Jigfishn10

I think the reason I use the short arm spinnerbait is that, it is more compact and does cast a little further, not quite as far as a lipless, but it does get out there. I keep the skirt count down to about 30 strands which helps in the distance as well. Just confidence is what it comes down to Goose, just confidence. I wish I could make a trip out to your neck of the woods and fish with ya one day...Good luck this year my freind!

What size lipless cranks are you using? You use lipless cranks like I use short arm spinnerbaits. The short arm spinnerbait has caught me my PB to date and like you, it was this time of year - 1 1/2 weeks after ice out for me. For me, it's the most versatile bait I use from shore and one that I have the most confidence in. Jigfishn10 is just a forum handle, but the short arm spinnerbait is a lure I fish a lot. Nice post Goose!

Better get that monkey off your back, Goose!I will have to say Goose, you are the king of the lipless crank!

If we're talking turtle head, then my fishing day is over!

ROFLMAO!!!!

Spinnerbait/jerkbait - firetiger, chart and white, solid colors Jigs, worms - I'd go with black and blue, watermelon works for me, pumpkin is always a good choice. Dark and bright work IMHO...dark = browns blacks purples...bright = chartreuse, pink, orange

And I thought you were a C-Rig kind of guy...LOL

I'll be hitting a small pond in Quincy that is wide open this weekend. Nice to get out again, for sure.

What is the color of the water and what time of day you plan on fishing?

JimmyKing just put the past in the past and try again. JF's advice about practice and time spent on the water is dead on. Read up and watch the vids to learn and psyche yourself up and hit it again. As far as your equipment, you're fine, you gotta start somewhere and if you do in fact like jig fishing and feel you can improve on you jig fishing experience, then do some research and get another set up that YOU think will help you. Good luck out there!

Oh man, that salesman looks like he had the chili that day too...that would be more than a pair of shorts there A-Jay...ROFL

I think Glenn got some warning points in the past, her age is mysteriously missing...LOL

Happy Birthday Keri!

I sure did Sam, kept the truck in 4WD the whole way. We ended up with 20"-24" inches.

I'll have to try them Teal, I never gave them a thought. What are you experiences with Chigger Craws for cold water? I used them last fall and had some success with them, but as the weather got colder I got real busy with work, so I couldn't give them a whirl.

I don't think you would ever go wrong with any Rage products and I'm not saying that because Steve is a sponsor here. I was late catching the Rage, but after my first season of using Rage products, I'm convinced that they are the real deal. I am also a big fan of a pork trailer in cold water. Uncle Josh pork tailers work very well in cold water and in MHO, I think a fish will bite down on a pork trailer and will hang onto it longer in cold water situations. As far as using a hair, living rubber, silicone or a hybrid, I've had success on all and would use all. Good luck, I hope I was able to help you.

Some pics from this mornings commute to work:

CC268, you can use a 2/0 trailer hook and attach with surgical tubing or just use a section of a plastic worm. Short striking fish are usually telling you something is wrong with the presentation. It could be retrieve speed, blade color or size, skirt color or vibrations the blade is putting out - blade style. I fool with blade size and color as well as retrieve speed before I change out the bait all together. Short striking fish are telling me that the lure choice is correct and the fish ate active - all positive feedback. Good luck.

6-8 more inches tomorrow after 5-6 inches today. Could have been worse I guess.

Rabbit hair on the back of my spinnerbait caught my largest fish to date...I may have to tie a couple in on a jig and let 'er rip! EDIT: I forgot, I did tie one in a couple of years ago, I forgot all about it til now:

I'm with Teal on this, traditionally you would use a lighter jig to slow the fall and keep the lure in the strike zone longer because cold water fish are more lethargic and I agree with this thinking to a certain degree. There are those times when a fish in cold water want to go big or go home and expend the least amount of energy chasing after food, especially the big girls who would be cruising this time of year searching for spawning spot. Besides, there are no jig police out there that I know of who tell you what size to present, so use them both and let the fish tell you what they want. Nice post Teal!

Things have really opened up here in the Stougton-Canton-Milton-Quincy area...I may fish in Quncy on Sunday!

Man, I forgot all about the slider head...thanks for posting!

It really depends how much we get tonight into tomorrow...Good news is I saw open water from the rain and Sunday's projected temps is low 50's...I may have to tie on a switchblade or a jig and Ragetail on Sunday afternoon and chuck and duck...

Thx, some good info there.