BaitBall

Hi, I am not a GIANT tube fan but I do use them every so often. Have you guys ever used the G4 sytem. It is a tube with an inserted weight and a clip which holds the tube from sliding down. It was a shaw grisby system that came out years ago. I can pull that tube through anything and it is the only tube I throw simply becuae it is entirely weedless. You can dead bait this tube easier than one with an exposed hook. None of the tube hooks that you show prove weedless to me. So, if you need weedless I am not sure any of them would be good. http://books.google.com/books?id=ra8ht7pPZGgC&pg=RA2-PA12&lpg=RA2-PA12&dq=luck+e+strike+g4+tube+hook&source=web&ots=WwwUTuIHpD&sig=cVFXPZ1xm-1T1F68bAaVLIlrRww&hl=en Here is a link that shows my favorite tube bait. You can drag this bait through ANYTHING. I got very attached to this bait because when we discovered the tube bait years ago, I needed a tube that would easily glide through muck and lilly pads without dislocating the tube down the hook shank. My brother and I only use this tube now. If you don't need weedless, I like #1

When I fish a lake that holds both Large and Smallmouth, I like to throw something like the 4" Senko. Especially in shallow water like you are explaining. Both species will hit it and you never know what your going to catch. It is weedless, snagless and can be dead sticked or twitched faster. In water up to 8 feet, you won't even need a weight. I do this providing I know where the fish are. I would never attempt covering water or learning a new lake with this bait. For covering water in a new area, I would swim a grub or senko with a lead head. I love that Lucky Craft bait too but It tends to produce better in low light conditions for me so I might start with that bait in morning or end up with that bait at dusk. I think the ones in my tackle box are a version 1000 pointer. These plugs are $15, grrrrrrrr If your water is not clear, maybe this would bait work all day. I have clear water here and the fish won't touch it after sun up.

I would also use the single calarado with a black skirt and a 3" white mister twiser trailer. a 3/4 oz version. Most of these 3/4 oz models are nightime models, but they will should work great in your dirty water. And its a perfect presentation when it smashes into rocks and along the bottom. The trailer will make the spinner bait an easier visual target, it will add vibration and slow the bait down. . I discovered this bait after watching a weigh in. Winner was using this bait. Works for me too!

I think it is a personal preference. I use a net ever since I purchased a boat with high gunnels (I have a 2 year old daughter). It is hard for me to reach far into the water with just my hand. I use the newer type mesh nets which seem more gentle on the fish and I like a 30" handle for my boat.

Maybe it will come back to life if we beat it hard enough! ;D

They get active in early season. I remember reading that crawfish spawn while smallmouth are pre-spawn. I just read that in a book. I would guess crawfish spawn sometime in May in my area too. Smallies are spawning in June hear so that all makes sense.

HesterisGod. I agree. KALIN is the only grub I pack although I am trying the 4 inch Yama grub this year. They have a longer and thicker 4" body and when I found it in a Cabelas store, it was offered in my favorite color. I was hoping to swim heavier jig heads this year and the KALIN comes up short with heavy weight (in my opnion). KALIN grubs are the best for me up to about 8 feet water and with 1/8 - 1/4oz. The KALIN grub was my best performer last season for about 2 weeks straight when I was trying to figure out Lake Mahopac for my first season. That was in June.

OH you are in Smally Country ! SC is Lunkerville USA Yo, throw out the worm bags. Burn them. hehehe The bass can't see them. I never throw worms in low visbilty water Get to some noisy flashy baits and PICK up the pace. You are fishing in prime periods of the day. Get some big Calardao blade spinner baits. They go thump thump flash flash. STICK with it. They will hit. Throw it all afternoon. Make the bait bigger to see by adding a mister twister tail on the hook. Bigger baits, noisy baits and reaction type baits.

