thinkingredneck

If you can't figure out a whip finish, use a couple half hitches and glue. You need strong scissors for hard materials and fine scissors for thread. A ceramic tube bobbin and a hair stacker. I like to use a good waterproof glue, like lock-tite. You can also use clear finger nail polish. Sally Hansen "hard as nails" is what many salt water fly tyers use. Your vice has to be able to hold the hook while you pull hard. Always pull thread tight. Tie tight. Oh yeah, you need a good lamp or light source. I use a goose neck lamp. Take a fly tying class, if possible.

I fish in a kayak and I keep a piece of pool noodle on the console and hang wet lures on it, to dry. I put dessicant packs from prescriptions in my boxes. I have my lures in plano type boxes, by category and move them to "boat boxes" to fish. I have a bag by bps that holds three planos boxes. Found thin boxes for terminal tackle.

I have a friend who swears by Lews. Watch DSG for deals on Fenwick. My Walmart had some Lews spinning rods and some Abu. Don't forget Ugly Stick.

Maxima chamelean is one I like. I also used Mustad line that I bought out west. Simply fantastic. Both are tough as nails.

How do you pack it when you go fishing? Good organization. I am thinking of using the safety pin idea.

Thanks, guys

I live on a rez in MS. Just starting to have some cool days (highs in mid 70's to low nineties) and the LMB seem to be focused on shad. My old standby trick worms aren't consistently producing. I have caught a couple nice ones on white spinnerbaits. They seem to be just under the edge of lillypads. Any other recommendations? A lot of the rez is fairly shallow with a lot of vegetation, stained with 2-3ft visibility. Would a ragetail menace work on a swim jig or texas style, swum through? Fluke? Cranks? Jerk bait?

Thanks. I will try them today.

So, do you fish with an exposed hook? I was thinking of using a hook with a wire weedguard, so the hook is outside the bait. Sort of like the old Creme worm harness. I agree with you that it seems like texposing the hook would make it hard to set the hook.

Sorry to be confusing. Some good topics in the archive

Thanks!

The only elaztec (Z-man) products I have used are with a Ned rig. One of my friends gave me a bunch of Z-man stuff, including worms, creatures and flukes. I noticed that the hook is hard to push through. Going to try them, but where I fish an open hook invites constant hang up. Incidently, I have had poor luck with the Ned rig. I do keep all elastec products in their own binder away from other plastics. Any input would be welcome. Do you have trouble setting the hook if texas rigged? How do you rig these baits?

I knew a guy in Wasington who carried a six pack in his backpack and a small fly box in the pocket. He caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun. Maybe we should carry more beer and less lures!

The easier it is to hook a fish, the easier it is to hook the weeds. Offset round bend seems a good compromise, although I haven't seen a huge difference.

Is the nose hollow or solid?

I never worry about whether the fish can find my lure. A bass knows if something is different in her environment. You sonar probably annoys her. You boat noise annoys her. She has a distance, feet to inches that she will move to take a bait, IF she is hungry or just trying to eliminate the bait. Shape, color, smell, vibration, etc all effect her mood. Sounds familiar to a married man--try to eliminate irritants and put her into a receptive mood. The young silly ones are easier to put in a good mood than the old grouchy ones who have seen it all. Biology is biology!

There are a couple of interesting books out about color absorption and depth of water.

Good timing on this thread. Just starting to try a C-rig. How about a Smoking Rooster or Pit Boss? I realize that this is an old thread, very old. But informative.

I spent an entire spring and summer using one color plastics, to prove a point to myself. I would change shapes (i.e., trickworm, ribbon tail, ole monster, paddle tail, u-vibe) and speed. It was in a shallow lake with a lot of vegetation. once I figured out the shape, they would consistently bite. I have noticed I seem to do better with glitter than with a plain worm.

Orange is a popular steelhead color, also.

My organization is evolving. I am at the Neanderthal stage, currently.

Zoom trick worm in Candy Bug weightless to 1/4oz weight. Braid with fluro hybrid leader on BC reel and MH rod. Slow, aroung pads and other thick stuff. Some days Junebug was better.

Every time I throw anything on top, I have a problem with young alligators attacking it. They LOVE a jitterbug. I managed to get one back but usually have to cut the line. I had to hit one with my paddle to get him to leave. How do you deep south guys deal with this? I just go to underwater lures that they ignore.

I met an angler from our college bass team. He had a "truck box" he carried everywhere he went. It contained two of everything he usually used: a few types of soft plastics, spinner bait in two configurations, a few cranks and jerkbaits, terminal tackle. It was an unholy mess. He claims he can fish anywhere he drives to out of that one large plano box. He carried a cheap rod and reel in case his truck was broken into. He used fluro line. Impressive confidence came from that young man. He really liked the Pit boss and used a c-rig a lot.

Had the best luck with a Gamakatsu 3/0 round bend offset. Tru-turn worked well but can be dull. Straight shank work well but hang up easily in thick stuff. EWG seem to hold best, but can cause occasional missed strikes. IMO: The easier it is to hook the fish, the easier it is to hang up. The more securely it holds, the harder it is to hook the fish. The offset hook seems the best compromise to me. I fish the Trickworm Texas rigged every time I go out .