I spilled some in my lap. ;D Sometime during shipping the tails will get jumbled a bit causing deformation. If this happens just take the baits out and reposition them on the clear plastic insert that is in the package, the opposite way tails are off and place in oven at 170 degree for 10 to 20 minutes. Won't hurt em a bit and will reform the plastic to original shape. Some folks reform soft plastics by placing in hot water for same time but I like the other way better. If the plastic is slightly more firm than the first ones you used, then you can also stretch the tail at the sharp U bend, careful not to tear it and this also helps to tune the shad for the type of sound you prefer. The firmer plastic Shad are being used on salt water flats applications as well and will hold the hook a little longer. BTW what color shad are you throwing for best results and is this package the same color? Below is a photo showing shad placement to reform. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey islandbass, interesting thread title. I Live in the great fishing state of Texas. By your info, you like the trill of top water slammin' and good on ya. It's exciting to say the least and you can get some real Mamma-Jamma's that way. 1) Jig and Rage Chunk. I make my own jig and I designed the Rage Tails so of course I love'em. I fish the Jig 25% of the time. Coming out with a bigger Craw this year so I'll be pinching it for my trailer soon. 2) 10" Worm I designed quite a while back. I fish this 25% of the time. 3) I have a Hybrid type bait, that in recent past has become my favorite. Fish it weightless, Tx rig, Carolina rig, and use it on a swimming chatterbait style jig as a trailer. Fish it 25% of the time. The remaining 25% is fishing top. These are my favorites baits for chasin' the biggun, kinda like Capt. Ahabb and Moby Dick, cause at my age besides Grandkids, there's not alot of time for anything else. Good fishin Big O

I think Strike Kings website has a link to Denny's site where you can find some of his DVD's. www.strikeking.com Good fishing Big O www.ragetail.com

Welcome Stephen, Senkos, Rage craw Tx rig using light weight maybe 3/16, fluke, froggin the top of pads. Go early and stay late, you'll have 'em eating before you're done. Big O www.ragetail.com

Congratulations Stacey, You and folks like you are the reasons many of us are drawn to this group. I've only been aboard for a few months but if these guys and gals like you this much, you gotta be a great guy. And your info tells it all, a good Christian family man that loves fishin. Don't get no better than that. Oh yeah and you're from Texas, thats great too. I'm in Burleson ,Tx. Let's go fishin! Big O www.ragetail.com

I use my own scent design now but before that I used Mega strike since it first came on the market with good results. I don't think you can go wrong with the red Yum scent either and that is at Academy. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey Catchnm, welcome to the forum and pls feel free to ck out all of the info on my website. If you have any more questions on favorite colors etc. let me know and I'll try to help. Good fishin Big O www.ragetail.com

Snowbass, your post reminded me of another grandson outing that ended up great after a really bad start. We had just got to the lake and I keep my boat in a stall there but carry my rods back and forth for line change, security etc. Security is a big thing because I build my own rods using Loomis blanks and am kinda partial to 'em. Anyway no sooner had I exited the truck and my grandson Michael, got out of the backseat on the other side and shut the door. I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary and just kept getting the boat ready for our little outing. A few minutes went by and Michael yells in a cheerful voice "Hey PaPa, guess what happened"? I said What, in a happy voice right back, and he said "the rods got broke in the door and now they are all my size". Now what could I say to that? We spent the entire evening fishing with Michaels new fishing rods and he stiil likes them best of all his rods because they are his big boy fishing rods. I have since put new tips on them for him and he loves them all the more. Now whats that worth? My favorite rods have been replaced but my favorite memories never will be. Good fishin Big O www'ragetail.com

Yeah Bassman, It was his wife. They fish alot together and she really gets into it. Easy to see how Scott got his fire for fishing with the both of his parents being such enthusiasts. Didn't catch the name of the lake they were fishing but they were haulin the fish really well. Ohhh Son, now thatsa biggun, Ohhh Son!!!!! He's a hoot, and I have been watching him fish for 30 yrs. Big O www.ragetail.com

Hey Machine, 4/0 to 5/0 will take care of your situation. Don't ever be afraid to upsize your hook because unless the water is absolutely crystal clear and void of vegetation, the fish don't notice it any more than the 3/0. Now go back out there and show them who's got there number. Big O www.ragetail.com

John, go to my website and look at the message board as there are hooking instructions and types of use there. My top action hook advice is 4/0 to 5/0 EWG (wide Gap) hook. It is definitely a radical top water bait but you can slow them down to a gurgle if in calmer water. A heavy keel weighted hook is advised for subsurface swim bait action due to, on lighter weighted hooks the shad will still surface fairly easily. Many will use a light keel weight hook for surface action because it cast so far with it and still rides the top easily at slow or quick retrieves. The keel weight lets you drop it in the holes as well. Hope you like em Good Fishin Big O www.ragetail.com

Yes Sam we do need to pay more attention to making sure to wear sun block and other types of shade protection at all times when out in it. I too am a example of the damage that occurs for not being more considerate of the dangers. Just last year during the filming of a fishing show, one of our camera men ask me about a dark spot on my face and I told him I hadn't noticed it. A week later, I went to the dermatologist and found out it was melanoma. After they cut off half of my cheek, they said to stay out of the sun at all cost. Now I am a believer. If you look on my website on the Chunk Product page, you will see that I am fishing nights now.This needs to be a regular thread so pls keep it in the forefront. Big O www.ragetail.com

Can't remember when I first started fishing cause I'm old. But I do remember a few years ago when I took my Grandson fishing in one of my fish ponds, we stopped at the corner store to get some drinks and he grabbed a pack of gummy worms and said "PaPa, do ya think the bass will bite on these"? I said sure thing son, we will catch some big ole bass on those. Sure enough after he got a belly full of gummy worms, I slipped one on a hook and flipped it into one of my favorite brush piles and whack... there he was. After I landed the fish, my grandson said WOW PaPa, we better go back to the store and get some more of those good worms! So off we went and he still remembers that today. Good Fishin Big O www.ragetail.com

Good for you Fish4i, and a Big O welcome to ya. Big O www.ragetail.com

Good to have you with us Big O www.ragetail.com