CJ

Do you feel that bass that spawn shallow stay shallow? You make an interesting point.I fish alot of offshore structure.I have always heard that bass live within a certain area.I have caught fish that were atleast a mile in any direction to shoreline.But I still feel that bass on a river system will have a wider range.

Just some more thought on the topic. Take into consideration the fish's feeding mood for the time or day.If you are on fish that are in a very positive feeding mood you may want more action out of your lure.I use a trailer that has alot of action.When fish are aggressive I want to draw attention to my lure. Now on day where finesse may be the key,I think simply pinching of a claw would be another way to modify a jig or plastic craw to help a finesse presentation.

Good Thread 5bass. Is there one lure that you(the bass)cannot resist,ever?

I read an article where a guy does that for smallmouth.I use Netbait Paca Chunks for trailers.One of the claws are sometimes torn off.I will continue to fish with the trailer with the same results.it realy doesn't sound like a bad idea!

Shakey worm!

CATT,I throw Bagley's DB3 with the lead under the lip. I am a fan of Poe's,DT16,Bomber Fat Free Shad,LC Flat CB D-20 and D-12.

I like to throw something with chartuese in it. Water clarity is the main factor with color selection(I believe this to be true with all lures) along with where or what you are fishing.

I'm not really a man of goals.Yeah..goals are great for those who set them but I live on a "let it happen" and not "make it happen" attitude. I have fished the BFL for 2 years now.The first year I co-angled and last year I went in as a boater.I have also fished several other tournaments.I am happy with my progress.One thing I have vowed is to not let tournament fishing take any of" the love for the fight" out of me.My first love is fishing and my competitive spirit make tournaments alot of fun.If I have fun I guess my goals were met.But really I would be lying if I said "I don't want to win".And I'm interested in how high I can climb. Cj

I have used several different brands of finesse worms from 4"-7" on spot remover heads.Almost all of them work great.Some companies just offer more or better color varieties.My faborite is the Mann's or FLW 6" finesse worm.I don't know what it is about that worm the fish like but they do.I just picked up some of Reaction Innovation Flirt worm in 6.95 and 4.95.They look pretty good.

I really don't do my home lake,Kentucky, any justice.4 lbs.13 oz. I was fishing a 1/2 oz. jig,black blue flake skirt and a flippin' blue paca chunk.I caught her in August about 12 ft. deep.

RW,I tried Yozuri Hybrid(not the Ultra Soft).I agree,it is strong.The one thing I found is that it had alot of stretch,for me.Maybe it is because I am used to 100% flouro when fishing plastics and I love a sensitive line,well......I love sensitivity period with plastics and jigs,especially for smallmouth.Other than it being stretchy feelin' to me,it cast and is as strong of line as I have used.

I was waiting on someone to mention a Slender Pointer,Basspro48.I picked one up in MS MJ Herring(same as Americsn Shad except has a puke brown back instead of turquois).It's just got smallie wrote all over it.

Fall seems to be the best time for crankbaits(jerkbaits for pre-spawn) on Ky.Lake,usually because of the more and higher water discharges,IMO.The Bomber Fat Free Shad in Citrus Shad has been one of the best along with a Norman DLN(depth pending).

I would go with a 1/4 oz., if I was using 10# test line,in 8 ft. water.

How many jig styles are there? There are a bunch.The real question is:How many jig styles do you need?I only use 2 maybe 3 different head types.A bullet head shape for brush or grass and a football head for rocky bottom.Presentation will factor into head type as well but isn't as important for a beginner. The best technique for fishing a jig?Really a question of opinion that answers would vary from fisherie to fisherie and angler to angler.Patterns change daily,seasonally,and anually. A good presentation and a way for a beginning angler to learn to fish a jig,IMO,is a slow,natural craw.Pending on depth I was fishing and fisherie,I would start with a smaller profile jig such as a 5/16 oz. Booyah Baby Boo(the most important thing about a jig is it's HOOK).You can get them at Wal-Mart.Find a trailer to match color and profile of the jig.I like flouro line on a heavy powered rod for good sensitivity.Cast the jig out and let it fall to the bottom.Don't get in any hurray.Just reel up your slack keeping your rod tip low.I like to keep the tip down below my waist and just very lightly drag the lure back about a foot or two,never twitching at all.Letting my lure pause for as long as minute,I gently reel up to feel my lure while I have been studying my lightly slacked line during the pause.You will know when she get's the jig and with experience you'll get good.Learn what Everything else feels like then when you don't know what it is set the hook!Just a short opinion on jig fishin' for starters. CJ

One of the best smallmouth anglers in my area throws em'.It his prefered topwater for smallies here.

Okay,not to pick but,I think Walt should have just thrown away 13 million.Rick Ankiel has drug problems.Hey I am a Cards fan,I thought the Cards should have done whatever to got Suppan.I think they are going to be in trouble?

Just a couple of factors to look at,water clarity,cloud cover,and season which may help predict level of feeding activity or the fish's mood. Really water clarity is most important.I look for a darker shade such as flippin' blue or black,in stained or muddy water.Green pumkin or green pumkin w/chartuese dip,in stained to clear water.I am a big fan of spike it chartuese on a green pumkin trailer when fish are in a possitive feeding mood.Why?Only because it makes the lure more visible to the fish. When it comes to a jig pattern,the depth the fish are holding along with the type of bottom and/or structure fish are relating to and lure presentation are the two most important factors(what Rolo said).

Really nice!Is there a reason for reversing the prop on the tail?

I wanted a 6# smallie.....I fell short.....way short.

I am a fan of Luckycraft but there are alot of unsung lures that cost over $10. Here would be my list in order of desire: 1.Wally G's Wood Rat.A wood,medium running crankbait that will come though anything(almost). 2.Luckycraft D-20.The one crankbait that will get down 20 ft.(Haven't tried the Mann's 20+). 3.Luckycraft LV7.My favorite vibration lure. 4.Bagley's Original Diving B. 5.Boing spook.Custom painted by Tim Hughes with a crazy sounding rattle that catches fish. 6.Luckycraft pointer 100. 7.Wally G's deep diver.Another wood crankbait that is hard to beat. 8.Luckycraft Sammy 100 9.Luckycraft RC 1.5 10.Luckycraft Gunfish Okay so most of them are Luckycraft.I haven't used anything from Megabass or Specialty Tackle. I will add that 95% of the time I am using a lure that is under $10.

This may be myth but makes some since.Alot of the local anglers around here want a period of freezing temps for a good shad kill.Though I feel a population explosion of baitfish could help bass growth.Some of the "old timers" will claim that angler's productivity will decrease for the following season. What we are experiencing right now is El Nino'(so I have been told).

If anybody comes up I will give them your number. Chris

If we are talking about the present,than I would say the gulls are catching more fish than anybody right now!

You don't have to go buy the most expensive airbrush but I would look for a quality dual action airbrush.You should be able to get one for $50-$100 on Ebay.There are a few brands to choose from and alot of models.I would look for an airbrush with no smaller than .3 mm nozzle.A good one to mention that you may check out is the Iwata Eclipse series.The type paints you use and the compressor are also important.Good Luck!