Spankey

After some thought I'm gonna go with the trailer hook. The baits work, no sense in trying something different. Blow-up, short strikes. Not gonna take the chance of trying something different now. I'm only missing the hook-up.

Guys just throwing this out for a suggestion or opinions. I generally start my morning out on this particular lake throwing a buzz-bait. The last couple of weeks I've had a lot of blow ups and short strikes. That's just the way it goes guess. Not that I've never been there before. Really do add a trailer hook. Might give it a try this upcoming weekend. Generally fish a 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. SK Mini Pro Buzz or Pro Buzz. Just kicking around the idea of getting my hands on a decent in-line buzz to try. Thought I might try something slightly different to try to break the funk I'm in. I'll fish my way through it somehow.

Sorry if anything got out of hand. I sincerely appreciate all comments. Believe me any comments or opinions are by no means a disrespect to any of the guys skill and ability level on this site. Very knowledgeable batch of dudes here. We are all in different parts of the country and under different set of conditions. We all take a different approach.

If you are implying that I'm using photo realistics not the case. That doesn't mean matching a forage type. You know ever decent hard bait mfg. makes a version of gizzard Shad, green gizzard Shad, blue back ....herring pattern types.

Why wouldn't I throw baits that match the forage. These are baits that proven themselves time after time. No disrespect (you are very respected) but you seem to be more hung up more on color then I am. Exactually why would I throw FireTiger, chartreuse w/ black and blue backs when they don't seem to produce well for me. Why would they be a confidence bait there. On the Big D that would be different. I can't say that I've had a lot of days like you have but I always have tied on what I feel will produce first. Shape and slight action change. But still able to cover 8-14 foot depth range. Can agree 100%. Very possible but I just related it to color. I thought that was the greater difference. I get hung on certain shad raps I have. Sometime things may start out great. Then it will die off. Why??? No idea. I'll tie on a jointed version of the same Shad rap and pick up a few more fish.

Water conditions on the river has put me on the lake the last few weeks. Big storms moving in again and might keep me there a few more I guess. No complaints, catching some green fish all is good. Sunday once i found them and found what they wanted I was catching them on gizzard shad Crankbait patterns. Lake has them it all makes sense and a no brainer to tie on what you have. Yesterday I got right back on that spot and figured I'd pick up right where I left off. Not so fast, not so easy. Fish were there could put me on my small finder. I threw everything I thought would make sense and managed a runt on a dropshot set up. I got off of that spot for awhile and tried to get another plan together. I thought why not just tie on the opposite colors of the Crankbaits I was throwing. Dug out some Bombers and Bandits in black, brown and purple (good river colors). Got back in there and got two nice fat 2 1/2 lb fish. Granted no state or lake record but respectable fish. What does color really mean?????? I'm no expert when it comes to that for sure. Have a high confidence level on a few patterns I throw. But, I chalk it up to never give up than anything. I was just not ready to go home.

The Abu Garcia Revo SX is another good reel. I generally find a rod I like and bring it around with me to the shops to get the feel and balance I like. That's what happened to be a recent Abu purchase. I'm generally a Shimano and Daiwa guy. I'll give the Abu a shot. Love it so far.

Thanks, after hear this or at least giving it some thought of ever have it happening to me maybe I should put a kit together for this condition. Thanks for all the info. Hope I don't have to deal with that.

Not to ask a dumb question. But how deep are fish when that happens? I don't recall that ever happening to me with a bass. Thanks. Would like to know.

Hope you feel better soon. And as far as the wife taking you out in your sleep I wouldn't worry about that too much. Mine has been threatening my with that since '79. I'm still here and not fishing anymore....or any less. Get better and get out there.

