hoosierbass07

I thought about that. So is it common in bass fishing for one lure not to be effective one year but the next year or two or three years later that lure become very effective?

I was in Gander Mountain this evening and was looking at these two reels - the President and the Cardinal. I know they are both very famous reels. I told the guy working there that I'm a Shimano guy but I'm on the look out for cheaper reels, something in the $50 range so I can buy more and try out different fishing line. Right now I only own Shimano Saharas ($80 reels), Symetre ($100 reels), and one Daiwa Lexa ($120 reel). So I'm looking for something a little more low cost but still good for bass fishing. Both the President and President looked good and solid. I keep reading good things about the President on this forum and in other places. Gander Mountain had both reels for around $50.00 So I'm wondering - for bass fishing and using line in the six to eight pound range, which reel would you pick - the Pflueger President or Abu Garcia Cardinal? Thanks!

I recently bought a pack of Zoom lizards in Chartreuse Pepper color. I'm not sure what color you are supposed to use a chartreuse color soft plastic in though. The Zoom lizards I bought are very translucent, so doesn't that mean they are good for clear water? I've read that the chartreuse color is bright underwater. So do I want to use them in clear water or darker water? I have a lot of worms and soft plastics in the June Bug colors. I'm trying to buy soft plastics at the other end of the color range to give my collection some balance. Anyway, when is it best to use Chartreuse colored soft plastics like worms and lizards for bass fishing? Is it a better clear water color or stained/muddy water color?

I'm not saying all ribbon tails don't work. But I used that Yum Ribbon Tail a lot this spring/summer and didn't get any action. Also that Reaction Innovations "the Flirt." Big disappointments. Maybe the ribbon tail part was too long. I was comparing it to my Berkley Powerbait worms. Those Yum worms have a longer tail. The tail is a little longer than the actual body part. With the Berkley Powerbait worms, the body is larger than the tail. Also the Yum tail is more drawn out, the Powerbait tail is more spring/compact. So I'm thinking that extra long tail scared some bass away. Also, I predominately used the Yum Ribbon tail in clear strip pit water and occasionally used it at a state reservoir with regular green/brown water. Perhaps it was just too long/big for the waters I fished on and really scared the bass in the clear water strip pit ponds/lakes I fished on. From what I've been reading, you should use more straight tailed/short worms in clear water. Maybe that's why those Zoom Trick worms and Roboworms always produced for me, along with soft stick baits. Now The Flirt. I don't know why that failed. Maybe too short. I don't know. But when I bought it I was pumped up about it. Maybe it was only intended to be on a drop shot. I've not done any drop shot fishing yet.

I decided to make a list of the lures that worked for me this season and those that did not and those in between. I had two big disappointments, one surprise, two bewilderment's, and one continuation of a great lure. My two biggest disappointments: Yum Ribbontail 7.5" Watermelon seed and Reaction Innovations The Flirt. 4.95" in bloody bug color. Oh man, I thought I was going to kill it with that Yum Ribbon tail worm. After I discovered how good their Yum-Dingers were in 2013 I found a pack of those Ribbon-tail worms over the winter. I figured they were the right size, nice tail, and made by Yum! How could I go wrong? It turns out this worm was a big bust and produced nothing for me. I mostly split shot those worms in the spring and summer, from the bank and kayak. No bass. Next is the Reaction Innovations Flirt 4.95" lure. Like the Yum Ribbon tail, I thought I was going to catch tons of bass with this little lure. I mostly used it with a split-shot. Again, it was a bust. A total bust. I might have caught one or two small bass but nothing memorable. I had high hopes for both these lures and it's disappointing they did not work out for me. So, out they go! I have too many other soft plastics to use. Now my surprise - Zoom trick worms. Wow! Those things work. And you get a bunch in a bag too. I bought watermelon and they worked, junebug and it worked, and black and it worked, all on a split-shot rig. I didn't catch any large bass with them but they got a lot of bites and I caught a lot of fish with them. This leads me to my discovery for this year - straight tailed worms. I'm starting to think straight tailed worms are more effective than ribbon tailed worms for the waters I fish at. Those Zoom trick worms and Roboworms are very good! Also, I discovered Fluke soft swim baits from Zoom. I split shot them one evening while kayak fishing and caught three or four small bass. No big ones but still, the Zoom Flukes caught me some bass. Now the two bewilderment's - crankbaits and spinnerbaits. I cast those lures a lot this season (after soft plastics). My payoff was low. I only had two great days with these lures, both in the spring. My biggest bass so far came on that crankbait. And I caught five nice sized bass in under an hour while bank fishing on a spinnerbait. They were hitting a little spinnerbait hard. So, soft stick baits are still number one to me (Yum, Stick-O's, and Senko's). Next are the trick worms and Roboworms, lizards and berkley power bait worms then Zoom Flukes. If I experiment with any new lures it will be the Gene Larew Tattetail worm (I plan to split shot it) and small Gopher Mushroom Jigs (Ned Rig and other rigs). Cabin fever has already set in with me. I've made this list and now reorganizing my tackle box! lol.

