A-Jay

Maybe we should think of soft plastic like it was really just live bait that's super easy to care for A-Jay

There's a fine line between soft & effective or "durable" but fishes like a hunk of chewed bubble gum. While I don't want my soft plastics baits so soft they fly off on the cast, I can't & don't expect much from many of the more firm offerings. Durable may be a relative term and can mean some thing a little different to each angler. For me, I do not want anything close to Durable. I want soft. If it's a one & done then that's what it is. If I want a bait that's expected to get repeat customers - I'm going with a hard bait, otherwise - on any cast - the pike here can & will shred any bait bait- regardless of it's composition. Berkley Powerbait, Lake Fork Tackle, Lunker City, Megastrike, Missle Baits, Provider Tackle, Reaction Innovations, Reins, SK especially Rage Tail baits, Xcite Baits, Yamamoto, Z-Man & Zoom along with a few custom hand pours, round out the majority of my soft plastics staples. A-Jay

I like & use vibrating jigs quite a bit and have worked through a few different rod & line combinations looking for what I thought was most effective for me. And yes, I have settled on a QUANTUM TOUR KVD SIGNATURE SERIES TKVD746MA 7'4" MEDIUM HEAVY CRANK BAIT ROD with either 40 or 55lb Diawa Samuri Braid. Same rig I go to for rattle baits in the grass. Allow for excellent casting distance, decent sensitivity and "Slow" enough" that I'm not setting up too early on striking fish. Also I can still snap it out of the grass sufficiently to clean it off. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Check out the 6th Sense Lures bait ~ S n a t c h 70 FRS (Faint Rattle System). http://www.6thsenselures.com/#!******-70frs/c12iq Might be just what you're looking for. Works for me. A-Jay

That's a nice mess of sweet, finger licking, deep fried, Goodness Right There ~ Congrats A-Jay

Hello David and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Line choice (type & size) is often dictated by the conditions fished & the technique used. For starters, I'd say 12-15 lb mono is a solid base line that can work in many different situations. I'd recommend that you spend as much time in the Bass Resource Article section as you need. What you'll find is that it will make this as well as many other choices you'll need to make a little easier. http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ Good Luck A-Jay

In the heat of the summer, I love to burn “white on white” spinnerbaits. I burn it very fast just under the surface. And I mean FAST - as fast as I can get it to go and still track straight & run upright. This tactic can work any day, but especially on those calm, flat, still bluebird sky days when nothing else works. Common thinking for such conditions is to slow down, go deep, do finesse; and that works. However, burning the "white on white" is often an effective & pretty exciting option. The strikes will rock your world ! On some of these days one would think no bass were on the bank. But come back down the same section - not a cloud in the sky, not a ripple of wind - and burn a spinnerbait just under the surface and suddenly, it will seem like a miracle as the "barren" bank now seems filled with aggressive bass that materialize out of every spot of cover, every crack and shade spot on the bottom to smack down these whites on whites with a vengeance. It's a commitment to do it but it's a ton of fun when they get it. This tactic can work in a variety of locations, but it's effective especially over submerged grass beds, through the "Lanes" of a lily pad field, under & around docks, underwater wood and rock piles. Long sloping main & mid-lake points with deep water access close by are my favorite areas for Big Summer Smallies. I'll set up shallow & throw out over deep water, fish come up quite a ways to get it. In super clear water some wind does help for the brown bass. A high speed reel, a long stout rod & 30-50 lb braid is my tackle of choice. And a Trailer hook is a must. A heavier bait is recommended as it allows for a long cast and helps the bait to stay in the water at the high speed required to attract attention & illicit the strike. I use 3/4 to 1 oz baits. A weighted SK Burner & the Bottom Dweller work here. As does the Revenge Deep Runner Double Willow bait. (pictured) Dropping the blade sizes down one or two numbers is a standard practice as it allows the bait to attain max speed & still track straight. By making a long bomb cast and engaging the reel just as before the bait enters the water the bait can be kept high in the water column. Then, as the line comes taut, start reeling like there's no tomorrow as you sweep and keep the rod tip high overhead. The white on white will be just under or bulge the surface all the way back to you. Every 20 to 25 feet, lift the rod tip so the blades come out of the water. When they come out, they will clack together - and it will appear as if your spinnerbait is exploding. The clacking blades will flail water, the blades will fly every which way, and the jig (spinnerbait head/skirt) will jerk over on its side, swerve sideways and then wobble back as it rights itself. Don't stop reeling. Reel so fast that the bass have to race as fast as they can behind the bait for 10-15 feet just to catch up to it. And if they swipe at it and miss - they'll not catch up to it again! When the waters clear enough & the conditions are right you'll often see one or more bass come up and follow and even strike the bait. I'm always amazed at just how easy they make chasing & catching the bait look despite my reeling speed. What I've come to believe is that even though it seems like I'm reeling super fast, I couldn't actually reel too fast for them to catch it if & when they want to. Speed is a powerful attractor, especially for smallies, they love to chase - they really do. I might collapse on the deck gasping for air after a few minutes of doing this - but I usually smiling. A-Jay

A baby girl... One of the most beautiful miracles in life, One of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in your world today. Congratulations to you both. A-Jay

I'm going with a FROG ~ I RECOMMEND.... Name of Lure: Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin' Frog 60 Color: Midnight Walker Conditions To Use: Just about anywhere but really excels in and around cover, specifically aquatic vegetation. The heavier the better. Notes ~ Use of Braided line highly recommended 30 - 65lb. Why Do You Recommend: it's designed to attract bass out of the thickest cover with its loud popping sound. It casts like a rocket and is weighted to land upright every time. The live rubber legs can also be cut down to further manipulate the frog's action. The Bronzeye Popper also comes equipped with specially designed 3/0 Gamakatsu Hooks that fit the bait perfectly for solid hook ups. Any Specific Techniques walk-the-dog, pop it or chug it - dead stick the heck out of it. It all works well. A-Jay

Nice Job ~ Congrats btw, Love the Pickerel Pic . . A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Congrats on the PB, they are Always a Blast. As for the teeth being sharp meaning the fish only feeds at night, I have never heard that before. A-Jay

Part of the bait ~ A-Jay

I routinely retain the remains as there is almost always a need. A-Jay

I think so ~ One of those nasty Pike Sharks They're All over the place here A-Jay

Mend-it is good stuff. But it couldn't help much here ~ A-Jay

I laughed out loud right there ~ A-Jay

Not on Z-Man's ElaZtech plastics or Strike King 3X ElazTech Plastic but pretty much any thing else. Especially cost effective on Hudds. A-Jay

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ A-Jay

I like KVD as well. But this could be where Mr. Lee gets some Redemption ~ And it would be even sweeter if on final day, his bracket opponent was none other than, the same Mr. Van Dam. A-Jay

~ ^^^^^^^^^ ~ Glad you're OK. THIS ! You paid them to handle this if & when it happened. Well it happened. Stay on them to Do Their Job. Best of Luck to you. A-Jay