Brian_Reeves

At one place back home I made an underwater "bridge". I piled rocks up about 3 ft, laid a piece of driftwood that was 4-5ft long onto another rock pile. Caught a few good fish there. It probably isn't there anymore though.

I'm confused. Is that a fish tank or are the jigs weightless? ;D

Personally, I think you get more action out of rubber, round or flat. Round will give you a bigger profile. Drawback...color selection. There just isn't many colors that I've found for round rubber skirts. I'm not a big fan of flat rubber. Silicone is a good skirt and can give you a ton of bulk, good action, and phenominal color choices. The number of colors is limitless but that's not what catches my eye, it's the patterns that can be and are printed on the skirts. Scales, "barbed wire" and camo patterns all help add to the natural apperance, which is really important on skittish fish in clear water.

I've heard enough good things about that company to try them out myself. Besides, he has good products and colors

Football jigheads are advertised for rocky situations, but I've tested them out around timber as well. Not very many problems...no more than most other styles. They kinda bite around grass though, that's the only problem. But really, no jighead is perfectly suited for grasses because of the fiberguard and profile issue anyway. Footballs are one of my favorites.

I'm still kicking around the idea of my first mold being a football head. I really like the fact that they don't tip over as easily as other head designs.

Well, I'm too hyped up to sleep after the BCS Championship game. (Geaux Tigers!!!) I searched the forums for a jig and worm thread and couldn't come up with anything, so I figured I'd put something up here. For people starting out with jigs or wanting to add a finesse tactic to their arsonal, jig and worms are a good bet. They have a smaller profile than regular jigs but are often fished the same way. What qualifies as a jig and worm? In my book, any soft plastic lure on a jighead (exposed, weedless, or fiberguard) Usually, my jig and worms consist of a 1/8-1/4oz exposed hook football jighead and a finesse worm, 4-5in curl tail worm, hula grub, or 4-5in lizard. But I've been known to use tubes, craws, and beavers on them as well. Even chunks fished without the jig skirt work at times. That's the beauty of this lure. Anything goes. As far as techniques, the jig and worm (lightweight versions) are great for producing numbers in shallower water. For heavy jigheads, you might consider looking at deep water structure or cover and consider a weedless version. Anyway, a jig 'n worm can be fished any number of ways. I'll use my aforementioned choices as a reference as to what I do with them. Zoom Finesse Worm- I'll use this lure as the all famous shakey head rig. I like a jighead that has a 60degree, flateye hook and will often opt for football head, exposed hook jigheads. This keeps the lure from rolling over on its side and allows you to tip it up and shake it a bit harder than ball-style or "stand up" jigheads. The Title Shot from Fin-Tech lures is also a good choice for deeper water shaking. Anyway, cast or pitch out near structure on 8-10lb test and let the lure rest on the bottem. The object here is to barely twitch the lure in place without moving it. Turning your wrist (like twisting a screwdriver), flexing your bicep, or just lightly shaking your arm all work to make the lure quiver. Watch your line for movement and be ready to set the hook. 4 inch Renegade Ringworm- If you're familiar with the texas and flordia rigs, then you're already ready for this technique. I switch to a ringworm on either an exposed hook or fiberguard jighead when the Texas rig or Flordia rig stops producing for whatever reason. Many times, this will get you back on the pattern. Just cast it out there and hop it back...nothing special here. GYCB Hula Grubs- Most of the time when the spinnerbait, crankbait, or skirted jig bite dies, the Hula Grub is the first lure that comes to my mind. It has twin curl tails, which produce great action and a skirt that adds a bulky appearance in a nice, small package. Easy meal and GREAT reaction lure. I like these as a jig trailer anyway, but when bass shun my big jigs, I'll try one of these little guys by himself on a round exposed hook or fiberguard jighead. I'll pitch these out next to cover or structure and let them sink to the desired depth, then swim them back. Usually I try to stay in the same depth range that I was nailing them on the spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or jigs. (note: I swim all of my jigs, year round. it's my number 1 tactic right now) That should just about cover most of your jig and worm needs. I'll keep checking back here to see if y'all have any questions. Hopefully this helps add another weapon to your fishing cache'. Oh yeah...as for colors, watermelonseed, green pumpkin, smoke, or black with blue flecks. White in the fall.

I've done this intentionally cast after cast for over an hour and probably boated nearly 50 fish. I was using a hollow bodied frog (snag proof) and would only cast it over branches that were small enough to break when I set the hook. Worked pretty good.

My 07 goal was to not die in Iraq. I did that. I'm home now...so mission accomplished lol My fishing goal was a 10lb bass over leave. I only got to fish once and I caught a few, all together maybe busting 10lbs. Don't think that counts. I'm not really down about that though. At least I caught a few over leave. That helped the morale some. 08 goal...get a new boat and catch something bigger than 8.9lbs (current PB)

I use it in clear water because I hate flourocarbon and mono has too much stretch. Silver Thread is a copolymer, which kinda has the best of both worlds. Low vis and low stretch. Works great on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. I still prefer braided line for jigs, c-rigs, and t-rigs when I can get away with it.

Fluke and Catt, next year I'll be Army-free and I'll have a new boat as well. Might have some extra boat space if anyone needs a ride. I'll be living about an hour, maybe two from the Bend. PS this is post 999 by the way. Next one will be 1k for me. For some reason, I thought I should note that

I just want to go fishing. stupid back injury...

I use short, fat, compact lures when I'm flipping and pitching timber, rocks, or structure. When I'm working grass or really snaggy areas, I'll go with more slender baits. I don't count soft plastic jerkbaits as being comparible because they are worked differently. Sometimes you'll just have to play with it to see if short and fat or long and skinny is the game of the day. Completely different profiles and actions in the water and all.

