ChrisD46

I'm new to scrounger fishing for bass - it looks like the long bill length version is most popular followed by the medium length bill version . I understand the long bill version is best for a slow , bottom retrieve while the medium length bill version could work at various water column depths . I plan to throw the scrounger shallow (most bass I target are in 12 ft. or less water depth) and believe the 1/4oz. or possibly a 3/8th oz. will work best with THE one bait I want to throw it on : Zoom "The Fluke" 4 inch minnow . * Please comment on the above proposed weights , as well as , any advise tactics between the long length bill and medium length bill versions using the Zoom Fluke . Thanks in advance !

Either would be good - Big Game would be the better value.

Thanks for the replies - The Owners look good as do the 5/0 Berkley Fusion 19 weighted EWG (ditto for the Gammy version) .

As the title states - what is your favorite weighted hook brand , size and weight you use with RI Skinny Dipper (5" ) ? I'm guessing a 4/0 or 5/0 WG with around a 3/32nd or 1/8th oz. keel weight to keep it from rolling ... The Skinny Dipper is a little chunkey in the midle , so perhaps a weighted Beast Hook or Trokar weighted same in a 4/0 or 5/0 and 1/8th oz. is a good place to start ... Your thoughts and experiences ?

Search Jason Christie + Pad Crasher for more info - the above posts are true ...

The 7" version looks to be fatter than a Trick Worm - plus you are also in NW TX (potential for big LMB) , so I would go with the 1/0 size . You could also use the 1/0 hook with 5" Senko + a nail weight with good results . The #1 hook size I would use with a Trick Worm , Bottom Hopper , Robo Worm in a 5.5" ~ 6.5" size .

Use only with KVD line conditioner , put on your reel correctly with no twist and do not overfill your reel and it will be fine ...

Wild Card answer !! ... I bet a swamp crawler would be a great option for a wacky worm !!

*The 7'3" MH Veritas rod has got to be the best all - around rod ... That would be the first new Veritas I would buy !

Raul doesn't just throw a standard Zoom French Fry - his are marinated in 100% Puro Blanco to cater to the local bass

I see the newer 2.0 Veritas rods are now in stock at TW ... *It's a little confusing - I wish Garcia had called the new improved series the "2.5" or "2.0 Ver 2" instead of keeping it the 2.0 ... None the less , I just bought a close out former 2.0 7' H Extra Fast just for dragging a swinging jig head and it is a great rod - I'm sure the new 2.0 will be that much better !

Thanks for the replies - it would appear the ends of a Trick worm will flutter more than the shorter Finesse worm ...

For wacky rigging - what is your preference between a Zoom Trick worm or the Finesse worm ? Do you find one gives you better action than the other for wacky rigging ?

Thanks for the replies - I'll put redbug in the junebug category then for stained ~ murky water conditions .

As the title states - when do you find the "red bug" color to work best when fishing soft plastic worms , creature baits , paddle tail baits etc. ? Is there a sky / water condition / time of year when you find the red bug color works best ? ... Thanks in advance - not sure what the color is supposed to represent (i.e. red with green flakes) ?

Much is written on the subject - for starters google : Jeff Kriet , Aaron Martins , Brett Hite + shakey head set up . My preference is : 7' M XF spining rod , 2500 series spinning rod with a smooth drag , 10 lb. yellow braid + Sunline Sniper #7 lb. FC line , join the two lines with the Alberto knot . Most any straight tail worm will work - favorites include : Zoom Trick Worm / Finesse Worm , Berkley Bottom Hopper (6.25" & 4.75") , Fat Robo Worm StraightTail 6" ,Strike King KVD Perfect plastic Finesse worm , Worm Colors : Green Pumpkin , Watermelon Red and June Bug / Red Bug will over most any water condition , Shakey Heads : Start out with Strike King Tour Grade Shakey Heads (Round or Football shape) in Green Pumpkin in 1/8th oz. (85% of the time) and 3/16th oz.(15% of the time) weight . *This is enough to get you started - plenty of reading material on this site for shakeyheads as well as google recomendations I presented above ...

^^This^^ ... For WP90 I use a 7' MH spinning rod and a 4000 series spinning reel with a 100 yrds of 20 lb. PP braid (mono backing) ... I can cast like 65 yards across open flats with this rig ... *Be mindful of good spinning reel line management techniques after each cast or that 65 yrd cast just turned into a 75+ yard cast which you will NOT be geting back !!

Are you getting enough hook in the bass's mouth with that EWG set up ? ... For perpendiculr rigging - what if you drilled a small hole in the PVC tubing at 3 o'clock (hook going in ) and 10 ~ 11 o'clock (coming out) ?

+1 ... Megabass Cavitron

There are small , medium and large springs like this you could use (depending on thickness of worm) .

Keep Zman elaZtech baits in the original package , keep in the shade and in worse case - if you are fishing in very hot climates put the TRD bags in an ice chest ... Problem solved !! **Stay with Zman TRD's or Zinkerz cut in half for the Ned rig and learn to store them properly .

*What are the ribbed swimbait trailers you are using ?

You are running the #5's on both front and back ? ... I like this idea for the 1- as a wake bait (i.e. not sure what a #6 up front and a #4 in the back does to the 1- action ?)

Out of 6 centrifugal brakes , you probably would want to make sure you have 3 or 4 set opposite of each other (along with adjusting your tension knob for a slow fall after every bait change) . *After a year or two with a lot of practice you can drop down to two brakes IF you are good with an "educated thumb" to prevent professional over runs .

I vowe one day to try the BizBaits (sponsor) soft stick worms (previous poster posted a video) ... I figure if they went through the trouble to make a video on the design / quality of their soft stick worm then they might b worth a try ... As for BPS Stik-O's : They have issues with color consistency as in a bag of green pumpkin you might ge two or three shades of green pumpkin ! Otherwise the Stik-O's are ok and I don't find their action anything to write home about ... I would also recommend looking at the Netbait Salt Sticks where you may find them as they are not bad and seem more the weight of a senko + loaded with salt .