catchnm

No doubt Zoom plastics are awesome. I've used Baby Bush Hogs in just about every color they produce. I don't remember ever adding scent to any of those and they flat catch fish for me. I started this thread because I decided to give the Fat Albert Grubs a try and came home from Academy with a few bags the other day. None were scented so I dropped a few drops of Hawg Sauce in each bag. That's what started me thinking about the scent injection. I'm gonna fish the grubs a bit tomorrow and I'll post back after that. I'm sure I'll catch fish on them. Will the scent make a difference, probably, but like has already been posted I believe the only difference will be the fact that the fish will hold the grub a little longer after taking it.

If you get ready to lose a couple of those Crankin sticks let me know.

Well I guess I just as well jump in on this one......I currently own a few Shakespeare spincast reels. The Synergy Titanium (Ti) series is pretty awesome, comparable to a good Zebco spincast, even better since they are less expensive. The older Synergy Steel line is a good product as well. I use both for panfish of all varieties including some smaller catfish. Drags work great and they are tough reels. Check out the Shakespeare Synergy 'Ultimate' series of spincasters, compare them to some of the "high end" spincasters on the market and they'll surprise ya. I own a Zebco Omega Z02 and hardly ever use it anymore. I came so close to buying one or two of the Dimension spinning reels previously mentioned that I actually had to walk out of the store more than once. Pretty impressive specs and they are ultra smooth when you spin them in their packaging, time will tell if they are long lasting. Still may get at least one, but I'm not that big of fan of spinning gear anymore since arthritis in my wrists has limited my abilities to handle the heavier spinning gear. Lately, their baitcast line has started to look pretty appealing for an inexpensive starter or for back-up or bank fishing pond reels. The Agility baitcaster has gotten some pretty decent reviews. No doubt the Ugly Sticks are awesome, who hasn't owned or at least fished with one in their lifetime? Here's a surprise though.....the Excursion rods that can be purchased for less than $20 are sensitive and tough and come in a bunch of models for both spinning and casting. Make good back-up rods or like mine are, panfish and "pond" rods. Is the Shakespeare line for the tournament angler? I say an emphatic NO. But their products are great for the weekend/occasional recreational fisherman, and the rods are good back-up rods that are inexpensive and will certainly get the job done. BTW, I fish for crappie with a gentleman about 75 years old who still fishes with his '80's Shakepeare tackle exclusively. He uses it for everything, not just crappie but also striper, bass, and catfish.

I was just wondering why Zoom doesn't inject their plastics with any kind of scent. Most manufactures now either add to or inject their products with scent. The coffee scent has been all the....uhh...."Rage" lately, especially for me. I really like Zoom plastics, especially the Baby Brush Hogs and Trick Worms, but always add scent to the bags when I get them. Maybe they do add scent and maybe I'm missing it, but I can't detect any on the new Zoom baits I purchase.

Of all the different variations of this jighead being offered now which do you guys consider to be the best one. Bill size, price, etc.?

Lots of these type jigheads showing up all over the web-stores and in tackle stores in cities and towns also. I have never fished one of these. What's your best weight, bait, and method for fishing these?

Don't forget about the "Donkey Rig". ;D

RW you fish the same setup as me except I use a light baitcaster. Baby Craws will catch fish when the regular sized won't. LOVE 'EM!!

Oh yea....what he said.

Full size Craws and Baby Craws, Rage Lizards, Annies, Toads, these are some of my favs. I do best on the craws rigged tex-posed with a 1/8 oz. unpegged bullet weight. In the grass the unpegged weight helps it to preform somewhat like a carolina rig. Shaky head in the sandy/dirt or rock bottoms, any way you rig 'em the craws are awesome. I've even caught fish on the craws buzzing them over submerged vegetation. Lizards are the only baits I have a durability problem with and most of that is due to the bluegills loving those undulating appendages so. But I usually go through 4-6 lizards on a regular day of fishing. This is not true with any of the other Rage Tail baits I've tried, they're good for 8-10 fish apiece usually. I use Eagle Claw razor sharp EWG hooks and don't oversize the hook to the bait. 3/0 for craws, Annies, and lizzies, 1/0 for the Baby Craws, and I use Owner Twist-Lok 4/0 and 5/0 for the toads. I really, really want some Eeliminators, Smokin' Roosters, and Rage Hawgs but I'll have to order online I guess. Academy hasn't gotten them in yet and I don't live close to a Bass Pro Shop. BTW, I forgot to mention that I have Space Monkeys also but haven't had any success on them at all yet. I don't fish them as much as the others though, confidence isn't as high for the Monkeys I guess. Like others have said, find your preference, Rage Tail baits are certainly offered in enough styles to satisfy everyone's own fishing preference.

