ChrisD46

For your white , or chartreuse / white willow leaf spinner baits - what are your favorite blade colors : Nickle / Nickle or Gold / Nickle ?

I agree , however I am experimenting with the Zman GOAT (mid sized) as a trailer . The elaztec material floats so you can slow down a 1/2 oz. buzz bait a bit more when the conditions warrant (i.e. cooler water) .

What about this for less $$ : https://www.homedepot.com/p/GLIDDEN-MAX-FLEX-12-oz-Matte-Clear-Interior-Exterior-Topcoat-Spray-Paint-GMF3041-54/319420377 .

Original Power Pro - small diameter to strength ratio , I know this line fairly well and it's easy to find.

I have a 4000 size spinning reel that will get either #10lb or #12 lb. Big Game backing line - the main line will be #20 lb. braid .

I've tried a variety of 6 inch straight tail finesse worms (i.e. Zoom Trick Worm , Netbait T-Mac , Creme Scoundrel , Roboworm FAT) wacky rigged . I either use a #1 Gamakatsu wide gap finesse hook or a 1/16th oz. VMC weighted wacky jig head . It's kind of a "Goldie Locks" thing with me as too soft of a worm plastic results in the worm collapsing in on itself with little action when wacky rigged - too stiff a plastic results in little action . Probably the best so far has been the wacky rigged Creme Scoundrel : Right length and shape and the plastic formulation being slightly stiffer is just about right for good wacky rig action . The draw back is the limited colors Creme offers the Scoundrel worm in . *The above said , what are your experiences and suggestions for pouring what I am looking for (i.e. mold , plastisol , etc.) ? Thanks in advance ...

Most go with either the #1 or #2 size VMC Neko hooks for wacky rigging finesse worms or stick worms .

Off the buzz bait beaten path for trailers , here are some interesting choices : 3.5 ~ 4 inch paddle tail swim bait , craw or creature . The Zoom Z-Craw 3.5" , Strike King 3.75" Rage Swimmer are very good and currently experimenting with the Z-Man GOAT 3.75" to see if I can get a slower retrieve out of it when needed. I tend to consider the Zoom split tail as more of a spinner bait trailer but I'm sure it would work too with a buzz bait . Lastly , the Zoom original 4" Fluke may work well as a buzz bait trailer.

Replies make me want to think more about minimizing Ned Head losses - in my area waters rock followed by wood account for many a watery grave for Ned Head jigs . I don't have the complete answer but staying as light as possible with the Ned jig head weight (1/16th oz. or slightly below) and using a #1 or smaller hook size helps with rock and wood hang ups.

Defier Armillo is a remarkable line for many bass applications . Ideally having the #19 lb. Armillo main line - then use #13 lb. Armillo as the C-Rig leader could be a potent set up .

My bad for not researching all of Livesay's finishes ... That said , I make no excuses being a Gerald Swindle fan ! Now on to the next Elite tournament at Pickwick ...

The Lake Fork wins were the only ones I recall - been awhile since the G-Man won , so I was pulling for him .

So far that appears to be the case (where he guides at his home waters) ... Nothing against the guy , but I'm ready to see other lakes featured in Texas (lol !) .

I'd probably switch over to the large blade chatterbait to rig with large trailers ...

As others have noted it depends ... I like a swim jig / chatterbait / spinner bait trailer of between 3.75" ~ 4.25" . If I fished a big bass lake 4.5" ~ 5" trailer lengths would be considered . You can shape or reduce the swim bait head any way you want with scissors or an exacto knife .

3/8th oz. is a good starting weight - especially if most of your chatterbait work is more shallow . The trailer used will also make a difference : If Zman elaztec material then a 1/2 oz. weight may be a better chatterbait option because the elaztec material floats .

Makes sense ...

I recently read where an Elite Pro had stated that pre-spawn he rigs a 5" Senko T-rigged and then post-spawn rigs a 5" Senko wacky rigged . I'm thinking that this is because in cooler water a T-rigged Senko provides less lure action where as in warmer water post-spawn conditions a wacky rigged Senko provides more lure action . Now , if you are using a Senko for punching mats then you are only going to T-rig that Senko no matter what ... The above said , do you use water temp as an indicator how you rig a Senko ?

Cool hack - however I generally just look for VMC (or similar) swimbait jig heads with eyes in them already .

*Look no further than site sponsor Siebert Outdoors Mini Swim Jig : Products (siebertoutdoors.com) . Depending on your waters , bait fish , etc. I suggest one ea. in 1/4 oz. : Black & Blue , Green Pumpkin and Shad / White colors to begin . I also added the 3/8th oz. size in Shad / White for either windy conditions OR if I want to speed up the retrieve for spotted bass .

*Best I can tell is the Tremor has a new jig head shape (round) with eyes included now while the Foggy is a football shaped head with no eyes . The Foggy "hunts" real well during the retrieve while I am unsure if the Tremor does the same .

*Good points - I think bigger baits can certainly work and often better than smaller baits . The bass are currently eating shad that are 1" to 1.5" where I live so that is why I downsized my swim bait to the 2.75" to 3.25" range which I am fishing on spinning equipment . My bait cast set up gets the larger 3.75" to 5" swim bait sizes .

*I'm beginning to think that using a scent increases my confidence which leads me to staying more focused which results in me catching more fish (thinking my success was because I used a lure scent) . It's probably 50% correct .

^^This ^^ ... Most shad are small this time of year - the Strike King Rage Swimmer or Keitec FAT Swing Impact in 2.75" ~ 3.25" are a better bet now for numbers and the occasional bigger bass . Conversely , there are fans of the larger 4.75"( and larger) swim baits when hunting larger bass specifically .

Tray a craw scent such as BANG , Pro Cure or Berkley Gulp Spray as these may swing the odds in your favor fishing craws .