Fat-G

Two greatest colors ever made, besides Smoke/Red Pepper ;D

A bass's coloration depends on sun penetration. the more contact with the sun a bass has, the darker it will be. If you notice when you catch a bass in deeper water, it will be a lighter color. Shallow water bass are a ton darker. The bass in you pond didn't have the sun on their back because of the algae, so it didn't matter how deep the were.

Since I am mostly a shore fisherman, I have decided to lose some poundage off my tackle bag. Also, I think I am going to go to a tackle backpack, which would be less painful and way more convenient. The way i am going to shed some of the weight is eliminate tackle that I don't use, and re-stock on my most used, and most productive tackle. I was doing some writing/thinking earlier, and this is what I came up with: I would definitely consider my self a big-bass angler. If I had to pick between a 50 fish day of 1-3 pounders or an eight pounder with a couple of dinks being the only fish I caught the whole day, I would easily choose the eight pounder day. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I would choose the 50 fish day, but 7 times out of 10 it's going to be the 8 pounder. Considering that, I narrowed down the lures that would catch nice fish to spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs, and swimbaits. Chatterbaits, buzzbaits, etc. are thrown in there too. One thing I have a good amount of but NEVER use is crankbaits. I can just leave them at home. Here are the lures I narrowed it down to that I think are most likely to catch me a good'un. Soft plastics: Senko-type baits Trick worms Flukes (I guess) Lizards Jigs: I make my own, and know exactly what I want. Swimbaits: I have a Tru-Tungsten 4", and am about to get a couple of bigger swimbaits. The Senko-type baits and Trick worms are the one lure that I would and do fish 12 months a year, and have the most confidene in. Period. I also have a lot of confidence that they would be the first to catch a trophy bass. So, I am going to lose the cranks, get a ton more Senko-type baits (I actually prefer Dingers over Senkos) and Trickworms, and then be a happy man. I just feel like the cranks are just wasted weight and space. Any suggestions for a tackle backpack?

Nice! I always like your pictures, the way you position the fish is really cool. Good fish, keep it up!

Ahhhhhhhhhh thank you thank you thank you. I thought I was going to have to spend another $200 (a lot for a 15 yo.) on a set-up, just for one lure. Wow. Load off my back!!!

It's the soft bluegill one. I was going to get a 7' Heavy Mojo for jigs. Would this work for throwing the soft swimbait? I am probably going to get 20# P-line CXX.

I was just looking on the website, and I definitely want to get into the swimbait craze (I have a Tru-Tungsten 4", not really used it). I just have some questions. I heard that when you are using a swimbait, you are pretty much fishing for one bite. But, the payoff could be 9 1/2 pounds ;D. If I got a bluegill swimbait, would i absolutely have to get a swimbait stick? What kind of line do you guys use when fishing these? Also, what are some of the ways to fish these? Obviously, casting it out......blah blah blah, but what do you guys do to trigger bites? I mostly fish in two small ponds, and shore fish. Are there any precautions I should take to not lose it? Thanks in advance for any help!

Yep, all three ;D

Just thought I'd share some other big fish I've caught. This big girl was caught on a 6" Zoom Watermelon seed lizard, and was my FIRST FISH OF 2009! January 2, 2009. Heckuva fight. This is one the healthiest fish I have ever caught, and was FAT. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=bellgradebass106.jpg This one was caught on a 7" Junebug ribbontail, last summer. Around the six+ pound range. Best fight a bass has ever given me. Took 5 1/2 minutes to land ;D http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=farmfishin004.jpg This, surprisingly, was the first fish I ever caught on a baitcaster. My parents don't fish, so it was just me teaching myself how to use one. I was getting pretty frustrated over the course of a couple weeks. I really believe god let me catch this fish to keep my head up about fishing. I was getting impatient with the baitcaster, and this fish was complete luck. You wanna know why I think god made me catch this fish? I was using a 1/2 oz. Black/Blue Booyah jig, and this fish was staring at me. I mean looking me RIGHT in the eyes. I just dropped the jig down, and the fish took it. It was the craziest thing. I was so stunned I didn't even set the hook, just pulled it on shore. Will that way of catching a fish, (besides small ones), ever happen again? Especially with an old (HUGE mouth) 8 pound bass? Most likely not. That was two years ago, and I went back to the pond for a while and was just scanning the shore, and, guess who I saw? None other than........ BINGO!!! She's gotta be 10+ now. She actually cornered a bluegill up to the shore and ate it, right in front of me. I know all this sounds like a load o' sheet, but I swear it's true. Here's the fish http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=OMGthebiggestfishihaveevercaughtinm.jpg Ground View http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=Biggest.jpg One more look http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=OMGthebiggestfishihaveevercaught-1.jpg

