Megastink

I used to live in Wi: Fort Atkinson (south-central). Swim jigs and frogs, baby.

Texas bass tackle *m has tru-tungsten screw in weights on close out. I know they have 1/16 oz, maybe one size lighter... Just a thought.

Blade baits shoul be fished more like jigs that lipless cranks. They are great cold water bass baits. They are also the premier bait to throw in winter for largies in the upper Chesapeake. I think the home furthest toward the head gives you the most vibration, and vice versa. Good luck!

Sping Craw with Gold Flake.... OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH that was a killer! I wish they'd bring it back. Yea, what? FFO? For me, its the Bomber Balsa B crankbait. It didnt last too long. It is was a larger profile Balsa squarebill with a thick lexan lip. It had a shallow dive angle and wide wobble, and was THE TOUGHEST squarebill to snag, PERIOD. I went nuts last winter and bought about 20 of them. Also, about ten years ago, FLW had a series of lures exclusively through Wal Mart (right around the time they first linked up). They had an 8" Curl Tail worm that is still the most productive soft plastic bait I've ever used. It had a garlic scent to it (when that first became the big thing). They were so good, I'd wish I find some on ebay...

I had a bird once try and pick up my pop-r off the surface. He was hovering over my bait and I said to myself, "Hes not gonna..." Then he dive-bombed it. And missed (thank God!). It happens sometimes.

Every year I clean my baitcasters, and the time has come. Unusually go over it with a toothbrush and oil to scrub off the dirt, but I was wondering how each of you clean your reels? Walk me through your ENTIRE process, what tools, materials, and solutions do you use? What areas or parts do you target? Any tips for better performance? Let us all know!

Grea swim jig trailer. Put it on a 3/32oz mushroom head when the bite gets tough around bridge pilings. Yo-yo it. It's a great trailer for swim jigs, too!

I do this when the fishing is slow and I'm fishing with a friend: When fishing a topwater, like a buzzbait, I make sure i fish it all the way back to me. On about the third or fourth cast, whenever my poor partner isnt paying attention, right before I would pull the lure out of the water, I dip my rod in the water, and shake it violently back and forth, and start screaming like Iaconelli landing an 8 pounder. My buddy usually whips around, eyes as wide as grapefriuts. After they see that I apparently dont have the new state record on my line, I laugh as they call me something dirty. Its a good time...

Yea, I think I'm gonna buy some BOSS hubs. $.50 each isn't bad.

Clackerbuzz, that's exactly what I will do tomorrow. I'm going to the craft store!!!!

Whats the "hub" made from, or where do I get it?

What brands do you like, and why do you like them? What brands do you dislike (if any)?

Does anyone make their own Punch Skirts? I am NOT referring to the "flipping weight with collar molded in" style. I am looking for a DIY, how-to type of home made punch skirt. I want to know how to make something like a Paycheck BAits Punch Skirt, and perhaps a Finesse version, like the one Zappu puts out. I've read a bunch of reviews on the mass-produced ones, and the two main issues around are: 1) Roughing up line and eventually causing a breakage or 2) Plastic "collars" break, redering the skirt usless. I want my version to be made of some sort of metal, as well as wire or thread tied (wired preferrably). Anyone? Photos appreciated!

1) Built for weeds at any depth with hard cover mixed in (Born on the Mississippi River). 2) use a medium action rod with a little give; like a good top water rod. Hook set is sweeping like a crankbait. 3) Brovarney and Leathal Weapon (from Wisconsin). 1/4oz, white, bluegill, black/blue. Now, for some notes: a good swimjig is designed to glide slowly through the water. 1/4 oz is the standard. A pointed head is a must. Light or regular wire hook (3/0-4/0) with a LIGHT weed guard. Line should be 30-40lb braid. Reel should be 6.4:1 or slower (5.4:1 preferred). Trailers include single and twin tail grubs, small paddle tail swimbaits. Fish a swim jig in pads, grass, around wood, docks. You can use it in place of a square bill, chatterbait, spinnerbait, or skinny-dipper style swim bait. Good luck!

