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I have several colors, however, the clear one seems more effective and now it is the first one I tie on. I think the action is more the trigger than the color. Good luck.

I fish alone most of the time and recently got a small digital camera to keep on the boat. How do you guys get a decent picture of yourself holding a bass before you release it? I was thinking of a stand or small tripod? Your thoughts?

Avid, how did those paddle tails work? I am interested in some but don't want to spend that much until I here more real results over the hype of todays hot lure.

I believe the Cavitron is the slowest traditional buzzbait. The aforementioned one by mister twister and an old one made by Manns have the buzzer made out of foam so they are so slow you can stop them and they float.

I have never tried this, but I read an article where a guy put a rapala on the end of a carolina rig to go deep and twitch and jerk some deep water bass. It might be worth a try.

The line was breaking on all of my rigs. I think it was bad, old, or exposed to sun light. I did check the line guides per (reelmech) they all seem fine, but thanks for the great tip. I have respooled to braid for some of my rigs and have had less problems. I still like mono for topwater, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. The extra stretch and properties work better for those. I will just respool more often and move up to a higher lb test and a different brand until I get the performance I want. Thanks to all for the advise.

My boat trailer is 20 years old. I have never done anything to the bearings except pump in some grease each year. The fishing magazines always have articles about bearing failure on the highway. I have never seen anybody have this, but I am sure it happens. I am now scared to travel very far from home. Do I need to take it in and have everything cleaned and the bearings replaced or am I just being paranoid? Please help. If I were mechanically gifted, I could do it myself, but I do not have the tools or knowledge. Any advise?

I used these when I lived up north. The lazy ike in perch color was the best lure for big Northern Pike. you need heavy line and steel leader because of the teeth. The ike will catch bass but you have to keep the pike, pickeral or gar away first.

I am strictly catch photo & release! If you catch and keep that is your right. Most people will fish at least a couple times during their life. That alone is a lot of pressure. Even our huge oceans are being over fished. Keep in mind all of those fish released will not continue to survive. Some will get a bacteria from their injury or being handled, some may be injured and slower and cannot catch food or fall prey to other fish, birds, or other animals. Mother nature controls these things better than we can. Drought and floods, plant material and oxygen levels, polution, and predators all play a role in controling fish populations. Do what you believe in and let nature do the rest. JMO.

I should have clarified. This was all without a hook in them and the zeros were more of the floater and the *** sank but at a slow rate of decent. This was not scientific, I was just watching them in the water and thought it was interesting how each was slightly different. I am not backing any one brand, I use them all.

I have been using 6 - 10lb on my spinning and 12 - 20 on the bait casters. I use a good palomar for all of it. It has been breaking in all areas and not just at the knot. Maybe I have just been getting bad spools or old spools, but every brand ends up the same with a broken line on a fish or a snag. and I check my line often and retie several times each day. I guess I could go with heavier lines, but spinning gear does not work good above 10lb.

I was playing around with some soft stick baits and compared them side to side in a small aquarium, a pool, & on the lake. I do not have every type out there but I did have several, including GYCB Senkos, ***, Gambler Ace, Tiki stick. Strike King zero, BPS stick O, Yum Dinger. They are all similar however I did notice some differences. GYCB seems heavier, sinks faster and has a bit more wiggle. I believe this fast fall may trigger more reaction strikes and the very soft delicate body may have the fish hold longer but tears easily. *** & Strike King Zero seem to float or sink slower this may be better for fish near the top or reacting to the surface. They do a great jerk bait movement similar to a fluke. The rest seem to fall in between these two extremes. Tiki and the dinger being tougher and would last much longer. All said, Any of these will produce at most times. That is why I have them. If fishing is extremely tough I think the original Senko may produce slightly better on those days. JMHO.

I am really upset at snapping mono everytime out. I have tried every brand and style. Flourocarbon is even worse, it snaps easily. I am thinking of going to braid for everything. Lighter lb for spinning gear and heavier for baitcast. The fish do not seem to notice the braid and it doesn't snap easily. Has anyone tried this and is there any down side to just using braid for all?

If you take off the front prop, you basically have a longer skinny torpedo lure. You can bend props to get better action. I am wondering what is the exact type of retreive because on most top water lures the action/retreive or cadence is the the real trigger to strikes, not color or modifications.

I know this has been seen before, but I am really interested in who uses scent always and why. It can't hurt but is it worth the time, expense, and extra mess. You never see pros dip or spray during a tournament, however a few say they soak soft plastics the night before. I am just curious if there is any real proof of more bites with scent. Bass are primarily sight feeders so will scent help at all? Some say it gives you an extra second for a hookset, but I am sure feel may determine acceptance of prey more than a scent. Lets here some more thoughts and proof if you have it. I want to know before I invest in something else to take along. Thanks.

BassBoat 10-60K$, Truck to pull boat 20-40K$, Gas to lake & back $100, rods reels line 200-700$, high quality lures $10-$30 each. A lure that works anywhere, anytime, all the time, priceless. Fishing used to be the poor mans sport. A cane pole and a worm. My things have changed quickly Many lakes are now charging ramp fees also.

Has anyone tried a small worm or senko rigged wacky on a drop shot rig? Everyone always says the best is to nose hook a drop shot rig. I was just curious? Thanks.

Thanks for getting back. It was a long week and this site makes it bearable. The best site is back !

I use the senko with an o-ring and was wondering should you slip the hook under the o-ring, or put it through the middle of the worm and middle of the o-ring. Your thoughts? Thanks.

http://www.steelshad.com/index.html it looks like the old heddon sonar.

I had a problem very similar. I was reading low voltage at the lights. It turned out to be the little black box in the tow vehicle. It is a transformer of sorts with diodes in it to protect your trucks electrical system. A worn wire or little spark can fry that box. Make sure you have good wiring on the trailer and then replace the box. I just cut the wires and spliced in the new black box. Works great and the box was only $25.

I'm with you jeepcrazy, I hate the wind too. standing in a bassboat creates a great sailboat effect. Sometimes I get blown around with the anchor down and the trolling motor on high. Sometimes you are pushed up on shore before you can even fire up the big motor. Casting is more difficult and much harder to detect strikes. A dangerous, rough ride to move around and the sheltered areas are full of other boats or void of fish. A breeze is fine, but wind takes the fun away real quick. Maybe I should try a drift sock also. I don't know. If its blowing strong I usually stay home.

It looks like it could be a storm wiggle wart, but I am not sure.

Just curious, watermellon, and green pumpkin seem to work good, anyone have any others that they might add? Thanx.

Since the Ika works well fished backwards. Has anyone tried a tube rigged backwards? I thought it may work, but I am not sure if the hollow tube would fall right. Just a wierd thought. Maybe you would need to modify or put something inside for weight?