bigbill

I use the Mann's Classic 1/4oz Colorado gold blades, with a blue glimmer skirt. (White color with a blue tint) slightly stained to stained water. The Mann's Classic 1/4oz Colorado gold blades, with a chartreuse skirt. Over cast dark days with light rain, stained to muddy water. Feel free to add some YUM SHAD Scent. My trailer are mister twister 4" split double tail grub. Add a trailer hook the spinner bait comes with. Install the grub on the centerline so the spinner bait will run perfectly vertical. Cast it out a reel it just fast enough to make the Colorado blades snip I never burn it I make it look like an easy meal. I set up the 1/8 & 3/16oz spinnerbaits the same way. But I trim the grub body so it fits the hook. If the spinner bait doesn't come with the skirt colors I want I change them to blue glimmer (white) & hot chartreuse (chartreuse). For shore fishing in 10' of water if that I prefer the 1/8, 3/16 & 1/4 oz. Spinnerbaits. Glenn here taught me how to use spinnerbaits. The main thing is not to give up trying them. Wear your polarized sunglasses and watch behind your spinner bait or any topwater lure you can see for short strikes. When I see short strikes I go slower at first. If no hook ups I may speed up. It's not luck in fishing it's skill. Bigbill

A wordens Flatfish in gold which is as rare as hens teeth is a killer in the nearby water shed here. I got this tip from the kids in the old neighborhood. I think the split shot rigged worm is very under used. Probably because the presentation is very slow.

I didn't have snap on tools when I worked for one of the top ten engineering groups in the country I purchased craftsman tools for all my workers. I started out using zebco 202 $5 reels when I was a kid over 50+ years ago. We used it in freshwater and In saltwater. We wore one reel out per year. That's a lot of miles on the bicycle fishing too As I got older we still fished for trout every opening season. I had cheap spinning reels with $2 rod if that. The spinning reel was on clearance for $5. I toasted a few of these cheap trout reels while catching averaging 3# bass. I realized the Wal-Mart quantum bubble pack spinning reels were affordable and held up bass fishing. My Wal-Mart quantum and my Shakespeare black beauty 6' spinning rod using 8# Excalibur fishing line caught and landed my PB 10# which still stands years later. I don't have expensive fishing equipment even today. I'm happy to still be out there fishing. Enjoying nature at its finest.

Everyone should clean and lube your reels at least once a year if not more under heavy usage. Make them last. Sorry to hear about your dad but that's awesome your using what he left you in his memory. I like certain models of the Fin-Nor spinning reels you just can't find anymore. When I find a spinning reel I like I purchase one of every size. I didn't with the fin-nors. I found one used on eBay but the picture it looked like new. My point is I opened it up to clean and lube it and it was already done plus the spool has new line too. I believe there is few and far between when it comes to who cares for there tackle. I still have my orginal tackle from the 70's that's still in New condition even though it's antique now.

I just ordered two of all three sizes to try them out.

I find it funny that I been preaching here on and off about the use of locking snap ball bearing and standard locking snap swivels to somewhat negative responses. Now that KVD is promoting and using them the game has changed. I was using locking snap swivels when using them wasn't cool. Just kidding but it's true.

I been using the standard cheap Wal-Mart snap swivels on my Carolina rigs, worm rods, anything that doesn't require a smooth side to side movement like inline spinners and spinner baits. I prefer the ball bearing snap swivels on my crank bait rod and topwater bait rod. I like to use the norman snaps on my lures that don't have split rings were I can't connect my snap swivels to them. The Norman snap extends out the loop so my snap swivel can be attached to the lure. Those little eyelets are made for tying too not for using snap swivels. I'll check out what you listed there. Bigbill Btw, I use nothing but the locking snap swivels. I'll be darned I can shoot the wings off a fly at 200 yards but I can't tie a lure on in the dark or light.

Just don't make fun of my $12 & $14 Shakespeare bait casters I learned on these and still have them of course there museum pieces now. Listen to the guys here.

Second your line is good for topwater. I started out using 8# silver thread copolymer for my senko & Carolina rig rod. I keep the line just snug enough to feel a nibble.

I'm due for more. Once my 4 fishermen/ 2 fisherwomen learn how to use jigs all of Mike's jigs I purchased last year will be gonzo. Die in going to need more.

I wash my hands with big orange before I go fishing. I do not touch gasoline before I go fishing. I use scents and sometimes do a small squirt and rub it in my hands. For my fish lures I use a shad scent "Yum" For my crawfish lures I use a crawfish scent. For my worm and crawler plastics I use a baitmate worm & crawler scent. I have a frog juice for frogs. I match the scent to the lure I'm using. I don't smoke while I'm fishing.

