airborne_angler

So I have been getting my gear sorted out as I'm probably gonna start my season around March 1. I remebered a box I had stashed away with some vintage soft plastics like Fliptails and such.I came across some bags of 6 and 8 inch Manns Jelly Worms. This is what they gotta be because it says "MANNS" right on the tail. These are out of thier original packaging and now just in Ziploc bags. Sadly they don't have that oily sheen or scent anymore. So I T-rigged one up with a 1/16oz bullet wieght and messed around with one in my 55 gal aquarium. Can't say I was impressed. What action (if any) are these worms supposed to have? I've read lots of hype about them...what makes em so special? Is it the scent? Maybe its because these are old, they don't do anything...are they supposed to put out vibes? Float...what's the deal?

So I've recently started having success with topwater baits. I've been throwing a Rebel POP R and recently purchased a Rebel CHUG R. The baits look identical with the exception that the CHUG R is longer. So really whats the difference other than the size...? Also is there any difference when referring to a popper and chugger

So it's been taught to me that it would be a good idea to have a soft sticky bait like a senko or yum dinger tied on when fishing topwater baits. This is because when a fish misses a top water bait Its possIble that fish is still in the area and looking for the meal it just missed. So what about throwing the topwater bait to get the fish fired up and then throw a soft stIck bait to pick up those fish that have been turned on. Has anyone ever given this technique a try?

Something else to consider. I go to the lake at least once a week,and most of the times im the last individual off the water...after dark. In all the times I have gone to the lake this year,this guy in question, hasnt been around...the one time he does come around...my vehicle gets tampered with...Coincidence? Sad thing is...I made a joke to his fishing partner who was waitin,and was wondering what was taking so long...I jokingly said..."Hes probably up there letting the air out of my tires..." Well that didnt happen,but if indeed this guy did tamper with my vehicle...I wasnt far off... I called the lake just now and asked if anyone had reported a break in of thier vehicle. The guy told me that there was a red truck the other night that was broken into. That red truck was parked next to my Vehicle. $300 A purse an some expensive camera equipment was taken from that red truck...There was a gun in the red truck but it wasnt was taken. So that means there were 3 vehicles in the parking lot. The guy in question,the red truck and my vehicle. My vehicle got tampered with and the red truck got broken into but the guy in questions vehicle wasnt touched!!! Too much of a red flag Coincedence? I reported as much info to the store owner as possible,Ive been on this guys boat,Ive ridden with him to the lake in his truck,I picked his brain,I kinda know his past...i know what hes capable of!! So anyone care to tell me "who dun it?"

I was on the water from 10am until dark. This guy showed up around 4 pm. Yes something could've happened in all that time when we were BOTH on the water....whatever. The boat launch isn't very far from.the parking lot...walking there and back might take me 7 minutes if that...I have no proof,but can't help but wonder. This guy has an arrest record for shoplifting,burglary and theft,and has been charged at least 7 times according to publicly accessible court records. Just last year he changed his last name...wonder if he wanted to wipe his slate clean as his old last name had a reputation.

And how do I know this happened while my vehicle was at the lake you ask. I NEVER lock my vehicle any other time. I locked my vehicle after I parked it,and the lock was just fine any it functioned...now it doesn't function at all.

So there's a guy locally that goes out to the lake I fish...in fact that's where i met him.We arent good friends,I have him on my Facebook,and we comment on each others stuff.He's even invited me out on hos Bass boat. He was at the lake yesterday.He went into the boat ramp before I did.His fishing partner was sitting at the ramp and we got to chatting. Then his partner says " what's taking him so long,he left like 20 minutes ago to go get the truck." I go to retrieve my vehicle,and discovered the rear lock to my hatch has been tampered with and it appears someone tried breaking into my vehicle. At the boat ramp i called this guy over and warned him that someone true jimmying my lock. He looks at the lock and says something about it appearing the lock was drilled. Then playfully he looks in my rear window and say " so what you got in here"...Then without missing a beat,he starts talking about the length of my trailer and jokes about my 10 inch tires and wheels. We part company...thoughts and opinions please....

The lake I fish has really really thick matted beds of Milfoil. I'm using 65# because if they get in there I wanna be able to get em out...

Went to WalMart this morning to check out the Topwater baits they had...the only topwater they carry in this store is a Rebel POP-R and a FROG-R. All the POP-R baits had white bellies regardless of what the sides and top looked like...there's gotta be something about a white belly on a topwater bait...

I have heard the Palomar can slip with braid...any truth to this?

I've heard that braid is best for topwater baits as the line floats,which gives the topwater better buoyancy. Braid also helps cut through vegetation. I've gotten into throwing Popper recently,and was wondering if 65# braid is too much,too thick or too heavy for a bait like a Rebel POP-R. What's a good knot to tie on this bait with braid. I think the knot I'm using(Double San Diego Jam) may be too bulky and causing a decrease in the "POP" Can anyone suggest a good strong knot with the braid that wont slip and isn't too bulky.

