ChrisD46

Update : I happened to find on a tackle shelf some Lure Parts Premium Series Brass Lacquer Indiana blades in sizes : #7 , #6, #5 , and #4 . Based on what I saw - the #6 size Indiana would be used about 75% of the time on regular size spinnerbaits as the rear , larger blade and the #5 and #4 Indiana blade used on compact frame spinner bait frames. As for the #7 size Indiana blade - there is a big jump in size there from the #6 which I would only use on a single Indiana blade 1/2 oz. or 3/4th oz. spinnerbait where I need a lot of thump .

This could possibly work with lighter #40 lb. braid with a 7:1 reel I'd probably go a lighter MH rod like a Dobyns Sierra 734c. For a Pad Crasher/ Popper Jr. **What other Jr. size frogs are folks throwing for bass ?

*I now have adopted my wife's standard pat answer (for my newly acquired fishing tackle) whenever I comment about spotting her wearing yet another pair of new shoes : "Oh , you mean this old bait cast reel ?? ... I've had this thing a loooong time" !!

With the dog days of August upon us (unless you are fishing with Glenn in WA.) - what are your go to bass lures when the water and air temps are about as hot as they are going to get for the year ?

*I generally like Bone , Bluegill , Opaque Shad type color , Chrome , a Ghost Shad type transparent color , baby bass and black . So I have narrowed it down to 7 possible colors (lol !) ... Depending on the bait fish situation with sky and water conditions , all 7 popper colors have their place.

I'm sure I'll end up trying both #4 and #5 size Indiana blades (in gold of course) to see how they work out on my spinnerbaits.

A VMC Drop Dead EWG 3/0 or 4/0 in 3/32nd oz. to get a good glide down to the bottom may prove interesting / successful .

*Another useful and helpful bass technique video - way to go Glenn !

*So you are saying the Hildebrandt #4 is approx. the same size as others #6 Indiana blade ?

Bama Bug is a good compromise i the tie breaker is what YOU feel most confident using .

Thanks for the replies , I believe I will order some Indiana Hildebrandt's in #5 to start !

^^Bingo^^ ... Use as light a weight as possible (1/8th oz , 3/32nd oz.) to maintain bottom contact while slowly retrieving back to the bank .

Thanks for the replies - definitely helps !

Thanks - I thought the #5 size Indiana might be a good place to start ... On a tandem Booyah they run a #6 rear Indiana on a 3/8th oz. and on the 1/2 oz. they run a #7 rear Indiana ... That seemed a bit large !

I run mostly 3/8th oz. and 1/2 oz. dual willow leaf spinnerbaits or tandem (front small Colorado ; larger Willow Leaf in the rear) in clear to slightly stained water for added flexibility when I need slightly more "thump" than a Willow Leaf blade can provide ... For the rear , larger blade I'm thinking that a size #4 thru size #6 Indiana would be about the right size for 3/8th oz. and 1/2 oz. spinnerbait weights with a smaller willow Leaf or Colorado blade up front . *Key thing for me is I don't want to go too large in the rear Indiana blade size and have the spinnerbait roll on me . What size Indiana spinnerbait blades do you run based on above requirements ? Thanks in advance !

*The trifecta of shaky head worm colors from dark to light : June Bug , Green Pumpkin and Watermelon Red .

Great addition Glenn - thank you for adding this helpful video !

Typical split shot rig using #5 and #7 size split shots the most about 18" up the line , small #1 or 1/0 hook and a Robo Worm is pretty lethal to drag around .

^^This^^ ... I have 1/16th oz. , 3/32nd oz , 1/8th oz. , 3/16th oz. and 1/4th oz. shakey heads - but I use the 1/18th oz. and 3/16th oz. the most . Try to use as light a weight as you can while still maintaining bottom contact .

*I much prefer the Rage Bug - it's more versatile plus I don't like the ridges covering the D-Bomb body/

Not to thread jack - but I too am still on the hunt for a new top water rod for the same reasons suggested in this post (i.e. working a top water with the rod tip down at the 4 to 5 o'clock down position without slapping the water from a Kayak or bank fishing . a 6'6" to 6'9" MF or possibly a MM which has to be good with braid . I have two cheap rods I currently use that fit the requirements : All Star nano 6' MF rod and a Berkley Lightening Shock (old model !) MM that I am using for walking baits and poppers . I would like a little nicer / better quality / lightweight rod (bait cast) though for my larger spooks and pencil poppers while still staying with the shorter rod length .

I have not seen too many new lures or soft plastics that thrilled me - except for possibly the new Yamamoto floating 3" Ned stick worm (not sure about the durability though) . Any new lures from ICAST 2022 this week that you were thrilled about ?

The Hillbilly series in Pearl White - just my luck most of those hooks would end up in me instead of the bass !

*Thanks - good selection there but what I was really referring to are the life like , jointed bluegill swim baits with treble hooks ?

I meant VMC ... **I also use the VMC Drop Dead 3/0 and 4/0 in various weights for a T-Rigged Senko or other stick worms from Yum BPS , etc. I just cast and let it fall with the VMC Drop Dead hook and stick worm for a little more action from the soft plastic as well as a faster fall in warm water .