5bass

Electronics is obviously the key paired with a good topo map.If you know where some structure is already,get on it and see if they are there.If not,you'll have to study your map and locate some decent looking spots.Obviously where the lines are real close together on your map,that indicates a sharp drop or ledge.Lines that are further apart indicate a milder drop in depth.I'd try any ledges that you can find for starters.Bass tend to stack on or beside ledges in the winter.If the ledge is close to the main channel,thats great.If there are shad schools in your chosen area,that's even better. If you go to any of these spots and you see fish on your graph,notice at what depth they are hanging and throw out a buoy.Once you've marked the fish,back off,make long casts with baits that put you in the strike zone (good choice: suspending jerkbait)....fish slow and dont be afraid to dead-stick it. As you are fishing,ease your way in closer to your buoy if you're not getting bit and once you are over the fish again,hit 'em with a jigging spoon.Count it down by seconds to the fishes depth and start jigging.Try your best to get the bait at the right depth so it will be in their face as much as possible.Try not to fish below the depth they are holding.Be patient with 'em but dont sit on 'em forever either. If you happen to mark fish that are on the bottom and can pinpoint the spot,try a drop shot and let it soak for a while.

You're killin' me.....

Anything particular in the catalog that has caught your eye yet? I've been looking at the new Pro Qualifier spinning reels and also the Extreme spinning reels. The new Johnny Morris Elite casting rods look sweet too.....kinda limited on sizes & powers though. Oh yeah,almost forgot the new David Fritts crankin' reels....they went from 4 bearings in 2006 to 8 bearings in the new models.

Hopefully Bin Laden is next

....the 4 bearing 2006 models are on sale right now $44.98 The 2007 models have 8 bearings and I will be buying a couple of them. I currently use the first generation Fritts reels (goldish beige ones) and they've been real workhorses and you can throw a big crankbait plum out of sight with 'em,I dont see the new ones being any different in that aspect.

I have great luck with the LC Pointers and regular 'ol Husky Jerks......so I try not to get caught up in all the Japanese lure hype.....(other than some LC's).The only Megabass baits I own are Pop Max's.I do like the looks of the Deep X cranks but each time I look at them,I think of how many fish I catch on my Shad Raps,DT's,Norman's etc.... Some of the Japanese baits are real purty though.

My undisputed #1 is .... Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd then....any old school Metallica

I employ the "do nothing" technique and can load the boat with it.The bait I use with the "do nothing" technique is a wacky rigged senko.

Even though the bite wasnt as good as you would've liked,at least you werent at work!!

My favorites in order are DD22,LC CBD-20,DT16,Manns 20+......look thru the threads on the fishing tackle forum,you'll see other members input on some deep cranks.

.....not alot of people like throwing deep cranks like I do.

The only American Rodsmiths rod I own is the David Fritts 7'6" (DF76) fiberglass crankin' rod.I strictly use it for deep crankin' and thats it.I love it.

The door was left open and avid just walked right thru it!!

Flippin and pitchin,t-rig,c-rig,spinnerbait

[moved] [link=http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1167197542/0]Southeast Bass Fishing[/link] [move by] fivebasslimit.

Yes.....thats what I do ALL of my deep crankin' with and I do alot of it,just ask anybody who's ever fished with me.I use the 4.7:1 (1st generation gold one) for any cranks running 10' or more.It has been a workhorse of a reel.IF it ever breaks I wont hesitate to get another. It's sittin' on an American Rodsmiths David Fritts DF76 glass crankin' rod.No complaints with the rod or reel.

dink....yeah, the dude kinda lost me on that one! I like the 3X products.They are a @#$%^& to get hooked right like craw said but boy do they last a long time.I use them anytime I need a slow drop and the 3X centipedes and lizards are pretty much all I use on a carolina rig,just because they float so well.I'll also use the finesse worm on a shaky head because I know for a fact that the tail is going to float.

I've used the original Lindy No Snags but I had to drill a hole in one end of it to make it work like I wanted on the c-rig.Those center sliders look like a good idea for the c-rig but I wouldnt mess with 'em unless they rattle.Plus I would paint them green,brown or some other natural color. As far as carolina rigging goes,I'd rather set my hair on fire and beat it out with a hammer instead of throwing it but it will put fish in the boat when the bite gets tough....its definitely a technique that you should use on a regular basis.

?????

If you want to cover all bases and just have one crankin' reel for shallow - deep cranks,I'd get one with around a 5.?:1 ratio like HH suggested.If you want to dedicate a combo just for deep cranks,I'd suggest you go lower than the 5.?:1 and down into the 4's. I use a Fritts crankin' reel with a 4.7:1 for all my deep crankin' and wouldnt consider anything higher than that.

I'll PayPal you $160 for it right now! Seriously. ;D

I used All Stars (mainly Titaniums) for many many years until they sold out to Shakespeare.After that I started thinning the AS herd and have been buying Kistler's and G-Blanks.The Kistlers are excellent rods and so are the G-Blanks.....those are the 2 brands I'm using the most now.Both are well built,light as a feather and extremely sensitive.I havent had to use the warranty with either of them yet but I would expect that any warranty claims to be dealt with properly. Dont tell RW but I do have 3 Shimano rods that I use on a regular basis and they have taken the abuse well.

I think I would've went back to the truck and grabbed a couple of rods.....thats what I think. ;D That is strange though,maybe the fish had chased some shad back in there and with the water being warmer than usual,they just hung around a while and got trapped when the water dropped?? Or maybe there is warm water running in somewhere back in there and they congregate there all winter.....wouldnt that be great! You should take a rod or two down there and check it out.

I own 2 of the Revo STX's and 2 of the S models so far and both are extremely nice reels.....you wont go wrong buying either of them.I have to get 2 more and I'll be done.

Aint that the truth....you can just read his posts and tell that he's a good hearted person.Way to go Ronnie,Merry Christmas to you.