I swim all of my jigs a few inches off of the bottem. Just my style, but it seems like hopping them around is a waste of time most of the time. That's why I LOVE the title shots for my hula grubs and other creature baits when a skirted jig isn't cutting it.

I've experimented with the Title Shot jighead from www.jigfish.com It works pretty good for me, but I'm going to start making both screw in jigs and ones with weedguards sometime around the end of the month. I'll be posting pics for the GMAN stamp of approval. Heck, I might actually send him a few to check out. Never hurts to get someone with experience to check things out. Whatdoya say GMAN? Interested?

Reading that article about split shot fishing on the home page got me thinking...what kinds of worms do y'all use for finesse fishing and what kind of finesse tactics do you use? Here's my techniques and favorite lures Jig Trailer (for 1/4oz jigs)- Hula Grubs or Pork Split Shot Worms- 4"Ribbed Worm (I just use the cheap riverside lures) Drop Shot- Zoom Finesse Worms or Zoom Meatheads Jig 'n Worm- Zoom Meathead or 4" Ribbed worm Shakey Head- Trick Worm or Tube...sometimes a baby brush hog That about covers my top finesse tactics and lures...what's your favorites?

I'm replacing every reel I own with Ardent products. Gonna be pricey, but worth every penny. I love their stuff.

I saw in a few other threads that people are wanting to learn how to jig and c-rig effectively. I'm going to list a few quick tips that will hopefully help. Jigs: 1. For shallow jigging, use natural colors and light weights (1/8-3/8) 2. For deeper jigging, use black/blue and heavier weights (3/8+) 3. I call deep water 15ft or greater 4. Use trailers that fit your style. Action (curl tail) if you like to swim jigs like me or chunk/creature style if you like to hop/dead stick them. 5. Maintain bottem contact with your jigs!!!! 6. Always fish a jig on a semi-tight to tight line and watch your line carefully. Many bites will be subtle strikes on the fall. These are hard to detect Carolina Rigs: 1. Use a senko or tube as a starting trailer 2. Maintain contact with the bottem 3. Try to drag over dropoffs, down points, or near grasslines 4. use lightest weight that is practical

I've used the Rat-L-Traps for years and I'm looking to get some lipless crankbaits that aren't Bill Lewis. I have my eye on the Cotton Cordell Super Spots, but I'm wanting some second opinions before I start swiping the mastercard. What other brands are good and how do they hold up to the Bill Lewis Traps?

Fishing as a co-angler is different. Some guys think they know everything there is to know and won't even ask for or consider your advice. Most will welcome new ideas or input if their plan isn't working. After all, there is money involved. Never be afraid to express your opinion. I hate to sound this way, but if your fishing for money, then money is on the line. If he's fishing a 1ft deep flat with no structure or cover in the middle of summertime, then you might want to inform him that the fish will probably be deeper. You should never accept defeat because your boater is a dolt. You should at least try to help out if it seems like he needs it. On lure selection, the jig and worm is your best friend here. When I"m back-decking it, a 4-5 inch watermelonseed or blue/black sickle tail ring worm is a good bet to pull a few strikes that he missed. Shakey heads, senkos, hula grub jigs, and flukes are also good bets. If y'all are deep, try jigging spoons, heavy jigs, or heavy spinnerbaits. Also try to convince your boater to try to line you up for shots on the deep structure if at all possible. You could always use the same lure the boater is, but sometimes it's a good bet to go a bit smaller, and a bit more natural.

Good news is, no back surgery. THey thought I had compressed or bulged disks, but I don't. They don't know what is wrong with my back, but at least I don't have to have surgery. But I did learn a new little trick about myself. When talking to the neurologist, she told me to stand straight up, hold my hands level to the floor, then touch my nose with my finger while closing my eyes shut. Come to find out, I can't do that with my left hand. Yip Yip. Now I get to go through a brain scan and a CAT scan. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or mTBI. I'm not all that worried about it, but I'm pretty sure I've got mTBI. Stupid IEDs. One day at a time, one appointment at a time. I get out in july and then I'm getting my dream job. Game Warden in LA!! Nothing like a Game Warden with Brain Damage lol

I just left FOB Warhorse and Baquoba with the cav a few weeks ago. I know how it feels man. I had a son over leave. Talk about a really crappy feeling. Keep your chin up and your head down. Be careful over there. You're in my thoughts and prayers man. Take it easy and shoot them in the face.

I don't have any real jigs that I've made start to finish. I've modified the junk that I bought. I have yet to have found a jig that I'm 100% satisfied with. Therefore, I'm going to start pouring, painting, and tying my own...and to top it off, I'm going to pour my own trailers. When I get everything, I'll make a few and post pics. Owner or Gammie hooks, clear fiberguards, and skirts that are done right from start to finish. Hopefully this isn't just an insane idea, but I'm going to give out quite a bit of them to see how they hold up throughout the US. Anyway, happy holidays all. Thanks again for everything

LBH, not sure if you got the pm or not but I sent that thing we talked about. Muddy, I wore the t-shirt to a Christmas party last night. I love it man, thanks a million. Fourbiz, can't fish right now. I have several bulged disks. I went out on the boat and I thought I was going to die. Looks like fish in centex are safe for a bit longer. I get my painkillers tomorrow though To everyone else, thanks a million for everything. I'm going to try to come up with some things to further contribute to the site and once I get my jig pouring under way, I'm going to send out some free prizes for testing. Muddy, you're first in the line up for that when I get my equipment. I want to see if I can change your mind about skirted jigs Thanks everyone

The 15 month tour to Iraq is OVER!!! Seeing my kids and wife, being on leave, and not being in friggin Iraq rocks. Thank you all for supporting me while I was over there. I'm not sure where other deployed members of the forum are in their deployments, but lets stick with them. THanks y'all