I don't know why they use mushroom head jigs but I can't wait for spring 2015 to try them out. I ordered a bunch of them in the fall and put them in a little tackle container last night, ready to do some super finesse bass fishing in the spring! My main reason for buying the Gopher Mushroom jig heads is to try the Ned Rig and also I don't see any jigs exactly like those for sale around here in the stores. Also, it seems all the jigs for bass I buy int he stores have strong hooks. The Gopher Mushroom jig heads I bought came with light wire small hooks that can be bent if you get it snagged.

That's a cool looking kayak for $269.00 And only 44 pounds. You will need a cushion for the bottom of the seat area. That back rest looks interesting though. I wouldn't mind trying that kayak out.

So when you use a fish grip on bass, how far do you stick the top grip in the mouth? Do you put it over the teeth, the same way your put thumb over the teeth area of the bass? Or do you grip it before the teeth area?

I recently bought some plastic fish grips. They are made by United Plastic Molders. Cost around $14 or so from Amazon. Anyway, got a pair in the mail today. I bought them for when I catch a bass on a crankbait or any other lure with treble hooks (not often), I can use them in case there is a danger my fingers might get hooked with a treble hook. Anyway, I've noticed these grips have a rather strong grip. I wanted to see how strong so I stuck my finger in between and clamped down and it hurt. I'm wondering, are these things going to hurt the bass when I use them on them? I only do catch and release. I'm not planning on using them on every bass. Only the ones I catch on treble hooks (not very many). Iv'e read it might not be a good idea to lift a big bass out of the water with the grips alone. If I do use them I'm willing to pull the bass out of the water with them but also support the bass underneath with my other hand. I'm more concerned about the griping/clamping part. If I clamp down on my finger and it hurts, what about the mouth/jaw of the bass?

Five inch Yum-Dingers. What are they a pack, around $3.00? Also those Zoom trick worms. They are cheap too you get a bunch in a pack. Get a couple of packs of Yum-dingers and couple packs of Zoom trick worms and you would be set for the whole spring and summer! Cheap, durable and proven bass catchers.

I'm bringing my Fenwick HMG 6'6" spinning rod medium, Shimano Sahara spinning reel, eight pound Sufix Elite mono in clear, and a Texas riged five inch Yum-Dinger in Watermelon color.

I've given up on those big jigs with weed guards. I caught a few bass in 2013 on them but I used them a lot after soft plastics and the I think I only caught two bass on those jigs the whole season. I don't think I used them any at all in 2014. Probably not going to use them in 2015 either.

Yep, after two years of bass fishing here in west central Indiana, I've learned Indiana is tough and depressing. I've not done any fishing in other states yet. I'm going to have to remember this discussion during the summer of 2015 when I'm out in my kayak trying to catch big bass and only catch small ones start getting depressed. Also, maybe I'm justified in my enjoyment for soft plastic worms and stick baits over big jigs, crankbaits and spinner baits. Perhaps Indiana is only a "finesse" state. I watch videos of fishermen using big jigs with trailers, pitching and flipping and catching big bass. I just don't see that happening much here in Indiana. My plans for 2015 - fish hard in the spring, from early March to June, and fish the one big lake closest to me, Raccoon Lake.

