ChrisD46

*Too many chatterbait success stories from Pro's and Amateurs alike to ignore the chatterbait ! ... Learn to use it on the right equipment along with right sizes , colors of chatterbaits then find the retrieve they want that day .

By now we should be seeing a complete , edited Bass Masters Elite tournament (i.e. St. Johns) on ESPN or other TV channel - where are they ? *While the in progress live Bass Master Elite TV on Fox Sports is a new twist - it can get boring to watch pretty quick on a "dink fest" loaded fishery like the current Sabine River tournament (yawn !) ... Pretty sad tournament location when Jason Christie takes 6 lb. on day 3 and still is in 1st place - I hope Bass Master and Fox Sports (or who ever) comes out with their prior tournament , edited 1 hour TV show recap as they have always done .

Junebug : Clear water / Overcast ; stained water sun or overcast . Black & Blue : Muddy water sun or overcast . I use both Junebug along with Black & Blue colored soft plastics for conditions above .

*P-Line FloroClear has a reputation for being weak for it's pound test rating and experiencing break offs . Before I would write off FloroClear I would test using the three knots shown in the enclosed links which work well for FC line knots : Berkley Trilene Knot : Gerald Swindle Fluorocarbon Line Knot : Brent Ehrler Fluorocarbon Line Knot :

The Pro model is more expensive and uses a 3/0 hook ... I encourage you to try the original one I mentioned with the post and not the screw lock and 2/0 hook to hold soft plastics . Just take the end of your hook point and make a small "starter" hole in the end of a Zoom Finesse Worm. Put a small drop of Super Glue Gel in the hole you just made , slide the Spot Remover post up inside the worm keeping the flat side of the worm facing the hook point , measure then put the hook point back into worm to hide it nice and straight , wait 30 seconds and then fish - that worm will not come off .

*I just store them in the original Foggy box they come in - I believe Mike gives each outgoing Foggy box a ancient victory prayer of some kind before sealing it up , so I want to keep as much of that mojo intact as possible .

Here is the screw lock version : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Buckeye_Lures_Spot_Removers_Pro_Model_5pk/descpage-BSRP.html . Both are fairly popular and can be found at your big box sporting goods stores easy enough .

This has a shorter 2/0 hook in the popular 1/8th oz. size : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Buckeye_Lures_Spot_Removers_5pk/descpage-BSR.html . I like to bend the hook open 1 or 2 degrees and your hook ups will be better on this particular model . I routinely use small 4" to 5" finesse worms with the 1/8th oz. spot remover .

*Thanks for sharing the tip - curious how exactly your method helps the spinner bait to last longer ?

*Good suggestions - I would add Big Game mono in the dull green color as well .

+1 ... JJ's is even 2X stronger than Spike it !! ... Also +1 on the JJ's "disappearing act" while tightly sealed on a shelf inside the house ... *What's up with that ?

*I would not be opposed to trying Liquid Mayhem - but I have not seen it in fishing stores before ? That said , I like Megastrike regular scent , BANG Garlic spray , Smelly Jelly and Pro Cure scents (Craw) for bass . It's basically what I can find locally and I use all of the above with good success . It may just be a confidence thing , but I especially like to lightly spray a bag of soft plastics with the BANG garlic spray , roll the soft plastics around from the outside of the bag and let them sit over night before using the next day . For drop shot soft plastics I like to individually coat each Robo Worm with Megastrike , for football jigs with craw trailers I like to coat the trailer with Pro Cure Craw scent ... I only use scent on soft plastics that have no scent of their own added or to remove the factory smell (especially Zoom soft plastics) . I don't use scent on hard baits - but I do know guys who use Gulp spray on hard baits then make repeated cast to the same area to take advantage of the Gulp scent washing off the lure in the water column from previous casts (about every 4th ~5th cast they will re-spray the hard bait with Gulp spray and repeat) ... More than anything I suppose is figuring out which scents work for you and which scents provide the most confidence for you in bass fishing ... Hope this helps .

