earthworm77

Tex, you need to get yourself a lurecraft catalog..... www.lurecraft.com This will have all of the essentials for pouring plastic

Yep, that one is mine too.

Yesterday-on the jig n pig page

Nope, that will cause line twist unless you use a swivel and I omitted it because I didn't want to use anything in this bait that could cause a weakness. This bait fishes like a crankbait, it puts out a thumping vibration, crankbaits don't spin unless there is something very wrong with them. I'm not sure the orignal bait has a swivel on it.

The blade is simply stamped brass. It is modeled after the old Eagle Claw Eaker Shaker. The very cool thing about this bait is that it doesn't spin or roll over on itself like you see the Chatterbait do in the video. This means no line twist.

With the advent of these baits causing a stir, I was challenged by a friend to build my own. I did, it took about 5 minutes for me to fashion it and here it is. Most of that was just thinking about it. Although I was skeptical that the thing would even work as I thought the concept was a gimmick. I've taken 7 bass in the past 2 nights, about 2 hours worth or fishing on it. Gamakatsu hook Powder painted head hand poured chunk hydrosilk skirt

Preach, if you go to the site listed at the bottom of my posts, it will take you to a page that has access to all of the books I've written. If you need any help finding it, pm me.

I believe that in order to achieve consistent success at bass fishing you have learn the scientific aspect of it. It is totally more than just picking out an old lure and making a cast to any old piece of cover. Sure, you can catch them at times like that. But I also believe when and if you don't catch them, it is because you failed to adapt to their changing environment. I don't think I am a better angler than anyone but I do think that I have become more educated and organized about my fishing than most. This has led me to incredible consistency. Regarding pH, Lunar tables etc., I feel there are times when these things can come into play. I've published about 300 articles and although I never wrote about pH or lunar influences on bass I've certainly experience some degree of success when I felt that they were important factors and applied them into my fishing. I published a book in December called Systematic Seasonal Patterns for Bass Fishing. It is based on how I have managed to pattern fish on a consistent basis in each season. In it I use something I call the seven ring method that has helped me find fish anywhere. I won't lie to you, I can't go out everyday and catch and 8lber but the system has definately led me to a consistency rthat gives me confidence I can catch fish at anytime of the year, even on unfamiliar water. I moved down to Florida in Sept. I'm fishing unfamiliar water all the time and I've done extremely well here. Sorry didn't mean to promote my book, not my intent but it applies to this post.

Gobble- Practice makes perfect.

I pour about 500 to 1000 bags of baits a month for my business. I don't heat my molds ever. Some guys swear by it, I don't do it. If you think about it, if it has any bearing on pouring, it will only be beneficial for your first pour. Then the mold will naturally be hot. I don't see how pouring into a warm mold would allow the bait to cool faster. I always thought about pouring on a cold pack to make the mold cool faster.

After you read that book, go and find Micheal Jones' Finesse Fishing book. They go hand in hand.

Your family will be in my prayers.

Bd, I got it from amazon for .99 brand new, can't beat that!

the bass from Fork is 15.29. photo below, sorry if the photo is giant.

T-Mike, I just saw a photo today of a 15+ caught at Fork recently, like within the past week or so. I think 15.37 or something. Nice fish. And a better photo than Perry's. Oh, that's right Perry didn't have one. :-/

Sowbelly is a good book if you want to know what goes on in the life of some of these big bass hunters. If you are looking to learn, there is absolutely nothing technical about it. I recommend Big Bass Zone.

Guys, I work on the water and I do not see dead flaoting fish often. Maybe one a season or so. Lets keep this friendly, it has gone 180 posts without anyone really flaming anybody else. This is no doubt one of the best bass fishing threads of all time.....and it didn't generate in Georgia....sorry R-Trap, I'm playing! Look out for the Mets this year! There was another very big fish caught in the early 90's by Sandy Defresco, it was claimed that the fish weighed 21+. Upon examination though about 1.5lbs of diving weighs were recovered from the fish. In my opinion, the only way a record will be broken is if the fish is killed and thoroughly examined. This type of thing has seemd to spawn the worst in some people looking for their 15 minutes of fame.

