Todd2

Could be but something just doesn't seem right...same jigs, line, and hookset I've been using. The line is 14lb Clear Blue Stren...and I'm not talking about giant Bass. those are few and far between here. The one's I've lost are in that 3-4 range.

So my jig rod for many years was an All Star 7'0 MH.. It has and continues to serve me well. I decided to grab an All Star Nano 7'3 H on sale back in the Winter. Although I don't keep records and have no proof, I am sure I'm losing more fish on the way in, especially bigger ones. It happened again this afternoon..I laid the wood to it, a nice one out of lay down, she came up close to the boat and threw it. Any thoughts? The simple solution is just to stick with my 7'0 MH I guess.

I've gone back to braid w/ swivel and a mono leader. The keepers work ok but once you hang up and it slides on the line a few times it seems more prone to random breaks on the sweep. I lost a couple like that last year so I'm back to prerigging leaders around a pool noodle for quick reties on the water. Braid w/ steel egg weights and I feel everything.

You'll probably never find me without a jig tied on, but I seem to be using it a little less. In cover, it's my weapon of choice but out on open/rocky banks the lowly Carolina Rig or Crankbaits get most of the work.

Somebody posted it here last year and I've used it quite a bit...seems to come thru cover as good or better than a traditional Texas rig. I use a 3/16 or 1/4 dipsey weight.

Interesting Tom, I'll ask him about that one. Thanks.. Ralph's a good guy...recently lost his wife so we're all trying to keep an eye on him.

The knowledge here amazes me sometimes. I'm 48 and didn't know of these. My neighbor I'm guessing is in his 80's. He had many more that I did know..Hula poppers..etc. He has old licenses from out West and some surrounding states. Interesting fella.

That's right, a former boss of mine was related to him and knew the story well.

Thanks fellas...

My elderly neighbor came over the other night and wanted me to have his tackle box. He said he hadn't fished in years and was cleaning out some stuff. He has some very interesting stuff. Can anybody tell me what some of this is?

8 to 10 lb Stren for me..If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I know this is about soft plastics but this happened to me yesterday and kind of applies. I found a little pattern with a shad color Shad Rap, then an hour or so later, I lost it. The only SR I had left was a Orange Craw pattern (not sure of the name) so I started whacking them again. Then, I lost it. So...out of Shad Raps...dug in and grabbed the first shallow runner I saw.. White Storm Smash Shad...yup, you guessed it.l..kept whacking them. That little pattern with the first Shad Rap Shad color was only in my head. But that was yesterday, tomorrow color might mean a little more but overall color means more to us than the fish on most days..IMO.

Yesterday I was dragging until it hung, which happens all of the time here. Two quick pops and it frees up..thats when they'd hit. Sometimes I'd go to drag again and they'd just be there.

Rapala..no matter how you pronounce it...lol

I just bought an All Star Nano II, 7'3 Heavy. With the 25% All Rods sale that Academy sent out it came to $75. It passes the feel test, haven't had it out yet.

Heartbreaking...

I've caught Bass in muddy water on bright chartreuse lures but also on natural colors..so I agree with the others. We don't really know how they see but they manage to feed in all water conditions off of sight, vibration, and smell. Don't get too psyched out on color.

I bought a few 3/4 oz All Terrain Grassmaster jigs because the Arkies I buy only go up to 1/2. I spent a few hours this morning pitching and casting around wood, but no takers. Dropped down to a 3/8 oz Arkie in a similar color and was able to catch a few. So, at least for the day, they didn't want that heavier jig worked faster. My normal drag and short hop with my normal 3/8 did the trick. I do like these heavier jigs, come through cover great but just not want they wanted today in 41 degree water.

What action jig rod do you guys use for 3/4 - 1oz jigs?

X3

But it'd be a strong and cheap wicker basket.?

Mono wise, I've used mainly Stren and Big Game for the last few years. Both are fine. For leader material I'd give the nod to BG. Pros Big Game - Very cheap and strong Stren - Handles a little better on spinning gear, comes in clear Blue and strong.

So everything I've read and watched shows a craw doing one of three things when attacked by a predator fish. 1.) Hold their ground and raise up with those big claws up and waving around. (Shaking a jig comes to mind) 2.) Shoot backwards fast in 2 or 3 pumps of the tail looking for some cover. (Stroking or hopping) 3.) Become dinner Of course I have caught a lot of Bass just crawling but even then you have to hop it over cover which is often when my attacks occur. This all relates to casting jig. Pitching and flipping are all about rate of fall. I'm going to experiment more with heavier weights and faster retrieves.

With all of the rain, our lakes have been high and muddy this Winter cutting into my fishing time. So....I've been watching a lot of jig videos and trying to learn a few new tricks. I came across a few tips I want to try this year. I've always fished a jig fairly slow, short hops and drags. I always have heard you can't fish one too slow. But one new thing I want to try is going a little heavier and keep it moving without pausing. Giving them less time to study it. Anybody fish jigs like this?

So when the 2nd TV is plugged into the same outlet as the 1st TV it goes off too? Is the cable box plugged into the same outlet? This one has me curious..