islandbass

Those look really good. The spots are spot on IMHO. Electric tape... That is ingenius. 8-)

It seems that what you have already suits what you need or plan to accomplish. I see no need, based on what you've written to change any gear. General fishing, non-specific, is covered by your general purpose gear. Sorry to be a party pooper but that's just the bait monkey talking and look to fill a false need.

We all know about jigs with trailers, rubber, silicone, and bucktail for bass, but what about jigs with marabou? I made these jigs and spinners for salmon but after I made them, I started wondering if perhaps bass might find them worth striking. The beads on the orange spinner are the same, but they glow pearly blue when light shines through them. The bell one has a metal body inside it and the one with the green bead has what I call a snowman body. I have had success with pink bubble gum worms. I know salmon hit pink so I'm going to give these a shot against some smallies too. Still have some more to learn. I know the yellow one is ugly (it was my first one tied) but I hope that it is something the fish, either salmon or bass will find enticing enough to bite on. Let me know what you think or if you've tried marabou jigs for bass. It couldn't possibly be something new. Planned tactics are regular jigging or with a float. Thanks!

Well deserved. Congrats! That's one heck of a bass fo sho.

I have been using dev con for the past 4 years or so and while I have heard of the yellowing stories, I read from posts that if the two parts are equal (important) and thoroughly mixed, the yellowing possibility is greatly if not practically reduced. I still have some of first baits that I coated and not one has yellowed... At all... and they're going on their fourth year. I think I'll wind up losing them before they have a chance to yellow. ;D

FourBizz, I appreciate your input. That helps. I have fished conditions exactly as shown in JF's pic. Frosted guides will definitely hinder casting to the point you can't cast and out in the field I got around it by dipping the guides in the moving water and shaking off the excess water before it would freeze on the guides. I think the bottle of jack will be better. At least it could give me that warm feeling in the cold. ;D

For the sake of reducing fatigue, I would also say yes. The luxury the longer rod can afford the angler is to make the same casts but with less effort when there is room for the cast. The difference, depending on angler skill might be anywhere from 1 - 20' longer casts as a ballpark figure and sometimes that can be enough to make a difference.

Thanks! I am going to check out harbor.

Looking good, Toledo! Where'd you get those alligator clips? They look like they come in very handy. I have been spraying with one hand and holding the bait with the other and it never occurred to me to have something else hold the bait. :-[

Gangley pointed you in the right direction. The larger the number the smaller the hook from whatever number (like 10) descending to 1. Then when the "/0" is placed under the number the hook size increases. So a 1/0 hook is bigger than a size 1 hook of the same type, and a 5/0 hook is even bigger. In addition, the zero "0" underneath is pronounced like the word ought but it is spelled aught. Therefore a 3/0 hook is annunciated as "three-ought." Don't let your math teacher remind you that such a fraction is considered to be "undefined." ;D

This is something that I always wanted to try but have not gotten the opportunity to test. I imagine a number of companies make it and it can be found in a typical auto store in a spray. De-Icer. This is the stuff that is sprayed on the windshield to melt the ice. I imagine that if it works on windshields, it ought to work well on guides. I am not a chemist however and don't know if there are any ill effects using this spray. Chris, I was always under the impression that braid didn't absorb water like mono does. I think it would fare poorly more a result of its limpness in very cold temps but that is a guess. We usually don't get cold enough here to have guides freezing and it's only happened to me of one outing and that was the day I thought to use it while freezing my phanny off in 16 degree tempts while wading in a river. It was amazing to watch the water crytalize on the guides and the line passed through them during the retrieve.

I prefer LH reels, but have adapted to use both quite well. I have learned that if the hand switch is made while the lure is in flight, there is no loss, but it does make for more moves in the casting mechanics which might irk some folks. I see some plausibility to RW's post, but casting or spinning, it is just more comfortable for me the LH reels. I'll still winch the in with casting and play them in with spinning. Maybe being a keyboard player makes my hands equally dextrous. :-[ This topic comes around quite frequently so take advantage of the search function to find the posts that have nuggets of great information.

