islandbass

Good job. I really like the color schemes. 8-)

smashing the barb down, im assuming this is the little "barb" just past the end of the hook? is it wise to do this with all crankbait hooks as well? why is that barb even there? The best thing crimping down the barb does is making the hook easier to move, especially if the hook is in the gullet. I know that most people don't do that. I have done so with loss of fish no greater or worse off.

I have a low tech but effective way of turning baits without a drying wheel. This is because I've never gotten around to making one. All you need is are at least 1 (but 2 is better) paper clips and some fishing line. Turn the paper clips into an "S" to turn them into hooks (folder out the inner section. Take the first paper clip and attach the line to it and the top half of the clip in the bend of the S. The bottom of this clip with attach to the nose or tail of your bait. Tie the other end of your line that is attached to the first clip to the bottom half of the second paper clip. Attach the upper half of the second clip to something so that the bait hangs vertically. Twist the line as much as you can with your fingers and let go. As you do, the line will untwist and the bait will spin as it unravels, stop and spin back the other way. Repeat the twisting. This is low tech, but it works and I have successfully made many baits drying the epoxy this way.

Use basswood dowels. You can find them in the art and craft section of your local market. Just head over there. You'll probably be the only guy in there, but don't let that bother you. I believe they are about 3 or 4' long so you can make quite a few. Pick the width of your choice. You will find the wood very easy to work with. Here are a few topwaters I made from basswood dowels I bought at WalMart. Check out tackle underground for the scoop on your other inquiries. There are masters over there that can help you better than I could. As you can tell, I can't paint worth a darn, but the fish don't seem to be critical of it. ;D

These are all great recommendations, but I think a factor that you ought to weigh in with those recs are how serious he will be about fishing. If it's casual, spincasting. If he is already gung-ho, then spinning. Why? Because for the latter he already has the drive to quickly learn to use a spinning reel. Kids learn ultraquickly. If you do a search here, you will see that there are some of our kids here wielded both spinning and casting rigs since they were 6. Rod size is something to also consider. Anything within 4.5' to 6'. To give you an idea, my daughter who is 9 had a couple 5.5' rods and just started this season using a 6'6" spinning rod.

It's perfect, I simply wanted to list a basic range. I agree that 2-6 lb test is more ideally ultralight. So, how would you compare the Celio's sensitivity to some of your higher dollar rods? I've recently purchased my first "good" rod (a 7' 3" MH Carrot Stix) and was blown away by how much I could feel. I guess I'm looking for that sort of performance from an ultralight. I mostly throw small poppers and inline spinners and spoons, which are lures in which sensitvity isn't necessarily paramount. The actual perception of sensitivity is too subjective IMHO and I say this because an uglystick is sensitive in my hands. It isn't IMX but it doesn't need to be. Suffice it to say it is sufficiently sensitive in my hands. I can feel the take of a blue gill pouncing on a flutter 1/16 oz spoon. And for $20, there are surely no complaints. Since you're looking highend, you might consider the other companies and add Loomis to the mix. I just don't see myself going the expensive route for UL, at least for now. ;D

Eric, Thanks! I just started the process of adding the weight. I am starting with 3/16 oz.

Mine is an Okuma Celilo 7' two piece spinning rod. It is rated for 2-6 # test so it's slightly off, but you really can't call using 8# ultralight any more in my book and humble opinion. Its lure range (guessing) is 1/32 - 1/4 I think. I know the line rating is correct, however. You should be able to find it for about $20. I have caught 3# bass with ease on it.

Well, I got inspired by a someone to give crankbait making a shot. I have seen some tutorials in the past, but that was quite a while back. I had some scrap balsa around and decided to use it. I figured if balsa good enough for Rapala, it ought to be for me. This was the starting block, which I cut in half length-wise. I cut it in half like below and soon learned that I could probably get two cranks from that one half. I also traced a basic shape. Next, I cut out the shapes and then carved out the shapes by eyeballing. The first one I did with mostly sandpaper which seemed really slow and not very precise. Some thought on approaching the second one led me to try carving the basic shape with a hobby knife. The latter was definitely faster, but more care was needed to not shave off too much at one time. In the photo above, the one on the right is the first one that was carved. So far, so good. I need to figure out how much weight is needed, which I have no clue. -ib

Wow, that is impressive work. 8-)

Right on! My daughter is his age. Her goal is to catch smallies just like in your picts.

It is a spot that can get results for kids from the shore. We were west of the Fremont Bridge, by SPU. Smallie fishing from the shore can be slim pickings (lack of shore access), but here you have a shot.