Nice bass ETB, here's my year ;D June 5, 8.2 pounds. 1/2 oz. Booyah Boo Jig, Black/Blue w/ Chigger Craw. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=NewPB029.jpg June 5, 5 pounds. 3/8 oz. Terminator T-1, Chartreuse. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=NewPB029.jpg March 28, 7.5 pounds. 3/8 oz. Strike King Spinnerbait, White. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=BigPerch006.jpg May 3, 6 pounds even. 3/8 oz Strike King Tour Grade Football head jig, Texas Craw. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=Twomore006.jpg June 27, 6 pounds even. Red Saphire Trick worm, rigged wacky style. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=TrickWormBass004.jpg July 21, 6 pounds even. Yum Dinger, Smoke/Red Flake, rigged weedless weightless. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=Dinger6pounder002.jpg Let's go guys, everyone show 'em off. Beautiful bass ETB, they're all so fat for the summer!!!

I had a helluva day today. For the middle of the day, in the middle of the summer, 14 fish is really not bad. I never really fish with spinning rods, but I devoted all of today to using them. All of the fish were caught on a Senko, or a Dinger. The Dinger actually way out-fished the real Senko. Huh. I found a sweet Dinger color at Dick's. Smoke/Red/Grey flake.... interesting color. I hammered the big ones casting to deep cover and dead-stickin' it, with a twitch here and there. Here's a 21.5 in., six I caught. Four biggest were 21.5, 20, 19, and 18.5 inches. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=Dinger6pounder002.jpg

What pond was this at?

I finally got out to fish my jigs some. Here is the first fish I caught on any of my jigs!!! http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=FirstDocumentedJigFish001.jpg

Answer in this format. 1. Texas Craw colored jig-n-pig 2. Spring- Texas Craw colored jig-n-pig, Summer- June bug worm, Fall- White spinnerbait, Winter- Split Shot 12 inches above a finessy Craw

I got two for ya. 1. What lure do you have the most confidence in. Period. 2. What lure do you have the most confidence in that could catch fish in: Spring- Summer- Fall- Winter-

HAhahahahahahahahahah

I'm gonna have to get a couple more lawns to mow:) Jig Man, thanks for all your help, and GMAN, I love you:) Wait till I'm done with the swimbait!

Well, I finally got the stuff (jigheads from GMAN, skirts from fishingskirts.com) and am finally making my own jigs. Let me just say, GMAN, I love your jigheads. They are really awesome quality. I really like having the bended hook instead of the plain round ones. For my first time, I only ordered 14 jigheads (4- 1/4 oz., 10- 3/8 oz.) from G. I got 2 Brown 1/4 oz, 2 Black 1/4 oz, and then 5 Black, 5 Brown 3/8 oz. For the skirts I got: 10- Black/Blue 10- Purple Craw 10- Okeechobee Craw 10- Junebug 10- Whiskey Purple 10- Missouri Craw -and a skirt tool and bands I am really enjoying the fact that I can make 'em by myself now, it gives me something to do, and it's just plain fun Here are some pics. http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=RiceCenter001.jpg Black/Blue http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics001.jpg Whiskey Purple http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics005.jpg Missouri Craw http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics004.jpg Purple Craw http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics003.jpg Junebug http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics002.jpg Okeechobee Craw http://s709.photobucket.com/albums/ww96/Fat-G-2009/?action=view&current=JigPics006.jpg

Sounds like a helluva day. I know how it is when all you can do is focus on getting the other person to catch a couple.

That's gotta be saltwater, look at the boat.

Give Mike Ostrander a call. Great guy, one of my dear friends, and he will put you on some GIANT flatheads. http://www.jamesriverfishing.com/

When you catch fish like that, you'll never forget how beautiful they are. Nice fat, healthy fish.

I am interested in buying/making some 3/8 oz. football jigs, and was going to buy the jig heads off of Barlow's. I have a couple questions about the skirts I would need and how to put them on. First, what material will I need? Silicone, rubber, I'm lost. Second, whenever I try to get the skirts on a jighead, I completely ruin the skirt. Any help? Thanks so much.

And I'm not kidding. My bro and I are getting paid to catch 'gills for a friend of ours who is a catfish guide, and needs them for bait. .20 cents per gill. Anyway, yeasterday we went to a pond and litterally caught a 'gill on EVERY cast. It was ridiculous. Good sized ones too.

Right now I'm using Yum chunks and they seem to be a little fragile, they rip open after like one fish. What trailers do you guys use, and which ones are the most durable?