A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

If that split ring allows you to switch out the hook and you want a longer section before the hook bend - check out the VMC Extra Long Wide Gap Hooks. They should solve that problem. A-Jay

Impressive list. More like a whole Library though. A-Jay

Better Quality is a relative term and may mean something a little different to each of us. I have a decent assortment (insert Way Too Many) of jigs myself. This product is in a separate category for me because of it's versatility. I'll tell you that I'll only recommend products here that I've used, are effective and most importantly - I've caught bass with. That qualifies as solid quality in my book. A-Jay

Yes. A-Jay

Another option, and this one hasn't gotten any where near the attention I thought it would, especially since it's so versatile & super effective - is the Stealth Live Action Hybrid Jig and the Hydra Live Action Hybrid Jig by Freedom Lures. http://freedomlures.com/stealth.html http://freedomlures.com/hydra.html Both these heads are pretty Killer. A-Jay

The only knot on these rigs is when the main line connects to the hook. In each case that area is most often buried in the front of your plastic. So it's fairly "protected". A-Jay

The punch hub version is a little longer when rigged as compared to the weight with the molded one piece hub. Additionally, since the punch hub version consists of a separate weight & shirt, rather than that being one piece, it's a little more "flexible". Can't sat for sure it either of these characteristics are actually "beneficial". Beneficial to me means able to be fished effectively & catches fish. Both do that. Another way to rig this is to use the set up pictured below ~ this one's presented on a horizontal plane like a swimjig rather than the more vertical structure type manner. And to keep the nose of this rig up you can omit the bullet weight and instead use a weighted swimbait hook. Both come through cover well. A-Jay

Still Making It Happen ~ WTG ! Congrats A-Jay

No doubt that looks like a great water to present a jig but using a Texas-Rigged Plastic & Skirt combination is also viable & effective option; especially from the bank. Comes through cover well and having the ability to mix & match weight size & skirt type and color makes it very "customizable". Here's the rig, from the main line to the hook: -A bobber stop - A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight.( if needed) - A tungsten bullet weight of your choice - a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar - The skirt of your choice - A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook) - A Quality hook - pictured is a 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook) - Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast The Strike King Slither Rig is also an option & it's essentially a pre-made version of this rig. You'd simply add bobber stop and the hook w/plastic bait. A-Jay

Your Welcome ~ Me Too A-Jay

"Yup ~ and even when read & studied a couple of times, until you "see it in action" and are able to prove it to yourself; "Spoonplugging" could seem like many other "How To" bass fishing periodicals you may have read. When in reality, it is so much more .. .. .. .." Interesting that much like BP's writings - even responses about the info seem timeless . . . . A-Jay

A-Jay

LOL ~ EAT FRESH ! A-Jay

One Heck of a Lunch break Mike ~ Awesome Bass ! Whatever you did have for lunch I'd encourage you to repeat it as often as possible. Great way to start 2017 ~ Congrats A-Jay

Yup ~ and even when read & studied a couple of times, until you "see it in action" and are able to prove it to yourself; "Spoonplugging" could seem like many other "How To" bass fishing periodicals you may have read. When in reality, it is so much more .. .. .. .. A-Jay

Go For It ~ A-Jay

I can understand this mindset and it's been a challenge for me to understand or decide if why is something I should be giving more attention to. In the past, I spent quite a bit of time & effort trying to figure out why a bite was good or bad or why a bait produced one time & not another. I expended even more energy on the why's & why not's of spots, lakes & locations: keeping this response along the lines of the OP about structure. When it was all said & done - instead of as asking why and expecting to be able to answer it definitively, I ask maybe and hope for perhaps a few pieces of the puzzle with results being the final answer. Reading @Team9nine response above, I happen to agree with the mantra that because virtually none of the success in bass fishing is 100 % repeatable 100% of the time, "answers" are like unicorns . . . . . . Each angler's approach to bass fishing is different and mine starts with structure and movement. It offers a starting point to maybe find the bass and perhaps have some understanding of where they are heading. Right here is where I used to ask Why. Almost every time I expected the answer to revolve around food, but as mentioned above, the variables are many; weather, cheaper rent, the price of gas, who knows. . .I'm good with finding them wherever they may be and hopefully getting a few of the fatter ones to eat. A-Jay

Hello from up in Otsego County Welcome to Bass Resources Ty. A-Jay

Cool, I bet you'll like it. Check out this recent thread on the subject - has some good info. A-Jay

Now knowing a little more about the waters you're fishing, a blade bait is not what I'd be throwing there either - wrong tool. What does sound viable though (depending on the water clarity - the clearer the better) is a Quality Suspending Jerkbait. It can (and should) be presented around the cover and over the grass. Play with the pause length and instead of hard rapid "jerks" - think subtle with plenty of pause time. Give the bass a chance to get the bait. In cold water conditions, a slow smooth steady "pull" and pause works too (instead of the jerk). Mark Zona details the technique in this short video. He talks about using a deep diving jerkbait but this is just as effective an approach with a standard jerkbait. And in your case either bait may work as long as you can keep it above & out of the grass. btw - as soon as that water warms a little, that place you've described, sounds like a squarebill crankbait could Demolish bass in & around those cypress trees. A-Jay

Very Early & Late in the season - definitely Mid-Day; looking to fish the warmest part of the afternoon. During the warmer months, sunrise & sunset bites for me are often about the same, both potentially good. Sunrise topwater seems better. But let us not neglect the Night bite here now either. Even though it's a little spooky it's a still a good time to sneak up on those big tricky bass. A-Jay

Hello Young Man and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Nice Video A-Jay

Sort of Like this ~ This is a snow pile in the Town Hall Parking lot A-Jay