Bass n Bows

Well, today was my 6th time out fishing for 2008. I'd been getting skunked every time I went out. Today was a great day though. I caught two bass. One was a dink probably 10 in. and the other one was a little better, probably 13 or 14 in. Neither fish were big but it was just great to finally catch something. I want to thank Roadwarrior and everyone else who has given advice on senkos, because they made all the difference today. I started of fishing points and windy flats with an x-rap and didn't get bit. Then I got in some isolated water and saw schools of bass swimming around. The bass were paying no attention to my jerkbait or football jig, so I thought it would be a perfect situation for a slow falling bait like a senko. I have never fished a senko before in my life, but I got out my finesse hooks and wacky rigged my nock off senko. The color was pumpkin with an orange dipped tail. The water was very clear so I was sight fishing. The first bass I caught was cruising about two feet of the bank so I cast past him and dropped it down in front of him as he swam by. He followed the bait as it dropped and just stared at it as it sat motionless on the bottom. He would start to lose interest and I would give it the slightest twitch and he would be locked on it again. Finally after five minutes of playing games with him, [on a single cast] he finally devoured the senko. Even though this fish was a dink, it was by far my favorite fishing experience in many years. The second fish was a bit bigger and he hit it on the drop out in the deeper water. So what can I say about senko's. I'M HOOKED!!!! I wish I could get the pictures of the fish off my cellphone onto here but I have no Idea how. >

I love it when Bill Dance catches one and says,"Hey there's a fat one, just like me." Ol' Roland Martin gets fired up about every fish he catches,"Oh son! I got a big one, I got a giant on, son!" Then he gets the fish to the boat and its a dink. That cracks me up every time. Whenever I'm fishing with a buddy I get cocky and say, "I can feel a fish fart on my hook!" :

When you get the itch so bad you grab your rod and go out to the back yard in snow up to your knees, and practice flipping to submerged objects!

That video made me smile! Good job!

Sweet man! I love the ol' esox!

Man those rod grips look great! ;D

Man, I really want to make a few conversions on my cheaper rods. It makes them look pretty cool! How did you guys do that? Just use a knife to cut the cork and then taper the ends with a file or sandpaper?

I trim my weedgaurd and I also trim the skirt up. I just think it makes the jig a bit more appealing to the bass. Here is a link that you may find very helpful. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&&mode=article&objectID=31211&cat=Fishing&subcatID=14&objectType=article&cmid=OLBASIC_31211_TITLE

I just started fishing football jigs and flippin jigs this season. I have never used pork and so far the only trailers I have used are NetBait's Paca Chunks. I started fishing the lakes right after ice out and the water is extremely cold. These Paca Chunks still have great action even in the coldest water. They also have a great scent to them too. Though I haven't caught a fish on them yet I have missed a few good ones. :-[

Dido to the above reply about fly rods. If you guys picked up a decent fly rod and learned how to fly fish there is no better way to catch gills IMHO. I always outfish anyone who fishing for gills when I have my fly rod. ;D

That is very interesting! Cool experiment.

I went out today and all I caught was a cold! But my cousin however, caught 2 nice fish one went about 3 1/2lbs. He was fishing a chatterbait very slow and he caught both fish when he was just messing around. For example he cast out and just sat there talking for a while, I would say about a minute and then he lifted his rod and got a hit right away. So my question is what are the bass doing in a situation like mine? Are they following the bait to the bottom and just waiting for it to move? I just don't know how to catch these fish. I was fishing a small football jig with a Paca Chunk and had one slam it, but when I set the hook the fish was gone. Should I let them hold on to it for a while? A little advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Will this tournament be televised. If so what channel can I find it on, if not where can I find info and updates for it?

If you want fish to eat then there are plenty of panfish that make a better meal than a gamefish like bass. I don't think it is very reliable to judge a fishes genes by the way it fights. I'm sure there is a more scientific way to test that. But if the pond was over populated like you say it was then maybe that is what had to be done.

Dido to what Road Warrior said. That picture makes me sick to my stomach If you kept all those fish for the heck of it!

Man atleast you have had a chance to lip some bass! The ice is still covering most of the lakes here in Northern Illinois.

Ike, KVD, Denny Brauer.

How do you find the price of these boats?

x2 I wonder why everyone doesn't throw these.

Man I hate you!!! jk, I went to Dick's today too in hopes of finding some Subwalks, but they didnt have them. They didn't have any DT's either. So I walked away with 4 Strike King Denny Brauer flippi'n jigs, a pack of Berkley Chigger Craws, and some Zoom super chunks for about $15.00.

I'm wondering the same questions myself. I hope someone with some experience will make a post.

Well Flippin jigs it is. What is a good size and color to use. Do you change sizes with seasonal patterns? I fish clear to slightly murky water. What is a better trailer a chunk or a crawdad, I was thinking about using the Chiggercraw or the Strike King chunk.

Hula grub on a stand up jig head has been a very versatile combination for me.

Right now I have no preference on jigs, but I would like to know why you think Strike Kings are cheap jigs? I just find it weird because I have heard good things about them. So you think Booyah's are the best? Maybe I will get several brands and try them out. Right now at the local sporting goods store all the Strike King stuff is 20% off.

I meant to put bank structure, I *** all you guys who get to fish standing timber! I'm in Norther Illinois so there isn't a ton of great fishing around here that I know of. Just a small 200 acre lake that is 2 minutes from house. :'(