Bluebasser86

It was Douglas State Lake. Olathe and Gardner are both ice free as well.

Don't worry, there was about 2 dozen in the rod lockers.

I've caught way more swimbait fish from a boat, but my boat is often positioned pretty close to the shoreline when I catch those fish.

boattrader.com

Welcome!

It was mine too, still can't believe I actually own one now

Welcome!

You might try a Hi lighter first if you're just wanting to add some color. JJ's doesn't get a long with some materials, hate to ruin a new bait.

They're usually right back next to your bilge pump.

I've fished an A rig quite a bit, caught a bunch of fish on it, never caught a double. I've had bunches of doubles on about every kind of hardbait though, is that unfair? You still have to find the fish and make them bite, it isn't like it turns them into mindless zombies that must eat because it got within their strike zone. I've had days where I threw it and threw for hours with no luck, but the guys that found the fish smashed them with it. When it's on, it's crazy good, but that can be said for a lot of presentations. It also has very specific windows when it works. I don't really care either way about tournaments banning them, but I don't see how it could be unfair if everyone was allowed to use one?

Pit boss, Rage Menace/craw/structure bug rigged sideways. Paddletail swimbait, 2/3 of a 5" Senko.

I cast jigs all the time as well as T rigs, although I've gone to using mostly swinging football heads when I'm wanting to cast a plastic bait.

I use it a lot during the late fall through the early spring but it works year round. It's one of my go to baits on that particular lake because there are so many overhanging trees and it's much easier to skip.

I've fished most of their hardbaits, their frogs, EWG hooks, tungsten, reels, and their rods, zero complaints with any of it.

Sufix 832 or Performance braid. Super Slick is great on spinning rods but I've had trouble with knot strength on casting gear.

Redbug or junebug magnum finesse worm on a 1/8oz shakyhead is a staple for me on our lakes with stained to dirty water. Most of the fish I catch on it are in 5' or less of water too.

I'm using Google Chrome.

Something lightweight and easy to palm, capable of casting fairly light baits. I prefer a mid range retrieve ratio but it's really a personal preference on that one.

I'd probably go with a #6 or #4 then, maybe even a short shank #3 or #2 if you can get away with it.

Size, diving depth, available colors, some are louder while others are quieter, some have very little action while others have a very aggressive action. Does it truly make a difference? Not always, but sometimes it does and that's reason enough for me to have them.

Sounds like the same junk we had. Went like a wave through the house and gone in just over a day. It was a rough 24 hours though, especially for the little guy.

I'm a jerkbait junky and I cannot lie! Heck, I can come up with 10 jerks I like better in just 2 different brands; LC Pointer 78 LC Pointer 100 LC Spazz LC Slender Pointer 97MR LC Pointer 78DD LC Pointer 100DD LC Staysee Duo 120 Duo 100 Duo 100DD Toss in the McStick, McRip, STX and STX JR, H2O jerk shad, Soul Evolve 5 Deathdrop, Perfect 10, Elite 8, and super rogues, plus some KO 110's and Vicious jerkbaits, the baits mentioned don't have much room left in my box.

I've also been using the Eagle Claw Lil' Nasties for my mushroom style heads. I bought a 1,000 pack and have gone through about half of it with zero unusable hooks so far. I've had similar experience as smalljaw, they're a strong little hook that holds a point very well, even if you do have to bend them, and they're extremely sticky sharp. I had an aversion to their hooks for a long time because they were the bottom of the barrel hooks, cheap and not an option for anything except panfish. Since they revamped their lineup of hooks though, they've sprung to the front of the pack for my jig pouring needs. When I tried their hook with my bladed jigs, I was amazed how sharp and strong their hooks have become. With the exception of a few Owners that I buy just when I have to have the very best, I use nothing but Eagle Claws now.

5-8 fish in a day during the middle of winter isn't a bad day at all in my book, especially if a few of those fish are quality fish.