FL_Sharpshooter

I think the kind of shaky head you're using plays a big part on this. Gambler's giggy head forces a plastic to stand up on end. They should still be on sale as well as Dick's for $4/pack too . I prefer to use roboworm's straight tail worm with them, those are also on sale at Dick's for $3/pack (only in color green weenie).

I'm telling you what, ever since I've started using KVD's mustad trebles, I can't even remember the last time I lost a fish. These hooks are on the pricey side, but they ARE worth it, there is no gimmick with these. Try rigging your cranks with the #2s, I promise you won't regret it. I use a 7ft medium rod with a fast taper for this as well, if that helps.

I would seriously tell you to consider investing in some duo-lock snaps. I used to use those same snaps and after losing so many lures to them, I switched to duo-locks. Honest to god, I haven't had a single one come un-snapped and lose a lure.

Try sending SoFlaBassAddict a PM, he's the man when it comes to peacock bass. I'm sure he can tell you what works good.

Wow, those are really cool. Thanks for posting those. Yours look a lot better than mine . I didn't have any luck on the one I just made, but I did manage to catch a 3lber on a regular giggy head with a 6" roboworm straight tail. I think I'll leave the jig-tying stuff to your professionals . I was just pretty curious if anyone had tried this, because like I said, it's the only style of head I've seen that forces a plastic to stand up on end.

Yup, putting a skirt on the barb. I just made one with leftover skirt material from a black/blue jig. I tied the strands on the barb with a ziptie and super-glued a weed guard above the barb. I tested it a little bit in the pool, and it looks like its making the rage craw stand up on end like I wanted. We'll see how it does in the water, going to go see if I can stir up a few bass now.

If anyone would know about this, I figured you would. Yeah, that barb might be a problem...not sure where I would put a weed guard at.

Anyone tried making a jig with a head style similar to gambler's giggy head? It's the only style of head I've seen that will force a plastic to stand up on end. Would it be possible to have silicone tied with a weed guard on one of these things?

Oh, I see. Thanks for the tip, I'll have to check that out.

I'm not really sure what you mean? Sounds pretty cool though, I live about 5 mins from the Caloosahatchee River (it runs in Big O eventually). I don't fish the river because it's way too muddy, the water looks like expired chocolate milk. I just never have any luck there. I have scouted farm ponds though, but the problem is that over 90% of them are owned by the Florida DOT, and you know how the rest of the story goes. As far as jerkbaits go, I only ever catch something when I am fishing them as a topwater lure. I can never catch them by letting the bait drop, it might be because I'm not really sure how to work them. All I know to do is twitch them a few times and let it drop. I'll try them again when I go out later though. I can catch quite a few on the GYCB senkos, but never on the knock-offs, go figure.. lol. That kind of fishing doesn't really excite me though. I have been doing really well though on the kvd 1.5 cranks when I can see an open path from the moss/crud to run it through. The big problem now is that the tilapia have now taken over the old bass nests and are running the bass off. So now, I have to go further up the shallower canal (though you can catch some bass by blind casting in the bigger canal). I like the shallow canal because I can sight fish (well atleast when the rain doesn't muddy up the water). If fishing slow is what it takes, I'll give it a try. With the weather being upper 80s and low 90s now, I've got to change up the game again. Seems the cranks have been producing some in this hot weather though. I sometimes hesitate to fish them cranks, because the canal is overloaded with both gar and chain pickerel (there being 2 pickerel to 1 gar) and they will eat anything that moves fast. I don't mind catching them I suppose, but I prefer bass. Thanks gentlemen, I'll give all of your suggestions a try if we have any more cold spells.

What's the water clarity like? I fish in a canal every day that is covered in moss/weeds. I've had the best luck with natural colored baits for clear water (white, green pumpkin, red flash, etc). When the water turns a little dirty or muddy after a rain, I go with black/blue or a brown/chartreuse colored lure. Try pitching buzzbaits, jigs, or spinnerbaits, they are weedless for the most part.

What are yall throwing when it starts getting chilly (for example in the early morning is 60's)? I mainly fish a canal, and it seems like even the slightest bit of cold weather that comes through, the bass bite completely shuts down. Are the Florida strain bass really sensitive about that, or is it just me? I have tried every cold water bait I know to throw, including red eyed shads, husky jerks, and jigs to name a few. It's gotten to the point where I won't go out to try and catch them when it's colder out. Thanks for any feedback.