Hi, I assume you are in Octobor..since that is your time stamp. Seems to me that the fish you are seeing are sun bathing during the warmest periods of the day. They will do that. AND not eat. I bet they are eating early morning and later in the day, when you don't see them. (They are feeding in low light periods, and sun bathing all day) If I were you. I would try using a ball of worms. Not one, two or three balled up on a light wire hook. Throw that ball of worms in their bathing zone. Don't lay your pole on the bank, it will be dragged out by one of your targets. Before I do this, however, I would try a few different color wacky worms first. I can almost always get them to take that twitching worm. I would start with a worm that almost disappears when it hits the water. Natural transparent colors may get the bite.

I like the heavier jerk baits with deeper lips. I can cast heavier lines and cast further. The lighter plugs do not run right with heavy lines but light line can't take the whipping casts I like to make with it. Get some a little heavier if you want to experiment. Lucky Craft USA Pointer 1000SP (suspending at 6-10 feet) 5/8 oz. 4" These are about $15 each. Just buy one, you won't need any more than that.

Why would they make it against the law? That sounds silly... I read lots of article about this rig in the off seaon, and I plan on using 3" critter baits on the hook this year. I bought a few helgamite plastic baits ....and I love the idea after seeing it on my hook. I plan on doing well with this 'tempting' morsal bait and I will also be using small glass rattles to make it a little easier to find. Last year we drop shot 3" senkos, that worked ok too. I don't think it is my prefernce though. Yama makes a better 4" "shad" shape platic which has a very teasing tail. That was on my hook most of last year once I discovered it. I also did ok with a full size paddle tail worm in black. I keep hearing that black is the right color for this rig. I believe the black helgamite will beat them up this year. That is where I am starting this season. I know this may sound wierd, but I did really good with this drop shot rig when I counted the distance from ground to the fish with my electronics and matched this distance with my hook. Sometimes bass would hold 8 feet off the bottom and I would set my hook 8-10 feet up. This was deadly. It is enoying as hell to fish this long leader under the hook ..but it worked so well I stuck with it. I hooked up much more once I counted up off the bottom with my electronics and presented the bait just above them. Please try this and send me a christmass card when you SMASH them!

I beleive your first jig should be a 1/8 oz lead head with a 4" paddle tail worm or 4" senko..or for shallower water it should be tipped with a curly tail grub like a mister twister for a slower fall. A shad shape plastic might also help slow it down for shallow water. You can also swim this jig. I promise they will smack it. If you have clear water, start with natural color transparent platics. I bet this type of 'cheap' jig will get you started on the right foot. You are more likely to work this type of jig properly because you won't be worrying about loosing it. Move onto fancier more expensive jigs as you develope a preference for your fishing area. I still jig with the basic leadhead because fish eat it well. So you might start with this basic lead head and have little reason to change...like me. Besides all of this...I love simple things and this is a simple bait. 8-)

OK, So... When do you cast from shallow to deep or vice versa? I most always cast the traditional way, from deep to shallow. Although, I am trying to do more of the opposite because I have seen success throwing the opposite way..getting shallow with the boat and realing "up" the slope. Last year I got much more confident casting perfectly lateral or sideways...as this made it easier presenting to fish at a specific depth. I just can't seem to get the "up the slope" thing to work. My question is, if you do this type of opposite presentation...when and why and what baits would make you choose this? :-/

hmmmm, Maybe it is the Alewives. How does that black crank bait work for you? I have been throwing heavy black calorado spinner baits ... seems like it works but not necessarliy near these groups of bait fish.

I agree with Crestliner2007 100%. I would definately want to find the fish on a fishfinder first. You won't catch me fishing for these winter time fish without fining them first. I wouldn't be a bit suprised if the fish were holding on the floor instead of being suspended. If you don't easily spot these fish when scouting, look more closely at your fish finder and look for these fish laying on the ground. I have spotted fish on the floor in my hom lake and they bite well. I say this because 20 feet sounds shallow. I do not know if they would want to stage shallower than that...Let me KNOW! and Good luck!

