Mr. Bassin II

I have had great success with them. Have been using the 5/8 oz model for the past few weeks around timber and submerged grass for the last five trips I've been on. Put about 60 in the boat on this lure alone.The five foot running depth is just right for the bass moving up shallow for the their fall feeding pattern. Have to agree with the line tie design running true and the way the line tie is able to float allows for a unique wobble as well. All that matters to me is that the bass some to love them.

Unless you have found a mega-deal on the Helium, I would recommend the KLX Grass Puncher Stump Grinder model. This is the exact model I use for the technique you described and it kicked a Duckett out the line up as well. I would rank the sensitivity and fishability of these rods between a Dobyns Champion and Champion Extreme. Yes, they are that good and less than $200! Oh yeah, Made In America on a Gary Loomis (North Fork Composites) blank.

I agree that it has been a terrible year here. Due to the locks in Columbia, there is practically ZERO current in the river and bayou. No current typically means sub-par fishing as we have seen. One thing I have noticed is that the bottom of Bayou Darbonne is silting up with about two to three feet of sludge covering the creek bed. Some of the old sloughs and feeder creeks are getting impossible to navigate. In my opinion, this is not prime spawning habitat and the numbers are dropping. I would like to see the locks opened so the water could drop to natural levels letting natural vegetation to grow while allowing this silt to dry up. This will never happen as long as one barge needs to head south.

They were so 2009. I guess we have all progressed to the 2013 gimmick lure now. My vote for gimmick of the year are these microchip sound producing red light eye Livingston lures. Every time I see one of these, I think of the Laser Lure.

Please don't what I am about to suggest as a promotion of any sort, but get some old copies of Louisiana Sportsman magazine. They have articles about fishing the river from guys who have probably forgotten more about this fishery than all three of us combined. The September issue has a n excellent read about early fall fishing here.

In the price range you specified, Sunline Super Fluorocarbon would be my pick.

I'm planning on heading over. Curious to know how the FLW cup expo compares to the Classic since they are both held at the same venue.

Boat costs, tackle and equipment expenses add up. Travel costs to some really cool lakes gets pricey as well. Probably spend anywhere between $12-$18 thousand per year. Also drop this much on duck and deer hunting as well. At least I can claim some expenses as client development and take deductions o schedule C each year.

War Eagle is my staple brand with the mouse color seeming to be the most productive. I also have a few Advantage brand spinner baits that have some unique blades that have produced good results as well.

3.5 inch Lake Fork Live Magic Shad on a 3/8 Revenge Viberator jig. Black, Black/Blue with a black blade have been an awesome night fishing rig this summer.

I live here and fish the Ouachita quite a bit. What would like to know? I'll try to answer any question you have but this is what I have discovered about this river. It is very hit and miss, you can do well if you have found a secret hole and go home with nothing if you miss it by twenty feet. Most of my success has been the bayous and backwaters, especially if I find grass and current or falling water. This is the most challenging place I have ever fished. Just research the catches for pro tournaments held here and you see what I mean.

The Forrest L Wood cup tournament is being held in Shreveport, LA in a couple of weeks and the outdoor expo is scheduled to be held in the same location as the Bassmaster Classic shows. Is this event worth attending? If anybody has been to both, please elaborate how they compare.

Have to agree with this. I call them "skunkos".

I have mine attached to 30 foot long retractable dog leash. Just tie the knocker to the chord in this device. With this I just pull out how much I need then let it retract back in the handle when done. Makes a compact unit when not in use as well.

For those that know what I am talking about, what is your favorite or most productive Wobblehead color? Also, what type and color of worm do you prefer? My favorite is a red head with a V&M super pork pin in copperhead color.

Have both of these. Would recommend the XH since you desire to use it for punching as well as frogs. In this line, this is my go to rod for heavy cover and slop. My personal opinion is that the Ducketts have a slightly softer tip and slightly under powered for their rating compared to other rods. I use the heavy action for jigs less than 1/2 oz., larger spinner baits, and have used for frogs in sparse cover. It is a versitile rods but I don't it has the backbone to handle the duties you describe.

Kistler KLX Grass Punching Stump Grinder X-Heavy rated from 3/8 oz to 2oz. Choose your length from 7', 7'3", or 7'6". I have the 7 footer and use it for both purposes you describe. It is not overpowered with a 2 oz puching weight, will launch a hollow body frog into the next parish, and has plenty of backbone to pull a fish out of the nastiest slop imaginable. Does an outstanding job pitching 1/2 oz jigs as well. Oh yeah, I feel that this rod is as sensitive and balanced as a comparable Dobyns DX. Can be had for less than $200 as well.

This brings back memories for me as my first bass was caught 35 years ago on purple fire-tail worm. I remember this so well because my next 9 were caught on the same worm within two hours. All of these were caught without the benefit of Trokar hooks, tungsten weights, or fluorocarbon line. Looking back now, it was a miracle I ever caught these fish. Anyway this has always been a fantastic color combo for me.

Does anybody know how much it will weigh?