KenDammit28

I actually switched back from PowerPro to Hybrid. I just couldn't get the feel of PP and it just didn't seem to work for me...I had great luck using the Hybrid before I had switched, so I went back. The memory is fine for me with #15 during the summer...right now if I take it out, its like #20 big game(just like a slinky), lol.

lol, I thought it was funny that the topic is "simplifying" colors and then the posts have 40 different things listed for colors. Not pickin on you guys, just got a chuckle out of it. Simple colors Green, Black, White, Blue everything I own and use is some sort of combination of those 4 colors with the odd red flake or something like that in soft plastics(I don't count those as "colors", so to speak) All my crankbaits are patterned after things like crawdads, bluegill, bass(I only own 5)...my topwaters are mostly bullfrog(green) with some yellow, or they are black or white. the oddest colored thing I own is a red spinnerbait and that ain't too odd.

split-shot rig

so far, the biggest obstacle is bending the thick, sturdy buzzbait wire into a tiny loop. I made a crude attempt at it last night just using a snap swivel for ease. I don't think it'll hold up to any kind of fish pressure(the snap swivel, that is)..but its possible I suppose. I'll try to get a picture soon.

on here that someone posted and it got me to thinking about modifying one of my own. They are not a lure of choice for me so its no big deal to lose one for the sake of experimenting. Anyway, the buzzbait looked like the blade of a buzzbait but the head and skirt portion looked like a jig that was attached with a split ring. I got to thinking(its dangerous sometimes) that it would seem to give the bait more action as the head and skirt portion would be moving freely around instead of stuck on a rod. The thing I'm stuck on is what would be a good SECURE way to make it so that the jig could be interchangable on my modified buzzbait? Just a simple split-ring(thats what the guys picture had) or something different?

as far as the eye thing goes...thats a new one on me. The only way that I've ever discovered that would let me know that a bass is keying on this or that is their teeth. Smooth feeling teeth a.k.a. they aren't cutting up your thumb or feeling like little needles lets me know that the bass are feeding on harder objects such as crawfish. Really sharp, needly feeling teeth let me know that the bass are feeding on fish or soft bodied creatures. Of course, that is all a relative point..as old age and various other things can effect the teeth. As far as spinnerbaits putting out vibrations..yes, they do. They are a quiet lure in that they aren't gurgling and spitting water but they are thumping "silently"(by that I mean that they are making vibrations in the water, not sound) and the bass can feel/detect that. Its akin to the thump or vibration a fish would make when swimming rapidly.

It seems like I remember seeing all the gun cases and stuff empty the last time I visited the sporting goods section here, too. There used to be two turnstyles with shotguns and rifles but I don't remember seeing those. Also, my wal-mart just got the chatterbaits, too. They also got booyah boogie blades, eakins jewel jigs, a lot of new spinnerbaits, more X-rap colors, more DT's, a lot of manns soft plastics...haven't looked at anything else yet...oh yeah, they have the lake fork swimbaits that I bought now, too.

my wal-mart has added some things to their department, as well. I dunno about you guys, but my Wal-Mart is also going into remodeling/re-arranging and making some departments bigger and taking some others out.

man i had some helicopter lures.....they were silly Best time to fish....whenever you have the time. Barometric pressure is about all I look into, but even it has a very minimal effect on fishing on a given day. I use it more for knowing how the weather is changing for my own safety.

Sinking something in ANYTHING that you don't personally own needs to be given permission. In public waters, the authorities of the lake can be anywhere from real particular about what goes in the water to very non-chalant. In private waters...its the same situation. In your own waters, just make sure that nothing toxic or harmful can come from what you're putting in, and you should be good.

I was watching one of the Bass Elite tournaments this past saturday..forget what lake it was, but it was the last tournament of the year. Anyway, the guys were all out fishing structure and brushpiles with dropshots and doing it by just watching the sonar screen. It was pretty neat to watch as you could look at the screen and see the weight, the bait, and the swivel all fall through the water column. The part that had me all confused is that they were seeing the fish come and eat the lure...I dunno if it was on the screen or if the water was so clear they could see it(but I suspect it was the screen). Are big money fish finders so clear that you could see something like that? I couldn't begin to read a graph if I tried...so I dunno what to look for. Secondly, have any of you fished for bass this way?

there really is a big difference between the two. "Also remember the difference between structure and cover. Cover is some physical object separate from the actual bottom contour. It is often mistaken for structure. Structure is the actual bottom contour (breaks, drops, humps, etc.) Think of structure as the highways and roads bass use to travel and migrate from one place to another. Think of the cover as rest stops or restaurants between these highways." "Structure - Changes in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. This is probably the most misunderstood word in bass fishing. Structure is a feature on the bottom of the lake. Some examples of structure are creeks, humps, depressions, sandbars, roadbeds, ledges, and drop-offs. Some examples that are not structure: a stump, tree, or brush pile (these are cover). " "Cover - Natural or manmade objects on the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. Anything a fish can use to conceal itself. Examples include stick-ups, tree lines, stumps, rocks, logs, pilings, docks, weeds, boathouses, duck blinds, bushes, etc. (not to be confused with structure)." those are all quoted from here at BR.