Wow , You guys really get into super lines. I used to use the softer Berkley trilene but I stopped suing it because if it EVER saw salt water is turns to crap. Not that I use my rods for salt water much, but still the line deteriates quickly and will just start breaking one day on the water. I don't like super low memory lines. They are too soft for me. Now, I like to use Stren and Berkley Big game. How boring right? Well I like them for a few reasons. First and foremost, I can pull the heck out of these lines and they take a beating. I don't break lines anymore which means I stop thinking about it when I am fighting fish. I understand I loose casting comfort. It doesn't bother me. If line diameter is too much for you, I step the lb. test down a notch. Another thing that I love about these heavier more dependable lines is that they are more sensitive. I can feel strikes better on these lines. Not to mention, Stren makes a great belt for my pants! Kidding aside, I stopped playing around with these high end lines and went to the more basic varieties and I have not gone back. I use Stren 10 lb Test on every spinning rod and Berkely Big game for 15 and 20llb bait casters and I don't see myself changing anytime soon. I beg you to try using Stren 6lb to 8 lb in low vis green. I bet this simple line gets your attention. It is cheaper than other lines too, which means you can strip it off and waste a little less money. Another great thing, it is sold everyhwere!

I would try something similar to an inline spinner since you are already comfortable with it. STICK with your confidence baits for starters. I would definately suggest throwing an 1/8 oz Gamakatsu jig head with your favorite color 3"- 4" grub. You can fish this like your inline spinner but a grub can be worked slower and it won't snag. If you want more depth, put a 4 inch senko on the jig head and let it slowly glide and spiral towards the bottom. ( The lack of tail will get your bait down further.) I recomend this bait for you for starters. The 4" senko produces bigger fish than the grub..but start with swimming the grub same way you do the small blade baits......your sizes will increase as you graduate to the senko. Try this and send me a christmass card when you get a 3 pounder !

Joe Spaits makes a fine spoon and I plan on throwing it alot once boat is in water. Ultimate Match Fishing really made this spoon a popular tin to throw. They are big and heavy but slow falling. If you google joe spaits, you will find video clips of this spoon in tanks. It is quite a spoon. Everyone says jig up and down with spoons, but I beg different. You can't really get fish up and down in lake Mahopac. I can't anyway. I will definately throw my spoon off the sides of the boat and do the up and down thing from a safe distance away from the heavily pressured fish. I find once your boat is over them, it is too late and they turn off. For example, when we drop shot in my home lake, I will take MUCH more fish with a small cast than under the boat. Not only do I cast off the sides of the boat, but I won't approch the fish from an angle that will shade sunlight from the vessel. Our fish are very spooky but when you adjust, they become an easier catch. I have a hard time landing fish with tins, be prepared to have many spoons get spit out! Good luck to the both of us soon!

Hi, Newbie to this forum too. I would welcome you but I think that should be y'all job to welcome me! hehehe Love fishing and just got my first full time boat..it lives on Lake Mahopac, NY. Now I get the front of the boat!!

Have a few questions for those who are on the lake at light night as well as during the day. I have a 797 Humminbird fishfinder. It is amazing. Nothing short a miracle. Have seen a few things which I plan on capturing on a storage disc this year. It is a phenominom that I can't figure out. I need to get screen shots for you to see...but for now please consider my best description. At night time, I can read large large areas of bait fish holding to specific water depths. ie thrmoclines. I don't know what type of bait fish is showing up on my elecetronics but there is MANY of this bait and it is 5-7 feet thick. They disappear at day time. I really feel like they are fish because they are little banna shape figures..just like there bigger counter parts. I guess I am questioning how much bait fish can really exist in a lake? Where can they hide during the day? Can zoo plankton build up during the nightime and create this thick blanket of forage? My best idea, is these are landlocked alewives which I hear go shollow at night and ball up in the deep during the day. Anyone else see all of this activity at night on sonar? I tried lights at night, can seem to catch a glimpse of these fish in 15 feet.