hookset on 3

Well said. That's what I use and the reasons why.

Maybe, but Grease has only been on the BR Forum for 2 months. That means he's averaging 400 posts a month! Yowsa!

All you Guys are Country!

Mega, you need to get DVR recording from your Cable provider. It's an absolute necessity for me.

Why do you think that most of Owner's new hook designs are being produced with the Super Needle Point? The Cutting Points are still available, certainly, but any introduction of a new style comes with the Super Needle Point.

Have you ever noticed that when a pro angler is being filmed, while unhooking his lure, they toss it over the side after it's extracted from the Bass' mouth? Is this so viewers will not be able to get a good peek at what bait they're using? I could not think of any other possible reason for this little Backhanded toss.

A-Jay That's a slam dunk. Baitfish are always darker on top and lighter on the belly. That would work virtually everywhere.

Those big lunkers will totally break your heart. Like you said, if there is one minor flaw in all those variables, the big girls will exploit it. That's a huge part of why I and a lot of other anglers, are hoping to catch that giant. Quick story: Hooked a hawg at my feet while wade fishing a small pond that had a drain pipe connecting it to another larger pond nearby. Anyway, I'm standing in the water about 30 feet from this pipe and wouldn't you know it, this lunker made a beeline right for it and got half way inside. Somehow my 12lb flouro held and I was able to pull her back out and finally land her. Tell me that fish didn't know Exactly what it was trying to do.

MassBass, I want to point out something about how each of us is wired. I'm an Introvert and always need my alone time, to deal with life. I fish alone at quiet little ponds and small lakes. Either on foot or my canoe. We are in an Extroverted society, that promotes being part of and joining the crowd. I used to be in a big B.A.S.S. club in Wellesley, Mass. I tried and tried to enjoy it, but eventually went back to what I really like, which of course is being by myself. If you find happiness and serenity in fishing out of the way ponds....Do It. Life's too short.

Joe, that's one of the best posts I've read of yours. Stellar.

Well said. Any cadence or speed change is usually a strike trigger. Guys talk about having cranks deflect off of objects, which is awesome if it's logical for the type of cover that you're working around. Moss and slimy weeded bottoms will dictate that you create your own directional change with your rod tip.

Sarge, I've been throwing cranks on Suffix Performance braid this season in the 20lb test and absolutely love it. Between the cast going to the moon and the sensitivity, what's not to like. I've been throwing it in stained to muddy visibility and like you stated, I can feel the smallest piece of weeds on a treble. 20lb braid is = to 6lb mono diameter, which I find is plenty strong enough to get out of a lot of snags. Tight lines, Tony

Has anyone tried out this Lunker City (Slug-Go) Wacky Worm called the Spanky? These stickbaits have got the end to end shimmy like nobody's business. I put an o-ring or doubled up elastic band in the center to extend the lifespan of these gems. These where rolled out a few years ago and really have flown under the radar. Get yourself a bag, they rock.

Everybody has their preference and that's fine. I would try add simulate the colors of the panfish and minnows that you see swimming around in the shallows. Regards, Tony

The BR members have given you some great tips on how to get the hang of this technique. All I would like to say, is that if you only look at your rod tip while twitching the frog along it seems to really help in getting a rhythm going. Give it a try. Tony

I concur! This thread needs to be Pinned.

This is what I use. Dermatone Fisherman's Scentless Sunscreen. http://www.amazon.com/DERMATONE-Ultimate-Fisherman-Sunblock-Fluid/dp/B001OPK2AI Try it..you'll like it.

Great day Clayton! Man, those big girls will break your heart,uh? That's cool that you went from shakey heads to hard swimbaits and still kept tagging them.

Will, nice story and on a beautiful looking day, that this fellow New Englander can Truly appreciate. Those are some stout looking Smallmouth. P.S. Looked like you were the only boat around. That's what I love about Quabbin. Hookset

Since Road Warrior turned me onto the Ika, I have found it to be absolutely deadly on pressured or wary bass. I've used them consistently for the last 5 years. You won't catch many dinks, as this is a Big Bass bait, IMO. Tight lines.

Creek Crappie, it says in your avatar that you like fishing topwaters. For what it's worth, try slowly reeling those two Normans baits and they behave just like a Wakebait. I use mine on the surface sometimes if the fish will hit them like that. Good score!

speed craw, As an add on to what Papa Joe said, the stock hooks on the Original Chatterbait are notoriously dull out of the package. The manufacturer, Z-Man, took steps to correct that, by putting a Gamakatsu on their newer Elite style. I've read that lots of bass fishing tournament anglers have tried sharpening the original hooks, but they are so lousy, you can't even put a good point on them.

That's great. Pretty soon you'll have to change up your lures, as the bass will wise up to what you're throwing.

PT, let us know how you do in your tourney. I throw Elaztechs/ Z-Man often and have had lots of success.

Yeah, I got your back on that, Shane. The last time I fished it, we were sticking 2 to 4 lb smallmouth around most of the mid lake islands. Then around noon time the Cabin cruisers and Cigarettes Racing boats invaded the lake. It was treacherous! I've not been back in about 6 years.