Papa_Tom

MBerry....my response to the first part of your question(s) would be "yes" to about everything. Great majority of the time in the spring, summer and fall, I will be using the uppermost part of the water column. I usually feel like I am using a spinnerbait w/o the blade(s). Sometimes I run it to where it just disappears, but most of the time I'm bringing it. Looking for the reaction as it comes by cover. In more open water, try using different retrieves. As for the weight, I have found that 1/4 oz is what I use most. By changing grub size (4-5") you can change lift, drop, fall, etc. I also like to go to a 1/8 oz for throwing on top of slop, grass, etc. Doesn't sink in and you essentially are using it as a frog. This is where the braided line earns it's keep. You can crawl these just off a gravel bottom like a crayfish, or go anywhere up in the column. Lots of flexibility.

Avid...first head style. There are two predominant styles seen most often. An arrowhead style (Booyah, Davis) usually comes out of the South. I think the deal here is to swim it high over grass, etc. The other style head is much like a slip sinker (bullet). These most often come out of the North, Wisconsin in particular. Brovarney is there. I prefer the second style. I can get it thru/over grass and other forms of cover quite easily. Light needle sharp hook, minimal fiber weedguard. I fish it anywhere, but it is best employed where there is some water clarity as it is a sight process mostly. I always have some mylar in the skirt. The grub will add vibration. I have used twins, but almost always it is a single. I like handties, they will run truer than others at higher speeds, and come thru cover easier because of that, too. As earlier stated, and I agree with RSBreth here, craw, sunfish (bluegill/bream) and shad in that order. Always believed that bass feed on young bream for a lot of the year, and I try to use colors in that range. Greens, browns, black-blue with a june bug grub. Then more to shads after that. Rod of your choice that has a soft tip---mine is a Fenwick HMG 6'6" mh mod, PowerPro 30/8 on a Curado SF with a very loose drag. Let them take it.

I swim jigs almost year round. I also use the traditional flip/pitch and cast methods. Usually I have a minimum of three jigs tied on. Most always use a 1/4 oz swim jig in a color that would suggest a juvenile bluegill, a shad or a craw. Rare that I use any trailer other than a 4" or 5" single tail grub, different speeds. Curl turned down. Zoom and GYCB make good ones. Right now I am going to more shad colors from bluegill. Blue/white is good. Silver flash, use your imagination for colors and trailers. I use the swim jig in lieu of cranks and s'baits--still use those, just lean on this first. Throw these in the same places and with the same tactics. Slow roll, bang into cover (speed it up just prior to contact), etc. Brovarney Baits--go to their website. Lots of colors. I have had them custom some for me. Great product, even better customer service.

Used to read everything I could from Buck Perry. He was a regular contributor to 'Fishing Facts' magazine also, as well as having his Spoonplugging publication. I agree with some of the observations already stated....first, I didn't get it all, not for years, if ever. Second, I agree that he didn't have it nailed completely as modern devices have suggested there is more to it than thought. But he sure helped open up a world of fishing to a lot of us. Information and commumication was a lot different then and for those of us that didn't have someone to show us the ropes...well, he filled a tremendous void. Fair winds Buck.

Trying to dust off the memory a bit. Secchi disc is the tool that was first used to measure water transparency or clarity. I usually drop a white s'bait or jig down and then double the distance that I can still see it. Things that contribute to your reading...algae, sediment and water color. Algae is probably the most important as it is the beginning of the food cycle. It's growth, like other chlorophyll entities, is triggered by sunlight. How far down the sun penetrates is how far down the food chain may start. So, use the clarity as another factor in deciding where to start. As said, they'll still come up for a jerkbait, s'bait, topwater, etc.

59 years here. When I was growing up, we didn't fish for bass but for rare occassions. We were much more interested in table fare---primarily catfish, or crappie and bream. Some folks did bass fish, and we often wondered why because you didn't eat them. Tasted too grassy. This was before filleting days and the skin was thought to be why the taste was so strong. My dad had several bass lures and would fish for them depending on who he was with, etc. Still have his old lures. I started bass fishing when I came home from the military. My dad was gone by then. Fishing Facts magazine, George Pazik, Buck Perry, Charlie Brewer, Spence Petros...that's where you got the REAL information, learned so much about structure, cover and presentation. Been in love with it ever since I started.