For usual Drop Shot: 6# Seaguar Invizx I use a number of other lines for other things and usually prefer to use the lightest I can get away with. Other Lines I like to use: 12# Yozuri Hybrid (I do want to try ultra soft, but the don't sell it locally) 10# Sufix Siege (best mono at resisting memory) 6# Trilene for UL fishing 30# Power Pro

That is awesome work. Did you airbrush the photo of the human ayu too? ;D j/j I have never heard of that species. Where are they native?

Welcome! Take advantage of this site's search forum if you wish to start your research on fluorocarbon line or just about anything else.

I too look and wait for the best deals and sometime come across can't miss steals: Shimano Compre normally $90 at that time, $45 at Sportsmans Shimano Crucial 6'10" MH normally $129 at that time, $59 at a local shop Rapala 20 6Sxi, $50 at the time, $29.00. Baits like rapalas for $2.00 when boaters world closed. SeaGuar invizx for $12.00 and PPro 300yrds for $19 were the prices at local shops before.

Fortunately $100 buys a lot of spinning reel. The fussing and decision undulation from this reel to that reel ends with the Shimano Symetre. For bass fishing purposes, you don't really need to go any further than this. Forward from the symetre is just icing on the cake. Bam! Done! It's Over!

I'll keep it simple. They all work well. The only thing that can reduce/prevent backlashes is the angler. Sorry, but no line is going to help you there. ;D

That is odd. I wonder if it could be a countdown version of the DTs.

Thank for for such and excellent post! May I ask, so which top coat material is your top dog?

Octopus hooks are the closest to a "drop shot" hook. The main difference I have noted is the orientation of the hook's eye. Sizes 1, 2 and 4 are still viable options, with 4 being the last resort option. I use sizes 1 and 2 usually for both lmb and smb because that is all I need in my neck of the woods. If it's too grassy or weedy, I will T-rig the bait texposed with a mini EWG like the owner downshot. The T-rig will prevent grassy and debris from getting caught up on the exposed hook of a normal drop shot rig. One last thing. You are probably going to try the standard nose hooked worm. If it doesn't work, don't forget that you can also wacky rig your worm. Sometimes that is the difference needed in your presentation. Good luck and a warning: Drop shot fishing is addicting as it is effective at catching fish.

Being shorebound should not prevent you from drop shotting. I am shorebound just as you are and the drop shot has been responsible for about 85% of my bass caught. Just thought I'd clue you in on that little piece. It is too awesome a technique to not use from the shore, my shorebound bro. I can't really help you in the matching your rods and reels because I don't think along the lines of this reel with that rod. Any of my casting rods could be mated any of my casting rods and the same with my spinning set ups. But given you arsenal if it were mine: Combined: BPS Pro qualifyer gold Round Reel 6.3:1 to 6'6'' Berkely Bionic M/F BAITCAST - The All Arounder Ardent XS to 7'0 BPS Rick Clunn M/F worm/dropshot ( I'm shore bound so dont use the DS method) BAITCAST - Casting Finesse, Shakey, drop shot. NOTE: I would use the casting reel that best tosses the lighter weights well. Pflueger Trion 6.1:1 BC to 7'0'' BPS MH BAITCAST - Heavier Jigs and heavier single hook rigs. 2007 Quantum Energy PT Baitcast 7.1:1 to 6'0'' Gander MTN M/F - Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Treble Topwaters. Shimano Spirex Spinning 2000 to 6'10'' Falcon LowRider SHakey Head rod SPINNING - Finesse whatever/all arounder, treble topwaters, weightless senkos.

Yep, that is how many fish including my family when I visit their. I initially stared with some bewilderment until I tried it. I can tell you that fishing hand and line (without rod) is more sensitive than any rod out there. I was stunned. And with a little practice, you can cast as far as you want. Fished the salt and fresh water this way. They outfished me 10 to 1 so I put my rod and reel away and joined the crowd. It was a blast. Looks odd. BTW, the rig they use is basically a drop shot.

As always your work is excellent. Nice set of baits. 8-) Have you ever named your color schemes?

That was a very neat approach. I have put octos and ds hooks and they are very similar. Have you considered dropping to size 1, or 2? Largemouth or smallmouth, regardless of size I can't recall losing them when they're close being lipped. On the other hand I fish from the shore and sometimes have to balance on rocks to keep from falling. It might be harder from a boat.