I enjoy Bill Dance even though he does fish at well stocked lakes/ponds. Major League Fishing is probably the most enjoyable "tournament" program in my opinion, keeping in mind it's made for television so there is the possibility it is not a 100% true competition. This is not a bass fishing show but I think one of the classiest fishing programs on TV is Salt Water Experience. So many bass fishing programs seem too focus too much on one lure over others, pushing those lures down the viewers throat or they treat tournament fishermen like they are Elvis or something.

I recently renewed my subscription to Bassmaster too. Last year was my first year. I sent a money order. This year they contacted me by email wanting me to renew by credit/debit card and get those hard baits. There is no way I'm going to give a modern magazine company my credit/debit card numbers. So instead I sent another money order. They took it but only sent me their Bass Essentials 2014 guide (also renewed my subscription), which is what they sent me last year (and exact same 2014 edition). I was still getting emails though asking that I renew and get those free hard baits if I renewed. Apparently the Bassmaster magazine hand does not know what the foot is doing. I will admit out of all the bass magazines I have bought, Bassmaster is probably my favorite.

Send it all back with a note saying "This is all junk! Send me Soft Plastic Worms and Lizards Please!!!!!!!!"

Here's Ned -

My order from Maxima came today. A big box for only two spools of line. lol. They did send me a free hat though (I think because they shipped it over Thanksgiving weekend). Anyway, I'll be trying this five pound Maxima line for bass fishing in the spring of 2015 and see how strong it is. Also got a bunch of stuff from my Bass Pro Shops in the mail a few days ago. I mostly wanted some mojo weights so I can do some Mojo rigging. They had them so I ordered two packs. Plus some screw in weights and worm rattles. Also got 7 1/8" Stick-O's that I can't wait to try out spring 2015. One pack of Culprit ribon tail worms in grape shad. Funny thing - I see Culprit for sale at the local Walmart stores around here but all the colors are odd colors and nothing basic like Watermelon or Grape. So I bought these in Grape Shad. Also received some V&M Wild Lizzie lizards and finally some Gene Larew Tattle Tail worms.

It's threads like these and my small experience with fluoro on spinning reels that make me think fluoro is junk. I'm amazed how fishermen have been swindled into buying such trashy line. Mono is tops with me. Not sure about braid yet. But fluoro is too stiff with lots of problems. Have to wet it, have tie perfect knot, have to buy the right fluoro from the right company, have to use line conditioner, etc... I don't have do any of that with my Sufix Elite mono! And the way they push fluoro on the fishing shows even makes me more suspicious. But the great thing about fishing - use what you want. So go ahead and use it if you want. I'm sticking with mono.

Yeah, those Sony definitely produce good footage but I went with the Gopo 4 Silver because of the waterproof case and all the accessories available.

Maybe the hackers were ticked (like I was) to find the Tackle Warehouse sales did not include Simms clothing. I was thinking of buying a pair of their sun blocking fishing gloves if they were on sale but nope! The disclaimer at the top of the page said Simms along with some other companies were not included in the Thanksgiving weekend sale. So I did not order.

I made this video for new people like you. Soft plastics are cheap. Buy a collection of different kinds - worms, lizards, soft stick baits, really small worms, and rig them like these three in the video:

I ordered some Maxima Ultra Green mono in 5 pound test (for finesse bass fishing) and 1 pound test for my brother for pan fishing. I see a lot of talk about people moving down to six pound test for bass (I use six pound Sufix mono for bass) but haven't tried anything lighter than six pound mono. So instead of dropping down to four pound I thought it would be fun to get some Maxima Ultra Green in five pound and try it out (next spring).

This new Star Wars is supposed to come after Return of the Jedi. Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back were both great. Return of the Jedi was a decent wrap up. I'm hoping this new Star Wars gets back to the way Empire Strikes Back was. The Millennium Falcon can't really be compared to any other space ship. It's in a league all its own. Awesome! I think the writer for Empire Strikes back worked on the script for this film too.

The first three Star War films were awesome! The last three horrible. Hopefully the new one will be awesome again. It's so good to see the Millennium Falcon on the big screen again!