scaleface

Soft plastics this year, I have been throwing 10 inch ring worms . I dont remember if they are rebel or not but they work . I only have one left and it will probably be used next tyrip . Also been throwing 10 inch Berkely ribbon tail Power baits . They are probably still being made but I'm down to two . Then I've been throwing an 8 inch Manns Jelly Worm in blueberry . I have a good supply of those left .I still use an awful lot of out of production cranks including a couple of original Wiggle Warts just not in the highly sought out colors .

I dont have a bone Spook , maybe thats why I dont catch many fish with them .

Had another good day yesterday on spinnerbaits .I cast one off and had another break . Had to assemble some more this morning . They don't last forever , after 30 to 50 fish they should be retired .I can melt them and reuse the hook .This has been my best year ever for spinnerbaits and I have narrowed it down to what I like . 1/2 ounce, simply because I am a better caster with that size . A willow leaf blade number 4 or 4.5 . The secondary blade can be Indiana , Colorado , or willow I dont have a preference . Just have to make sure the front blade doesn't interfere with the back blade . Willow leafs have to be separated more than Colorados making double willows good for burning , look at AJays spinnerbaits .Gold or chrome , it just doesn't seem to matter . Chartreuse based in the spring then more baitfish color the rest of the year . I don't bother painting the heads . I'm set for the next outing .See the blade combination on the far left . This is the 4th lure it has been used on . It originally came off an Excalibur bait . There has been a hundred to two hundred bass landed with those blades .Now they are on brand new bait for another 30 or 50 .

I still subscribe but dont read it like I use to . I never was a huge fan of a "day on a lake" . Its all right to see how the pro goes about fishing different areas and lures trying to get something going . I just dont like the little obscure private lakes they fish . It would be a lot better if they put them on tough pressured reservoirs , like Mark Twain lake in september .

I used one yesterday . Got A hit , set the hook and the bass got off . The lure pulled off the spring keeper so it didnt even last one fish . They are really soft . I didnt have a toad bite going so thats all the action I had with one . It did buzz all right , a little less noisy than the Ribbet , I'll try them again next trip .

I make them with a spinnerbait mold . Instead of running a spinnerbait form through it , I insert a piece of wire and just pull it out afterwards . I did purchase some lead 1/4 ounce on line but dont remember where from .

Yes to everything you listed . If I think there are bass there and not getting anything at all I'm apt to make bigger changes like switching lures , going with less action , fish tighter to cover , slow down , speed up . If fish are flashing at it then I might do something minor like changing color or size .

I'll find out tomorrow .Thanks for the info . The legs look long and spindly compared to the Ribbett . I was planning on using them as a buzz toad .

I stopped at a place today that has about 20 packs of Wave Tiki Toads for a dollar a pack . He has white , chartreuse and white/chartreuse .I bought 2 packs and they look like they will work really good . If they work well I'm buying them all . Have any of you any experience with the Tiki Toad ?

Ive been using a home poured 1/2 ounce for castability and smaller blades from a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce Terminator . Its a good combo , catching lots of 1 to 3 lbers with it .

On a buzzbait skirts I dont know what works best . I have been fishing them from the 70's and use white , black , chartreuse , Yellow/black....Most of the time I just use whatever I feel like . Night time fishing I have always used black because that is what is suppose to be used .Dont know how true that is but they works .

The lead head on a jig doesnt contribute much to the bulk of the bait . 3/8 ounce is a good size . 1/2 ounce falls faster and a lot of times a faster falling lure gets bit more .

You do enough minnow trapping you will get drowned snakes . I never caught one alive .

I tore a casting net up in a creek . If there is nothing to snag it on , its an option .

I edited my post and covered that . Seines work well in creeks . I seined a lot of creeks by myself .Its a quick way to get bait . Just roll them up until you get a manageable length for one person . If there are two people it works better .

I like cast nets for open water and schools of shad . Traps for creeks . I learned to cover my trap with rocks , to keep the kids from swiping it . Cast nets in creeks snag on everything and tear up fast . Traps need to be left for several hours or overnight .

Just because a person is not catching doesnt mean there are no fish to be caught . Make some decisions and change some things . One might get lucky and make the right call .

In a related scenario , I use to fish rip rap banks on the Mississippi river from bank . When a barge would go by the giant wake it caused would stir up whatever critters hiding in the rocks and game fish , including bass , white bass , walleye would move in and feed . I dont doubt that stirring up vegetation starts a feeding chain reaction .

Tom Mann had a short run TV show {here anyway} and he did that . He didnt catch any fish .

On the black chartreuse jig I like them predominantly black with just a flash of chartreuse . I dont know how many strands that is or what percentage .Same with black blue . Its probably just a coincidence but I seem to catch bigger bass on black or mostly black .

I have one of those , until I untangle them .

I'm going to hijack this thread .Shep-wrecked with Ginger or Mary Anne ?

Thats my thinking . Do we get a rod and reel to , or just some line ? A jig can always be tipped with a piece of worm , grub ...

Marabou jigs use to be supplied in USN survival kits .