Big-B_2579

Thanks man! I definitely was excited, haha! For sure will show her off a bit when the replica is done!

Yea, I’ve seen his name thrown around since starting this thread. I was absolutely blown away when I saw pictures of his work. Super super impressive and there is zero doubt in my mind that’s who I want to tackle this for me. I have deer taxidermy work done on a regular basis and I have no issue with wait times ... I’m the guy that would MUCH rather wait and have it done right than settle for a rush job. I greatly appreciate the info here and I believe I’ve found exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you much! If y’all saw the mountain of a man I am, it would really put it into perspective! Hahaha!

Didn’t think about posting pictures, haha! I just tried and it’s telling me the file size is too big. I’ll have to figure out how to post them tomorrow, I apologize for the suspense! Lol

I’ve slowly been improving my fishing over the last several years, been catching more and better fish ... a double D still is something I thought to be more of a pipe dream. Keep after them and it will happen! Thank you!

I was dredging a DT 16 in about 10ft of water ... digging bottom, bouncing and slamming rocks and woody cover. Thank you, sir! Definitely something I’m not sure I ever thought I would see ... I’m just a weekend warrior! Haha

Hello everyone! I got my hands on a 10.60lb largemouth the other day. Annihilated my PB and my first double digit fish (which don’t come too often in central Alabama)! I am looking to have a high quality replica made and I’m in need of some suggestions for places to have it done. I’ve not mounted a fish since I was about 13 years old (35 now) and it was a 6lb skin mount ... what I’m saying is I have ZERO idea about the best people/places to have something like this done (haven’t been crazy about any of the work I’ve seen from any local taxidermists). I apologize if this has been answered before, I searched and didn’t come up with much. So, you’ve just caught a 10 pounder ... where you having it replicated?!

I'd like to tell you I'm a "seasoned" bed fisherman ... But that is far from the truth , lol ! I do fish a local state public lake in February through mid May almost exclusively sight fishing bedding females. To say the least , it's fun ! Here are my go to baits ... White Zoom lizard ... That's my #1 favorite Solid white jig with white craw trailer ... A great throwback bait if you miss with the lizard. White rage craw ... Also a good throwback , or if they won't bite the lizard (I can usually coax them into biting one or the other) Natural color (green pumpkin , pumpkin) jig w/ matching trailer ... If they won't bite something white. (The ONLY reason for the white is visibility for myself ... I can see the bait and what it's doing) Natural color crawfish ... I like the Zoom little critter craw on a shakey head , just seems to trigger a strike quicker than a larger bait. Hope this helps a little. Definitely try the white ... Anything white , I LOVE seeing my bait while sight fishing !

Thanks everyone. I picked up a few packs of the Zoom Fat Alberts today , along with a few more Jigs. The Fat Alberts seemed to fit that particular jig (Dirty Jigs) just right. Try 'em out on Monday : ) . I got to say I'm a bit confused by the craw and twin tail responses ... Don't get me wrong , I love craw trailers for flippin' / pitchin'. But , I figured they would hurt the action of the skirt on a SWIM jig. I tried a Zoom swimmin' chunk (twin tail chunk) when I first started messing with a swim jig ... I didn't like it , the jig didn't have the same action as it did without a trailer (or with a single tail grub , as I have read , but have not yet tried). Any way , maybe that will be something for you guys to try as well. Thanks for the responses !

Hello everyone , and thanks for glancing. First let me say , I tried to search this topic and for whatever reason my search yeilded 0 results. I can't imagine the swim jig not being a popular topic , so I guess something is wrong with the search engine. I apologize if this has been asked a million times. Anyway ... I am starting to mess with swimming a jig more and more , and doing fairly well with it. I was just wondering what you guys are throwing on the back of these dudes ? I know a single tail grub works best (or seems to) , but just wondering if there's a certain size , or brand yall like better than the other. I fish mostly 1/4 , 3/8 , and occasionally a 1/2 oz ... And Dirty Jigs makes my favorite ! Also anything you guys add besides a single tail grub ... Just looking for some different answers here , change it up a bit. Thanks Fellas , Big B

I , myself , have just recently started trying hard jerkbaits seriously. I've tried them here and there in the past without much success. I WAS one of those who refused to spend the money for the LCs. Not a wise decision on my part. Finally broke down and bought 2 (ms American shad , and Aurora black) this year. Take it from me , if you want to build confidence in a hard jerkbait , LC 100 s are IT ! All I have are those two baits , but I promise I have plans to buy more. Immediately started catching fish on them , and they have really helped my confidence in throwing hard jerkbaits. As far as the retrieve , I've mostly been giving it small jerks and pausing for 5-10 sec. However , that's not the only way I've caught fish with them. I also like the long pull with a short pause here and there. In my opinion , there's really no RIGHT or WRONG way to fish them , just vary your retrieve until you get bit. Let the fish tell you what they want. Hope this helps you make a decision. I promise you'll not be disappointed with the LCs.

