Valascus

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=58186&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults I believe that's the style Frogg Toggs you are referring to Speedbead. The Frogg Toggs Pro Sport Angler Rainsuit.

If I am not mistaken the biggest difference between the two is the action that is imparted upon the jerking motion. The X-Rap has a wider and more aggressive movement to it upon jerking it. The Husky Jerk has a tighter action to it upon jerking. I kinda look at them as used for the same purpose and conditions, but I use the X-Rap when I am looking for a reaction strike when they are lockjawed and a Husky Jerk when I am not really having a problem getting 'em to bite.

I will second a vote for Frog Toggs. They are lightweight, easily packed into a tacklebag without taking up a ton of space, will keep you dry as a bone, they breath well, and aren't very expensive. Smaller sizes retail for $59.99, while larger sizes retail for $69.99, I believe. Be sure you shop around. A lot of major sporting goods stores carry them. Sometimes you can catch them on sale for $49.99 at some places. In fact, I just checked the most recent BPS circular I got in the mail and it had Frog Toggs on sale for $49.95. It doesn't show that on their website though...could be worth looking into.

I was just pokin' around the site and noticed this on the main page. I am a huge fan of Rapala lures. High quality baits at an affordable price. I have also fished with a few Terminator products such as their jigs,a spinnerbait or two, and some buzzbaits. I think these two quality companies joining together can do nothing but better improve Rapalas current line of products as well as bring some great minds in the fishing industry together to possibly come up with new ways and concepts to catch fish. Here is a link to the article: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/rapala_terminator_07.html What are everyones thoughts on this merger? Good? Bad? Indifferent? By the way Mods, I wasn't sure if this should be in the tackle section or in the general section. If y'all think this should be moved feel free to do so. Thanks!

I hook mine exactly the way it's pictured in the link. I usually use a Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG hook. These things are deadly baits. I like to throw then just outside cover such as docks, submerged grasses, submerged wood, stumps, laydowns...etc. etc. Make sure after you cast it you let it fall on slack line, that way it will "swim" into the cover you have targeted.

It really just takes practice. I will say though that the knot is the biggest turn off for me with this bait. Sometimes it's not the easiest knot to tie. When it's cold outside I have a ton of problems tying it. I do like the design of the bait, but I am thinkin' about possibly trying something that is easier to tie in cold weather conditions.

I voted "other" since it is really all of the above for me. I try to glean as much information as I can fro as many sources as possible. But I do agree that the MOST IMPORTANT factor is time spent on the water. That is where you put everything that you have learned into practice and make any necessary adjustments. Last year I didn't get to spend a lot of time on the water due to two job lay-offs and a pretty severe construction job site injury. I have been reading a lot of things and have spent a lot of time on the site, so I am chock full of new techniques and ideas. Can't wait until things start warmin' up a bit so I can get out and start slayin' 'em.

Man...that is a SICK stringer. That bests my "best day" by...hmmmm...a freakin' lot!!! Congrats on your winter day success. The fishing Gods have awarded you for braving such cold weather and nasty conditions. And you caught all of those in 1 and 1 half hour?!?! Man that's nuts!!! Maybe I can convince the wife to move to Georgia...

Boy, that is an awesome looking game. Video games is generally how I spend my winter times. Can't stand the cold so I spend a lot of time indoors. I almost bought a Wii for Christmas, but ended up blowing every cent I had on fishing gear. Oh well. I'll get one at some point.

He really does have a good point. It is a point that has been brought up here a couple times. Once by Marty and another time by avid. The idea here is that when we know where you are from we can get a better handle on what type of fishing conditions that you are fishing. It could be something as vague as "Northern Florida" or "Western Texas" and so on and so forth. Help us, help you!

I am sooooooo not a spinnerbait kinda guy, in fact, I stink with 'em. But, I do like the idea of a lure that is "2 in 1". The fact that I could use them as a spinnerbait or a buzzbait is great. Makes more room in my tacklebag for more stuff! Where I wonder if it is any good is in conditions that call for a tandem set of blades or for less vibration such as clear water situation where bass may be easily spooked. In those situations I have always that having flash was more important than vibration since the bass would be keying in the bait using sight more so than detecting vibration. But...it is a nifty idea. Let us know how it works out for ya.

