Spankey

Thank you.

I think you’ll like the rod for soft plastics. Crankbaits not so much. Not a soft enough tip for them. Can’t say how Topwater and jerks will be with it have not tried them with mine. I don’t associate those baits with that rod. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with it. That length rod with a 6.2 ratio reel you get line off of the water quickly.

I’d like to buy some round jig heads from someone off of this site who makes them. Just want to try something different. Buy them from someone who makes and stocks them. Primary use will be for fishing grubs and plastic craws. I believe I’ve seen it discussed here. Not sure of it being against forum rule to purchase from members. If someone know who I can reach out to please post. There use to be a Susky guy on here that was a jig guy. But the name is drawing a blank right now. Thank you.

I think Catt could answer that best and the effects of hurricanes. I believe he lives and fishes in the heart of those weather hotspots. Good luck and be safe to all guys down in that area.

I think if you go in Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap web site, you'll find a couple of patterns like golden shiner.

Use but don’t abuse is sort of my mentality. I’m a heavy industrial equipment repair guy. Tools of one sort or another is my day every day. My rods and reels are tools. My hunting and clay guns are tools. They are very well maintained and they don’t appear to be used very hard but they have. I understand the way you grew up. I went through that. I never dwell on it because I’ve been a black sheep as long as I can remember. But remember you want to enjoy the stuff you have acquired. Use it, don’t abuse it, if it wears out replace it. By then it owes you nothing. Live, don’t hold yourself back. Seems like you are holding yourself back some. Can’t take that crap with you when you check out off of Gods green earth.

I don’t know about that. But it is all relevant to how much water, flash flood conditions ?, lake rise, actual water conditions. Every storm is not the same. Lake rise can put them on the bank also. I’m just saying no two storms are the same and variables to each of them.

It’s the chance you take. You won’t know until you try. When you head out for that first time bring someone with you. If a problem arises at least someone will be with you to help get you off the water and secured for the trip home. The doctor just doesn’t want you to strain or be re-injured. He is only suggestion what to do. You’ll have a good idea whether you can do it or not. I suggest you bring someone with you so that you can get the boat on and off the trailer.

I’m not putting myself in any category. For how and where I fish, I do alright. I have a passion for it and I never give up. On hard and bad days I just stick with it and try to reason with it. I do not know everything. I do not have the answer for everything. I know what my weaknesses are. Many I’ve overcome. A couple of them I’ll work on in a couple of year when I retire. I’ll have more time to do it. There is not much skill difference between many of us on here and the pros or whatever you are calling them. Majority of us are working stiffs and don’t have the time that they do to be on the water. It’s a full time job for them. Many of them have paid their dues, many are paying them now. Must be a tough living for some of them. Passion and following a dream for many of them. Can’t take that away from them.

Bring it on. I’m ready. I’ve gotten some nice fish this season so far but, fall seems to seal the season at times.

I have no experience yet. Wishing you a good recovery and hope you can get out as soon as possible. Do a bit of a rehab is you have to. Mine is bad also (dealing with it a long time) and it needs to be done soon. Good luck, be safe.

Chartreuse w/ black back, Black, Dark olive, Browns (muddy river, brown tiger), purples. These are colors/patterns I have ready to tie on in stained conditions. But don't rule out natural and shad colors working. Crankbait colors and success in certain water clarity conditions are not etched in stone. They are reaction strike baits. I guess following the basics. I believe I can catch a bass anywhere in this country, within reason, lake or river in the normal, with water that is fishable with a Bomber Model "A" in Firetiger. THIS SEASON I HAVE NOT caught one bass on a firetiger. It played on my mind a bit. Tried to reason with it and have come up empty. Many other patterns have been working. I'll continue to throw it some, hope for the best but if I go all season and no bass on a firetiger. I will not be able to live by that statement anymore. My confidence will be shattered. Good luck with your Crankbait fishing.

It’s all really boils down to how heavy the cover is, potential size of fish and weight of lure being used. Spinning or casting, to each his own. Scenarios are going to be way different because of locations. Docks can’t be assumed that they have lighter areas of grass. For the most part docks I fish Are pretty sparse when in comes to grass. But there is another local lake, under 50 miles away where it is heavy matted. The state may do more weed control in some areas more than others. But anyway. There is no right or wrong. How you deal with what you’re given. It’s all really boils down to how heavy the cover is, potential size of fish and weight of lure being used. Spinning or casting, to each his own. Scenarios are going to be way different because of locations. Docks can’t be assumed that they have lighter areas of grass. For the most part docks I fish Are pretty sparse when in comes to grass. But there is another local lake, under 50 miles away where it is heavy matted. The state may do more weed control in some areas more than others. But anyway. There is no right or wrong. How you deal with what you’re given.

