Jigfishn10

Oh crap, that was your trailer I hit! J/K, I hope all turns out well for you JF!

Let's just say that when I leave for the day someone would ask what I'm doing after work: "I'm going to take the dog for a walk". Their response is always: "oh, what's your dog's name?"..."Zara" or "Rapala" or "Sammy", depending on which I plan to use.

Just tried out those #4 short shank. All I have to say is: Great tip guys!

It is a large blade, but you can check out the Magnum Willows they have. Same shape and you can get them smaller, just a different crease. I'll PM you the link. As far as a #6 on a 1/2 oz: I use a #6 colorado on a half oz for after ice out. It really slows a bait down, problem is, you look like you were jack hammering the road all day...LOL...what a thump it produces.

You were on them that's for sure. I'm with smalljaw, sometimes just a slight adhustment with spinnerbaits is all it takes. I usually speed my retrieve up on short strikers and if that doesn't work I switch the blades. It may be a gold for a nickel or vice versa or I may drop down a size or upsize the blade. One of those variations usually will get them to strike.

LMAO, I was thinking the same thing! I will certainly remember that Lund. You've posted some really informative tips from your past experiences. Thanks for sharing that.

kLuo, you're killing me...ROFL...but you make a valid point my friend. Thanks for the participation here, much appreciative.

I can’t disagree with you, Lund and Klua, with just a color change of the same lure provoked strikes. I have never had that happened to me so I can’t dispute it. My personal experiences from those fish that followed and were provoked into striking were by speed changes. I’m not totally disregarding color at all. I do think it plays some roll into at least getting a fish interested in the lure. It may be just one color of a multi-colored lure that excited that fish in the first place and I do agree that a fish and see the sides as well as the bottom. As Revo mentions in his post, stick baits – walking type baits – do roll and, in my opinion, fish can see the top as well. Chugging baits, a fish can see all sides as the bait sits down in the water at a 45* angle or better and fish can see a buzzbait, probably the best as the body is completely submerged in water. Put on a multi-colored paint job on them and a bass will more than likely respond to at least one color. Again, just my opinion. It sounds like that we’re all in agreement that color has no impact at night, just as long as a fish can see the silhouette of the lure. I guess you would have to treat topwaters like any other lure: Make it visible and make it work to look realistic.

Glad to see to got out there gramps.

During the spring and fall I concentrate on the first weedline closest from the shore. This could be inside during the spawn or outside the weedline after the spawn. By summer the shoreline would either be pounded to death or just too darn hot to hold anything appreciable. Here I concentrate on the second weedline. This could be near or on a hump or near a channel and so on. Here I look for structure as well. It could be a rock, stump or just a change in contours or even a different vegetation make-up. In all cases, my lure selection is the same as a boat fisherman.

Right now I suffer an OCD with Skitter Walks.

Glad to have you with us!

Congrats Red! I wish nothing but the best of luck to you and your wife with your new home! Glad to have ya back, Bud!

I'm undecided if colors really make a difference when it comes to topwaters...During the day, in any water or light condition. At night, I think a dark color is the only way to go, but I will qualify this statement. I don't fish much at night and if I do, I always use a black topwater and have not used any other color. Your thoughts?

A-Jay, Janns Netcraft has the Mag Willows in stock. They have the Oklahoma blades in stock, but start at a size #6. The Oklahoma blades are sweet blades, no doubt, but the mag willows are a pretty close cousin. Check them out @ jannsnetcraft.com.

You are dead on Rhino...They're still like that where I am.

AHHH...you talked me into it boys, I'm gonna give the Mustads Revo mentioned a whirl. Thanks for the tips guys, much appreciated.

Thanks smalljaw and Revo, much appreciated. One question: If I went to a #4 short shank and I've read a lot of members here saying that they switch out to short shank because of the front hook grabbing on the line, but noone mentions any drawbacks as far as fish becoming unbuttoned. I feel like that with a short shank hook the bass can use the lure like a prybar and come unbutton? Any thoughts? I like the idea, don't get me wrong, I'd rather have the biggest hook I can get away with, but I guess I'm not sold on short shanks yet.

Anyone here have any guide lines as to what size treble hooks can be used on walking type baits? I have one I'm working on that is approx 3 1/8" long x 7/16 oz or so (between 3/8 and 1/2 oz, depending on the mood of my scale)? Any help would be appreciative.

The top blade is an Oklahoma blade. These blades have a crease/bend in a "Y" configuration like the one shown on the Terminatior. The Mag willow looks close, but it's creased/bent down the middle and not out to the sides. Same shape, different crease.

It's time for you to take a dog for a walk...SAHWEET Big Bass Man!

Awesome! I hope you both have many more this year.

Glad to have you aboard!

Man, I'm way out of sync. I must have missed 10 bass the other day on tubes, jigs and topwater.

Great report Madeuce and welcome to Bass Resource. Post up a link!