Big Stick Joe

Thanks guys for your responses. I never thought about their organs before, i will work on holding them horizontally. Nice fish in the picture Ninja.

Hey guys, I just got done watching the Classic and i saw how Chris Lane was man handling the fish and it got me thinking, so i wanted to ask the question to everybody. How strong is a fish's lower jaw? And why i'm on this subject, how much pressure can you put on a fish's jaw before you break it? when i lip one, i always keep the whole fish vertical because i'm always afraid of breaking the fish's jaw. What is your guy's technique when handling a fish. Thanks guys. Joe

WOW guys, thank you all for your response. Let me see if i can respond to all of it. @Hookset on 3: I think your right or they are stubborn and like to watch my fail lol @guiaterkid: i cant really get to parallel to the grass due to the way the shore line is but i do burn it across the top. @lynyrdsky1: I have the CB you mention, i'll try that next time. As for all the baits you recommend, i've tried all of them in some shape/form. I have a SPRO bronzeye pop but i've only had 1 hit, never a hookup on it. I usually pitch my t-rig sweet beavers into the lily pad holes when i see it. I want to buy some chiggers craws and try those. Also, i've been cutting my sweet beavers in half and using the craw ends on my jigs to give it some more action. @Big Cat: I have all those SB colors but the only one i haven't used is my black one. It is a hugh single blade colorado blade 3/4 ounce beast that i don't think will work in this pond. @Glenn: Thank you for the link @Riverat: This is what i use. Dropshot zoom finesse worm (morning dawn chart tail), 1/2 black/blue sweet beaver, 1/4(i think) black/blue jig with sweet beaver trailer. I've had success except for the jig. Thanks again guys. keep them coming. this is all good advice.

Marty, I think a lack of confidence is a part of it. When i tie on a Spinnerbait/Crankbait that i think works with the conditions i'm presented with, there is a small part of me that thinks i'm just wasting my time. It gets a little worse when i see a fish break the surface just moments after i cast in the location. As for when i use my SB/CB, It depends but most of the time its after I've fished something else. Next time i go out there i will try a SB/CB first. I think i'm fishing them in high % situation. I'll fish them at the same location were I've caught something earlier.

i forgot to mention, i don't like throwing crankbaits in this pond. there is way to much lily pads and grass for it to get hung up and lost. And is September really consider fall? The temps are still hot. Am i better off keeping the spinnerbaits in the tackle box till Oct?

Vinny and Lynyrdsky1, Thanks for your replies. I've been fishing a pond i found 2 weeks ago. It has lily pads around the entire pond extending 10 to 15 ft out from shore. From what i can tell the pond isn't to deep, i'm guess no deeper than 10 feet. The water is stained with visibility in the range of 3 feet or so. The air temps in the high 80's/low 90's and humidity around 60%, Scatter cloudy and i mostly fish in the early afternoon (10 to 1). Vinny, I always thought in the summer time the fish are active cause of the warm water, am i wrong on my assumptions? I have caught fish with sweet beavers and drop shot along the lily pads but that's it. Another note, i don't really think there are bait fish in this pond or at least from what I've seen. I'm thinking these fish are feeding on small turtles and frogs, would that be a problem with using a spinnerbait and crankbaits?

Hey everyone, I understand these are two totally different baits but i need help. I can never seem to get any bits with them. As for Spinnerbaits, i mostly use 3/8 and do have a few 1/2 ounce and have all the common color skirts and blades and i always try 3 different retrievals ranging from stop/go, burning, slow roll. My question is what are some of your guys favorite styles and retrievals? Crankbaits, again can't seem to get any bites. I have all shallow cranks (0-10ft) with all different colors, bill style (squared/round). I usually do a nice steady retreat trying to make contact with the grass/timber. My question is what are some of your favorite styles and retrievals? I understand that maybe alot of my problems would be solved if someone could watch me fish these lures but asking this forum is the next best thing. Thanks guys. I hope i didn't confuse anyone.

alright cool. Thanks NGaHB

rgr that NGaHB. How does braid work with drop shot and shaky head? can you feel the sensitive bites?

