smbrule

Using lead wire purchased in the fly tying area of my local sporting goods store. Diameter I use is 0.030 or 0.035. Prefer the larger diameter when available. It comes on a spool similar to sewing thread. It will thread thru a typical tie flying bobbin, however I find it easier to just hold the spool in my hand.

I often use a lightly weighted hook when fishing Senko's ot Ticki Bamboo Sticks. Pic of a 4/0 EWG VMC hook with lead wire epoxied on. Also will double up on the wire for more weight. Much less expensive than purchasing weighted hooks and there is a much better selection of hook styles that are non weighted.

Have not had a problem with the bait rolling even when using an unweighted hook. Note: Below is pic of some sraight shank hooks modified to increase gape.

On most soft plastics I normally use VMC or Gammie EWG hooks. I seldom have a problem with hook-ups. I do believe that straight shank hooks provide a more surer hook-up. For example the hook on my bass jigs are not EWG and hookups are rarely a problem. Certainly fewer problems compared to EWG hooks. I use Owner straight shank wide gap hooks or Reaction Innovations BMF hooks when fishing in heavy cover. I prefer not to use EWG hooks unless they are texposed but when fishing in heavy reed cover often the hook point becomes exposed= snag. Pic is a Wave Worm Ticki Bamboo stick which is quite thick. The Owner 4/0 hook has been bent to further provide a wider gape. Also I've weighted the hook and added a barb using heat shrink. Tooth pick is shown but usually don't use one as the added barb helps.

Not sure I can get enough weight to do the job. Also,I primarily fish the rogue over down horizontal timber that often is a foot or two under water. Because of the density of timber, both standing and down, pitching the rogue is often the rule.

I've fished Smithwick's Rattlin Rogue jerkbaits for a long time. However, in windy conditions they are a little light and tend to sail. Looking for a jerkbait similar to the Rogue that floats and dives a foot or two under the water--and is a little heavier without being a lot longer. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A one time I used to pour lead jigs. Got away from it as it was difficult to get proper ventilation plus the mess. Also, there are just a lot of options now for already poured bass jigs with black nickle hooks at around 50 cents or less for unpainted jigs. Many use powder paint to paint. I also did, but now just use cheap fingernail polish and then brush on epoxy. One of my favorite suppliers of poured jigs is cadman who is a member of this board.

I fish Lake of the Woods which is one big rockpile for SMB. In the Spring a lot of the fishing is pitching around large boulders surrounded by smaller one to two foot boulders in two to 10 feet of water. I typically use a 4 to 4.5 inch tube Texposed with an inside weight or use a tube hook inside the tube with exposed hook. Most of the time use a open tube hook, but if am fishing the back side of a large boulder, pulling it over the top and dropping it down the front then I use a texposed rig to avoid hang-ups. Used to use bass jigs or texas rigs but with the exposed lead those baits invite more hang-ups. Also the large tube with a 3/16 oz weight just seems to drop slower than a jig or texas rigged soft plastics like worms or craws.

The rumor is that Shimano will introduce a Curado 100 E series reel this summer. There is nothing in their current line-up in the less than $200 dollar range in the smaller size reel/spool. I'm interested in the Core 50. I have a number of 50mgs as my primary reels except when I need line capacity and/or need to maintain a fast retrieve and then use Curado/Citica 200 E reels. I'm waiting as although the Core 50 is a sweet reel it seems expensive when essentially (for me) its big advantage is light weight.

Bathroom--yes, this summer I took my daughter, wife and five year old grandson for a boat ride and some fishing. Nature called and I used my MacDonalds cup. My daughter told her son--that is why you should never drink out of a cup that is in a boat.

I've been bass fishing for fifty years and as I've become older still enjoy a spending about 75 days a year on a lake. I have a couple of very good life long friends and fishing partners but also probably some of most enjoyable days are being on the lake at predawn by myself and just enjoy a more laid back fishing day. The photo was taken of my fishing partners while we were fishing in an isolated area for smallies on Lake of the Woods--no boats except our two--seen all day in this area. It is a wonderful experience to still be able to fish in areas as awesomely beautiful when one is in his mid seventies.

I use both Bing and Google maps. I can access birds eye view quickly via Streets and Trips however, for lakes I fish it is not provided. Google maps for lakes I'm interested in provide a better view of under water islands. I use Google Earth via Acme Mapper 2.0 on the web which in addition to the satellite view provide road maps and the combination of both. In addition, topo maps and terrain maps are provided although I find them less useful. Acme maps also provide radar if desired. As I transfer lat/lon to my GPS I prefer the cross hair on Acme to position lat/lon vs. G.E. mouse pointer which is too easily moved out of position.

I use swim/ grass jigs molded by Cadman who is on this board. Here is an example of his jigs. Available in painted or not painted with and without eyes. Size shown are 1/8 oz, 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz. Other in-between sizes are available.

Fish tubes a lot for LMB. For a drop bait jigs and tubes tie. Jigs primarily in brush and tubes in more open cover. I fish Boom Boom 4.2 tubes primarily with a 3/16 oz. weight inside the tube. Skipped under docks and let fall they are deadly. My perception is that with the weight inside the tube the circular fall is enhanced.

Leech Lake, Partridge Bay and Boy Bay on the east side has been excellent for LMB in the past. Try posting to this site: http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/2/1/Leech_Lake_Longville_Hackensac

Assuming that you are talking about changing the citica E spool for the curado E spool I don't believe it will make much difference. The spool for the citica weighs 14.8 grams empty and the curado spool 13.8 grams. Note: Thee is some variation batch to batch in spool weights. However, loaded with 14# test mono the spools weigh 24.2 grams vs 25.2 grams. That difference is negligible. A light weight spool is key to casting light baits. The line capacity of the citica/curado spool is such that it makes the spool substantially heavier than the spool for a curado 100D or a 50 MG. For example the spool for a 50 mg weighs 12.3 grams empty and 17.7 grams filled with line.

I like the shad pattern. Cool! What skirt number colors/number did you use? Thanks!

It is close (in fact it was on my purchase list I'm making out). The purple in the Oldham jig is a little darker and the glitter is much smaller. As you change your viewing angle or the angle of the light hitting the strands the color dramatically lightens and darkens. In reality it makes no difference to the fish which one it is. I just like the color. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I'm trying to find a purple skirt tab that matches the ones seen on this Oldham Jig. Fishing Skirts. com had no match. Suggestions would be appreciated.

I used to purchase extra spools but new ones are somewhat expensive. Now I look for a used reel with the spool I want and go that route.

With a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz spinner bait on a bait casting reel you should easily get 75 feet.

Nice jigs

I seldom use anything but braid on my spinning reels. Use ten or fifteen pound test powerpro for bass. Always have a seaguar carbon pro leader material attached as rocks will cut small diameter polyethylene lines quickly.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. The swim jigs I currently use range from 5/16 oz to 1/2 oz. They have bullet heads and a vertical line tie. They have strong hooks ranging from 3/0 - 5/0 I had seen the swim jigs from ***s store and had read his article which made me think that the bullet head style may not be the best for a swim jig. And in my area the tackle stores are promoting small light swim jigs with small light hooks. Based on the above comments it appears that a bullet head style will do just fine. As I have about 30 jigs left from my original tying I believe I will use those up before trying another style. But, I am intrigued by the style of the head of ***'s swim jigs. While it might seem strange especially because I've fished pads on my trips to Minnesota for forty + years I've never cast swim jigs into anything but really sparse pads up north or swimming them over thru coontail or cabbage out from pads. I fish drop baits, senkos, frogs or spinner baits in pads. That will change this year!