iceintheveins

Western Colorado has some fierce winds, especially in the spring. Winds of 40 - 70 mph are routine. I have found winds over 20 mph tend to make fishing more difficult. I don't think it puts the fish off too terribly much, I just think boat control and making a quality presentation is much more difficult in those conditions. A lighter breeze or a mild wind can help turn on neutral/negative bass though. In wind, I prefer spinnerbaits and loud cranks, as well as jerkbaits. In wind protected spots, a buzzbait can work well too.

Of the three, I like the Zoom SS U Tail best. They are all good though, even though I rarely use the old monster.

These two products are BY FAR the best way to go: http://parasiteweights.com/ (parasite weights) http://www.picassooutdoors.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=62&category_id=10 (marty stone lockdown sinkers)

They have plenty of scent, but sometimes using Smelly Jelly in crawfish or baitfish flavors help a little. I find scent not to be all that important in triggering bass most of the year.

Due to the dams very little of the tenessee river is actual river, but mostly all reservoir. The reservoirs are narrow and have a little current, so finding bass there is a little different than in some reservoirs. In actual free flowing rivers, smallies will be anywhere the current is obstructed and the water is deeper, ESPECIALLY if there is some cover, such as rocks and logs. The main difference between locating smallmouth and trout in streams are that smallmouth are more cover oriented than trout.

Bass Pro Shops XPS Rattle Shad and Cordell Super Spots. Rat L Traps are good too, but the rattle shads and super spots are better IMO. Rattlin' rapalas aren't that great in my opinion.

I am the same way with buzzbaits, and sometimes with senkos.

I also like the screw in sinkers.

Parasite weights and clips!

I like the shad assassins even better than super flukes. Super flukes rock though, they are no slouch.

Soft jerkbaits, smaller worms in natural colors, and cranks in natural or flashy (silver or gold) finishes. Topwaters work well at low light periods or during cloudy weather. A spinnerbait with a subdued skirt also works. I prefer clear water over muddy water ANY day. Stained water can be the best though.

Very true. If we judged senkos, centipedes, lipless cranks, and some other baits on action alone, nobody would be using those DEADLY lures.

Agreed. Though MOST of my daytime topwater action is during cloudy skies, I have had days where topwaters worked and a couple where they were the bait of choice, even in 90 plus temperatures in bright blue skies. Smallmouth in rivers are also more likely to hit topwaters during the day for sure.

I use power pro braid for hard jerkbaits, with a 12 pound fluorocarbon leader.

Do you find the X - Rap deeps and the LC pointer deeps have less darting action than the shallow models?

Owners points dont roll over they stay straight and sharp for a long time. Cool I will have to give them a try.

X - Rap deep or LC Staycee.

I start catching bass on topwaters when the temps hit the mid 50s. As a general rule I use topwaters for bass, smallies included, during morning and evenings and during cloudy weather. A few times during the day topwaters work as well, such as when bass are busting prey on top. When bass are holding on very shallow flats, buzzbaits can catch them all day at times.

How does the Mcstick fish? What's the action like in comparison to, say, an X - Rap or a pointer?

Since I use lighter finesse cranks a lot, I use a 6'6" fiberglass/graphite mix spinning rod (ugly stik lite or zebco gatorback) with a spinning reel and 6 to 10 pound mono. If I'm throwing heavier, deeper divers, I'll use a casting reel with a similiar rod and 10 - 12 pound mono. With jerkbaits, I prefer braid though, as you get better action.

I use Gamakatsus. The only thing with them is the point sometimes gets bent after a few fish or if you snag up. Do the Owner or Mustad Ultrapoints hold up a little better. I did try the Eagle Claw Lazersharp EWG hooks and they seemed to work well too.

We've had a cold spring so far in Colorado so the water is still in the very low 50s in the warmer lakes. Senkos, tubes, jig and pigs, suspending jerkbaits, and shallow cranks have been the ticket so far.

The Pointer is worth the money, that's for sure. Just invest in two types of lure retriever: A hounddog type that has a heavy head that you clip to your line, and unwind till you hit the lure, and also the telescoping, pole type retriever that will work in water under 18' deep. The only lucky craft lure I would avoid is the live pointer. The rest that I have used though, especially the pointer, are great. The pointer has an action in between that of an X - Rap and a Husky Jerk.

Rapala Skitterpop, the #7 size in frog.

Creme White Senko, 4" rigged weightless with a 1/0 EWG Gamakatsu Hook. Close second is the zoom super fluke.