I just wanted to let all who replied to this post know that I have my problem fixed and would like to say thanks for all of your help. Really do appreciate it. I figured you guys probably don't hear that enough. I wound up just changing my line type/size and it was like night/day , the difference . Went from the 10 lb flourocarbon to 8 lb Trilene Sensation (my favorite mono) . Used it today for the first time, and it really worked wonders, I couldn't believe that small of a change made such a big difference . Landed a 3 or so pounder on the setup. Again , I truly appreciate the help from everyone. Keep it up guys , you all make this site what it is ... AWESOME ! Thanks guys.

I'll agree with every thing . I'm rapidly becoming a big , big , big Xcaliber fan. Xr50 is by far my favorite rattle bait that I've EVER fished. Love the square billed cranks also.

This was a great post. I always find it interesting to hear what everyone else is doing/not doing in comparison with myself. Isn't it absolutely amazing how this wonderful sport of bass fishing brings all of us together in one way or another. Never ceases to baffle me. As for myself , pretty close to the O/P . Spent a lot of money on cranks this year , and really gonna focus in on cranking. Also gonna try to get better with my jigs and try (again) drop-shottin'. Just can't quite get the feel for the drop shot.

I have had the same problem with eyeglasses/sunglasses. I can't wear contacts because of work. (and my insurance only pays for one or the other) . Right now , I have a pair of sunglasses called fit-overs that fit right over my glasses. They work pretty good , and are basically the same as cocoons . The cocoons didn't fit my huge head very well , Haha. Also , my eye doctors office carries the Wiley X brand glasses , and I've been looking into having some of those made in prescriptions, like hooligan said. The frames are not bad $ , just don't know yet about the lenses. But , you're right , probably will be expensive , but I've gotten to where I CANNOT fish without polarized glasses so it'll probably be worth the price for me. Anyway , I would try the Cocoons , or Fit-Overs . They both get the job done. Hope this helps . (good to know I'm not the only one with this problem, Haha)

I use 10 lb. Trilene flouro . 10 instead of 8 because of the small diameter of flouro . Never had any problems with tangled , knots , or birdnests.

I am having problems getting casting distance out of my spinning reel. Not sure if it's the reel , the rod , or something I'm doing. I don't use spinning tackle much , so it may be that I need to upgrade my equipment. The reel is a pflueger trion on a berkley 6'6" med action rod. I use it almost exclusively for shakey heads and senkos. Thanks for any advice. Big B.

I just bought the less expensive Speed Spool reel. AWESOME reel for the money . As said before , anxious to see how it holds up over the years.

Personally , I think one is just as important as the other . Maybe put a fuzz more emphasis on the rod . Curious to see what everyone says.

Never really fished a jerkbait myself .... I think I hear the Bait Monkey

10/4 , thanks , Hooligan . You've sure been a lot of help. I agree with you also about how interesting it is how everyone has different experiences and opinions with the same tactics. That's what makes this site so informative and fun. Really appreciate your help. 8-)

Thanks Hooligan. Gonna be trying to find the 100 Xcaliber. I looked in bass pro , and they didn't have them listed in the 100 / 200 / 300 options. Instead they had 2 different sizes; 1/2 oz. (2" length) , and 5/8 oz. (2 3/4") . Not sure but I imagine this is the 200 and 300 , right ?

Believe me , Bandit is my #1 when it comes to all-around crankin' , I was just considering these two for "heavy cover" baits (as advertised). Just out of curiosity, why do yall like the smaller size ? And , when you talk about the "roll" are you talking about when you pause the bait ? (most of the time , I "chunk and wind" running into bottom, cover, structure, only occasionally pausing if I'm not gettin' bit)

I didn't know about the 100 , the store where I bought mine only had the 200 and 300 . I haven't thought to look in bass pro. Glad you told me that Marc. 8-)