What's the coldest water temp you caught a bass (LM or SM) on a top water? What lure was it? In what area? I'll go first... It was the Northeast River, MD late November last fall. The water was 49F. I came up to a floating mat on a weed flat and noticed a bluegill hanging out in a hole. I picked up my SPRO frog, and caught three quality LM bass in about an hour. I think that's pretty chilly for frog fishing.

I throw Jawjacker Custom crankbaits. They are whidled, hand made and hand painted in Tennessee. Phenomenal baits. I like balsa baits over plastic.

I only know a few things: fish the 10'-15' drop offs and points. The crawfish in there are watermelon/blue with orange tips on their claws. Drop shot like a boss!!!!

I just looked; it doesn't say "made in" anywhere. It does list the address of Pure Fishing in Spirit lake, IA on the back. However, it doesn't say where it's made. There is a symbol above the address that is a fish, but the body of the fish, from the head to the tail, is made up of three letters: ECO. There is oriental writing around it, but looking closely, it looks Japanese, not Chinese. Fishing is big in Japan, I suppose it could be the overseas importer for Japan. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Ok, in my previous thread, I asked if snaps on cranks was a good idea. It was a resounding YES! Next questions: What type of snaps do you use? What brand? What size? Do you leave the split ring on, or take it off?

This is one of my top three techniques in winter. Find the Steepest bank on the lake, and throw parallel to it. The bank should be at least a 45 degree angle. I question your dedication, sir!!!! hahaha YES! I fish the Northern Chesapeake Bay quiet often, and the ol' Silver Buddy (blade bait) is the premier technique. Find videos from Pete Glusek about fishing the SB in winter. Dont be afraid to fish shallow. Bass in winter will be shallow, but not necessarily relateing to cover. cover water quickly with a balsa squarebill (no rattle). Dont reel to slowly either, you are still looking for a reaction strike! I agree with the first two. My number one-of-all-time winter tactic is BURNING a chrome rattle trap. You might want to yo-yo it as well. Dont be afraid to fish it overly aggressive. Winter temps often produce a baitfill kill. Bass might be used to seeing shad flutter down to the bottom. Thats where a silver buddy comes in. yo-yo it on the bottom. The shallowest bass i ever caught was in 8" of water, next to a tree... in February. I grew up in northern New Jersey. This lake was all frozen; just this one little flat with one tree on it was thawed. and i caught that bass on a jig. I grew up in Jersey, you live in North Carolina. Our two opinions on "tough" winter fishing might be a little different. Good luck!

Ok, guys, lets hear it... I have read a lot of good things baout using snaps instead of split rings for your crankbait fishing. I understand the logic of saving time (instead of retying). I like that idea, considering that I'm a tournament guy. I'm looking for feedback, good or bad, about using snaps. Does it effect action? Does it make the bait more or less prone to snagging in hard cover? Do snaps pick up grass more than split rings? Someone sell me on it or against it! Also, what size, brand snaps do you use? Where do you get them? Barlows? somewhere else? I use a lot of squarebills and cranks that dive less than 8' and are under 1/2oz. A million questions.... annnnnnnnnnd go! Thanks!

I havent seen one of those in YEARS! At least twelve or fifteen years. Hold onto that one, it may be worth something someday!

Powell has a 7'3" Heavy in their "blades, cranks, top water" section of their site. It's my pitching stick. Soft tip, lots of backbone, lightweight, sensitive, total parabolic action, lifetime warrantee ... What's not to love???

I lived in Wisconsin, birthplace is swim jigs, for several years. A good swim jig is typically 1/4-3/8 oz, has a light or regular wire hook (for easy Hookups), a bullet shaped head, 12 strand MAX weed guard. It's designed to be thrown in the shallow, weedy lakes on 30-40# braid, though old schoolers like 14-17lb mono. 1/4 oz, tipped with a 4-5" single tail grub, is then slow rolled, meant to bump into every stem of grass. That's what causes the reaction. The light weight is also essential because its also thrown over top of slop like a frog with unbelievable success. I like Brovarney baits swim jigs. Affordable, best components, and they just plain catch fish.

$9.99 a bait. VERY affordable for a hand made balsa crank. Try emailing the seller on eBay OR email the company.