RoLo
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Everything posted by RoLo
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In Florida, one of the best bets in July are Redfish (red drum). I like a 1/4 oz Johnson Spoon dressed with a 2" white grub, and also white bucktail jigs. If just landing a redfish is your top priority, pickup some 2 to 4" shrimp (live or fresh frozen) or use those pinfish you're catching, between 3 & 4" long. Since you don't have a boat I can't help much with location, except to say "Mosquito Lagoon". Another good option in July, though less glamorous is the mangrove snapper (gray snapper). For them I'd use little 2" shrimp or belly strips from the pinfish you're catching. Roger
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My experience with propbaits is very limited, but my best success has been on a Smithwick Devils Horse. Oddly enough, the first bass I ever caught on the surface fell for a Creek Chub Injured Minnow. That was back in the 50s, shortly after they switched from wooden plugs to plastic plugs Roger
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WOW, you've got your hands full FANTASTIC! Roger
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Assuming that you've already boated a trophy-class bass of 9 pounds or more, I believe a more realistic goal would be "12" pounds, which represents a record-class largemouth bass. The overwhelming majority of anglers reach the dark side of the sod, before they land their first 12-pound bass. As mentioned above, the "early pre-spawn" is by far the best period to hunt for a world-class bass. It's only lasts about 3 weeks, but preparation for that brief period should involve the other 49 weeks ;-) To answer your question: 'Yes' I am just like you. I've lost my interest in lakes and rivers that lack record-class potential. We have lakes nearby that offer density over quality, lakes where guides take guests who just want to catch bass. I haven't touched any of those lakes in years. I'm afraid it's not a phase though, but an incurable disease Roger
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I'll bet you remember the worm parade. It began with the Creme Scoundrel (complete with red beads & propeller), moved to Manns Jelly Worm & Culprit Ribbontail; then plastic worms came out of the barrel like pellets: Twister Thunderworm, Manns Mannipulator, Gillraker Worm, Producto Worm, Mister Twister Phenom, Manns Augertail, Rebel Ringworm, Bass Pro Tripple Ripple ~ ~ ~ Roger
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Crank, I believe that's a different phenomenon. As Mama Nature would have it, cow bass produce more eggs than necessary. Even though a cow will visit the beds of several buck bass, there's normally leftover roe after the spawning season. Apparently it takes time to absorb the surplus, which can last into the summer. When I lived in Jersey, I often found roe in bass I cleaned during the summer. Roger
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It's important to specify between 'water depth' and 'fish depth'. For example, if you catch smallies 20-ft below the surface in 100 ft of water, the fish are 20 feet deep. Roger
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I use a T-rigged "Gambler Big EZ", but flank-rig the bait to increase the hook gap, and BURY the hook-point (no Texskinning) To keep the bait running high (just inches below the surface), I use a small 3/16 oz bullet sinker with a punch stop. You want a lead or steel 3/16 oz sinker, because tungsten has a smaller diameter which means a smaller weed-shield. Rigged in this manner you'll be able to sled thru the heaviest spatterdock (bonnets). The more it bounces around the better, the same as a crankbait deflecting off cover. Bass really slam swimbaits, and it still gives me gooseskin when they blast it next to the boat Good Luck Roger
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One day in June, a friend of mine told me excitedly that there was a bass bedding next to the wharf. This was Florida, so I was pretty sure he was mistaken. Well, as it turned out, he was absolutely correct and I seen it for myself. So, if bass can bed as late as June in Florida, I'd imagine they can bed as late as July in Virginia. From what I've read, bass that just reach sexual maturity tend to be the last bass to nest. For what it's worth, the bass I seen bedding in June was very small. Roger
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It is true, but you don't need a wacky rig tool or O-rings, all you need is a W-rigged stick worm Roger
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It took years, but I've whittled the field of scores of lures down to seven "High-Use" lures, each having a dedicated outfit (rod, reel & line). The upper tier of the Bill Dance Plano 1150 is chockfull of the big 7 and associated hooks, weights, trailers, punch stops ~ ~ ~ The lower tier is crammed with specialty lures (Lo-Use lures) along with surplus lures backing-up the big 7 in the upper tier. Roger
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I have a big drawer full of nylon spools, a lot of which is even older than yours. As long as it hasn't been exposed to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight, your mono should be just fine. If you doubt the integrity of the line, the light test nylon can be given a jerk test and the heavier nylon can be used for backing, but I've yet to have a problem with nylon stored in a dark drawer. Roger
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The concept of dropshotting is well over a hundred years old, which sprang from various saltwater rigs such as Dropper rigs, Three-Way rigs, Hi-Lo rigs & Xmas Tree rigs. The dropshot rig added two welcome modifications to the saltwater dropper rig: 1) It eliminated the dropper loops & dropper lines by attaching the hook directly to the main line (improved depth control) 2) The desired suspension above bottom is easily adjusted by sliding the dropshot sinker without any retying. Roger
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Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth
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Ceramic Scissors Hold edge-keenness, never rust Roger
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I never met a plastic worm I didn't like. If this thread lasts long enough, it will comprise a list of every plastic worm ever manufactured Roger
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Snag Proof Ish's Popping Phattie (5/8 oz x 2-3/4”) Sunline 60-lb FX2 Braid Roger
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All I ever take for largemouth bass is one Plano 1150 tackle box (17" x 12" x 5") I've pared my lure arsenal down to the 'Super-Seven', each on its own rod & reel (7 outfits - 1 box) In the bottom of the tackle box I keep specialty lures and surplus lures. My tackle box is always on the deck with the hinge forward, that way the lid is closed by the boat underway. The lure stash I leave at home probably weighs about 50 times more than the lures I take on the boat (really). Roger
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Good summation. You might consider trying a weedless swimbait fished on top of your favorite jig coverts. Bass often hook themselves on swimbaits, and if there's any difference in mean size it might be upward Roger
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Swimbait Carolina Rig Roger
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She looks familiar
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We're in an early summer pattern right now, when plastic worms begin stealing the show. We're not slaying'em, but our best producers are Mag UV worms, 6" stick worms and Mag Tricks. Roger
