loodkop

Your children know its weekend because the boat is gone.

Don't know what models you are looking at. I have the 6'10" dropshot rod with titanium tip that works great paired with a stradic C14.

I have not used the shad but really love the jerkbaits.

If there is a slight suspicion of a top water bite Ill be working a frog of some kind. I might not always win but I sure have fun.

Squirrel tails in green pumkin and black for numbers. 10 inch ribbontails for size.

I like to use a brushhog for a bubba shot.

As a lure maker I can tell you that lures with eyes out sell eye less lures.

Kistler Z-bone 7mh; Core 50; 5 berkley hollow belly swimbaits(pearl white); Lucky craft pointer; Flip & swim jig.

Biggest surprise: Original Slug go. I couldn't believe how bass would annihilate this shapeless piece of plastic whatever. Disappointment Sebile Magic swimmer. I ordered 1 after watching an Elite series event and still have to catch a keeper on it.

I bought 3 Heddon top water lures with money I received for my 6th birthday. Crazy Crawler, Meadow Mouse and a Tiny Torpedo. The mouse had a metal lip and a leather tail and it drove the farm pond bass crazy. I still have the crawler 37 years later.

PM sent. Thanks

I have been fishing shakey heads enough recently that I am considering buying a dedicted outfit for this technique. Preliminary research show that spinning rods from 6-6 to 7-2 is recommended in medium or ML power and fast or extra fast action. I am leaning towards a Crucial 7-2 M in XF action. I know this rod will balance well with my Stradic FJ 2500 but will it be a good combo for shakey heads. I feel as if my one problem with this technique is getting a decent hookset with the softer rods and lighter lines used. I am hoping that a new combo will in addition to improving my feel good factor, actually improve my landing ratio. Please dont hesitate to tell me if I am totally on the wrong track in going for the longer rod. I am fishing from a boat.

I would love to start making my own swimjigs as the tackle shops near by barely stock any jigs. I know that there are several very experienced jigmakers on this forum and I woild appreciate any advice on the jigstyle and hook type you guys prefer. From what I have seen on the net I am leaning to the poison tail type jig at the moment but have no solid reason for preffering it over any other style. I have experience of making carp and catfish style jigs like my avatar andcurrently pour shakey head jigs and dropshot sinkers. I also have some experience of skirtmaking but dont know enough about "bass jigs" and swim jigs to be comfortable ordering and paying shipping and import duties on something that will not work for my purposes. Thanks

I have tried heating the spring today. It took a bit of time retying but I feel the durability of the Elzatech makes up for that. It might be my imagination but I am sure the floating tail gets more bites as well. I will also try the spike as soon as I get the chance to modify some jig heads. Thanks again for the tips.

Phone goes with the other emergency gear.(Flares, matches etc) in a waterproof box stored in a hatch below deck.

Ever thought about the things no self respecting basser would ever say? I will start. "Man I wish this boat was a bit slower." "No thanks, I don't need another rod/reel/lureggadget." "I am not going fishing this weekend. I am taking my signifcant other shopping at that new mall."

I hid behind the carport until my parents left for work. "Borrowed" my mother's car to go fishing. Got stuck in mud up to the axle. Had to walk home to phone my Dad who took me to school after setting me back on the straight and narrow for at least a week.

In my opinion it is difficult to find a long, light, well balanced and powerful rod below a certain price point. I am willing to pay a bit more to have these attributes in my frog rod. I contrast with my cranking rods which are mostly fished tip down, I keep my frog rod tip up so a heavy and or unbalanced rod can be tiring to fish al day. I find length crucial in getting casting distance and I need the power to haul a bass + however many pounds of slop to the boat. Like I said I frog fish as much as possible. If you are only occasionally tossing one any stout rod will do. I just want to make my favorite technique as enjoyable for myself as possible.

Some great information in this thread. I love my Red eyes and Spro Aruku shads. I always have one or the other tied on. My favorite technique is ripping them through grass beds. For this a MH rod and braid rules.

I will throw a lighter in my shaky head box and try this as well. Thanks

Thanks, I will give that a go. I also made a couple of jig heads without the screw lock to try superglueing the plastic to the hook. I'm glad for the modified keeper idea as super glue is one of my pet hates.

I agree that the main attribute a frog rod needs is lightness and strength. I am crazy enough about froggin that I have a dedicated frog rod on deck even in winter have spent entire tournament days( 10 hours) fishing the frog. My frog rod is currently the most expensive rod on my deck but is still under $ 150. Would I spend $400 on a rod? Not while I have a bond on my house and kids in school. Would I use one if available? In a heartbeat without thinking twice.

I recently won some packets of Elzatech plastics including some finesse worms. On Saturday I was using a shaky head (home poured) with a screw lock keeper. I tried rigging one of the new worms on it but gave up after I couldn't get it rigged on the spring. Any advice would be highly appreciated as always.

Great work. I'm sure they will catch their share.

I also use braid but would never reuse a hook that has been bent open. The next cast might be my first and long awaited DD bass and I wouldn't take a chance on a hook that has been compromised.