Before dark while it's still light. Example, I use a joesfly 1/4oz bass size in blackgnat. Let's say the bass bite is on all different sizes. As it starts to get dark the bite slows to a hault. I switch to a joesfly 1/4oz firetiger apache and land a few more bass till dark. The basses eyes adjust to the change in light faster than the bait fishes eyes at this time that's the reason for the bass eating frenzy. My hottest evening baits have been; Joesfly in blackgnat & firetiger apache. Spooks chartreuse and white. Mepps inline spinner Anglia #3 silver blade gray tail. Strike king inline spinner #3 silver blade black/yellow tail. Mister Twister Top Prop in fire tiger. Remember what works at night also works in the early am too.

These fizzing remind me of the old alkeselzer trick with the tubes?

Look at the cherrywood rods too.

Need to keep them close to our heart in our tee shirt pocket when ice fishing. Thanks for the info. Has anyone tried them on crankbaits?

From shore casting distance matters. I can cast farther using Excaliber Silver Thread copolymer line on any spinning reel setup. I would make this change first. I like to cast past the fish and bring my topwater lure to the right or left of them by a few feet so I don't spook them. I work my lure softly past them. I cast parallel to the Lilly's and weedlines when I can too. The thrill is I draw them out to strike. The game changer is switching to a line that gives us shore fishermen more distance. You don't always use it but it's there when needed. From shore I like a 6' med action rod for most lures. My topwater rod is a med/hvy action rod. For a decent $100 on clearance a LEWS SPEED STICK or LEWS TORNAMENT spinning rod can be found for 1/2 price or less on eBay. Use the spinning reel you have now and change your line to Excalibur silver thread copolymer. You should be under $100 way under. Buy some YUM shad scent and let the bass fishing begin.

I tend not to stay with one lure. I will fan cast the whole area skipping my fan casting around not to spook everything. I do not slam the water. I try to make a gentle cast as it hits the water. With spinnerbaits the key thing is the speed. I like to use a slow even speed. Practice circles with your reel handle not egg shape circles. Your lure goes fast then slow then fast again etc. Once you master an even circle with your reel handle your lure action will increase your catches. Trust me on this one. Just watch your lure change speed with the egg shaped movement of your crank. Shore fishing isn't so tough when we do it right.

Yup it's which piece of snow removal equipment I tune and prep first.

I'm sorry I'm a hard tackle box guy. Right now I carry two Plano 9606 split roof tackle boxes. I just can't carry enough with me. I try every size and color in all the different baits. I have five tackle boxes in the car that's close by. I take two or three with me. I'm a tackle hoarder too I'm sorry.

These could be a hot ticket for ice fishing? My score so far in ice fishing is human 0 fish 6.

BPS FPS TOPNOCKER #25 color number 1 topwater lure. It's discontinued sorry. Rebel pop r blue. #2 topwater popper. Mister Twister top prop in fire perch #3 use a very slow steady reel or a 1-2-3 pause or a long pause as it falls vertical the bass kill it. I have every color made in the top prop I just haven't tried them. I have the high roller lures in poppers and props and they work too. Some lures with orange bottoms work better than non Orange bottled lures. You will also find that orange bottom cranks catch more fish too.

Ever use the scent called Fizards? It's a paste you can put on a bare hook that activates in the water giving off a shad scent trail of bubbles it actually fizzles in the water. It's on you tube. Let me know what you think. Bill

Spinnerbaits work. Glenn here in the very beginning of this site told me about them. First my thanks to Glenn. From shore for some reason the smaller spinnerbaits from 1/8oz to 1/4oz work the best for me right now. I'm still learning too. I use a blue glimmer skirt with a gold Colorado blade, 1/4oz, with a mister twister 4" split double tail white trailer with a trailer hook. The Mann's classic 1/4oz twin Colorado gold blade spinner bait comes with a blue glimmer skirt just add the skirt and th. The Mann's classic 1/4oz twin Colorado gold blade in chartreuse spinner bait again add the trailer and th. I also purchase the blue glimmer skirts and the hot chartreuse skirts for replacements and to setup my 1/8 & 3/16 oz spinnerbaits. I do cut the body on the mister twister 4" split double tail trailer to fit the hook on the smaller spinnerbaits. The spinner bait MUST run true. That means perfectly vertical. You may need some practice installing the trailer. Add a shot of yum shad scent and your good to go. Glenn's true words stay trying them. Don't give up. We need to learn how to use every lure with success. We need to learn every presentation with every lure for success. We need to stay focused and motivated. Wear polarized glasses and watch your lure when you can see it. Look for the flashes behind your lure. If the fish are making short strikes behind your lure slow your speed. Your going to learn that every lure catches fish in the right situation when we use the right color for the water conditions matched with the correct speed for the basses mood. Pay attention to what the bass are doing.

Norman violet thin N crank.

Norman violet thin N crank.