Catt

Ring Rascal has a color called Starry Night; it is dark smoke on top, clear smoke on the bottom with lots of silver glitter in the clear. This goes against every thing you hear about night fishing, but it's a killer. One of my largest (5-28.5 lbs) stringers was caught at night in 18' of water on a Wal-Mart Renegade 6 curl tail worm black with silver dust. Darkness covers up an angler's presence and most of all his mistakes Doug Hannon

Slumps are something we all deal with; I've found through the years the best way to handle them is to get back to basics. I know what my strengths are and fish towards them; I suggest you should do the same. If you are good at Flipping/Pitching, Texas Rigs, Cranks, Spinners, or what ever concentrate on those techniques. If you are good at shallow water, deep water, grass concentrate on those areas. I've learned to down size my tackle to just the basics, it is extremely hard to be a master of all the available techniques. I'm very good at Jig-N-Craws, Texas Rigs, & Spinner baits so I fish where I can maximize these strengths. I'm not that great with Crank baits so I don't waste tournament time fishing them. I don't try new techniques either when tournament fishing, I do this when I'm play fishing. So when in a slump I would look for small things to change, like timing of the hook set, speed of the hook set. Pat Miller & I have been fishing together for about twenty five years & we don't hesitate telling the other when he is not on top of his game. It is not a major change that is usually needed when you are not getting bite.

Steady or falling

This is a repost of one I did on Texas Rig Old School I was introduced to the Texas Rig back in 1972 while the equipment has changed the technique is still the same. The Texas Rig was originally designed to fish a plastic worm but today it is used with any type of soft plastic. The Texas Rig and deep water (15' +) structure 1) Make a long cast 2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall 3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be 4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom 5) Lower your rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual 6) Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 11 o'clock in three motions 7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual 8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat 9) If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement. 10) Without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook

The lures I have found to be most productive: Gene Larew 7 ½ ring worm black neon with a clear tail that has silver glitter in the tail. Gene Larew 7 ½ ring worm camouflage, Gene Larew 7 ½ ring worm Junebug/blue tail. Gene Larew 7 ½ ring worm black/blue tail, Gene Larew 7 ½ ring worm grape big red. And Renegade 6 hook tail black/silver glitter. I also use these colors in 10 worms, 4 craw worms, 6 craw worms & Baby Brush Hogs but I will use other colors if these don't produce. Never limit yourself when it comes to colors, sizes, or shapes, some nights I have had to change baits regularly to get bit

Many of Toledo Bend's shore lines are covered with buck brush and during the spring this brush is flooded thus affording bass an almost impenetrable hiding place. One way I attack this thick cover is with a short heavy action rod, a jig, and on foot.

Instead of using a lure why not use a map and your depth finder? Find structure & you'll find bass

JT article is outstanding Feeling the bite is the hardest part to master when fishing a jig Learn to weigh your bait. Explanation: if you can go to a swimming pool, pond, or creek any where with clear water where you can see your bait on the bottom in 5 to 10 of water. First pitch your bait about 10 to 15 yards on the ground, close your eyes a shake or hop the bait. Feel what the bait feels like in no water (I mean really learn it). Then pitch it out in the water and do the same thing. I can feel a Texas rigged worm with a ¼ ounce sinker hit bottom in 15 to 18 foot of water. If you can't you need practice! Now you are probably asking yourself what does this have to do with feeling a fish bite. Well if your bait feels any different that this, drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook!

The eyes of a bass go through a night adaptation cycle beginning at twilight and are usually adapted for black, white, and all shades of gray within an hour after darkness. Bass can see color but not at night, color it's self is meaningless at night. Bass cannot see details at night, so don't waste time with meticulously painted or patterned lures. Contrast is more important by far than color at night. If you fish water where shad or minnows are the predominate prey species, then try white spinners with a white grub. The usual night time favorite black is the second choice in shad populated lakes. Black or dark hued lures give maximum contrast at night when run on or near the surface. Under water vision for the bass is reduced at night, so use lures that are a little larger. Slow retrieves work better because it lets the bass locate the lure easier and zero in on it.

Hello Matthew & avid Nice to have the boys back in town

It depends on what kind of craw worm you're talking about, some are thin, and some are thick. I use Gene Larew craws which are thick so I rig them with a wide gap off set hook; on thinner Zoom craws I use a straight shank hook. When using a craw other than a jig trailer I always use a bullet weight and Texas Rig them but some times I rig them on a jig head.

The most I've ever fished was 27 days straight, what this does is allow you to pick when and where to fish. During the 70's and early 80's when I was heavily into tournaments I would work construction for 8 hours drive up to the camp on Toledo Bend and fish all night then be to work at 7 AM the next day.

Weather forecast for today 03/10/07 Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. My work forecast for today 03/10/07 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM :'( :'( :'( :'(

There is only one problem with both boats Both have underrated outboards Other than that I own either

I use attractants for two purposes first as a lubricant because I fish in grass a lot and the attractant helps my plastic baits slide through the grass easier. I use Fish Formula II or Baitmate (clear) with a ½ oz of pure anise oil added; this is to mast any odor my plastic may have pick up.

Oh you dang sure don't want to fish with me then

When is fishing not fun? You got to be kidding or your have never been truly bitten

Look below your tiller handle there is a u-shaped bar that is used to carry the outboard if there is a slot made in this bar you can use the steering you mentioned.

Gene Larew Salty Hawg Craws in 6, 5, & 4

A major mistake is made when fishing grass and it is the belief that one should use a light weight to stay above the grass. When fishing grass you want a heavier weight to penetrate the grass because a majority of the bass is located under the grass not above it.

Raccoon Eyes are a badge of honor

I'd have to guess it's at least 5 to 5 ¼, good solid fish

I know this mushy stuff aint macho so get your stuff straight you dang ole fool and get back here and harass muddy

I never understood why a person would take the time to tie a Texas Rig and then peg the weight? That is killing the entire purpose of a Texas Rig which is to have the weight and bait separate. To me you may as well tie on a lead head and be done with it

That set up is so old school it's older than me but it can be used in any boat with any outboard. Personally I wouldn't use it; you may find a better set up a Cabel's.