I would save it for a nicer rod, I used to use the same kind of rods you did, until I got a whole new setup on my birthday. I'll tell you, it makes a ton of difference, not only in sensitivity, but the weight difference is unparalleled.

It's never the animal's fault, it's always the irresponsible pet owner's fault. What you did is just IMO (except the part of you grabbing the dog, but hey you were angry, so it happens). Hopefully that fine makes an example out of her to everyone else.

Man, you're killing them, I'm jealous! Females during the pre spawn will definately be their biggest. That fish is your pic may have been lbs bigger during the pre spawn. The tranisition between periods can basically happen over night, so it's no surprise you we're catching them on them beds one week and the next they we're suddenly gone. The best way to determine what period the fish are in is water temperature. You're looking for about 60 degrees for them to spawn. A good pre spawn water temp is probably somewhere in the 50's, but they can start their initial migration from their winter pattern in water thats probably much colder than that. Nice work with that shakey head, impressive technique to be doing so well with! I've had no success with it in the limited time I've used it. I hope to improve alot with it this year. Thanks a lot for the kind words and encouragement . You should seriously check out those Gambler Giggy shaky heads. Those are on sale at Dick's for around $4. They are the black colored ones with the straight barb and 4/0 gammy hook. The roboworms are also on sale too, but only in the green weenie color for $3. Seriously though, you are cheating yourself for not having them. I was catching them today on the same worm, even when it got ripped in half! Those heads really make the worm stand straight up and down, it almost looks like a worm is trying to burrow.

Thanks everyone, I sometimes forget how privileged I am to live in Florida . I went down just an hour ago and caught 4 on the same setup...it's just killing them down here right now. Why in the heck didn't I get roboworms before? I saw a good 4+lber lurking around too, I'm gonna try to get her tomorrow since I ran out of daylight .

Thanks for explaining, that's really interesting . Yeah, but like a week or so ago, I was catching females off of the beds left and right. Then they were suddenly gone, and I started seeing a few scattered schools of bigger bass. As soon as I threw this shaky out, it made one of them turn around immediately, so I knew I was on to something. I waited a little while and cast my line just ahead of the 3 in the direction they were going and just slowly bounced it off the bottom, until one of them got it and ran. The water I fish is crystal clear, so I can see exactly which way the fish was running, so it was really easy to set the hook. I could tell from the bank that the fish was at least 3lbs. I've never really fished a whole lot with shaky heads, but I figured I should get a quality type, which I ended up getting the gambler ones with the arrowhead barb keeper. They really do stick that worm straight up and down too. Is there any way you can tell that a fish is pre-spawn? Thanks again.

It definitely is. The spawn ended a week or so ago. There were 3 of this size swimming around in about a foot of water that fought over this. Just curious, how'd you know this was post spawn without me saying anything? Sorry if that is a stupid question.

Just went to Dick's sporting goods earlier today to purchase some gambler shaky heads and roboworms in green weenie color that were both on sale. Boy, am I glad that I did. It caught me this one First time ever using roboworms too, I'm a believer now. All hail the roboworms! This was taken with my camera phone, so don't put the hurt on me too bad. Look closely and you'll see my bloody pinky...those dang kvd mustad hooks are strong, afterall.... :-?

Think I've narrowed it down to either the chompers or the spot remover. What's everyone think about the chompers? Does the worm stand up with those?

For fishing the shallow canals here and this time of the year, the silent kvd 1.5 in bluegill color, hands down.

Heading to Bass Pro in a few days, whats a pretty good shaky? I really liked the idea of the screw-on ones. Any suggestions?

Whatever you put in it, I would use nothing but Mobil 1 Synthetic, simply the best.

I really don't have this problem too much. For the most part, my strike king spinners run true. I also shake my spinner quite a bit though, so that might keep throwing it back on the center. Thanks for the sharing though, I'll give that a try if it becomes a problem. I've noticed the smaller spinnerbaits will do this though, like the smaller boo-yahs I have.

I was like you too, and have only used braided line for a very very long time. I recently took the plunge to fluorocarbon line this year when I got a new rod and reel. I'm really glad I did, because I've noticed I've had quite a few more hookups, since I fish ultra-clear water. As AbuGarcia-4-Life said, 17# fluorocarbon is perfect, it's what I run and have no problems with it at all. I went with the XPS brand line, and couldn't be happier. A really big advantage to the stuff, is that the fluorocarbon sinks a crankbait immediately, unlike braided line. It lets you achieve a much better presentation.