CJ

I've been using veevus 240. Very strong but doesn't lay very flat. Really builds up a lot.

First thing I would do is consider all the elements you are dealing with on the water you will be fishing. As WRB mentioned, prey type is important, especially "preferred bait". Where I fish, I have different classes of fish. Some schools of fish may be out on the main lake on shell beds eating little drum while other big fish are feeding on big gizzard shad in the backs of the bays. Water color, bottom contour, structure types (feature radical ledges and points? or soup bowl like? little bit of everything?),available cover, etc. We really can't be exactly sure of fish location at all times of prespawn but we can make educated guesses. What you can do is eliminate what you read by studying what you are up against personally. Then look into the articles that may relate to your water and be able to be more descriptive when you discuss it. Not very many things are written in stone when it comes to bass fishing.

As RW mentioned, it's hard to beat the A Rig. I usually go with one with spinners on the wires like the Yumbrella in dirtier water. If the water is really stained-muddy, it will usually make fish go shallow earlier. Pre spawn is when I have the most lure variety on the boat. In really stained water, I usually go with blade baits(yes even shallow), traps, spinnerbaits, and a variety of crankbaits but I love the DT 6 for dirtier water. Vibration becomes a key player. And I always have a jig on board, ALWAYS!

Water doesn't have to be real real clear for them to be effective. It was a developed pattern for me during post spawn last year with water visibility only around 2 ft. I was throwing American Shad

The sexy shad color, I think it's American Shad and Morning Dawn are my 2 favorites. But I think pretty much whatever jerkbait, crankbait, or swimbait colors work best for your waters. I just like having a more opaque colored one and a more flashy colored one.

I can't see the pic but hey sounds like you did well! Can we get a weight? Then I can paint the pic in my mind.

Great story and a beautiful fish! Way to go!!!

It's a tear drop. Not sure of the number.

Don't mean to get off topic but I watched a few of your videos the other day. It was the first videos on tying I ever watched and even though are styles are different, I learned something. Plus you are the first lefty I think I ever seen tie jigs. I do have a question that relates to the topic. Do you ever use 280 Ultra Thread?

That is a nice crappie and a beautiful bass!!! Way to go guys!!!

Yes I do.

How do you want them to suspend? I know that it takes half of a suspend strip behind the front hook to get a rogue to truely suspend at 50 degree surface temp. Suspend strips are made of lead and even half of one is going to be heavier than most any split ring. I used to use 2/3 of a suspend strip cause I liked a slow sink. I would put it right in front of the middle hook. That made it suspend level. Some guys prefer them to suspend nose down however.

It's that time of year! That's a BIGGUN! Way to go!

It's really depending on what region and even what conditions your water deals you. Where I fish, I don't break out any topwaters until the surface temps hit upper 60's.

Thanks guys! I got out for the first time this year with Paul. We caught around 10, most on these jigs, in rough conditions before the rain ran us off.

Nice fish!!!

Too cool! You may have started something. Some Kool Aid and vinegar and you can do some color but I would cut the hair off first. BTW, those spots are just beautiful! Nice job! CJ

Beautiful fish!!!

Nice fish!!!

Way to go!!!

As long as you don't go south of the Paris Landing bridge, a KY license is all you will need.

I have toyed around with trimming the tails on feathers some. When I first started designing or coming up with a recipe for the ledge jigs I tried trimming for length and learned that by cutting the ends, I lost action tremendously. I haven't ever tried trimming to shape and I'm sure what you have done would work. Looks nice!

The same thing happened in the KY/Barkley canal about 8 years ago. The co-angler was killed. I've seen this confusion happen often even with all the room on this big lake.

Thanks guys! Nichol's version doesn't have the trailer hook I don't believe, they may have added it since I first saw their model late last year. I haven't seen Hogfarmer's. One thing this type jig does do is it separates the bucktail from the feathers some and frees up the feathers for more action. I can also reach up to 10" jigs this way to make a giant version. Though Nichols only ties feathers to their rear, I add some bucktail to it. I think that helps hide the seam but I actually tried to show the joint in the pic. Of course, they probably don't have the resources to get prime tails with some length or they want to keep the cost down. I've been fortunate to have a good supplier for long haired tails. I'm currently stocked up with some beauties as long as 7" hairs! But as we get later in the year, they will become more scarce and we may see it get worse with growing popularity of these type jigs.

I hear that is the best melting pot out there. Sounds like a good deal!