loodkop

Great post. Thanks for taking the time to type this up. I hope this has been part 1 and 2 of series covering different lures and techniques.

I use shimano reels on different rods. The closest to matching is 4 old green crucial rods with B series curados.

In our Artlure club the 5 Shad rap in perch color is known as the " spring bokkie" after the South African national rugby team who plays in green and gold jerseys. For a country where rugby is almost a religion it is high praise indeed. To further demonstrate the regard artlure anglers have for this little bait it is also called the "one and only".

I always understood that the reason for using Superline hooks was to prevent the hook flexing on the hook set. Imo line breaking on the hook set has more to do with the knot and line strength than the hook type.

I like it better when bass are striking topwater frogs but I have molds to make senko style plastics from 2 inches to 9 inch monsters and I have 1 tied on year long.

Another vote for green mirror.

Erie. We don't have smallmouth within day trip distance and I would love getting stuck into some decent smallies.

Crazy Crawler and broken back Rapala minnows

If there is money or points on the line I just feel more confident with an Owner.

Nice one. Thanks

I believe most shows could be improved by having a "well rounded" host. I can easily put on another 10 or so pounds.

The official SA record is 6,29kg caught in Nov 2004 in Midmar dam, Kwazulu Natal. There has been reports of bigger bass caught but not certified. (In SA you have to belong to a registered club to claim official records. I know of a 7.2 kg caught in 2007. The Zimbabwe record is 8.3 kg. I'm not sure about the Mozambican record but lake Chicamba is also developing a reputation as a Big bass venue.

Well done on both the smallie and the idea. I went so far as to make a tool to open up the pinched end. Thanks for sharing it will save me time and frustration.

Lure making is a very wide topic. I would suggest that you start out with one aspect ( eg jigs or soft plastics) instead of trying everything at once. Try something you like to fish and use a lot for a start. Tackleunderground is a good website and has some excellent tutorials. Some of the suppliers I have dealt with are Lurecraft, Janns Netcraft and Barlows. Any of these can provide what you need to get started. Most lure makers specialize so if you have more specific queries I'm sure somebody here will be able to help out. Ps with regards to books there are a couple around but I find the internet a more valuable resource. Hope this helps.

I'm currently saving up for a Cumara shakey head rod and Stradic 2500 reel.

In my rugby days I was taught " dont get mad- get even" If I lose a big one I know where it lives and " I wil be back....." I can see no reason to abuse my tackle, in fact having to replace something broken through anger is about as stupid as it gets for me.

Join Bass Resource and learn the search function.

I have a Calcutta 150 that I got from my wife after winning the South African artificial lure champs. Although I don't use it that much anymore it is the one reel I could never get rid off.

Like others have posted I need to bid farewell to the banks and get out my deep cranks and c rig.

Buzz frog. When it gets too cold to fish on top I'll drag it on a c/ rig or shakey head. I'm not willing to give up my top water strikes.

I struggle with the deep diving Dying Flutter. On a serious note I don't have any luck with deep cranking.

Most of my fishing is on the larger public waters. However a friend took me to his "secret" pond last week and I had a blast with some old school lures I have not used for years. I started out with a Crazy Crawler and ended up throwing a Lazy Ike. Great fun and a 5lb fish on a Crawler I'd still as addictive as 20 years ago.

I would go with carp as you say you were seeing shadows. Carp feed by blowing in the mud and them picking up what they have disturbed. We actually fish for them using small feathered jigs on the bubbles in water up to 30 feet deep. With experience it is possible to tell the difference between gas and feeding bubbles.

This was really helpful. Thanks.

Braid and frogs are made for each other. I have used just about all of my lures on braid at one time or another. It is all a matter of personal preference. I fish spinnerbaits and buzzbaits on braid while my partner uses braid on cranks. I also use braid for flipping in grass. It is one off those things you have to try and see what works for you.