Stick with what is working for you. There is no right or wrong way. Not that I never caught bass weightless but I prefer T-rigged with a 1/8 oz. bullet worm weight. Sometimes I peg the weight.

Nothing wrong with Tru-Turn hooks.

Great post. I’m a long time skipper but admittedly I’m not a guru at it. Skipping a 3”-4” grub under docks on the river or along or under suspended boats has always been productive for Smallies. Could never really get it together with a baitcasting setup. I use a shorter rod setup for it. Works well for low overhanging tree branches also. I’m not that tall and I use a St. Croix Avid Spin 5’9” medium X-Fast. The shorter rod length seem to help. My practice comes while fishing. At least you practice and basically do your homework. Good luck, good fishing and great post.

It’s all good. You know where you are comfortable. I like when you come on and post about the live bait side of things. Something different. You know by now your post are welcome. I’m sure your biggest obstacle is fish swallowing your bait. And for the most part if you are using a bronzed type hook that hook will rust away. Try to make a decent cut on the hook. But if you are eating them what’s the difference.

You could be on to something with silent deep divers. My silent baits are more shallow runners. I primarily am using a Rapala, Bomber, Bandit or Strike King. I’ve had days where you could not buy a bite. Ole Rat-L-Trap saved that day more than once.

It’s all good. I have a passion for soft plastics. Maybe my favorite way to fish. But my previous personal best both smallmouth and largemouth have came off a crank. And current PB’s is off of crankbaits. Hard for me not to throw them. Lighter Shad colors and darker craw and forage fish colors all falls in line with where I fish. I’m alway ready to throw a fire tiger, hot tiger and red tiger. This is a no brained few patterns for me. Not one fish this season on them yet. I’m not gonna beat the water to death with it. Too many other producing. Fall or next season it will kick back in. I know a couple of guys from on the river who will throw nothing but fire tiger. And leave skunked because it didn’t work that day. Other patterns were working. Not my place to tell another grown man what to do because he does know what to do. They have a boat load of stuff to try. Generally fire tiger is always good for at least one Smallies. But things happen.

I would think in. As a kid we would put it inside.

I’ve been throwing Crankbaits a lot this season right through the heat of summer more so than what my norm would be. Primarily because they have been working and I’m in a cb mode. Soft plastics kick in late for me this year. Actually got discouraging there for awhile. Played head games for a bit but worked my way out of that. Soft have been producing well with fish as of lately. I continue to crank fish 8-13 feet of water. Over the last few week I’ve noticed and have been fishing darker baits to draw bites. The lighter natural colors of gizzard, herring, Tenn. Shads, chromes and pearls have turned off. Sunfish, darker bluegill, bream, perch and brown/olive and with deeper reds have been getting bit. Matte gold w/black back has been working real well. Forage change I would think. I’m sure lake Shad have pulled back to deeper water. Just throwing it out there. Just talking. This game is all about change and changing conditions.

Chunk up a bluegill or if you have a catfish nugget or two throw it it there. I've been following your posts. I’m pretty impressed with your desire/work you put into live bait fishing. I bass fish 100% with lures, have for a real long time. You’ve raised question to fishing with lures in the past. I’m not gonna try to sway you one way or another. Stick to your comfort zone. Have fun.

Pretty tough to fish a crankbait wrong. Cast, retrieve and try to keep at the depth you require and fish it with a steady retrieve or a cadence you desire. As simple as Crankbait fishing is there is a wide range of design to them. Pick a few variety’s and try them. A lot of specifics to them you will learn along the way. That will come in time. Crankbaits are very, very productive. Draw reaction strikes. Good search bait. Color I guess is a confidence or preference thing. I prefer natural colors not real image patterns and bright colors of chartreuse, orange or yellows in them. Conditions sometimes dictate what I use. Have fun.

I don’t remove my split rings. For the most part I’m using them on X Deep cranking baits. But my Deep Divers are primarily Strike Kings. Strike King Split Rings are oval. But my round split ring have not presented a problem. Strike King, Rapala, Bomber and Bandit cranks run pretty true. May have to slightly tune one every once in awhile. Crankbaits can be an issue if you are trying to run them on some fast and X-fast action rods. Your crankbaits will not run true. I know what works for me and it’s not those actions. Topwater baits I use NO snaps. But to each his own.

Buy a pair of Rapala side cutters. Mine work fine. Buy Klein Electrical side cutters. Cost more $$$ we’ll made.