rocknfish9001

1. deep diving crank 2. contacting with bottom/ cover 3. 8' 4. muddy/ weedy edges next to sandy flats. 5. distinct edges. Based on personal experiences, so i would consider it instinct

I have lost 2 six plus pound bass, which are very hard to come by here, and they were both in the same weekend. I had a big northern, which wouldve been my pb break off at the boat, and not 1, not 2, but 3 big steelies throw the hook within feet of me.

how would you rig and fish it in 6-7' weeded more open water? Would you still use it skirt up? Sounds like you would kind of fish it like a senko, right?

I saw a guy do one of those once at our county fair. It really wasnt what i was looking for, it was very basic. He showed us his favorite lures and how they work. That was about it. None of the fish hit the lures because they were put into the tank just a day or so ago, and i imagine that they werent very comfortable there yet. Except the bgill. They hit everything. He brought a kid up there and had them toss out a fuzzy grub. Those bass nailed that on the first cast.

is there any good videos that i can watch online?

The only ones i use very heavily are 326 (clear w/ gold, silver, and black) 213 (junebug) 913 (2 toned, green pumpin w/ cahrtreuse tail) 901 (laminate, watermelon and white) i used 327 and 213 all the thime in '04, and then i bought 913 and 901 which were big baits in '05.

I will usually put them in a ziploc bag. I used a whole box when i decided to take them out and put them in the bags.

I love fishing for smallies in the prespawn in rivers. I have never caught one in a lake, but had a nice 2 pounder lost at boatside. I use an oddball technique that catches big fish in the prespawn. I use a long noodle rod and an ultralight reel. Then i tie on a tiny panfish tube (like 1.5") and a 1/32 oz. jighead. I kind of drag it along with a large minnow behind it. I caught some big smallies close to 5 lbs. in the St. Joe river doing that.

what did it look like? Was it a hollow topwater frog or a soft plastic one?

I will sometimes put a skirt in between my plastics and the weight, and it makes it like a jig with a trailer.

avid, can you post a picture? From what im getting is that it is like a very light weight splitshot/ carolina rig but all downsized, and with the weight up next to the worm and fished differently.

where should i look first? Are there any place where i can find the trout and the bass where i should target?

I havent poured any lures yet because i accidently broke a peice of the mold on the opposite end of where i made the hole, so nothing would stay in. Im now kicking myself for ruining the clay figure i used to make the mold. By the way, do you fish your reaper like a tube or grub or something like that, and do you rig it with a plain jighead, or t-rig it.

I have made some funky but great looking lures with several old ones and a lighter. Including my monster swamper, which is pieces of every torn lure i have. So far 15inches and growing.

What is the best choice for a 2lb and under fish. What lure, color, size, and retrieve. I was thinking a natural color around 6" or so. Or am i going to regret a small bait.

I have a lake next to me that has been stocked with rainbows for about 10-15 years. I was wondering if I might catch some big fish by using those monster trout swimbaits like you cali guys do. I didnt know if the same techniques would apply, since my average fish is around of under 1 lb. I bet there are big guys in there because it is a good lake that isnt fished real hard, but i havent fished it real hard myself. I have great results with a 3.5 inch troutish colored tube. Its a grey purpley color. I was wondering if a big trout like this would catch even these littler fish.

I have become fond of jerkbaits with a slimmer build and realistic shape, like the banjo minnow. They are just more natural looking than flukes, and are great finnesse baits. I have trouble fisnding baits like this, i have to drive an hour to get to the closest place that has them (mann's shadow) So I made my own. I got a piece of clay and made it into the shape of the lure. Next i mixed up a batch of plaster and put the clay in so half of the "lure was in the plaster. Then when that dried, i got vasaline and some foil and made the other half of the mold with more plaster. When that was dry, i took it out of the container and took the two pieces apart. And there is was, a perfect imitation of the lure. Then i melted down old lures, which i know is kind of a crappy way of going through things, then i poured the melted lures into a hole that i made going into the mold. The outcome is kind of shaggy, but for a single lure it costs me only a couple cents if that!

If you keep track of a lake, and notice a certain spot thaws out first, does that generally mean that should be the warmest part of the lake, and a good spot to target?

Take a lot of physics, chemistry, buisiness management, and biology classes in college. The physics can help you when you get a business when you need a specific action in a lure your making. Figure out how things work. Also, chemistry and biology will give you a better understanding in a fish's senses, and it's all about life. There is a lot of studying to be done in the fishing field.

I dont think bass fishing could really pass as a sport. There is way too much mechanical invovement in order to be a real sport. But wait, this just hit me. If people can be in the olympics for shooting at things, why not casting at things. There is a lot more physical involvement in casting, working a lure, and fighitng a fish then holding a gun/ bow steady....... its a toss up.

All the way from september to march. I catch 0 fish. At least on my favorite lakes.

yea, i have a private pond that i fish and i always use barbless hooks to be nice to the owner for letting me use his pond.i think it's unbelievable how easy hook-ups are without that barb

My uncle has done this several times. On cranks and topwaters. Usually smallies

I rig a worm sometimes so that the hook doesnt even come out of it with a straight shank hook, or jighead. You put it into the head at an angle, then back into the body, but not all the way through. It's stiff weedless, and the hook is in position to come into the mouth of a fish. It is a little different than what most people use, a veteran angler that uses straight shank hooks could probably explain it better

I would film myself if the water wasnt under 3" of ice.