Now, while I have already said that I don't like the overall design for what MOST people use frogs for (lots of weeds, muck, crawling over laydowns and stumps), Speedbead is right about it having potential as an open water bait or over submerged grasses. But then again the SPRO BronzEye is just as good in open water or over the same submerged grasses. I like a "chugging" or "popping" retrieve for my BronzEyes. Sometimes I will use a "walk the dog" retrieve, but I am not very good at walkin' the dog with the BronzEye yet...some days I got it..others I don't.

I've got the Saints for a few reasons. The Bears D hasn't been quite as stifling as it has been earlier in the season. I mean, Seattle was able to make it a game for a while. The Saints have a TON of offensive weapons and Brees put up an MVP caliber year. I'm not saying the Bears don't have a shot, but if the defense is a little loose like it was against the Seahawks and towards the end of the regular season, and the not so good Grossman shows up...they are gonna get HAMMERED. Saints over Bears...28-21. Now for the tougher one. Man...Belicheck (spelling?) and Brady are monsters. Still can't believe they dispatched the Chargers and LT. But...The Colts D has suddenly decided to show up and the Colts have already beaten the Pats this year WITHOUT the good defense. The Colts also got their last win DESPITE Payton having an off game. If Peyton has an ON game, and the Colts D hold like it has been, then I could see the Colts scratchin' this one out. Not to mention Dungy gave his boys an extra day off. That may help his guys be a little more "fresh" than their opposition. Colts over Pats...barely...24-21 with Viniteri (spelling again?) nailing the winning FG against his old mates.

That is a question that I would definitely like an answer to. I have heard reports of people catching a ton of bass of one spot at one time and other reports of folks catching one or two and then the bite just suddenly turning off. I have always wondered if that were due to the ruckus caused by the hooked bass or some sort of hormone or something the bass releases during the fight and after its release. Good question Matt. Look forward to the answer on that one.

Well...from what I have gathered from the smaller article, it seems that bait fish excrete certain pheromones upon damaging their skin that cause certain types of predatory or prey behavior in bass. The response differs according to the size class of the bass. When smaller bass detect the pheromone they seem to interpret it as a larger predator is in the area that could cause them harm and leave the area or go into a more defensive attitude, a prey response. When larger bass detect this pheromone, they interpret it as there is forage available for them and they will begin cruising and searching for said forage, a predatory response. At least I think that is what it has outlined. That is how I interpreted the article.

Excellent read Mr. Baugher. Very informative, easy to read, yet full of important information. Taking the time to break things up by region will help. Thanks for the great article.

Wow...I feel like a dope now :-[. I have been interested in learning the shaky head rig, but though it took a particular type of jighead that I was unclear about. Also thought it took a particular style of rigging. Guess not. Well, at least that's something else to add to the old arsenal.

No, thanks I'll stick with my SPRO Bronzeye frogs. I think those fur legs and the extra little spinner on it will make the lure more snaggy and harder to bring over and through cover.

I am really surprised at how few people have said use the as jig trailers. The baby hogs make great trailers on smaller (3/8oz.) jigs. The Brush Hogs do well on larger jigs (3/4oz, 1oz.). I also will t-rig both of them with a pretty light weight (1/8oz. to a 1/4oz...sometimes a little bigger if I am fishing deeper) and peg the weight if the cover dictates. I generally use 3/0 hooks on the babies and 4 or 5/0 hooks on the bigguns. When I fish them un-pegged I like to use a bead for a multitude of reasons: knot protection, a little extra noise, and it makes it appear that the brush hog is chasing prey smaller than it, giving it a more natural look. Also if you are fishing it in really snaggy, weedy spots, then removing a few of the appendages will allow it to come through the muck and grass a little better. I usually do not fish these baits on a c-rig though they are probably very effective. I just hate c-riggin'. I am thinking that may be a style of fishing I need to work to better myself at this year.

That is some good stuff. Now I am just waiting for some bait company to make the claim that they have added an "attractant" that will cause response in large bass mimicking an alarm pheromone reaction. :

I sure hope it works for you...cuz that is a rip off man. Can you return it? $300 is A LOT of money to pay for a piece of paper.

Happy Birthday GMAN...yeah I'm a little late...but better late than never! Hope you had a good one and got some nifty gear.

Holy smokes!!! That is a massive pike. It's the size of a small shark for crying out loud!!

Man...you have been flat out ROLLIN' this last couple months Craw. Nice job on sticking some great winter feesh man. To echo RW and everyone else's general opinion, YOU DA MAN!

I am sure that if this "young padawan" let himself go as much as he'd like to, he'd be getting served with a big fat batch of divorce papers!