Was her name something like Leaha Trew? I remember the story. I also agree about Duclos, who was a big bass fisherman but miraculously didn't get the catch certified correctly. Listen if you catch the biggest bass ever, C&R is going out the window. R-Trap, what is the difference between the weather in California and many of our Southern States? Either case both fish were very big. Anybody post a photo of Duclos fish? Regarding Floaters, R-Trap- great point. While it appears likely a bigger bass has been landed, the 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth caught by George Perry 71 years ago is still the official world record. Here is that story on the Hoax In the only photograph taken of the fish, Leaha Trew, 45, of Santa Rosa, Calif., holds up a largemouth bass she claims weighed 22 1/2 pounds. A California woman's claim of a 22-pound, 8-ounce largemouth caught Aug. 24 has been officially denied by one record-keeping group and only half-heartedly accepted by another. Both the International Game Fish Association of Florida and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Wisconsin will continue to recognize Perry's fish as the world record. The Hall of Fame does, however, recognize Leaha Trew's 22 1/2-pounder as its "unofficial" all-tackle world record and its official line-class record for 12-pound line. Neither organization is ready to dismiss Trew's fish, caught at Spring Lake, as a hoax. As a matter of fact, both are willing to concede that the fish is likely the largest largemouth bass ever caught. But, both say that Trew, 45, of Santa Rosa, Calif., failed to properly document her catch, at least not well enough to break what is considered the most cherished record in fishing. A records committee of the International Game Fish Association rejected Trew's request in January, posting its decision on its Web site at www.IGFA.org. Friday, IGFA records administrator Doug Blodgett said the decision was difficult. "It was definitely a tough decision for the IGFA," Blodgett said. "We looked at it for several weeks, going back and forth and taking everything under consideration.' "While the committee is not saying that they don't believe the Trews are honest people, or that the fish was indeed caught, they're just saying that we don't feel that satisfactory evidence was provided (for such a milestone)." Last year, the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame kind of accepted Trew's application and at the same time kind of rejected it. The Hall of Fame accepted it as the line-class world record largemouth bass for 12-pound line. But, the Hall of Fame stopped short of giving Trew credit for its official all-tackle world record, citing insufficient documentation. The Hall of Fame said it requires a biologist to examine any world-record contender. Trew's fish was not examined first hand by a biologist. The only witness to the fish, other than Trew's fishing partner, son Javad Trew, was a friend who was picnicking at Spring Lake. The IGFA doesn't require a biologist's examination, and it will accept catch-and-release fish for record consideration, provided there is ample documentation. In this case, there just wasn't enough to satisfy the IGFA. Had the Trews provided additional witnesses to the weighing of the fish or to its measuring, that may have been enough. "Here we have what is probably the single most recognized record in fishing, and the only witnesses were her son and a friend who was at the lake," IGFA spokesman Mike Leech said. "If they had rounded up a couple of disinterested witnesses, that probably would have been enough." Said Rob Kramer, president of IGFA: "We don't enjoy having to reject world record claims, but in this case there were too many unverifiable factors, so we had no other choice." According to newspaper and Internet accounts, Trew's fish was weighed by her son, Javad, on a hand-held BogaGrip scale that had previously been certified by the IGFA as accurate. The IGFA acknowledges that the scale, which measures in half-pound increments, was accurate. The Trews didn't help their claim, the Hall of Fame said, when they failed to have the fish photographed next to a tape measure or any object that would provide proper scale or a photo of the fish being weighed. The only photo was taken by Javad Trew on what he claims was the one frame left on a disposable camera. The photograph shows Leaha Trew holding the fish at arm's length, and, according to the IGFA, it didn't provide any scale by which the size could be judged. Leaha Trew has not spoken publicly about the fish; instead, she has let her son do her talking. Javad Trew has had little to say other than that they were fishing out of a 13-foot inflatable boat and that his mother caught the fish on a 7-inch swimming bait made by Storm Lures. He did say that his mother doesn't really care about the lack of certification. "She knows she caught the record bass," Javad Trew said. Back to me........you can see what the IGFA requires, however, Perry's fish didn't have half of this documentation and no photo.

I would have to say that California has the best shot at the record. No other state has come close and just because some states such as Texas or my own Florida pump out fish in the 15 and 16lb class does not mean they are close. Granted there may in fact be a few records swimming in those states but there is no doubt that California has the best realistic shot.....all others are extreme long shots. I don't care what is floating dead some where, if either Florida or TX produced a high teener or 20, then they too can be considered in the running, until then, sorry, it's a single state race. Put state pride aside!

Buzz, you are right, such a prestigious record should have at least a photograph for proof.

I think it will come from Georgia. ;D

RattleTrap, your Georgia bass are Florida F1's...man made help. Your throwing stones at your own Glass House. California does not stock trout to feed the bass, they have a tremendous trout fishery and bass happen to benefit from it. At one time there was talk about eradicating bass to protect the trout. Please stop the insanity. :-X

Unfortunately the idea you brought up is true for many. Bass Master does little more than adorn my bathroom for some quick reference. I've paid little attention to it. It is not the higher authority or even a hugely credible one. Hell, it is a horrible barometer for the pulse of bass fishing as a sport. If you know anything about me, I'm no fan of the accolades Pro's get. Like I said earlier, I don't believe anything that I read. My point is a fish that big, that close to the world record, would generate interest and it would surely get a footnote, likely in several mags. It would get people swirling about more fish that big at that location, it is certainly newsworthy. Consider that there have been 4 or 5 20+ bass caught ever and now perhaps you can understand the magnitude of it. We are talking about the most pursued record of all time.

Despite the debate here, this threadis possibly the best thread I've read on any bass fishing message board. Some good facts, some obvious B/S and some closed mindedness, it all makes for some interesting reading. I now actually hope the record falls, like next week, so we can all talk ole R-Trap down from the ledge! That should be some great reading.

Rattletrap, I make my living on the water. I take everything with a grain of salt. Everything I read, everything I see on TV. When my client catches a 2pounder, I tell him its a 2 pounder, not a five like he thinks. Most people have no clue what a 3, 4 or 5lb bass even looks like. When it comes to bass fishing, I am a show me type of guy. Based on this, without photographic proof which for this case would be the strongest evidence we had of its accuracy, how can I believe in it. Perry never produced the photos he said he had. Explain to me why that is so and I will at least open my mind to believing the possibility of this record not being a hoax. Until then it is a fabrication that unfortunately slipped through the cracks created by time. There is absolutely no solid evidence supporting the validity of this catch. The d**n record was certified a year and a half after the fish was long digested. Nobody verified this catch. It likely made it based on its submission to the Field and Stream contest. Because it was accepted there and there was no current LMB WR, it filled in a blank spot. It was not scrutinized like today's submissions are. Without any supporting evidence how can anyone be so sure this is legit. Open your mind a little. State pride is one thing, but Christ man, all facts point to naught.