Shane J

Nice lineup, but don't keel-weight an Eeliminator.

Here you go. Just make sure you use a good, EWG 4/0-5/0 hook (preferably a heavy wire). When it's all rigged up, it should be perfectly flat. Also, only put the hook in the top to right about where the "eye" on the bait is. This bait is killer when thrown right into the nastiest of weeds. http://www.ragetail.com/ragetailshad.html

Unlike the Baby Craw, named after it's bigger brother, the 7" Thumper is actually not called a Baby Thumper. Just the 7" or the 10". Both killer baits, though.

Yes, there are smallmouth in the Saco.

If I'm goin' big, I'm goin' for the Lobster, Thumper, or Anaconda. I like them all either pegged weight Tx rig, or keel-weighted (except the Thumper, which only gets the tx rig or shakey head).

Good luck, klubba. Champlain is an exciting place to be able to fish. Some serious smallies in there, buddy!

nhbassin, I do use a specific hook, the Moaner Stroker keel weighted hook, 1/4oz (they have a twist lock on them, too, which makes rigging easy, and saves the baits). There are others that will get it done, too, but these are the best, and at the best price. My reel for this presentation is always a baitcaster, but I do have a friend that only uses spinning gear, and he catches fish on this rig with that, too. Hope that helps. http://www.moanerhooks.com/

Hey, thanks, I'll have to check that out. On another note. Today I got out to two different places, and got 26 more bass. They ranged from 1.5 lbs, to 6lbs 4oz. Got 9 this morning on topwater (Rage Shad), then a few on a new Rage Tail bait Tx rigged, and a ton on a keel-weighted Rage Lobster, including the big one of the day. Stay on 'em, guys!

No problem there, just go at 3 in the morning and you won't see another soul! Plus it's the best time to fish!

I don't think I've ever fished out that way, but keep us posted on what you think after you fish it. Give it a try, you may just find a real honey hole. Do me a favor, and try a Rage Craw on a keel-weighted hook. Those shallow grassy places are perfect for that rig. Just let it drift on down into the weeds, then rip it out with a little jerk, then swim it slowly, occasionally letting it flutter down. Bass kill that thing! Good luck, man. Hey me and you gotta get out again soon sometime. Shoot me a PM and we'll hook it up!

No way! Every morning I fish, from around 4:00, to about 5:30, I cannot keep the bass off my Black Neon Rage Shad. About a week ago, I had 18 fish ranging from 1.5 to 5lbs all in under an hour and a half. So fun! You guys are lucky I keep forgetting about this little contest. I actually wouldn't stop to measure them anyway when that kind of bite is on. Good luck to you all, though.

??????????? Too deep? You do realize that they make these things called weights, right? Yesterday, I found fish in 30 foot water, but I managed to catch 17 of 'em.

Nope, I'm not having any problem at all catching the bigger fish this year. In fact, just a couple days ago, I caught a 6 on a new lake. I'm not gonna tally my numbers right now, but I definitely have over 20 5+ pound fish so far this year. Try fishing bigger baits, and where the bigger fish will be, and you will see yourself catching bigger fish in no time.

I agree that the NRX is an amazing rod, however, I would not trade my spiral wrapped JB Custom rod for one. At only 3oz, it is just as light, and every bit as sensitive as the NRX. I plan on having a couple more made in the near future.

You might be surprised to see how much of a difference the right amount of weight can make in getting a reaction bite. Go heavy in the deeper water, and see what happens. Sometimes they want a slow falling bait, but more often than not, especially with big old 10" stuff, they will just kill a quickly falling worm. My Favorite big worm is the Anaconda, but a very close second would be the Thumper. Until just last year, I always went with the theory, go as light as I could get away with, but then on a somewhat windy day, fishing 18' of water on a hump, I went over the top with the weight, and pegged a 3/4oz Tungsten weight to my Thumper. That thing fell like a rock, and I was catching more bass than I ever did on that bait.

Rage Tail Baby Craw, however, the new 4" Rage Grub has been killin' it for me lately, too.

I guess to answer the question, I'm going with the Falcon Lake Craw. My bag looks like a Rage Tail showcase, including every bait, in every color, plus several baits and colors that are not on the market yet, and they are all favorites, but the Craw does get used the most overall, since I use it in so many different ways, including but not limited to, weighted and un-weighted Tx rig, keel-weighted (my favorite), jig trailer, drop shot, and C-rigged. There is no body of water that has bass in it, that I can't catch them on a Rage Craw.

What? No left hand model? That thing is nasty.

I forgot all about this. I'll be out early Sunday morning, talk to ya when I get back.

I fish places like that all the time, and the key for me, has been a keel-weighted Craw. Just slow roll it until you feel the weeds, and then rip it a little, then keep a pace that keeps the bait just at the top of the grass.

Please don't kill a 5lb fish for your wall. Replica mounts are better anyway. Take very clear close up pics of your fish, and take them with measurements of length and girth to a reputable taxidermist, and you will be just as happy with the results. Catch and kill gets no love from me, sorry.

Hey, what's up everybody! Sorry I haven't been posting as much as usual, but with summer in full swing, I've been just working and fishing my arse off. I've been slaying 'em all over, havin' a ball! Looks like everyone's been on some good fish around here, too. Keep it up, y'all! One question for the guys who have fished Stumpfield. That place is killing me. I've been there twice, and caught a bunch of fish, but all about two lbs or so. What gives, and what am I missing? I know that place is home to some hawgs. I'm usually pretty good about patterning bigger fish, but that lake has me, well, stumped (get it?).

Yeah, buddy! The keel weighted Craw has saved the day for me many times. Nice fish!

KVD, Shaw Grigsby, Big O Big O Flipping deep water stuff for monster bass. I'm going to actually get to do this in the near future, and I couldn't be more excited. That guy is a wealth of knowledge, and after spending a few days with him last week, I learned so much, I can only imagine a day on the water with him.

I was there Sunday, and the water temp was 65, slight wind, and partly overcast most of the day, with a little rain in the early part of the day. From what I could determine, most of the big girls have spawned, and are suspended in 12-18 foot water, hanging around the 9-12 foot depth. The smaller fish (2-3lbs) are hitting everything under the sun up shallower, especially around lily pads, but the big fish were not hitting anything. We tried a ton of stuff, with no luck with the bigger fish. I was really hoping to figure out what those post-spawn females would hit, but it just didn't happen. Good news for me, is I will be back there in a little over a week, so I get another shot (actually two, since I'm fishing there back to back days). Anyone with any thoughts on how to get those bigger suspended fish to bite would be nice. I do love that place, though.