This is from Brandon Cobb - Bass Master Elite Pro : "To keep braided line from wrapping around the front treble hook - attach a bobber stopper on braid (i.e. #30 lb.) then snug the bobber stopper up to the end of the line after tying on your spook , etc. with a polymer knot ." ... The bobber stop provides enough tension to keep the braid line pointing straight preventing it from curling back around the treble hook while working the spook . Depending on how aggressive you work a spook you can even use two bobber stops together to keep the braided line from wrapping back around the front treble . *I always use a short 18" piece of #15 lb. mono attached to braid mainline when using spooks - using a bobber stop is one less knot to tie (i.e. no leader) and is a simple , quick to rig alternative to keep braid line out of treble hooks when working spooks ... Give it a try !

For Bait caster - I have used FC as leader material simply because I have enough laying around . If I didn't , I would use Berkley Big Game in Green #10 lb. , #12 lb. and #15 lb. (depending on the application) . The green color Big Game mono line is almost invisible under water . For spinning I would probably use Sufix Siege in #6 lb. & #8 lb. line sizes .

*Perhaps there is not other bass fishing providing more debate than that of a chatter bait set up - specifically line and rod selections !

*Of course - the Schweddy Balls have produced some large Bluegill when crumbled up to make smaller , junior size Schweddy Balls .

I use a small rectangular Tupperware box ... I mainly use white , black and sometimes green pumpkin , so I don't need a fancy storage container and just lay them flat in the box.

*Another "Gold Nugget" exert from Tom - you are worth your weight in gold sir ! This is very valuable split shot rigging information ... Such a cool , simple rig that is still fun to fish - I am partial to Zoom Centipede (french fry) do noting baits which I rig sideways (with the centipede ribs horizontal). The #5133 Owner hooks are a key essential ingredient as well ... Lastly , you owe it to yourself to read past great Dick Trask and the still talented Don Iovino for their finesse / split shot rig knowledge .

*Awesome people - if Zoom ever made it , they have it !

*I forgot quality components - such as ball bearings ! ... I find R-Bend spinnerbaits produce greater vibration versus closed , twisted top of wire where you tie your line .

Good comments (mostly) ... The goal is to share / learn something new you can use . There were a couple of spinner baits mentioned I have not heard of before so now I want to try them - who knows , may even find a new favorite spinnerbait to use .

*As the title suggests - what makes for an ideal spinnerbait in your book and which manufacture(s) is your favorite consistently delivering the goods ? Head Design : Does the spinnerbait track straight or torque to one side and blow out on retrieve ? Blades : Material of the blade , finish , thinness of the blade and finally cupping of the blade ? Skirt : Does it use decent skirt material , include a full skirt , hand tired with wire or uses rubber band to hold skirt on ? Bait Keeper : How is the bait keeper , does it even have one ? Wire Gauge : Perhaps the most talked about material of a spinnerbait ... Does it have a nice mix of vibration and also strength ? Hook : Quality Gamakatsu , Owner , Mustad or other name brand hook used and is the hook size correct for the spinnerbait ? *So , based on your experience and preference - which spinnerbait takes first place , 2nd place and honorable mention ?

Good recommendation - along with wake baits , Mann's Baby -1's and Bandit 100's .

* Bobber Stop -> Bullet Weight -> Bobber Stop for a "no crimp" split shot rig ... I like using tungsten 1/16th oz. ~ 1/8th oz. bullet weight about 18" above a small Zoom Centipede (GP or WM Candy) , 2500 series spinning reel , 7' ML rod , Power Pro High Viz Yellw #10 lb. + #6 lb. ~ #8 lb. InvizX leader .

*Interesting concept - which accomplishes the same thing as more expensive rods designed for "chatter bait give" . I have pressed into action a very good copy of an inexpensive Berkley Lightening Shock (old generation) 7' MH / F action that is designed to be used with braid , however I use it with YZH #12 lb. line for spinnerbaits and the "give" is about right ... I'll have to try it with a chatter bait for grins and see how it performs ?