Dwight Hottle

Here is the old thread thanks too @Catt

Well I’m really a Michigan hater so it all worked out. No really I thought the Lions had it all wrapped up. Just goes to show that it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.

Looks like Detroit & KC .

Yep it looks like KC has the Ravens number.

I heard he got attacked & eaten by a bear.

Another vote for Progressive.

My condolences.

Man you need a jerk bait setup added to your arsenal.

I emailed him about 6 months ago & at that time both him & Lois were doing well. He was a great contributor with a very analytical mind.

Predictions are the sweetest when they become reality. 8lb smallmouth & 12lb largemouth.

Peas are as far north as Palm Beach county but Broward & Dade have the greatest concentration as @Mike L said.

@ol'crickety "The other way I differ is that I follow along shorelines, like many of us do, casting at various cover, but every three or four casts, I launch my lure into the middle of nothing. I do this because I catch bass in the middle of nothing, even with my surface lures, and they're often my biggest bass. I don't see the YouTube anglers doing this; They're always working wood and weeds. " I learned this lesson while casting for walleye with a jig up in Quebec. We were working the shoreline of an island. I made a random cast opposite to deeper water & hooked my first 10lb walleye. Turns out there was an underwater hump in 25 feet of water that topped out around 12 feet & she was occupying the top of the hump.

No disrespect but I beg to differ. I learned a long time ago that just trolling behind the boat mindlessly at the same speed & direction is a waste of time. I always vary speed & direction plus I work the lure with rod pumps, straight pulls & snaps. Strolling or drifting with the wind are highly similar the only difference is the means of propulsion. I prefer wind because wave action at the right speeds actually work the bait with forward surges & slowing down movement before the next wave speeds you back up. If I'm using a jerk bait I'm working it just as I do when casting. The only difference is in the pausing phase because of more continuous forward movement. So when I'm trolling or strolling I am imparting the action. Ideal speed when using a jerk bait is .5 to 1 mph.

I am a closet troller & I admit it. When fishing new water or fishing big water without FFS or modern electronics it is also a good way to cover water & determine where the better structure is located. My take on why the bass community has banned it or looked down on it has to do with how successful it can be. Most good experienced trollers would compete very favorably if allowed to enter bass tournaments. @A-Jay mentioning strolling as an effective way to fish on big water & I couldn't agree more. Strolling a jerk bait is so much more effective than casting when fishing big water. First of all you never pull the bait out of the water to recast. The bait is in the water 100% of the time except to land fish. Long lining a bait will get it deeper than casting. Long lining a bait offers more stealth because the bait can be 200 plus feet behind the boat so the boat doesn't scare the fish. Trolling doesn't have to be boring if you have a plan & execute using it. What's great about the sport of fishing is you can approach any way you want. I personally like to fish whatever way gives me the most chance to accomplish my personal goals.

@PaulVE64 I said that tongue in check to pull @TnRiver46's chain. I always fish for smallies with jerk baits 90% of the time because it works for me. When I can't get bit on a jerk bait because they are tight to the bottom I use a blade bait or jigging spoon or even a spintail jig like Jackall Deracoup or Manns Little George. I'm not saying plastic worm style baits don't work I just fish other baits that mimic their success. Drop shot baits have never been my thing because other baits work for me. I'll also use hair jigs & spy baits when the bite sucks.

@Pat BrownSame here.

Same concept as the Rapala countdown minnow but with a reversed bill. If you watch the promo video it does shimmy tail first on the sink kinda like a flutter spoon. I'm sure it will work with FFS because you can visually track it to the depth the fish are holding. Without FFS you need to determine how fast it falls in the water & then count it down to the depth you want to cover. It should help the anglers who want to fish a jerk bait deeper than they can achieve with a regular suspending bait.

Little tip I learned long ago is to cut off the stock treble with a hook cutter & add a split ring instead. Then you can add the treble hook of your choice or add a single hook like a siwash hook or spinner bait trailer hook or an owner 4101 single replacement hook that makes the spinner more weedless than a treble hook.

As mentioned the Blue Fox Vibrax in firetiger is killer in stained or tannic colored water. It triggers fish better than the old standby Mepps probably because of the bell design.

I have never ever fished for smallmouth with a plastic worm. I guess I need to enlarge my tool chest.

Or call him. He will give you the straight scoop.

I don't think one has an advantage over the other but if he does that's all that matters for him. He should use what ever gives him the best feel & confidence.

My first job in the early sixties was @ $1.25 an hour around 1962 or 1963. That was minimum wage.

Well after a sunk outing I’m finally on the board for 2024.

@Bankc Good summation. I like using MHM rods for jerk baits with braid & a leader. The braid gives better hook sets & helps with imparting action to the bait. The moderate rod action does help keep hooked fish pinned. Also the better quality rod almost always has a crisper feel to it & helps working the bait. With a MHF action rod I like using low stretch mono that keeps keep the fish pinned & gives a similar feel to working the bait.