Spankey

I've seen them and others at the shop. I have never used one. I sometime get intimidated by bigger baits. I honestly believe they should produce nice sized fish. I'm just kicking my season off (in the north) right now. I may just try a couple of them when we are in the dog days of summer mode. The ones you are talking about are 1/2 oz. Some of the one I have in mind are slightly bigger. Good luck try it.

Admittedly frogging, pitching and flipping are a small part of my fishing, For many years river smallie fishing never warranted it. Being on the lake the last few years I sort of found a place for it. Slop fishing has been an eye-opener.

I want to start off by saying I am NOT the frog fisherman among frog fisherman. But I use a BPS Pro Qualifier 2 for this purpose. Was cheap during BPS Spring Fling a few years back. I wanted a setup for just this and didn’t want to spend a lot. Basically my only braid outfit.

Nice looking combinations. I generally fish on the lighter side. I’ve come to like the Missile Finesse Jigs.

I really have not had issues with Shimano. Nothing I could not rebuild or repair myself. I did have an issue with a new Nasci back a few years ago. Something I didn’t like within the first hour of use with but they replaced it. I’m using a few Abu Garcia Revos now days and I’m 110%+ satisfied with them. Never really had much in the way of reel problems.

Hard Knock 1.5 SB. Standard color pattern. I think it is avail. in a std. rattling also. Pretty sure TW has it.

The BE Gill is a nice pattern. I’ve done well with it. Softer matted color. Where I fish I believe blue gills is the primary food source much of the season.

Rapala's original bluegill is my favorite. I took a brand new one and hung it outside all winter to give it a fade. Been thinking of trying this for a few years now. Can't wait to use it, it was not hurt or damaged in anyway. Other bluegill cranks I use are Lucky Craft. Their possibilities are almost endless. They run shallower. I've tried a few Rapala Live image versions, they worked but barely worked. I wont use real image. You should have no problem finding that match.

My river is basically in my backyard. All I’ve really ever know up until the last few years. Lake fishing has been a different way of life and a real eye opener. I have a calling to go back. This year I’m going to put some time back into it. Go back and do my homework. No sense of asking at a state level. They have no answers. Just have to figure it out.

There are so many good patterns out there. Every decent manufacturer makes at least one pattern. I don’t limit myself to just Herring or Shad patterns. But they do work in all fishable water clarities. The patterns are endless. They probably have Live Image cb’s with the exact herring you have in your waters. I don’t fish live image or LiveTarget baits. They don’t seem to produce well with bass. For me.

It looks all to familiar to what has ruined some of my smallmouth fishing.

Those color patterns you mention I’ll pick up over a bone in a crankbait. I’ll throw a bone color topwater but I prefer black or dark color first.

The herring and gizzard Shad patterns are some of my top producers. I’ve found that those slight color variations don’t mean a real lot. Top water they may mean less because the bottom are all white anyway.

Yes. That’s them. Who’s ever name is on them I did see that they were somewhat local to me. Was surprised to some degree. But than Philly area is home to all kinds of carp dough baits. So I guess I’m not all that surprised. Someone hoping to strike it big during Covid Crisis. God bless them, good luck to them. Like you I saw a pic of how they had some rigged. My thought was right of how they are using them on a Carolina, Trig and shaky head. I saw also that they caution their use in real hot temperatures because they must break down and stink up everything you got. Warm weather pretty much goes along with fishing. Sort of setting theirselves up to be in and out of business real quick. Here today gone tomorrow(June).

Guys I would not BS y’all. I should have taken a pic of the jar. I do not believe it is a local thing to me either. Someone will elaborate. Some on here has and uses these Stinky Balls. Again I kid you not about this.

I stopped at the shop yesterday to pick up a few Lucky Craft Lures that came in and order up some Zman baits in a color he does not stock. As I was leaving this Stinky Balls display caught my eye. These stinky balls are like an oversized salmon egg in an oversized salmon egg jar. Maybe 4x the size of a salmon egg. 3X. Did not physically touch one. I didn’t ask anything because I didn’t want to ask or say anything stupid. But it appears that they are used with a Trig or Carolina rig. When rigging with your ewg hook you rig one of these balls after you nose hook and before you anchor the hook back into the worm body. It must disperse and breakdown scent while working your bait. I thing for bass it was earthworm scent. Ball was a translucent brown in color. I believe there was a formula for catfish and walleye. A few type for sure. The name just caught my eye. I’m not dissing the product by any means. May be the next best thing since sliced bread. Just struck me odd to see these. I could be totally wrong as to how you use them. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I don’t get out much been told at time I live under a rock and never heard any talk about these. They are steep in price, about $12.50 a jar. This might be old news, but certainly a first for me.

Very well could be. Thanks if you looked it up. But I’m dead serious about that color. It’s too simple for things today, that’s why it’s not around anymore. I still have some left.

I sort of have that happening with a MH rod and a spooled spare spool. For fishing frogs, mice and some punching. I have not bought a reel for it yet because I don’t know what I want yet. The rod is a Bass X. I love the rod. Might just put a BPS Pro qualifier on it. Not looking to put a high dollar reel on it because I’m not throwing it nearly as much as my other stuff. But I’m against putting a piece of low priced junk on it either. The rod is a great rod for the price.

I’m not as fortunate as some guys here to have Acadamy and Gander and sportsman’s warehouse near me. But the price match goes both ways. Play those other stores with the Bass Pro Shops Ads. I think you guys are getting the best deal going price shopping the way you are.

Zoom runs a lot of custom colors. I do well with this one finesse worm that they call brown. Hard to find. It has a color number I can post later. It just doesn’t show up very often.

Hence the reason if you’re gonna bass fish you have to have a set of decent long nose pliers, long reach hemostat and a good set of diagonal cutters. Not junk you buy out of the tool bin at Rite-Aide drug store. The majority of the hooks I use for worms and soft plastics will rot away. The decent set of diagonal will let you cut them off real short. Make a quick decision as to how you want to go about it and get the fish back in the water. These type of hookups will run higher with live bait usage. Just the way that it is. I’d cut the hook as short as possible rather than be Dr. Ben Casey the oral surgeon I’m not.

I think stock on items is Covid related. I’m finding the same thing on Zoom colors also. Strike King and Berkley items as well. Ive worked straight through this pandemic, essential for equipment repairs I’m in. I’ve been lucky. Feel bad for others who want to go to work and being held back. I’m sure mold injection operation for worms, craws and lizards most likely was not essential. Hope availability picks up.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I do the same thing in a Berkley wallet like yours. Easy. Simple. Secure.

Able to salvage any?

No need for the Aberdeen hooks. You can SSrig with 1/0, 2/0 or even 3/0 hooks as necessary. Worms, craws, bugs and more. Don't underestimate SSrig.