I agree. I think its another thing in a long line of fishing tall tales. "you have to be extremely quiet or you'll spook the fish" There are instances where being extremely quiet and what not are needed, like sight fishing, being right up on top of a fish and so forth, but for the most part...a bass will BARELY hear you, if at all. Ever go underwater in a pool and try to hear a conversation above water? Also, bass hear lots of creaks and cracks and splashes and so forth all day, every day...its just the nature of the underwater world. Finally, the more boat traffic, the less noise matters.

the one thing I'd say about cover like what you've created is just to make sure that there are some good "holes" for the fish to hide in and move through...kinda bush it out a little, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I threw a few small nuisance trees that I had cut down in my pond last year...didn't need to sink them with anything...they went down on their own. I haven't noticed a big difference in the fish coming to them, but am hoping that changes this coming season.

horny toad.

you know..I never understood backreeling....isn't that what the drag is for? Allows the fish to take line out without creating slack. I guess if you're using super low pound tests it could make sense..but I don't see a need, otherwise. As for controlling the fall..its all about the feathering. There are a few ways to do it..using the index finger near the spool, webbing the line directly, raising the rod tip....but most times with spinning gear, the fall will take care of itself if you don't close the bail.

looks like some kinda snake immitating lure. Seems more of a "catch the fisherman" than catch the fish type lure, too.

yeah I looked at it after i made this post and saw they looked pretty much identical.

you guys seen this lure before? Its a 5" Swimbait with a removable ball jighead in the front. Their website doesn't seem to be very updated so I can't find a picture of it. They were selling them at wal-mart for 2 dollars(btw, my Wal-Mart has really stocked up on a lot of new lures, more colors, so on and so forth...it'll be fun to go back and just look at what they have). Anyway, just wondering if maybe anyone had tried it..seems like a pretty nice bait...plastic is pretty soft and bendy...so hopefully it swims well.

I own 4 crankbaits(two baby 1-, a bomber Fat A, one I found in an old tackle box), two jerkbaits(X-Rap and a Husky Jerk), Three topwater chuggers(Two Pop-n-Images and a Rebel Pop-R), Two Jitterbugs(black one and chrome one), a hula popper, and some three rapala lures I found in the same old tackle box. Thats one 370 box I have about 6 different colors of Horny toad/Yum Buzz frogs(yellow, white, green pumpkin, black, black/red, watermelon/red), thats a 370 box I have a box filled with different color stikbaits...maybe 8 different colors..it also has three different tubes and green pumpkin baby brush hogs in it... the last box has 9 jigs(most are black or black/blue) with assorted color trailers and 6 chatterbaits. in the side pockets of my bag I have one box that contains 48 zoom lizards, the other side has 35 flukes and a 360 sized box that contains finesse worms and grubs. I have a spinnerbait box with about 20 blades, most are same color, different blade combos. In the front zipper pocket I have 4 colors of trickworms(green pumpkin, black, white, junebug), and some more finesse worms and a couple different colors of tiki sticks. thats all I'll ever need. I don't buy more until i'm out of something and have never ran out while on the water. The biggest replacements I make are with frogs because I fish them A LOT. So in total its 15 different lures..about 200 pieces or so if counted all separately. EDIT: I forgot three more lures..two Zara Spook Puppies, Two Heddon Torpedos, and a pack of wildeye live crappie swimbaits. I THINK thats all....

seems to me that you'd have to do an awful lot of re-tuning, which seems unnecessary. If you're so out of space that you can't carry a spinnerbait wallet or box, then I'd say its time to start doing some house cleaning. Personally, I have a spinnerbait box which holds maybe 24 or 32..can't remember which..and it's all the spinnerbaits I could possibly need to be carrying on me...a wallet would be the same way. I say ditch the idea of hooking the swivel ring to the hook and just buy a wallet that stores them without bending.

theres the pic.

I own a pack of those. the 3 inch version and ironically..they catch a lot of crappie. I have only thrown them twice...they do work as they are supposed to(swimming right, tail moving..etc) The only trouble I had was that one of the lures kinda tilts to the side and I can't figure out how to straighten it back out..I've twisted and nudged everything but it still tilts to that one side every time, lol.

RARELY ever use a trailer hook. Anytime I have used one or seen someone using one..the fish is still always on the main hook and the trailer hook is in some bad place on the fish. I am another who feels that the difference is negligable. Honestly, I think trailer hooks are a bit overrated. They are made out to be great fish keepers, but I've just never seen them make a real difference in anything other than getting hung up/mucked up.

I smash barbs on pretty much every hook I own unless its a topwater bait. I don't recall losing any fish because of the barbs being gone..only because I set a hook too early or because I didn't have them hooked good to begin with.