Like some others, I have my dream boat. 2001 518 DVX Ranger Comanche, 200 Yammie OX66, Lowrance LCX-19C w/GPS on console, Lowrance X-85 up front, stand-up seat for the bow (wouldn't be without it), two standard seats so I have options if I choose. At 19 feet it is a great all around boat. Perfect for Kinkaid, etc.

I watched --Bassmasters--Gerald Swindle do that very thing at Table Rock last year (?). It was the tourney that he and Zell were on the same bridge. He went to the bottom, cranked up X number of turns and found his bite on suspended fish.

Personally I have long felt that his show was about entertainment and education. Not sure in what order. Doesn't matter. His show is not "A day on the Lake with....." Not intended to be. As for those who choose to critcize, if they are critical of the show's format---don't watch. If they are critcal of his credentials, don't go there. Aren't very many walking around that can say they ran up a record like he did when BASS was in it's infancy. First time Johnny Morris had him at the Brown Derby in S'field they had to change traffic. My .02

I certainly cannot help you any. Just wish that I could be up there in a boat riding shotgun with one of the better jig swimmers from that region. Would love to spend some time learning more about that with one of those guys. Can only guess that there would be some of that going on in the backwaters. Good luck.

It's a double clinch. There was the clinch, double clinch and the improved clinch. Then the Palomar became the go-to knot for most bass applications.

Watched it all the way thru both times it has ran on TOC. Recognized several places from Ky Lake--close to where I also fish. Liked it.

Classic Patterns

I usually stay with one of three c-rig baits in the colder months. Lots of folks down-size at this time, but I tend to stay with larger profile baits for the c-rig. 1. Regular Zoom Brush Hog...green pumpkin, watermelon/red most of the time 2. GYCB Hula Grub...4" or 5" ..rootbeer/green 3. Zoom lizard 6"....salt and pepper, plus the colors already mentioned This is part of what I'll be throwing tomorrow, along with a jerkbait, dropshot and a football head.

Finally. Way too long in correcting their faux pas. Yes, I agree that Bassmaster probably had influence here. Good for them, and great for Mr David Hayes

Haven't much experience wacky-rigging, altho' my plans are to develop this technique next year. Drop shotting...The only thing I would add to the data already shared in the links etc., would be this. I continued to have trouble with my line twisting on my drop shot...whatever reasons. I put a good ball-bearing swivel on my main line and then a leader of _ feet that has all the standard terminal tackle. I use spinning gear and never have any twist now. If this is a problem for you, try it.

Sitting here saying "Wow." These may be the most meaningful posts I've ever read. Thanks to all who contributed toward this revolutionary (to me) technique. If it just saves one of these guys, then it's worth it.

flechero---agree that the weight is the likely culprit. Would also suggest that the shape (barrel in the original query) may also be playing a part. I went to stacking bullet weights, a long time ago, to get a slender profile for the amount of weight used, to get thru weeds, rocks etc. Thought about a Mojo, but had lots of bullets on hand. I still use lead, even tho' I know there are better products to return info. Okay, I'm cheap. I use the same 1/2 oz preceeded by a 1/4 oz for most all my c-rigging. Rock, weeds, wood. Very efficient system. Good point on the leader length, etc.

Have a pair of Costa del Mars Blue Water--grey lens. Great fit, very comfortable, easy on the eyes. Came across a pair of Ono's this spring. Blue mirror wraparound with amber lens. Also they have a +2.25 magnifier in the bottom. Polarized readers, if you will. Been wearing them all summer. Even on the brightest of days, I come off the water and my eyes feel great.

Ditto Stick-em. I bought some in February of this year. Still using the same bottle, goes a long way. Have repaired some Brush Hogs enough times to pay for the product. Seriously, repaired and reused some three times. Also good for many other applications. Broke daughter's Precious Moment figurine--one drop fixed it. Only takes seconds to cure. Go to website for dealers, or order direct as I did. Don't think you will be disappointed.