Like you guys I'm in right in the middle of this heat wave with you. Rains have the river conditions not to my liking or I'd be chasing some Smallies around. Been putting my efforts in up on the lake. Not doing to bad for water conditions on there. Catching bass on drop offs with Gizzard Shad patterns. I'm too stupid to stay home and suck up the AC. But I'm out from 5:00am to 8:30 ish. If I can get alittle topwater, worm and Crankbait fishing in I'm ok with it. I'll be at the ramp at 4:30 tomorrow morning. I'm right there with you. Be safe. Good luck.

Great fish. Did you get a pic? 7lb. Pig. Had a good weekend myself but certainly not that good. Congratulations. MidAtlantic weather has been brutal also.

Can see what your saying but most of the high end stuff never goes on sale or gets discounted until the model changes even if only slightly. That spring fling a BPS is decent if you bring in some old rod and reel for trade in. Cabela's has a few discounts that I know worked on a few St. Croix rods over the years. They seem to to put the house brands on sale all year long. The TW sales a few times a year can't be beat either. Hope you got a good deal.

Rapala has two perch versions of DT's ,Shad Raps, and floater divers. I have them in in a few sizes. Very productive. Yellow perch are not a main forage base where I fish but they work. I can post a pic but they will be easy to find online.

Oh man! Looks very familiar. Neosporine and a bandaide. Good luck. Hope your finger feels better.

You'll get your groove back. Don't get frustrated. Take a good day or a bad day. It is what it is. That's why they call it fishing and not catching. A lot of things can effect fish activity. You say you are having fun. That's probably the most important thing.

I love fishing crankbaits. Am a river rat also. You can't really fish a crankbait wrong but there is the need to fish them at various speeds and depths. Different cadence. Mimic something real. But I guess you don't have to do that. I do. I sort of get into it. Color that's a whole different set of opinions. It means something to me but is it everything? No. Crankbait shape is important to me. Or at least important enough to where if I was fishing a Bomber Model "A" and felt the need to switch to a Shad Rap shape. I could go on and on about crankbaits but too much to write and be opinionated about. You have to believe. You have to have confidence in what you are doing and throwing. I really believe you do have to have a few proven colors, a few basic shapes/models, a few sizes to match baitfish size. I'm sure you'll get a lot of good advise. Saw that you are new. Welcome. Good Fishing.

Has happened to me quite a few times over the years also. Catfish, Carp and some musky while Smallie fishing. It seems that catching channel cats in the river come when lack of rains sets in and water tends to clear up. Might just be a coincidence. It does seem like you set the new state record at first. It's all good stuff. Great post.

Much the same for me also. Color patterns on the lures have changed some. Bomber use to have a greater selection at one time. I still use the older and newer Rappy Wiggle Warts. Mr. Twister and Manns were more readily available than today, with better options. I do fish my older stuff still.

That's fishing. The ones you don't see are sometimes the ones you get. I don't do too much sight fishing. Hope you get him.

I'm sort of going through it also. My expectations were set way too high for this year I guess. I go at it much like the Ike motto of "never give up". It tends to work and puts a couple in the boat. I'm still waiting on my first real nice smallie of the season. It will come. We've been getting a lot of rain. Water clarity and consistency has been off. It will come around. Try to keep positive. Try to stay focused.

To each his own. I don't. I can't see leaving my stuff in the heat. Can't be good of mono and flouro. I'm pretty anal and don't let my baits and rods set out in the boat over winter to see cold freezing temps either. Just can't see the extremes having no effects.

But do you really want her throwing in your face about the $150.00 Garcia Revo SX or the $170.00 Daiwa Tatula. Not me. My wife fully understands my passion for chasing Smallies. But we keep our distance on rods, lured, reels etc. for the most part. There have been times if asked for present suggestions and I've given a few ideas and she knows about TW. I guess I'm saying I don't bring up shoes, purses or clothes. You (she) don't bring up rods, reel, lures, boat That good stuff man. Your lucky. I know I'm lucky.

Rods: St. Croix Abu Garcia Fenwick Reels: Shimano Daiwa

Would have to agree. TW and another site are easy to deal with. I live in S.E. Penna. There ain't crap out here.