Spankey

I have older Bombers and Bandits like that, kick butt on River Smallies.

I spend a lot of time on the river. A nice sunny bluebird sky no wind or breeze is a great day. Can be a very productive day. But, I'll take a cloudy overcast situation. If it wants to start drizzling or light rain kicks in, I'll take that also. There are a lot of things the effect river fishing. Have fun.

I'm not sure they specifically look at it that "hey that's an injured baby bass should I eat it or not". You know it's all reactionary on the fishes part. But baby bass is pretty productive pattern. The color in soft plastics is right there in the heart of other similar plastic colors that also work well. It's not like it's night and day different than others. In crankbaits I throw that pattern in Rapalas, Cotton, Bomber and Bandit. Was one of the first colors they tell you to get when you were a kid starting to throw crankbaits. I will say that my more recent purchases of a few real image type crankbaits are no where near as productive as the old school patterns put on Crankbaits. I would have thought the Rapalas real image largemouth and smallmouth pattern would have been far more productive than what they are. I really believed they would kick butt. Might be a mental block I have now with them. I found this this to be true with the Rapala old school bluegill pattern vs. the real image bluegill. Original bluegill is hands down more productive. One of the best bass fishing patterns there is. Just my opinion.

I'm a Rapala guy for the most part. They have been putting versions out for a long time others are claiming as new now. Their color possibilities may not be as great as others but maybe color really is not that important. They have balsa and plastic versions. Both are great. They have never skimped on quality over the years. In my opinion. I love the Bandits. Jumped on that bandwagon back in the early 80's. Great lures. Wish I had 10 cents for every Smallie I caught on a Bandit. I have a lot of vintage fish catching patterns from years ago. That company went down the crapper when they sold out. Same applies to Bomber. ^^^^^ What happened? I've jumped on the Strike King bandwagon on a few versions of their crank baits. The XD's I love. I don't believe color is everything but there are a couple of the Sexy Patterns they put out that are working great for me. Not sure if it's the lure or the pattern. Leaning toward the color. Lipless all I throw are Rat-L-Traps.

I actually have three favs. Chrome W/ Blk Back, Chrome W/ Blue Back and Gold W/ Blk Back. They are with me/on the boat all the time. Yesterday I had on chrome w/blk back. I was gonna throw the gold something told me to tie on chrome. They are all the same. Chrome and gold is chipped, backs are worn off and the gold is real light in color anyway. In my opinion they are the only ones that are needed for me. My other had not see the amount of use these have. I keep doubles and triples of these.

Yesterday was a tough day for me on the lake. Had big ideas as to how larger worm fishing was going to produce. Well that was just a real bad thought. Went with one of my favorite Rat-L-Traps, seems like they always produce in a crunch. 3rd cast working my way back into a lay down and nailed a 2.80 lb. not a giant by any means but the last month has been a dink feast for me.

I put together a split ring and treble hook kit back some years ago. Built up over a period of time. Still add to it as needed. I buy the VMC stuff from TW. Get a nice set of ring pliers and you are set for life.

The OP mentioned how he was looking to buy some knock off brand reels. I never knew they existed. But there is a lot out there. Buyer beware I guess. I bought an older series Daiwa SS on EBay one time, was dirt cheap. Was too good to be true. Everything was fine. State side transaction. I wasn't about to question why it was so cheap.

Mfg. will give you the specifics of those baits. They are still in production. Strike King has a great site and they have a great catalog you can get. Full line catalog.

Guys thanks again, I ordered up the Gammys in 4/0 & 5/0. I also have the Owner Wide Gap Plus coming in 4/0 & 5/0 also. Will have them before Sunday. At BPS today there is 10% off if you spend over $50.00 and 2 day shipping. Been wanting that 100 MPH jacket liner for some time. Seemed like the price was right and the deal was real. Thanks again. My winter project will be to set myself with a heavier punching/flipping/slop set up for this heavy vegetation I encounter. I have to go with the lighter wt. hooks right now. I know I'm taking myself out of the game by not fishing the heavy stuff properly.

You actually heard that in the past? You've actually witnessed someone leave a spot because a tournament guy asked another guy to leave? That would be the ------- day. There are a lot of ignorant people in S.E. Penna. but never seen or heard that one.