I have two HMG spinning rods. Lightest and most sensitive spinning rods I've ever used, but I've always been a $50 rod guy until this season. I will say this about the ML that I have though, it's a strong workhorse and can handle bigger bass than 14".

I'm gonna try something a little different with the Kreature tomorrow. After rigging it backwards while weighted with an unpegged 1/8 oz. bullet weight and swimming it along weedlines as has been previously mentioned, I noticed it spinning and twisting in the water a lot. But it looked a lot like a jig and trailer also. Got me to thinking....So I picked up some 3/16 "Giggy Head" and will try the backwards rig/swimming action with one tomorrow. Might even just hop-n-drop it like a jig. Here's a shot of the "Giggy Head".

Another vote for the Citica 201E.

Sounds like you've got the opportunity that few others of us ever get. Pay close attention to the performance between the Curado and Citica.......even close your eyes when retrieving each. I personally tell no difference. For me, it's just a matter of retrieve speed choice.

Got a good deal a while back on Ebay for some of these GYCB Kreatures. Wound up with two bags each of the Black/Blue, Watermelon Seed, and the Pumpkin Seed colors. I always have fished them weightless, tentacles back, and slow rolled or really SLOOOOW hop and drop. Never even thought about rigging them backwards and weighting them a bit and then slow rolling. Will be doing this next time I'm out though. My honey hole has grass just like what has been described, up from the bottom and reaching to just under the surface. Good edges to this stuff too. Best bait has been the Baby Brush Hogs. Rage Tail Baby and full size Craws too. Thanks for a good tip guys. BTW - On the Kreatures, I dip the bottom half of the tentacles on the Pumpkin Seed ones in the chartreuse Spike-It.........it's killer!

I also use the minnows for crappie. Beats buying minnows and running out or if the fish aren't biting, pouring them into the lake when I leave. I can catch 3-5 fish on the Gulp Alive minnows before they are torn up, sometimes more.

Find one swimming the shallows and put something in front of it. They'll chase anything.

There's a ton of gar in my favorite honey hole. I avoid catching them though, mainly because I don't want to lose my lure to them which happens frequently. I used to play with them until one made off with a $12 crankbait. Lot of guys around here bowfish for them which helps keep their population controlled. Alligator gar can overrun a small lake or oxbow like I fish in often.

#1 - Rage Toad #2 - Stanley Ribbit #3 - Zoom Buzz Frog #4 - Horny Toad Want a BIG frog? Try the Rana Toro by El Grande Lures. http://www.***.com/El_Grande_Rana_Toro_Frogs_5_Inch_2pk/descpage-EGRT.html#pImage

Hey you're just alright brother......I'm in!

'09 or '10 models then go for it, older than that.....then the price is about $30 too high.

Looks like you have enough hook there, a stiffer rod and possibly a slower hook set may be your best bet. Let the fish have it for about 1-2 seconds before crossing their eyes.

Ragin' for bass is awesome! I use the original Craw and most recently, the Baby Craw. Tex rigged on a 3/0 or 2/0 EWG hook w/ unpegged 1/8 oz. bullet weight. Awesome!! Usually get hit before they reach the bottom. But if they do just a twitch or two does the trick. With the original Craw I like to drag it sometimes instead of hopping it, I think it more closely imitates a swimming crayfish.

What's the primary baitfish in the waters you are fishing? Crankbaits imitate baitfish mostly, some do imitate crawdads and some insects,, but mostly baitfish. Match the colors you use to the natural colors of the baitfish. It's a good idea to try to match the size of the baitfish also. This is seasonal.....small in the spring.....big in the summer.....medium to big in the fall......small to medium in the winter.

I have one of these. http://www.amazon.com/NorCross-HawkEye-F33P-Fish-Finder/dp/B000BV6B6K Use it in my two-man boat, not a graph, just a depth and fish finder. Still pretty good for what it is though.