alloymiken

Did anyone ever try throwing a Manns 25plus crankbait in shallow muddy water? I fished the Nanticoke River in Virginia a few years ago in the Eastern Divisionals. In a week of prefishing I think I was only able to catch a fish or two a day. I was pretty beaten down BEFORE the fishoffs even started. Only after the fishoffs did I find out how the local teams fish that area (muddy shallow river system). They use those deep crankbaits to literally dig up the bottom. And of course..............the locals won the tournament. Have applied the same in RI and it works pretty well indeed. Only in mud. Doesn't seem to work in weedy lakes.

I won many a small local tournament on those high blue-bird days doing this. It was a pretty good secret for a pretty good long time.

Try this.

On those tough high-blue windy days it can be hard to fish with the drop baits waiting for those finacky hits. I have found the rattletraps very productive "in the soup". I'll get on the windy shoreline and throw it in as tight as possible. Reel it back as fast as you can. You'll get a reactionary strike. I use a 6.1 to 1 reel and like the bright red mid-size trap. I rip it back so fast, it is just about below the surface when they'll stop you cold. Shoreline with rock and/or riprap with a foot of water or more...........and bang!

I use a white mouse (hook is burried in) or a green from (same). Then you can drag them through the heaviest of crap. If you get the boil and they miss it, throw a heavy jig out where they boiled. Works great.

I am from the belief that you can catch bass ALL THE TIME. I can't remember the last time I got skunked. You'll have to adjust your fishing just as you said. Make a lot of noise. In muddy waters, I like to throw a heavy jig (with a rattle) to really bang the bottom. Especially after the heavy rains.

I don't like fishing after a storm. I DO love it a few hours before it arrives and during it (as long as you are safe). Got to love the fast dropping barometer

I don't remember those "days" :-/ I was probably doing the tournament thing back then. I did that for many years and was reasonably successful so I kept at it hoping to make the Classic. But as time went on and all the TV shows were happening, many young "bucks" got really good and it got a lot harder to get a check. When it became more frustrating and less fun, I turned to "stupid" fish in the ocean. lol My best friend has a 28 foot hydrosport and goes offshore regularly to the edge (80 miles) for these bigguns. It is a real blast. mike

I live in RI. :-/ But I have done a lot of fishing in the South. Where are you going? I have made several trips to the Florida Keys. I love Key West fishing for Tarpon and bonefish. If you want excitement, go Tarpon fishing. If you want real excitement (fly fishing) go bonefishing. Both will give you a woody. lol mike

lol I wanted to try the pro circuit earlier in my life. But now I'm going to be 50, and can't keep up with the young bucks any longer. Hence my need to find "stupid" fish in the ocean. It has been a helluva experience. I am planning on getting my Captains license this fall so I can take out charters of up to 6 people. Just to sort of pay my expenses. The pro circuit is not easy. I respect everyone that tries whether they succeed or not. It's a beotch. Good luck in whatever you do. But always remember, if it stops being fun............do something different.

:-/ :-/ :-/ Why not? Stripers ARE bass.

I'll go with a better than nine Done it all. Did freshwater tournaments for many years. Got bored and now do saltwater. Much more fun and a lot heavier fish. 34 lb codfish Winter "layover" Stripers My biggest striper @ 43 lbs A (est) 80 lb blueshark