This one shop near me looks to be pushing those Berkley Fusion hooks. He had a pretty good selection but they are not what I feel I need at this time. Have that heavy flipping/punching thing going on. Great hook I'm sure but that type of fishing I'm not there yet. For quite a few weeks now I've been dealing with a dink and runt lollapoliza. Feel the need to step up that senko size and see if I can draw bigger hits.

Thank you. I'd like to get something a bit different to have in my possession for Sunday morning. Gonna break away from the 3" & 4" Senkos I've been using. Step it up a bit. Probably won't find 5/0 EGW locally but feel good about getting them to the house by Sunday delivered. I'm not hurting for fishing tackle or rods and reel by any means but this winter I'm gonna hook myself up with a decent flipping and pitching set up to handle heavier rigs properly. I feel good about a finesse approach to 5" & 6" Senkos but need the right hook. OP THANKS AGAIN.

Thank you.

I'm pretty much a Rat-L-Trap guy but like you back a few years ago I wanted that bit of a different look and sound and to have another option. I've been happy with the SK versions. I like the color patterns I went with. There is a nice selection of the Sexy patterns. They all work well.

Can you give a recommendation on a 5/0 EWG Worm Hook that is NOT a heavy style flipping type. I'm going to be using them on 5"&6" GY Senkos. I do not fish real real heavy. I rig them weightless t style. Just don't like the heavier hooks I'm using. I think they are overkill. OP, Thanks for for letting me ask a question on your post.

Let's see if the moderator jumps in and give his opinion or boots my reply. Any reply where you rollover and suck it it up if fine. Now I'm not implying any bodily harm just a note to let some one know that your not a fool or ignorant to be pushed around. Give the guy a wake back. He's not gonna do anything. He'll know it's *** for tat. Let him suck on that awhile. Might make him think about it next time. But probably not.

Nice reel. Most of my fishing is with 2500 series. On ML and M rods 6'10" or less. Can you try both on your rod than make up your mind?

Yesterday fished for a few hours in a steady rain. Caught a handful of Runts and a decent size chain pickerel 18"-20" long. I was my own worse enemy yesterday in trying to catch a respectable bass. Never gave myself the chance. Took myself right out of the game. I should have stayed with soft plastics but was all hepped up on throwing a few new deep diving XD cb's. Wish I would have thought it out better. Got hung up trying to fish a water column from 2 ft. to 15ft. They were not interested in chasing anything down. Pretty common for dinks and runts to do that though.

I'm a bit north of you. I know they are in my area. I have not caught one. I'm not enthusiastic about the idea of them one bit. I hear they like bass lures. Just hope they like death. If if I catch one it will be killed and it will be posted at the PA fish and boat board down by the ramp. It will be nailed to a mounting post with a galvanized spike.

What you could do is put the Keitechs in a decent ziplock bag by pattern, than stow them in a Rubbermaid container or whatever that other brand is that is out there . I personally like the ziplock bags that you can write on. Just my two cents.

Blue, my thoughts exactly. Thanks. I believe this is true to my local home spot. I've moved on fish differently and think differently when it comes to my bass fishing. I've fished this one area for so long that I had seen a condition that was a no prize Smallie fishery get to be a decent smallmouth section. Saw smallies get to a respectable size. Have caught down right trophy size smallies there. Rains, environmental impact and Flat Heads have ruined it. I've had to turn my back to what was home to me. Moved on to a place that I feel better at. I dealt with a frustration level there longer than I should have.

I believe that to be true in my local area of river. They make nice catches for sure. I'm fishing smallies. Do get a few catties on crankbaits and over the last few years have been nailing some Muskies. If I was to purposely fish for Muskies or big cats I probably could not catch one.

I was gonna start a thread some time back about all the rain. I've been ****ing and moaning about it for months to my wife and she's about ready to stab me over it. Glad I didn't. Would of been a selfish rant. Most likely would have gotten called out on that one. I'm lucky and grateful that it has not brought devistation to my local area. I've seen what it has done in some areas. To persons property. Areas they fish. Im not facing that. You see that and it makes your pet peeve seem like nothing.

I believe you on that one but I'll never know. I'm not gone there on that one. They went on to say in the article that some of the ones being harvested are going to school districts in California. I found that odd. But I'm ignorant to what all that is about. There were four or five uses for them on the commercial side. They went on to say this wound bring numbers down quicker but needed to make the processing part quicker. The Chineese want them. Cripes that's where they came from along with the dang snakeheads.