NGaHB. No, It is a baitcaster im having the issue with. I never thought of taping down the knot line. I might have to go back and do that. What size braid line would be recommend for spinning tackle?

Why do you guys use braid on spinning tackle. I have 30 lbs on a shimano reel and if i have the drag as tight as possible, i can pull line out with little pressure, that was why i asked in the first place. i wanted to make sure i wasn't messing my reel up.

Hey guys, Can you use braided line with any reel or are there certain reels to use. Thanks

good luck

What is yo yo fishing?

ok so i have a question to piggy back off of the main topic. What baits do you use for pads? The pond i fish has pads around the entire body of water. I've pitch a T-rig Sweet beavers with success but was wondering what else i can use. I have a frog i used for the 1st time today and had a fish hit it but not hook up but i don't think i was using the right tech for it. I also know of Jigs but really don't use them. I have a 7' med fast rod with a 6.2:1 reel and i did have 12 lbs but after today, i'm going to put 30 lbs braid due to some lost fish today. Thanks

Thanks Clayton. I was kinda thinking the same way or maybe it is suppose to be used in murky water? idk but thanks again

Does it matter on what color hook you use? red or silver? and if so, can you tell me why. Thanks guys

@Chris, nice fish and thanks for the advice. I figured that out today when i took it to the pond and after about 7 cast, i did the butt squeeze lol. @Fluke, thank you for the link. So anyway, i'm going to the pond tomorrow morning to really put the frog though its paces. If i catch anything i will post it. Thanks again

what is Mega Strike?

Hey Guys, I just brought my first ever frog, a SPRO Bronzeye pop. Here is my concern, I just open the package and filled my sink up and put the frog in there, within a min or two the back end started to sink. Is this normal? I thought these frogs were suppose to float? I had to squeeze the water out of the frog from where the hooks come out from the bottom. Again, this is my first frog so i'm alittle concern about this. Can someone please shed some light onto this? Thanks Joe

ok so thank you everyone for your comments. Now that i've read everything, i want to lay out my setup and get your guys comments or improvements 1st: Shimano Clarus 7' MH fast--shallow Spinnerbait. 5.3:1 with 17 lb test 2nd: Shimano Clarus 7' M fast taper--Shaky head/dropshot. 6.2:1 with 14 lb test 3rd: Shimano ??? 6'6 med fast--Topwater. 5.3:1 with 14 lb test 4th: Pinnacle Bunner 6'6 med power but i don't know the action. i think it is a med action--crankbaits. 6.2:1 with 10 lb test but will be replaced due to low line, just don't know what size line i will put on there Let me know what you think. Thanks

Ok thanks guys. I have a 7' MH fast rod at home that i will use my plastics on. Now with the rod i first asked about, besides it being a good shallow/med cranking rod, would it be a good spinnerbait rod as well or would i want to stick with the 7' MH fast rod for that?

Ok so if this is a good crankbait rod, what type of Cranks? Shallow/Med/Deep? What would be a good Senko/fluke, tube, and weightless worm rod? Thanks for all the input. I think i'm going to go get it in the next couple of days. Now i have another question, Should i keep a 5:3.1 reel or get something alittle faster for Cranks?

Hey guys, So gander mountain has a sale on a Shimano Clarus 7ft med/fast action med power rod for 25% off. I was curious on what lures/technique would you use a med/fast act med pwr rod. Thanks

Hey guys, 1st time posting in a long time so i'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I just PCSed to North Carolina and a buddy of mine is taking me to Shearon Harris Reservoir as a welcome back to bass fishing trip lol. Well Here is my question, Since i've been out of the loop for so long, How should i fish it. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&pq=shearon+harris+reservoir+information&xhr=t&q=shearon+harris+reservoir+nc&cp=24&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bs=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl The weather is going to around 57 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon, Mostly Sunny with 10% chance of rain so i'm guessing the water should be around 50 to 60 degrees or so and i'm guessing the fish will be in pre-spawn if not spawning. I don't have a lot of equipment, but 1 pole (baitcaster) with 5 spinnerbaits and some shaky head stuff. I plan to use a Colorado blade Black spinnerbait in the morning then maybe Shaky head later. Any information or tips will be great! Thanks guys! Joe