Perhaps I need to experiment...go out one day and throw the Bone colored Popper and then the next time throw a dark colored popper...of course that may not be an exact comparison...weather,wind and temps along with other variables will affect things...

Went out yesterday and had a tough day.A friend of mine swears by Popper as his go to,and fishes them ALL THE TIME and does very very well. I tried all day with a Popper and got nothing. The Popper I was throwing was a Popr in a Perch pattern. It was older and the finish was beat up. In fact throughout the day,the finish started coming off entirely. Right before sundown,I gave the finish some help and removed it entirely. I now had a plain solid white bone color popper,no features,no eyes with a white teaser tail rear hook. I've heard people say black or darker colors are best inn low light situations...could've fooled me...in 15 minutes I was able to boat 3 fish...largest being 2 pounds. So was it the bait or the conditions that suddenly caused the fish to turn on? I'm starting to think maybe black or dark is good in low light...but when it comes to topwater...it may not even matter. Anyone care to share thoughts ideas and opinions on this?

I know either one has its place and time based on conditions,but I also know some prefer one over the other. For those who have fished both,which do you prefer and why?

Have a 1/4 oz Bitsy Flip I've been throwing, I wanted to try different trailers. Would a Paca Chunk be too large as a trailer on such a small jig?

It was a real short fight. I was the back seater casting in front of the boat,the fish wrapped itself up in the TM as I was bringing it in,but my buddy managed to free it,it came to the back and I was able to lip it. It was dark,so at first I thought it was an obese dink Bass...there was no holding this fish with one hand like you normally would any other Sunfish...the slabs on this fish were too large.

Went to the lake yesterday and caught this Redear Sunfish. Was really surprised, as this lake is not known for a large population of these this fish.This one went 1.7 pounds on my friends digital scale.This may not be a record fish but it was very very thick. We were targeting LMB and my buddy caught 5 on a Pop-R largest being a 3.5 pound fish.This Redear was totally unexpected.

I just looked at the packaging...its a 1/4 oz Bitsy Flip,not a Bitsy Bug...are there major differences?

So I wanted to give a jig a try (again) and figured since the lake I fish has lots of dinks,is try a small jig. Thinking because the dinks are pretty aggressive and easy to catch,this small offering may help me break into jig fishing,by giving me the chance to learn what a jig bite feels like. I've got the jig paired with a 2 inch Berkley straight leg Power Frog chunk like trailer. The real question I have is about the retrieve. It's such a small light offering,how do you keep it on the bottom? Or is it a matter of fishing it just like a larger jig,but the movements/action you impart on the jig,are just way less pronounced and more subtle. I feel if I hop this jig,its gonna come 4 feet off the bottom,sail over over all the fish,and then all I'm gonna be doing is swimming it. What's everyone's approach to small jigs like this?

A mark down from $29 to $8 is a pretty darn good savings in my book. I'm always looking at the clearance areas when shopping for tackle. I may or may not use it,but for the price I couldn't beat it. Heck...I may just try to turn a profit on it at the local swap meet. I gotta say everything I've read on these rods is that they are indestructible but on the heavy side. May just use it for catfishin...

Crankbaits ...hmmm... is it because the "give" in the limber tip will allow the rod tip to load up,allowing for a better,more solid hookset,instead of a more stiff tip,which could potentially pull the bait away from the fish?

Picked up a new Ugly Stick the other day. It was originally $29 marked down to $8. It's a 7 ft medium action casting rod. I noticed the tip seems kinda flimsy. Anyone use this rod before? What's a good application for it? I only picked this rod up because of the price,otherwise I would have passed.

Last year a local non managed pond suffered a fish kill upon our first downpour of rain in the monsoon season. I was certain the pond was done for. The banks were littered with lots of small bluegill/Green Sunfish,some Bass and a few large Koi that had been stocked by someone. I go there just last week,and I see a nesting area with what appears to be a bunch of potato chip size Sunfish on it. Further along the bank I spot some 7-8 inch LMB. So how did these fish not die in the fishkill? Could the fishkill actually been beneficial? It did away with A LOT of the Bluegill in the pond,which were unusually small,and likely not going to get any bigger. How long before this pond regenerates its self to where it was prior to the fishkill? I ask this because prior to the fishkill,I was catching 2-4 pound bass out of this non managed pond.

I think I've read that in Arizona,felt bottomed wading boots are not allowed anymore,probably exactly for this reason.

So my boat is inop right now,and I've decided to hit a pond nearby that I used to fish as a teen. Haven't been there in at least 8 years,but Google Earth shows it as I remember...water appears muddy. When I fished this pond as a teen,I was really only targeting Catfish. Ive never fished any muddy water for Bass. What baits,colors and techniques are popular and productive in this color water? I suppose a larger,more visible target is in order and that finesse techniques wouldn't be too productive.