Big Cat

Ok thanks I'll call St. Croix to see if I can get something going this week

This is an MJC71MF my 3rd SC stick I've used a 7' Avid and 7' Premier for years no problem. This one I've used three times and a 2lber flopped and broke it about 12" from the end. Granted perhaps poor form but still... So I like the Dobyns Fury M F can I get recommendations for some thing else? I don't have time for a SC replacement although Park Falls WI is only an hour two out of the way on our trip north next week. Id appreciate thoughts

I'm going to throw Kalins 3" single tails I've had a lot of success with these on rivers are these as potent in Ontario? Usually use a 1/8th or 1/4 oz ball head

I have also been relatively new to jig fishing but i have had some recent success so now i have a dedicated jig rig. I really like Northstar baits swim jig, criss craw color with a matching craw trailer. I can navigate the swim head thru grass or muck and it doesnt get hooked up too often. 3/8 oz seems to be fine in just about any water i fish. I use blue/black for night or stained water. I also like Sieberts arky head 1/2 oz ive used these in deeper water with some success as well

Gonna start mastering this sweet river, but I'm wondering what brand/size jigs would you use on a small river? I use hula grubs, Senkos and paca craws, but I'm unsure of what sizes to use on a smallish river? Do you guys still use baitcasters? I still think I can still throw a seven foot rod. Any input on river smallmouth action would be great

Lol, do they call you Tiny Cat?

In previous seasons I didnt give much thought to cranks, this season my 300 series Bandit Pearl/Black cranker is landing big fish for me. Last week I posted a pic of real nice 5+ lb., last night I lost ar 5+ lb (I was sick, felt like snapping my rod in half) howerver I did rebound with this four pounder, nice fish and I nice smaller keeper on a toad My buddy was throwing Senkos and spinners and probably caught more small fish but its been uncanny the size of the fish I'm catching using this crank. In three trips to a new fishing spot (10-12) acres I have 4's and 5's in the boat and lost a few too. Lots of fun!!

After reading on Bassresource.com that many fisherman use cranks as part of their Fall arsenal, I tied on my Bandit Pearl/Black 300 series and caught a 22" 5+ lber! After seeing my sucess my buddy tied on a Shad Rap and landed a 4+ lber. Nice day all in all. Didnt start that way... we had a cold front pass thru Missouri Thursday night, followed by a Bluebird sky. We knew fishing would be tough on the 12 acre lake and we tried virtually everything we had. We arrived in Hermann at 6 am and I didnt catch the 5 lb till after 3 o'clock, our first keeper of the day! I caught that beauty fishing the middle of the lake between two brush piles, slow retrieving the Bandit off the bottom. I thought I was snagged for an instant until he took off. Boy, we needed to see that fish the next thing we were about to try was going to be the car keys! The bite was real good from 330-7pm, I caught (2) 1.5 lbers, on a blue/black spinner with gold Colorado blades, fishing along logs, brush piles and the bank and (1) on a black Zoom Horny Toad. We also caught smaller bass on Senkos, grubs and spinners. Fun day on a relatively new lake for us, good lesson, dont give up, stick with it.

I have had luck poping them on the surface, jigging them on the bottom and retrieving like a buzz bait. So white works in the early morning and black in the evening? I have been stuck on watermelon and my assumption was that i may have better results with other colors, using the same logic as I would with other bait but I didnt consider white in the early morning.

Sounds like a plan, hopefully I will have some bucket mouths to post pics of

So are you saying: black is your preference or black in the early morning, then green and white?

I have had lots of luck this year on Watermelon Seed and I have a trip tomorrow to a new spot, bought some other colors: White Black Black w/blue legs Anyone else use these other colors? My plan is to try Black or Black w/Blue before the sun comes up, however I did catch a 4 lber on Watermelon Seed prior to dawn last time..... Always trying to increase my catches, any thoughts would be appreciated.

These pictures may not be great but you can see the hook placement

I caught a 1.5 lber and several 10"-14" on various other techniques (Senko, white spinner). I can post a photo, but basically the hook thru the nose, then about 1/4" and out thru the bottom of the neck. I then pinch the frog (because a 2/0 hook is small) and bring the hook up between the legs so the hook is completely exposed and running parallel with the frogs back. Probably not the best style as far as weedless is concerned but with the hook parallet with the back of the lure I havent had issues.

Thanks!

Tried a new rig with my Horny Toad, 2/0 Straight Shank Eagle Claw, pinched the frog and ran the hook thru the legs so its parallel with its back. I have a better hook up ratio with this method, swims better. I have used 3/0, 4/0 and the Zoom 5/0 cork EWG. My equiptment is: St Croix Avid 7' MH Quantum PT Burner Yo Zuri Hybrid 12' (I hate braid, never use it anymore)

The 10" worm with the blue tip on the tail is lethal in the ponds/small lakes we fish. It became lethal after my buddies saw me hauling in keepers with it.

Which stream did you hit?

Thats what I needed to hear! Sometime you just need a little confidence with a new technique, thanks! I'm hoping to throw Senkos at Kentucky Lake this week, and we will most likely try the ledges.

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated. I was assuming that 20' is too deep to go weightless, perhaps I will try with my usual technique and see what happens. My gut feeling is that bass are in their Fall pattern so they may be chasing bait fish into shallower water anyway. Thanks again!!

Does anyone have a source for toothpick weights for Senkos? I want to try to use my arsenal in deeper water (up to 25') and Im assuming I will need weight to get it down that deep. Any ideas?

Hi, I am contemplating my 4th trip this year to the KY Lake next week, I am wondering what is working lately. Seems like a Fall fishing pattern early, what can I expect? I usually have used Paca Craws on jig heads, cranks, T Rigged weightless Senkos with sucess down there. Anyone have any input for me? I usually follow Randy Kuhens fishing report, he is saying fish are chasing shad into the back bays and moving into 6-10 feet. I appreciate any input, I like to know what to stock up on.

I have one so far, black jointed Jitterbug at 1130 pm on a small lake in Missouri. Darn near ripped the rod out of my hands, sounded like a shotgun blast under water, pretty cool. However, the most consistant large fish bait for me is a T-Rigged Senko, watermelon or black blue flake. I prefer the Yum Dinger, but just about any cigar shaped weightless worm will probably do.

I have been using a lot of "Senkos" lately and I am looking for some input. To be honest I became tired of going through a bag of Gary Yamamoto Senkos every fishing trip. They are very supple but IMO, they fall apart way too soon. Lately, I've switched to Yum Dinger and it seems to me, these are much more durable and just as effective, if not more effective. Does anyone agree? I still use other Gary products, Hula Grubs, etc. but on my next trip to Cabelas, its gonna be Yum. Btw, I am T-Rigging my 5" Dingers on a 4/0 EWG, weigthless using a 7' MH casting rig. Anyone using a different rod set up with a 5" weightless Dinger? Thanks for any input!

I have used both Ragetail Craw and Paca Craw, and I would have to agree they are different baits altogether. I like Paca Craws on rip rap or shell beds, rocky terrain. I like the more realistic feel to the Paca Craw, I bounce it along very slowly. The Ragetail, I move that along faster and will use that in many different conditions. Just my two cents...