I used to do this until I realized I never, ever, never, ever, never, ever, used the spare spool. Besides, the bait monkey requires a rod and reel for every spool. ;D

My daughter and I went fishing Friday, June 5, for about three hours on the shores of Lake Union again, just five days since our first trip. It was one of those forgetful days. I forgot to pack her rod so she I let her use my Compre spinning rod. She opted for 6# mono over 8# and it was a wise choice. Fortunately, I had two casting rods and two Curado D reels, one with 8# and the other 10# test. She hooks into the bass number one in the first few minutes, a 3/4-pounder by eyeball scale. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera in the car so no picture for that one. It was her third bass ever and biggest to date. Taken shortly after the first caught bass. Great concentration! Daughter 1, Dad none. Then I feel a bite and lose it (the bite/nibble). Then another, and another and I keep losing them. Either I have a great excuse that drop shotting with a casting setup is awkward to me or these are super dinks or I am just losing my finesse touch. I am hoping it is none of those choices. We move to another spot. I switch to a Rapala X-Rap just to try it out. My daughter scores bass number 2, another small one. It didn't matter to her because she was going for numbers. The best I could get were a few stares and follows by dinks with the X-Rap. Bass #2 We decide to move to another spot but this time I tell her to pick it. She scouted ahead but within my visual range as I gathered our stuff. She signals she has found the spot. When I reach her, she says, This is a fishy spot. One of my adages is, Go with your gut. We throw our baits in and I finally hook into something of fair significance. I get it close enough to the surface to see its whitish belly and it manages to get off somehow. I am a bit dejected after this one and my only consolation is that all of these strikeouts could get me listed as a DH for the Seattle Mariners. I am glad that my loss was my daughter's gain. Her bait wasn't too far from mine and seconds after I lost mine she nervously says, Papi, I have a strong one. She was excited and a bit scared she might lose it. I calmed her down as much as I could and told her the steps to properly play the fish and in time it was hers. It was a new personal best. Two in one day; that is sweetness in my book. The bass I lost was probably not the same one that struck her lure, but I have observed on many occasions in my short fishing experience that when one bass gets excited into getting onto a lure, nearby bass sometimes get just as excited. In addition, they tend to be about the same size. This is 100% an observance. Third Bass She was totally stoked but she didn't want to lip it at all. A passing cyclist was kind enough to take the photo. Bass number four came just a little later, then number five (a dink, so no photo) and it was time to wrap things up. By tally, dad was crushed defeated, pummeled, pulverized, and proud. I don't like to lose at anything (but never am I a poor sport) but this is a loss I don't mind at all. Fourth Bass As we were walking back to the car, I asked if I could have one last chance with just a few more casts at the first spot and she said, Okay. We bump into an acquaintance of mine through a local fishing forum and fished with him. And finally, praise the Lord! We had a double on, the guy and I. It was a decent sized bass, about the same size as the one I caught on Sunday. I am relieved that I would not be going home skunked. This was a phenomenal day for both of us, especially my daughter. I'm going to chalk this one up for the memory books. -ib June 5, 2009 Conditions: Partially cloudy, occasional sun. A short, but quick cooling trend the night before. Daughter's Rig: 6'6 Shimano Compre rod, Abu Garcia Cardinal 101a reel, 6# Trilene XL mono, Sniper Snub Dad's Rig: 6'6 Shimano Clarus rod, Shimano Curado D reel, 8# Spider wire Red mono, Sniper Snub Extra Rig: 6' Daiwa Strike Force rod, Shimano Curado D reel, 10# Sufix Siege mono, Perch Rapala X-rap.

I used to do that until I discovered the convenience of using a phone book to assist with the tension. It will free the hand that you use to hold the line. I find that putting the line in only about the upper 1/4 to 1/5 of the book provides sufficient tension. I prefer to do it myself so that nothing is left to chance. It is then my fault if anything goes wrong.

