Marty

I don't think there's a right answer. You have to do trial-and-error on the water to learn what's working that day. And I certainly wouldn't limit myself to soft jerkbaits, especially when they're not producing.

I am guilty of not being versatile. As much as I fish a Jitterbug, I tend to use a steady retrieve all the time. That definitely works very well, but I suppose I have to consider the possibility that not mixing things up has cost me fish.

As has been said, topwater isn't your best bet after a cold front, but if it were me I wouldn't rule them out. You can never predict in advance how fish will react. I fish a lot of topwater and those baits have caught too many fish under bluebird skies for me to rule them out at any time.

As has been stated, there are many reasons why bass switch moods between active, neutral and inactive. The Jitterbug may have nothing to do with it. You also have to consider that the last couple of times you weren't fishing where the fish are. I'd have tried another topwater and then a couple of subsurface lures if the second topwater did nothing. Then I'd move to other places, probably using a faster moving lure as a search bait trying to locate fish. Of course, if you are confident that the first spot held fish, then you'd stay and fish it more thoroughly.

Nice to hear that you can continue to enjoy your boat pain-free.

LOL.

Good luck, persistence usually pays off. Appreciate the feedback.

You don't see finishes like that in games at any level. "God is unhappy" Brian Kelly is also.

I've used Countdowns on and off for as long as I've been fishing. They're an underutilized, underrated and little-talked-about lure that will catch anything that swims that's willing to hit an artificial lure.

Where I've done my carp fishing the fish don't run over 15#. I use a 6' spinning rod and 8# line and #6 or 4 baitholder hook. Corn is my exclusive bait. I use an egg sinker or slip sinker 12-18" up the line and a BB split shot just below the sinker to keep it from slipping down the line. I let the bait sit on the bottom with the bail open so the carp can pick it up and move off without feeling resistance. I watch the line like a hawk and when there's movement I pick up the rod and close the bail, which is usually all that's needed to set the hook. After the bait sits there for five minutes, I run out of patience and reel in for the next cast, so that's how often I check my bait. Good luck. Having a carp on the end of your line is loads of fun. It will take you for a ride and make your reel sing like nothing else that we normally encounter.

I can't see what you're doing that's so terribly wrong. It's inconceivable that you wouldn't be catching some fish on these if you were fishing them where the fish are. Is it possible that your lack of confidence in these lures is a factor? Are you fishing them in high-percentage situations? I used to fish with my favorite lures and when the fishing was bad I'd pull out some lure I never caught anything on. Naturally I didn't catch anything since I was only using them after establishing that the fishing stunk. So I'm wondering if you start right in with these lures upon arriving at a high-percentage spot or do you fish them only when you're not catching on your other lures?

According to the site of a well-known retailer, the diameters of the 40 and 50#, respectively, are .013 and .014".

I'll be very interested to see your results and hope that they're good!!

I saw some in Dick's today. It's made from Dyneema, whereas their Fireline Braid (and most other braids--I think) is made from Spectra. If I remember correctly, their original Fireline fused line was made from Dyneema too. Does anyone know the difference in properties of the two fibers?

Well, you have two heavy-duty outfits for bass, so the next logical step would be something lighter, perhaps a spinning outfit, designed to fish 8-10# line for those times you want lighter line, say, for some crankbaiting, dropshotting and other techniques. I'm sure others will offer more specific advice.

If I was carp fishing and having my bait stolen by sunnies, I'd have no idea as to what could be done to get fewer sunnies and more carp. ???

Corn has been my exclusive carp bait for years. I've never caught a sunny on it, but there may be very few sunnies in the canal where I do my carp fishing. I also use a #6 hook and that'll do just fine for some pretty good-sized carp.

I prefer a 4/0 extra wide gap for 5" Senkos or Kinami. Make sure you have enough hook gap for room for it to get through the plastic and into the fish.

Great crappie. I'd tell you my biggest but it would be too embarrassing.

I use 15# braid on spinning gear (6'6" rods) and it's excellent all-purpose equipment, which I'd recommend like others have. However, if you're absolutely serious about using "at least 14lb mono", then you need baitcasting and your line won't be as versatile as you'd like it to be. With the braid you'll at least have the thin diameter working for you when you'd otherwise want lighter line.

I don't know why that should happen if your drag is set properly.

Why not call or e-mail your DNR and find out for sure. They're legal bait here in New York but I don't think all states are the same.

I use run-of-the-mill steel leaders and I haven't seen where they deter bass (or pike) bites. Give some a try (or what John recommended) and see what happens.

I'm not trying to be smart-alecky, even if it looks that way, but I'm curious why you're trying hard to get a specific color of a specific lure given your above statement on what it takes to catch fish. (For what it's worth, Shad Raps are my favorite crankbaits).

I'm not a night fisherman, but Jitterbugs are great in the daytime as well, sunny or cloudy both. I use black only and 5/8 oz. only. Mostly I use the regular ones but when the water gets choppy I use the jointed one. Jitterbugs have been my favorite topwater lure by far for the last 15 years. Unfortunately, it's 2011 and they're still making them like it's 1940, with obsolete hook hangers and lousy components. I change hooks and make other modifications before the lure ever gets wet.