clooney

2" Rapala crankbait....silver or shad colored...retrieve speed slow!...

Great question because I caught myself wanting to try too many new colors in too many bait types. The water is a little muddy, so I've been catchin' a few hear and there on new fat bodied chartruese or crawdad colored crankbaits which I don't use much because the shad colored slimmer(like rapala's) cranks seem to work much better on the water I fish. But, when I switched to a shallow shad rap(the old standby), I started catching 'em right away! I agree that you should always have your "old standby" ready at a moments notice, even if it isn't working for say the first half hour or so.

I absolutely agree with Merc! Skipping with a baitcaster works if you know how. I saw it first hand this weekend as a non-boater. I mean this guy could skip his jig under the dock 20 ft no problem. Boy did I learn a lesson! He caught his limit and came in the top 20 in the tourney. I was really impressed. Just wished I was experienced enough to keep up with him. :-[ The only plus was that I got to see it first hand for future reference.

The 3 S's.....Sound, Scent and Slow...I guess that would be a black jig with rattles, some scent and a trailer>

Now I would pay to see that!...lmao..The Banjo Minnow Brothers!

Always somebody, huh JT? Did you say you need help lightening the load in your boat? Let us know..lol. The dog and wife thing is funny. "My mom is sick"?....Not so sure about that one! :..Maybe we'll leave that one out of the song!? Overall though I like Ceph's version the best. Squid, you must have some built up anger....dad died....killed the dog....Can you say "issues"! ;D

I would never eat anything out of a pond! :-[

Dark colors(black,purple,watermelon) should work well for you. Try a jig & pig or dark plastics. Just keep it real slow. Yes, dark spinnerbaits are good but try some flourescent/bright(yellow/orange/red) ones also if the water is murky. Some fish naturally hang out near the shore more than others. So, a crankbait fished with a slow(or stop and go)retrieve should work also. I catch fish within 3 ft. of the bank all the time! I would use baits with reds, oranges and again bright flourescent colors. Give us an update sometime!...

Ok... We got you to start using spinnerbaits. Right? You're starting to dig them a bit I assume? So, I am just curious why you didn't mention the "buzzbait" in your list of top waters that you use? But as far as the strike goes I agree you should be patient, make sure the fish has a good bite on it and try a hard sweeping motion rather than a big time jerk.

Well said Raul!!! Light rainy days can be very productive..

Sure, just give us some more info. to go on. Where do you live? Where do you fish?(pond, lake, etc.) How's the weather there?

The deeper it comes from the better it works....lol

Wow! Never thought about the fact that neither Dick's nor Walmart were within 300 miles. I have no BPS or Cabela's within hours, but lucky enough to have both Walmart(cheaper but less selection) and Dick's(better selection more expensive) close by to home. Boy do I feel lucky!

Wow Skeeter!

Anywho, Back to the article. Thanks Craig for all the information you covered. I know for a fact that dropshoting will be my trial and error technique this summer. I see you love your plastics, which is understandable, but I was wondering why you don't use that many crankbaits ? Is it just the area you fish or your proficiency with plastics?

Dick's Sporting Goods! Never heard of it? They have a way better selection around my neck of the woods than does Walmart. Ya learn something everyday...

Who has the best selection on tackle in your area ?

I'de rather have more backup lures(colors) to the one's I already own, then to start spending more money on colors I'm not sure will work at my body of water. I agree with the three or four color scheme. K.I.S.S... Oh, my three colors for plastics are pumpkin, watermelon, black/chart.

Hey Skeeter, I bought fat ika's at a local Dick's store. Now I gotta go read this article..lol

Oh geez.. :-X

More skill without a doubt. But luck is involved..

I think I've got some side arm scooping motion going that seems to be working well. "Scoop".....Is that the word we were missing to describe the casting motion ? Or would you call it a dip ? LOL

7's or 8's is what I usually use. But, like Mike said, you can go smaller like 10s.

Only 9 1/2 lbs. basskid ? Boy do you have it rough! I'm obviously living in the wrong stinkin state...lol

These are two Curado's I'm dealing with. I'm casting with my right and reeling in lefty. When I cast backhanded like in tennis, with the spool axis facing towards the ground I get no backlash and everything is smooth. But many times when the spool axis is parallel to the ground I get backlash at the end of the cast. Mmm?? Is this all about having the proper centrifugal force on the spool ?