I took my two kids fishing last Sunday because I could no longer suppress the urge to go, but more importantly, to rekindle the fervor and excitement my kids used to have for fishing. Over the winter and spring they kept telling things like (bass) fishing was now boring because they had no luck. The cold, stormy, and brutal weather this past winter and spring only compounded their notions and practically ensured poor fishing prospects from the shore, the only fishing that we do. Matter of fact, we just had our first week of warmer and stable weather in the 70s and being the dad I am, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity to quell their current notions about fishing. We get to the canal and I rigged my daughter's rod with a drop shot rig and the bait of her choice and she starts fishing immediately. My son decided it would be more fun to sit down on the bench and eat some snacks. Her first cast went plop, right in front of her. I guess it's been a while, huh? I asked as I grinned. And indeed it has been. Not since late August or September last year. She managed to shake off the rust and made a long and lovely cast. She starts working her bait and I proceed to set up my rod. She makes her third cast right as I was going to slip on my drop shot weight and says abruptly, Papi! I got one! As I looked up to see for myself, I was thinking to myself that it was probably the weight settling in-between some of the riprap. The instant my eyes caught sight of her line, I saw it dip slightly and move to the side. I quickly said, You've got one! Like she didn't know; She was already reeling in the slack to set the hook, before I even uttered my first word. Although it was a little smallmouth bass, I didn't care and I don't know why, but I went a little Iaconelli in my own way. Two persons on the trail gave their approval with wide smiles. More importantly, my daughter was very excited and happy and it really showed on her face. Her brother stopped snacking, snapped up off the bench, and insisted that his Spiderman rod be set up. I suppose he wanted in on the action now. I manage to hook into and land my first bass for this season, a smallmouth before packing up. Whew! Nothing worth fretting over a picture for, but it was just less than two pounds as a best guess. Closing thoughts Before we arrived at the canal, to say she was luke-warm about fishing would be about right. I told her that I had no doubt she was going to catch at least one bass and that she was going to have a ton of fun. I also told her that all we need was about thirty minutes of an earnest effort and we'd leave after that, fish or not. That all changed. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to keep fishing and we did for about an hour and a half. While she missed the rest of the hits she felt, she was still excited and her fish catching desire was definitely restored. She can't wait for the next time around. I am glad that I had the chance to help them rediscover the joys of fishing. I just hope I can keep it up in them so that they fish with me until I am old and gray. Date: May 31, 2009 Conditions: Sunny, Clear Skies, 75 degrees Location: Lake Union, Seattle, WA Son's Rig: Spiderman Pole, 3 Senko Daughter's Rig: 6'6 Rapala Rod, Abu G Cardinal 101a reel, 6# Trilene XL, Sniper Snub Dad's Rig: 6'6 Shimano Compre, 2500 Symetre reel, 8# Spider wire Red Mono, Sniper Snub (Sure wish I had my real bass gear for us) -ib

Nailed 'em!

RW's suggestion might actually be what you're looking for. Although the line he recommends is rated at 6# test, you can see that it's breaking strength is nearly 12#. Its thin diameter will probably give you your desired longer casts. Or, perhaps the 8 or 10# version of the same line might work? I hear you on wanting to try the soft Hybrid. I would like to try it too, but it can't be found locally for me.

They're alright. They really do a good job keeping the bait upright. They also come in the same sizes as other drop shot hooks.

The ugly stick may suit you since you haul bass as you desrcibed. Many rods can easily break when handled that way. Many claim that U sticks suck in the sensitivity department but sensitivity is relative any way. A mathematician might even say that the U stick's sensitivity and durability are inversely proportional to each other. ;D I would go for the Shimano Volteous. It seems to be shimano's answer to the ugly stick. I believe the U stick's warranty is finite and on those grounds alone I'd take the voltaeous.

Sorry, but that is the nature of the beast in terms of technique and line used. What I do to minimize the line twist is that I let my line "rest" if I could describe it that way. After every 7-10 casts I'll hold my rod at least parallel to the ground to about 45 degrees and let the line and lure cork screw back and forth until it nearly stops and then continue fishing. It only takes about 5 seconds. The faster you see the spinning, the more line twist there is so you might need to let it rest between fewer casts. I do this because I DON"T like to use a swivel when I drop shot unless the swivel is in the weight. Minimizing it is the key, not elimination. It isn't going to happen without a swivel and even then it will still get twisted.

Thanks! for some reason, I was thinking it was going to be a bit more complicated than that. I cut out some shapes out of balsa and I will "round" them out per your instructions. Any time on the tail feathers.

G, That looks awesome. How did you go about rounding the edges? Let me know if you need some feather tails. 8-)

Great report. Not surprised at the results with braid. Line dig is a practical given unless you take steps to minimize it. The benefits braid offer are so good many people overlook the line dig. As I said, it can be minimized. I use 30# Ppro and hardly ever encounter line dig. Keep one thing in mind now that you know how strong braid can be and other lines of great strength in how easily it straightened your hook. When you're yanking your lures free, take the rod out of the equation completely. You saw what the line did to the hook, now imagine the stress you're putting on the rod as a result of those forceful pulls. It's a wonder to me when people are surprised they're rods break. You take the rod out of the equation by working only with the line. Be careful with braid. You know or will learn how easily it cuts grass and weeds and it can do the same of your hand and fingers. I use a stick on the ground or my key caribeaner to assist in freeing things. Congrats on your latest acquistions! Oh yeah. Another benefit of taking the rod out of the sang freeing equation is that you eliminate line dig. Every time you yank with the rod and reel to free something you are also making the braid dig into itself in the spool. 8-)

Most everyone I would bet fishes for bass here, but this poll is not just for bass. Any fish/species goes so post that count(s) and if you wish you can be species specific. I bet the panfish and bluegill numbers is going to be high!