CWB

Fly me up there with you and we'll figure it out together? LOL ;D

Anyone know when all Strike Kings new products will be avaliable to those of us that do not have their sponsorship? I just saw some Coffee Stir Sticks (Senko Bait) on ebay that look interesting. Have had great luck with Coffee Tubes. Summers almost over up here.

Not all swimbaits are soft plastic. It also depend on what the manufacturer chooses to call his bait. Like FishCat says, you can fish any bait any way you want. I have used stick baits like jerk baits giving them a few jerks but always let them sink and do their thing at some point in the retreive.

Just paged thru my left over 2007 catalog and didn't notice an overload of flukes. They probably pack it with what is selling. Swimbaits?

I'm partial to Tiki-Sticks. next would be Senkos. Still want to try some ***. Have a bag of these but haven't tried them. They feel slightly harder than above listed.

I've used these but prefer Flukes and lately Strike King's Z-Too

They are a little steep and it really hurts when you lose one. Try E-Bay. That's where I get most of mine. Love the Live Pointer and Sammy.

Back when I could afford it and I first started using them, I bought about 100 bags of ZetaBait Gillrakers and Manns Mannipulaters. Both still produce as good or better now. Double curled tail gives unique action. Slowly running out. :'(

I usually push the hook point up where it would exit the bait, making a small hole then depending on cover either skin hook it or push it back in. No problems with hookups.

For a change, try the musky version. Some huge bass have been caught on these. Switch out the stock side hooks with short shank 1/0 treble to reduce tangling on casts. Not for the faint of heart, especially if there are muskies in the waters you fish like up north here. Slow and steady works best. Gives fish a path to home in on.

I fish the Baby 1- on baitcasting gear, 10-12# line. Run it parallel to shallow docks and fish it toward the bank between docks and you might pick off one or 2 moving from dock to dock looking for eats! Over shallow grass, these are dynamite.

Agree with Roadwarrior. Fat Ika is a good alternative. All I use now are senkos. Try a 4". Will fall a little slower. If I come to a dock with a Pontoon boat attached, I go to the Pontoon boat first as that's where the fish will be more often in shallower water. If you can get good at skipping a bait under a pontoon boat from behind it, between the pontoon and the motor, you'll be golden. I have yet to see anyone do this and most boats are pulled into the dock headfirst. Make sure the owner isn't on it though so noone hears the clank if you miss.

Totally agree with Wayne. I use chatruese or white and put some black spots or stripes on the bottom with a marker. Also, don't get locked into the Spro. If you can, buy some of the others and try them. You will then be able to decide which works best for you and how you fish.

Have to agree with Charlie and Rondef. For a hollow body frog, try scumfrog big foot. Kicks up as much fuss as some buzzbaits.

As Sam said, cherish this spot. You don't know how lucky you are. I mostly fish the lakes close to Chicago and the fishing is pretty good but you have to put up with alot of cr*p. Jet Skis and water skiers/tubers coming within 10 feet of you and worse another fisherman pulling up right in front of you and fishing down the weedline or bank you are fishing. I was froggin some pads a few weeks ago and had a pontoon boat cruise between me and the pads instead of going behind me. I had a few choice words for him and kept fishing. Sorry for the rant but I feel better now. P.S. Nice fish dude!

Bought a wildeye Blugill on sale at BPS and it comes back to the boat sideways. No tuning would help. I removed the hooks and gave it to my kid. It looks great though! :-X

I'd be lost without BPS. When I place an order, I usually do it over the phone and know instantly if there is stock. I have had the same problems with out of stock with web orders. I've been using Tackle Warehouse more and more. Seems like they have the "Hot" items sooner than BPS.

First make sure the fish actually got the bait. Depending on where you are fishing it might just have gotten a mouthfull of slop. Count to 2 or if you can stand it 3 and reel up and if you feel him, hit him with all you've got. Once they get hold they usually don't let go. I use scent on my frogs. Using Braided line helps. A lot of times the fish inhales so much grass with the bait you'll just end up yanking the bait out of his mouth but thats part of the game. If you see your line moving you know he's got it so slam him now!

Has anyone out there tried Vicious Flourocarbon? I'm hearing more and more good things about it and want to try it but any firsthand info would be great.

Berkleys and Basstrix are great but pricey. Try Shadalicious or Bass Magic. Another tip- I boil them for abour 30 seconds and it really improves the softness. I use the 4.5" with a Gammie 5/0 1/8 oz. weighted superline hook. Never fails. I don't fish too many lakes with a population of threadfin shad but my favorite color is Sexy Shad. Not sure what it resembles but it works!

If you can find them, I think the Mann's Swimmin' Frog is the best there ever was. Rarely miss a hit and in pockets or open water once you clear the slop, it acts like a buzzbait. Have had some of my biggest bass hit it after it clears the slop on the way back to the boat.

My personal favorite has always been the old Manns Swimmin' Frog, which I an slowly running out of. Spro, Boze and Snagproof Bobby's all good but dont overlook Scumfrog Trophy. Costs a little less and is softer than the 3 mentioned above. Great hookups too!. Any color works as long as its pumpkinseed. 50 lb. powerpro good line choice.

I fish heavily pressured, clear water and have had great success using a 4.5" Shadalicious or Bass Magic rigged on a 5/0 ewg gammie hook (superline) with a bass pro clam weight crimped to the hook. Try boiling the baits for about 15-30 seconds each and you will notice a definite improvement in softness and also loose some of the smell. Use scent and fish close to but not right in cover and you might be surprised. Up north here I don't think too many people are throwing these. :

My wife used to fish with me until she said "I Do" Now it's "I Don't" I'm addicted to new stuff that comes out. Way too much time spent on ebay or online buying when I should be selling. Maybe I need an intervention! :-?

Strike King Z-Too or Fluke. Might not be best for lunkers but something will always hit these.