mcipinkie

I'm paranoid about shiny sinkers and/or jig heads. I try to paint them all. I paint green ones, blue ones, brown ones, black ones. You name it, I've got it. If something happens where I don't have a painted sinker or jig, I always carry a black permanent marker and at least darken them up. However, one of my tournament partners, an excellent fisherman, just ties them on goes to work. Shiny, dull, painted, unpainted, it doesn't matter to him, and he just catches the snot out of the fish. You figure it out. As for me, I'll keep painting mine.

Here in MO, the weather is about the same. I live near KC and most of the local lakes are iced over, at least partially. I love to winter fish. There are very few people out on the water, and it seems like my fish size is bigger in winter. I stick with four baits in cold water: Jerk Bait: Find a good point or a flat with some wind blowing on it. Find an area where you can mark some bait on your depth finder. Get way out from the bank and fling that jerk bait out there. Jerk it down four of five times and leave it suspend as long as you can stand it. Some the real jerk bait experts up here wait 30 seconds or longer between pulls. You watch these guys fishing. Sometimes they're 200 - 300' from the bank deadsticking that jerk bait. I'm not that patient, but those quys catch some monsters doing that this time of year. Hula Grub: Find some deep (15 - 30 feet) wood. Put a 5" Hula Grub on a 3/8 - 3/4 jig head with a good weed guard and work it through the wood. Bites will be few and far between, but if you can find some fish, often they will school up this time of year. A lot of people fish a skirted jig with a pork trailer on this pattern and do well, but I just like the Hula Grub. Hair Jig: What ever reason, sometimes the fish just won't take a skirted jig, or Hula Grub, but will just devour a hair jig. I use a 1/4 oz. arctic fox jig from Cabela's because I bought a bunch of them a couple of years ago, but Punisher makes what is probably the best hair jig. Put an Uncle Josh 101 Spin Frog on for a trailer and fish like the Hula Grub. Grub: I like a Yamamoto Super Grub, either smoke or watermelon. I rig on a 1/4 ounce light wire jig head and throw on a spinning rod with 30# Power-Pro and a 8' leader of 8# flourocarbon. I either fish in the deep wood similar to the Hula Grub or throw at steep banks and swim it out and down. Keep in mind that a couple days of warming sun like we are forecast for late next week wlll move fish surprisingly shallow. If the the sun is bright, don't hesitate to try some shallow patterns for a while, particularly in the afternoon. The main thing to remember is that fishing is going to be slow. You probably aren't going to get a lot of bites in 38 degree water, but they may be very good fish. Dress warmly, fish slowly, keep up the concentration and most of all, when it quits being fun, go home.

I will add my, hopefully, wisdom. I spend at least 3/4 of my fishing time pitching and/or flipping. I don't start out saying,"I'm going to flip today" or "I'm going to pitch today". I start fishing a jig, or a tube, or a worm, or whatever bait I'm using in heavy cover. Sometimes I pitch. Sometimes I flip. Sometimes I cast. Remember flipping and pitching are just casting techniques. The goal is present the bait to the fish. My one note of wisdom: Assuming you're right handed, learn to pitch and flip with your left hand. I'm 59 years old, and have been fishing all my life. I made up my mind two years ago to learn to use my left hand more. In the course of a season, you'll get a fish or two with that left hand that you wouldn't get changing hands. It really wasn't that difficult to learn.

Here goes my probably not so humble opinion: Like most guys my age (59), I have tried making jigs, pouring worms, building rods, and darn near everything else at least once. MY TAKE: Unless you are really bored, or have a major case of cabin fever, it just doesn't pay off. Buy what you need and go fishing. Nothing is more important than time on the water. If I were going to throw a jig like in your picture, and I do, I would buy the Eakins jigs and go fishing. Look at www.jewelbait.com. What you need is there, tournament proven, readily available and pretty inexpensive. Like I said earlier, I throw the fox hair jigs from Cabelas, but the Punishers are probably the best hair jigs made. I just bought a lot of Cabela's jigs year before last, and haven't used them up yet.

Anyone else out there taken all the tackle out of their boat and started sorting out? Cabin fever is setting in early this year. I got all the 3700's and all the sacks of lures that I bought this year out of the boat and started organizing the other night. I am primarily a jig fisherman, but think I have gone overboard this year. In skirted jigs only, not counting plain jigs for grubs, hula grubs, etc., I had 198 in the boat. All the way from 1/8 to 7/8 ounce in every color imaginable. I'm sick with the disease. Anyone else as bad as me?

There are a lot of us here in MO that throw those little light jigs. Of course the Eakins boys are famous for their jigs and their prowess with them. I prefer to throw on a baitcaster. I'm just a little more accurate that with a spinning road. I use a Shimano Crucial rod in a medium light action. It's an old Crucial, not sure if the new ones come that light or not. I spool up with 10 lb. yellow power pro. If the water's clear which it usually is, I use a 6' leader of green 10 lb. Big Game. If I go to Table Rock or Bull Shoals, I'll generally use a 10' leader of 8 lb. fluorocarbon. Mike McCelland just won the BASS Open Championship on the Alabama river on just such a jig. I'll also throw the hair jigs when the water gets really cold. I like a fox hair jig from Cabela's (couldn't find the name) with 101 spin frog. Punisher in TN is also making very nice hair jig. There are times when the fish won't hit the skirted jig, but will just eat up the hair jigs.